[Kaoru's entire friend group is largely made up of people who aren't very good at being honest about their feelings frr one reason or another so it catches her a bit off guard.

But she takes it in stride, feels something warm settle in her chest at the words.]

Thanks. That means a lot to me because you're one of my precious friends too!

[...but she probably can't just smile her way out of this conversation, huh. She'll keep petting Busta as she thinks about what she wants to say.]

When I was ten, I found out Minamoto had been in love with this woman when he was in univeristy. But even though they were in love with each other, when it came time for her to leave Minamoto didn't ask her to stay. I hadn't understood why at the time but I think...I get it now. It's because he wanted her to be able to live her dream and she wanted the same for him. Because that was how much they loved each other.

That's why, especially because he's so important to me, I'm not going to cry! Because the place he needs to be, isn't here, right?

[So she says but it's all bravado because this smile is definitely far more brittle than her usual one.]