[Slowly, his thumb rubs circles along her shoulder, comforting. ]

...If it makes you feel better, it's basically an open secret that I hit on Ebisu once.

[A beat before he hastily raises up one hand.]

When he was an adult! When it wasn't creepy. You've seen the pictures, it wouldn't be creepy then.

[It's very important that he gets this sort of thing out. Adusting himself, he bumps their shoulders together.]

Anyway... Nothing has happened to me yet. And if people can put up with me, then they'll be fine with you. If I can help, then I'll be more than happy to. I'm not going to judge you for anything that happened with your old temple. But it also doesn't matter what I think, in the end, right...?

Because you're more than me. [Leaning in, he presses a quick fleeting kiss to her cheek.]