[ A brief pause. Then because, as usual, he has no impulse control, Fuuta ends up muttering, ]

Why the hell would I have assumed you were kidnapped if you were gone for a few days. Any normal person would just think you were staying with someone else.

[ Which is to say, no, he hadn’t noticed at all. For some reason, he feels a tiny bit bad about it.

That aside, he follows up his shitty excuse with a low grunt, not sure of what to say. Maybe — ]

Your bodyguard. So he’s the guy that you killed before, huh. [ He grimaces to himself. Saying that out loud felt worse than he’d expected it to be. Then maybe — ] Is that what you meant that he’s still obsessed with you or whatever? [ Oh, no, that feels even worse. There’s a trace of fluster creeping into his voice when he clears his throat and tries again. ] I mean, that’s still messed up, though. Even if you came back, and even if the guy has his reasons. … guess it’s hard to do anything about it, though, if he’s ranked that high and you’re … not.

[ This really is just all coming out wrong. There’s a grudging pause before finally, he gives a small sigh and admits defeat by properly, somewhat sincerely managing: ]

… are you okay?