[He wished she hadn't hesitated- now he's left wondering if what she was going to say before was the same as what left her now. For his part, and only because he knows she's searching, he isn't entirely impassive. There's curiosity behind him but not hiding. He still didn't know why her mind had wandered into such a place at all. Why, exactly, there was now the newest layer of tension between them if she had admitted it first, that his friend --no, their friend-- drew so much attention to himself. And Neji supposes he should be glad she understood that people would judge them. She wasn't oblivious to what she was getting into.
Still, for all their dancing around each other and all their attempts to size one and the other up... no, Neji couldn't feel like he should drop his guard entirely, or even the way he does (did?) around simple acquaintances for the sake of politeness. It was confusing him, too, so he fleetingly hoped the girl would be willing to revisit the opportunity at (what? mending fences?)-- some time after his head quit pounding with war cries. He hated being addressed but not looked at, not if there wasn't anything else to attend to. He wasn't simply painted on the walls, you know, wasn't someone to just look past.] I never asked you to. [Apologize. He never expected it. He didn't want it.
And -wait for it- there it was, another mention of Rock Lee paired with some turmoil, followed by another. And some more. Neji snorts. It's not meant to be dismissive. How much had Lee really told her about him, if she hadn't known he was dead? He shakes his head. Turns back to search through racks of clothing that only show him the wall in front of him.] That makes two of us. I'll ask the same thing of you. It's clear we're not understanding each other, despite our efforts. Please have patience with me as well. [If you want to call those half-assed attempts efforts. But Neji knows how to make good of an offer, and Yuri had just slipped him one. His words come out rushed again, genuine instead of calculated, urgent again.] I never expected to be able to see my friend again - I never expected any of this. And here you are telling me that I can find him here, and are telling me about him. So please help me get out of this game. I'd really like to see Lee once more. [Would like to verify, snap himself out of this haze of what-ifs.]
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Still, for all their dancing around each other and all their attempts to size one and the other up... no, Neji couldn't feel like he should drop his guard entirely, or even the way he does (did?) around simple acquaintances for the sake of politeness. It was confusing him, too, so he fleetingly hoped the girl would be willing to revisit the opportunity at (what? mending fences?)-- some time after his head quit pounding with war cries. He hated being addressed but not looked at, not if there wasn't anything else to attend to. He wasn't simply painted on the walls, you know, wasn't someone to just look past.] I never asked you to. [Apologize. He never expected it. He didn't want it.
And -wait for it- there it was, another mention of Rock Lee paired with some turmoil, followed by another. And some more. Neji snorts. It's not meant to be dismissive. How much had Lee really told her about him, if she hadn't known he was dead? He shakes his head. Turns back to search through racks of clothing that only show him the wall in front of him.] That makes two of us. I'll ask the same thing of you. It's clear we're not understanding each other, despite our efforts. Please have patience with me as well. [If you want to call those half-assed attempts efforts. But Neji knows how to make good of an offer, and Yuri had just slipped him one. His words come out rushed again, genuine instead of calculated, urgent again.] I never expected to be able to see my friend again - I never expected any of this. And here you are telling me that I can find him here, and are telling me about him. So please help me get out of this game. I'd really like to see Lee once more. [Would like to verify, snap himself out of this haze of what-ifs.]