[ He doesn't stare when she trails off. It doesn't take a genius to guess that she's mulling over whether she wants to share something so significant with him. Or, well, significant enough that she might not openly reveal it to someone she's only spoken to once or twice.

S̵h̶e̴'̴d̴ ̴b̴e̷ ̸r̶i̵g̷h̶t̵ ̸n̷o̶t̷ ̸t̶o̴.̸ ̸I̴f̵ ̷s̸h̸e̵'̷s̶ ̸s̸m̷a̵r̶t̶,̸ ̷s̸h̵e̴'̷s̸ ̸j̵u̵s̸t̶ ̶a̷s̵ ̷w̵o̷r̷r̶i̷e̴d̴ ̵a̷b̸o̴u̶t̵ ̵y̶o̷u̴ ̷b̷a̴c̷k̸s̸t̸a̸b̷b̴i̸n̷g̵ ̷h̶e̶r̵ ̶a̷s̴ ̵w̴e̸ ̷a̸r̴e̶ ̵o̸f̶ ̶h̷e̶r̸ ̶b̶a̸c̸k̷s̷t̸a̸b̷b̶i̸n̴g̸ ̸y̶o̸u̴.̵

He doesn't refute the Shadow's annoying prattle. After all, a not-so-small part of him is always on edge around others. His Shadow wouldn't be magnifying that paranoia if it didn't already exist.

Still, Lumine chooses to divulge, and when she finishes Kaito's expression becomes much softer. Gentler, as if a curtain between them has been drawn back. She didn't have to entrust those details to him, and maybe it's not that significant in the greater scheme of things... but Kaito's just silly like that, finding significance where there might be none. ]

For me, my mother. I was told that she died, but I know that isn't the case. I was so close to reuniting with her, y'know?

[ A beat. He chuckles and shakes his head. ] So I'm going to. And if I can take as many people who want to leave with me, then I'll do that too. But until then, I've gotta make sure I'm not destitute.