[ She looks at him for a long while, in turn, her lips pressing into a thin line. ]

I'll be honest, Mithra, you're not the easiest person to try and understand... but I have this feeling like... Whenever I try, you don't really want me to understand.

[ "What good would that do," he'd told her that time, and though she doesn't remember the words, she remembers the feeling of being pushed away. ]

But I'll just have to try harder, I think. I'm glad if Manuela's gotten to understand you even a little bit more than the rest of us, though...!