[ "Princess", ah yes, there it is. That infuriating nickname that usually mildly annoys her these days but is confirmation that her gentle teasing has struck a nerve in this case. Her amused smile in response says just as much.

It wouldn't be appropriate to continue smirking at him much longer though, not with Shinjiro actually making the effort to talk to her about this, to open up. That in itself is a sign of change, although she still isn't certain she can reciprocate fully - perhaps she was being left behind in that regard? Just like when she was once worried was happening with Akihiko. A worry niggling at the back of her mind that her friends are experiencing personal growth, yet she remains here, in the same place, stagnant. And yet hadn't she changed so much? After everything she'd been through back home? ]

So it isn't impossible then, for that not to be an obstacle. I expect it never even crossed your mind to be concerned about it because it just didn't matter to you what she was...

[ She's not sure where this train of thought is going, only that she needs to take another sip of her own bizarre drink for a moment. Like him, she is finding the jelly balls to be rather a hindrance... Still, after chewing another she continues. ]

I'm glad for you, Shinjiro. Glad that you have someone.