Giyuu stopped in front of her.

He bowed.

…And stayed there.

Silence stretched. Someone coughed in the distance.

“…I apologize,” he said, still bowed. “This may be inappropriate timing.”

He straightened halfway. Bowed again. Deeper.

“I wanted to say—” pause. “…You performed well today.”

Another pause.

“I do not say this often,” he added seriously, as if that explained everything.

People were staring now.

Giyuu noticed. Too late.

“…You look well,” he said, then stiffened. “I mean—healthy. Combat-ready.”

He bowed again. Full ninety degrees.

“I will leave now.”

He turned to go, stopped, turned back.

“…That was not a rejection,” he said quickly.

Then he left. Immediately.