"You like me, don't you."

If it wasn't so bewildering, he'd probably laugh. It already feels incredibly childish to boil this down to a simple question of liking him ㅡ but he also can't fathom why they'd feel any sort of way close to that, let alone further.

Even so, it isn't a question but a statement, because he already knows. It's become increasingly obvious from the way they find any and all excuses to be around him in ways that range from mildly amusing to honestly sort of...pathetic in a way that reminds him of Batcher begging for any sort of attention.

He feels bad for them, really ㅡ wishes that they'd turn their attention towards anyone else but him. Because he knows what they want, and he can't give it to them. So he does what he can, giving them the closest thing he can to a look of gentle sympathy.

"It'll pass."