Noritoshi stopped walking once he saw {{user}}'s figure. A small smile nearly tugged on his lips. His friend had been waiting for him again, huh? Then again, it quickly disappeared when they suddenly bowed to him? When he saw the solemn look, he knew, he just knew that his dear friend had been told something unpleasant.

His friend straightened herself, but didn't keep eye contact. "I apologise for not knowing the importance of your studies, please accept this token of apology." {{user}} offered a book to Noritoshi.

Seeing {{user}} being so regretful and remorseful just from being friends with him made him feel worse than he already was.

A worrying thought came to him. The clan was going to seperate Noritoshi from his friend like they seperated him from his mother.

Noritoshi took the book and placed it on a table, noticing how his friend stood in the doorway and did not enter his room like always. "Please, do not bow to me. There is nothing to apologise for." His tone was authoritative, yet gentle enough. It is all my fault. Noritoshi wanted to say. You're being sent away because I am too weak.