Recognition dawns as she clarifies the topic that had dampened his responses temporarily, and his expression drops flat as anxiety itches awake. His gaze breaks away, looking down and away from Sadie, “Mm. No, it wasn’t anything to do with an Echo. I will speak to her about it so she doesn’t worry and can keep talking to me. The way it made her feel won’t go away any time soon.”

Before he talks too much, he takes another bite of the melonpan.