( he doesn't like the answer, but not even leaks enjoys responding with something that flimsy and without confidence. to stick to a plan that he isn't sure is worth following--- leaks can't be entirely correct about everything, and assumptions can be just as dangerous as non-answers. still, how else is he supposed to respond to asato and why does he feel the faintest bit guilty about giving him nothing when he doesn't feel obliged to in the first place? )

I do not know. ( again, he repeats it. ) Would you rather I lie and say that I did or did not? ( asato couldn't even fathom the complications of why it's necessary to dislike konoe, why his mere existence wounds him despite there being no distinct presence of said cat? it would be much easier to just say that he simply hates and move on.

but no, he continues to pull and pluck until asato is almost bereft of yarn. )

I am not like the rest, surely you know that. ( he's always held himself to a standard that no normal cat could reach. but now leaks has to think about whether he hates asato, whether the anger that he felt that one day could extend out to touch this dark furred cat whose eyes are a stark contrast to his own.

no, he can be sympathetic. their situations aren't that far apart. )

I do not hate you.

( and leaks brings one of the pieces of yarn back, above asato's head and a little outside of his reach. he dangles it, hopefully making it look tantalizing. )

I would rather you hate me.