[ Her comments only make his embarrassment a little more evident. ]

You're too kind. The way you and others talk, you'd think I have a line of suitors, when that is far from the truth.

I simply hope I don't end up disappointing you.

[ In fact, save for being closer to certain people in the intimate sense, he is still a bit of a loner.

But he isn't going to fight her on that point, much less when she's already being so sweet and comforting. He would be lying if her presence isn't oddly healing, if he weren't compelled to lose himself in the bright blues of her eyes for just a little bit.

He's always conceptually acknowledged that Megumi is beautiful, of course, but much the same way he would appreciate a painting— from a distance and never with any intention to touch. It wasn't his place, and from his perspective, she'd never expressed interest in anything more than simple friendship.

Tentatively, Siegfried raises his palm to cup her cheek, then to thread his fingers through her hair lightly.

After only a brief moment more of hesitation, he closes the distance between their lips, the kiss warm but relatively chaste, at least initially. It is, much like the rest of him at the moment, affectionate but cautiously so.

After a second or so passes, however, he does wrap an arm loosely around her waist, drawing her body flush against his own. ]