[ there's no reason to apologize for hitting him with a book? haru's lips part, surprised as always by some of the things that come out of his sword-spirits' mouths, but then they thin again. how.. should he even respond to something like that? and then on the heels of that, yamato asks a question he should never have to wonder about, and-- and honestly, haru should have expected it. he's been irritable today, and given some of these blades and their histories, he really should have had more self-control.

he hesitates, then takes the book carefully from yamato's hands, setting it down on the branch beside him. he reaches out, then, curling his arms around the other man and tugging him closer, resting his chin on the top of the tousled head. ]

.. I was in the wrong, Yamato-kun, and if I do something wrong, I'm always going to apologize for it. You shouldn't-- [ his fingers curl in yamato's clothes, white-knuckled for a moment. ] You shouldn't have to dodge, because I shouldn't be throwing things at you. [ he pulls back, then, to meet his eyes, his own as serious as they've ever been. ] And I'm not bothered by any of you, I just.. [ he colours faintly, gaze sliding away. ] I just need a little time to myself sometimes. I'm not.. exactly good at this job. It's kind of overwhelming.

[ that's.. probably the most words he's strung together at one time in a while. it's not to say that haru doesn't talk, but he's not exactly chatty, and he prefers to listen when he can instead. he feels like he's constantly behind the curve, running to catch up, to learn everything he can, to be better and stronger and worthy of being.. someone that they give their loyalty to. it's probably no surprised that he snapped a little today. stress he can handle, given his life prior to this, but this kind of stress is on a whole new level. ]