[Nero cleared his throat, looking from Ryuuko to a nearby window. Down the street, he could hear a guy trying to start his car in vain. Even if he tried to conceal it, he wouldn't do any good. Nero couldn't read her expression.

Softly, he reached up to press his hand on the center of Ryuuko's chest, his expression becoming a little softer.]

I know you can hear it, too. If you didn't feel that way about me, it'd be... calmer.

[He could say one thing about her. Ryuuko wasn't all expletives and explosive anger--else he really wouldn't have wanted to back her up as much as he did.]

Plus, you'd have laughed if I was dead wrong. And... well, you got like this when you kissed me earlier.

[He felt like it, at least. Nero's heart was beating fast too, almost out of disbelief. Even if she hadn't said it, Nero was fine knowing she wanted him. Out of all the storms raging in his heart, that one became a sunny shore to rest on.]