[His hand immediately moves to rest against his neck as he is bombarded with sound and specifically, several voices. Futaba he'd at least seen previously, and she was about as meek as she was snarky. He raises his other hand to wave her off.] None of the above, really, [And then Ann is about as awkward and sweet as he anticipated, but as his eyes travel from her and her genuine expression to Yusuke's to Haru's more tight one he feels his stomach drop to his toes.]
[His expression doesn't change, but his shoulders pull a little straighter as Makoto speaks, and he can't quite see where her hand is but he can tell it's under the table, and he assumes she's either holding Haru's or something similar, so the weight of her statement isn't lost on him. He has no intention of expressing he needs a break-- he's on their time, now. He'll be exhausted afterward, but he's been exhausted since he was revived, so what difference does it really make? He owed them that much. He just wished he could figure out how to say that easily.]
[Instead he strides uneasily forward to stand as much in front of them all as he can, hands at his sides balled into fists, and folds forward at the waist to stare at his feet.] I can't claim your tolerance of me is anything less than baffling, but I appreciate it all the same. [He stands again, staring resolutely at the table to avoid anyone's gaze. Specifically, especially, Akira's.] It isn't as though any of you wanted this, or can especially get out of it, but-- [He played it cool on television for years, why is this so hard. He looks fine, if you ignore the way he's tapping his right ring finger to his thumb rapidly, but his heartbeat is roaring in his ears to the point he's not sure he can actually hear himself speaking. He lifts his gaze from the table, looking over each of them individually, and waits until he makes eye contact with Haru before he starts speaking again.]
First and foremost I find it prudent that I apologize for my behavior in the past. My transgressions against each of you, independently, and as a unit, go much farther than I can accept forgiveness for, but that doesn't change that an apology is more than due. I have... never been adept at much in the way of being genuine, so I don't expect anyone to believe that is an honest apology now, or at any time. But while you are forced to allow me to occupy your spaces, I will work toward a means of apologizing more effectively.
[He stops there, shoulders tense and knees locked, and returns to staring at the table. He should sit down, and he knows he should, but he's going to give them a chance to speak, first.]
no subject
[His expression doesn't change, but his shoulders pull a little straighter as Makoto speaks, and he can't quite see where her hand is but he can tell it's under the table, and he assumes she's either holding Haru's or something similar, so the weight of her statement isn't lost on him. He has no intention of expressing he needs a break-- he's on their time, now. He'll be exhausted afterward, but he's been exhausted since he was revived, so what difference does it really make? He owed them that much. He just wished he could figure out how to say that easily.]
[Instead he strides uneasily forward to stand as much in front of them all as he can, hands at his sides balled into fists, and folds forward at the waist to stare at his feet.] I can't claim your tolerance of me is anything less than baffling, but I appreciate it all the same. [He stands again, staring resolutely at the table to avoid anyone's gaze. Specifically, especially, Akira's.] It isn't as though any of you wanted this, or can especially get out of it, but-- [He played it cool on television for years, why is this so hard. He looks fine, if you ignore the way he's tapping his right ring finger to his thumb rapidly, but his heartbeat is roaring in his ears to the point he's not sure he can actually hear himself speaking. He lifts his gaze from the table, looking over each of them individually, and waits until he makes eye contact with Haru before he starts speaking again.]
First and foremost I find it prudent that I apologize for my behavior in the past. My transgressions against each of you, independently, and as a unit, go much farther than I can accept forgiveness for, but that doesn't change that an apology is more than due. I have... never been adept at much in the way of being genuine, so I don't expect anyone to believe that is an honest apology now, or at any time. But while you are forced to allow me to occupy your spaces, I will work toward a means of apologizing more effectively.
[He stops there, shoulders tense and knees locked, and returns to staring at the table. He should sit down, and he knows he should, but he's going to give them a chance to speak, first.]