[Her pulse accelerated again a little, and she could practically feel it pounding inside of her chest. Her breathing had become shallow and her mouth felt dry. She was thinking back to the same conversations, to the uncomfortable moments and how she'd felt that she'd been overstepping in her flirtations. She'd been flirting with both of them at that point, and when Makoto had seemed... responsive, and a few very specific encounters had bolstered her interests, she'd let the interest in Setsuna be shelved.

Only in this minute, she realized that this might have been leading her friend on. The color in her cheeks flooded worse and she could feel a little shame blossoming there. It wasn't that she was unattracted, or that she wasn't interested. Setsuna was... she was beautiful. She was confident. She was intelligent. She was emotionally stable in ways the young, passionate and sometimes flighty red-headed would never be. The two of the were both old, older than most of their human counterparts, and there was a certain amount of kinship there. She could think of many reasons to want to say yes right here and now.

But... she also knew something. A swallow, and she had to accept it. she was still getting over the sting of Makoto turning her down. She still had feelings for her, even if she might actually be interested in Pluto. Breathing out cautiously, she reached for one of Setsuna's hands.]

I'm sorry if I've led you on these past months... I... I could very much see us together. [Another thick swallow] But you are important to me, Setsuna. And you deserve not to be a rebound. I'm not saying no.

But you... you deserve to know that the person whose heart lays claim to yours is yours and yours alone, that my heart is not still aching for Makoto's when I look in your eyes. So... for the moment. May I reply to say that I am interested... but that I want to be sure, sure for your sake as much as mine?