[Giorno makes a remarkably expressive face to indicate that he thinks Mana is fucking weird and kind of rude. Dogs are good in fights, but like, come on, that's clearly not what Steve meant. In the back of his mind, too, there's a nagging concern about the desire overall. He understands it, he wants to help, but isn't sure he can. He can fight, but it's probably not in a way Steve would find particularly helpful. And theoretically he doesn't have to help with everything.]

[Which is also a distraction. He recognizes this, but he's also reminded, in a way that makes him tip his head to one side and offer a slight smile. Someone so doglike sitting with such perfect posture is pretty ridiculous, but in a good way. It makes him feel as though this doesn't have to be . . . as serious as it might be, maybe. As serious as it feels.]

[So he's remarkably relaxed when he flops down next to Steve on the grass, more comfortable side-to-side than in a position where he'll have to contend with too much eye contact. He glances up and sideways to verify this as all right — and who authorized Steve to become even huger for this particular day? Mana, right, how inconvenient — before reaching down to brush his fingers against the tips of the blades of grass by his feet.]

I wanted to explain to you about Haruno. If that's all right.

[Another quick glance before returning his gaze to the ground.]

. . . I probably should have before. I thought about it, but it didn't seem— [The pause comes organically, not because he's trying to think of what to say. Really, he's just trying to remember — that stilted and awkward conversation in April that became, eventually, less stilted and awkward. Humming softly, he offers,] It didn't seem as though you wanted to talk about all of that . . . and I don't like talking about this, specifically. About Haruno.

I still should have explained, though. I'm sorry. And I don't want to put it off any longer. I trust you, so — I think it's fine, as long as you don't mind.