[Emmet nudging him over and over to "share his troubles!" is still fresh in mind, as is how natural it feels to recoil from the idea. And he knows - he's spent months being practically baited away from it, like some kind of rescued Pokemon being tempted with treats to do its exercises - he knows he shouldn't do that.

But past the embarrassment is a yawning void he can't see any way across. How? How is he supposed to talk about this to someone who wasn't there to see enough to understand? How does he explain that this really is his responsibility to someone if they're already committed to insisting that it isn't?

Of course he's stressed. But he's capable of handling it, because leaving it alone for other people to handle would be so, so much worse. And Lillie was able to face her down at her absolute worst, so he needs to do his part too; he won't be a kid forever, if he really even still is, and he needs to keep up with her.

(But she got ahead of him in the first place by reaching out.)


Gladion has to chew on that for a little too long. He's clearly aware of the awkward length of the pause, and looks uncomfortable as it drags on, but can't find the words to end it right away.]

...I wasn't ready for this. [As if Ingo was ready for any of what happened with Emmet? Ugh. He's trying to sound less grave about this, more aware of the absurdity and less invested in the disappointment, but...] Someday I was going to talk to her again, but it wouldn't have happened this soon if things were normal.

[But if things were "normal", Ingo and Emmet also wouldn't have been able to meet, so...

He's still trying.]