[ Maybe at any other time he would've laughed over that first answer, and especially so since it's clear enough to him that's the case without it being said aloud. But what Claude can't figure out is the why behind it with that unknown being what makes him want to take flight - away from this conversation, away from the realization which feels like it's flying towards him as fast as any arrow that the longer this goes without any answers the more likely it is it's going to end in nothing but hurt.

Hearing again that Sylvain doesn't know what he's looking for could've felt like the twist of an unseen knife if it wasn't for one of those missing puzzle pieces slotting into place blocking it from happening. Surprise hits again, but this time with it comes a sliver of clarity into something he hadn't grasped before running through both that final set of words. ]

What? No, Sylvain. I'm trying to say the exact opposite.

[ There's no avoiding the uncomfortable feeling of having to peel off a mask or two for the sake of this even if he'd been doing his best to avoid it up until now. Time to take a deep breath and let it out as a sigh he doesn't bother to hide since it's not even just a bit too late to pretend like he's unaffected; the time for that ended several months ago. He's lost count. ]

So much so I might've laughed at that if I wasn't afraid saying the wrong thing now wouldn't cause you to leave and take part of my heart with you.

[ Well. One step at a time towards honesty, anyway. ]