...Oh. Surprise shows on his face again, and it's less quick to fade this time. He didn't think Professor Rammsteiner would actually be worried about him, or be so straightforward about that fact, for that matter.

"It's fine," he says, after a pause. "You haven't hurt me so far."

Not permanently, at least. Absently, he rubs at his neck.

"You've let me get close," he adds, with the beginnings of a wry smile. If Professor Rammsteiner really cuts him off... Who else is there? No one. He'll have to continue his research on his own again. "It's a little too late to go back on that now."