[... ouch. That hurts a little bit, but he isn't going to mention that now.]

I understand. Love is something that needs to develop on its own, however long that takes...

[And then he pauses, suddenly glad that he's sitting in a position where he can't see Isamu's face. Somehow that makes this that much easier, because he knows already how it's going to end. But he wants to say this, needs to say this even so.]

... and sometimes you don't even realize it's there at first.