[ It still feels strange to him, this connection and its empathy, since his own emotions come so mildly by comparison... But he's at least glad that it's Howl's surprise he feels first, since it's familiar. It also feels somewhat clumsy to him to essentially reach back out with a sense that's not quite solidified yet, but it does feel important to him. ]

So indeed. My apologies for not being straightforward when we first met. I hope that you can understand that it is something that I feel the need to be a bit guarded about.

[ though clearly, not completely, considering his casual talk of meals... but. ]