[ She's quite as she listens, hands falling still when Natsume admits to the truth, something she had already suspected but she is always suspecting by default, has to keep her guard up no matter what, she knows better to, now. The validation is bitter, though, and doesn't make it easier to hear— what does make it easier is the rational part of her brain, which tells her that she did indeed ask Natsume to look out for her brother, a stranger to him back then, and she does not believe in walking up to somebody and becoming immediate friends, she did not expect the same from him. It's the same task she assigned Ishimaru, it's the same task she'll assign others, because this is the only thing she can't do on her own: keep an eye on her brother.

He had cried that day he spoke with Natsume, didn't tell her, and she couldn't tell. He's always coming home in tears after his counseling sessions. She couldn't tell. ]

He trusts easily and I don't. So of course I'll always ask about him and make sure he's okay... He's all I have left.