[ Well, here he is about to admit something that... well, perhaps it's of no real surprise considering their first few encounters with one another here. ]
I wasn't really listening before.
[ He falls silent for a moment. ]
I'm sorry.
[ And there it is, there's the guilt creeping itself back in on him as they (slowly) go. He doesn't even try to make any excuses other than simply stating the truth. Sure, he could try and argue that there had been too much animosity coursing through him regarding Arden in the moment but... does it change the fact that he hadn't been listening? That he had more or less thrown away whatever words Arden had offered him back then? No, it doesn't and while Arden may feel slighted for that, perhaps it's better for Riku to simply tell him the truth...
no subject
I wasn't really listening before.
[ He falls silent for a moment. ]
I'm sorry.
[ And there it is, there's the guilt creeping itself back in on him as they (slowly) go. He doesn't even try to make any excuses other than simply stating the truth. Sure, he could try and argue that there had been too much animosity coursing through him regarding Arden in the moment but... does it change the fact that he hadn't been listening? That he had more or less thrown away whatever words Arden had offered him back then? No, it doesn't and while Arden may feel slighted for that, perhaps it's better for Riku to simply tell him the truth...
...and apologize for it. ]