[After having dated Atem for this long, Ryou knows how to read that response for what it is. It's a calculated response, meant to express to Ryou that he's accepting what will come.

But it feels so sanitized and completely removed from the bond they'd shared before this point that a flicker of orange lights the end of Ryou's tail, and he pulls his hand away from Atem's leg, breaking contact nervously. His hand hovers, all the same, but...it's wrong. This is all wrong.]

Atem...this is going to happen anyway, but...you don't have to be dishonest with your feelings. I thought we'd decided against that kind of behavior. So if you're concerned about something, we should talk about it.

There isn't an incorrect dialogue tree here. And if you need me to explain something better, I can. Or...if you have thoughts...about anything I've brought up...

[This time, Ryou doesn't set his hand on Atem's lap. No, he reaches for one of his hands, and there's nothing but concern in his expression. He's worried about how Atem is taking this, and he's not going to allow for anything to slip by him. He meant it when he said he loved Atem just now, even if Atem didn't say it back, because he was worried about something else.]