[ He's about to say something in return, but the change in tone combined with the last line is what makes him (mentally) shut up for a moment instead. That's right, he's not a child anymore. He knows it. He cna't just keep up fooling around like this forever, but he really doesn't know how to act any other way than this.

-- In a sense, he's still a child, hiding behind acts and his older sister. But he can't be any longer, now they had to become their own people after saving that other timeline. And he still doesn't know how to. ]

.. I understand.

[ It's why it's less harsh than he had been a moment ago too, although it instead makes way for something that sounds a little more uncertain, a little more like he's covering up the hollow feeling all those thoughts give him. ]

I just.. [ ... ] Someone told me that I should meet her, so I just wanted to make her smile.. I'm sorry if I acted foolishly.