[Barbed words are the norm for Lili, so she doesn't even seem to consider it - but.... at the explanation, Lili winces a bit. Was she following Ryuko just because she was looking for a protector? No. She did it naturally because she really, really misses having company that would stay by her side through everything.]

.... It's not.

[She'll admit that quietly.]

If we run into danger, I don't want to be baggage for you. I'm tired of being a liability - but I... wasn't sure of where else to go.

[So even with the friction between them, being with Ryuko didn't seem like a bad idea.]