[he'll probably find out. he mostly knows stahn does this anyway, he's not really shy about it and hasn't been from the very first time they met. there's probably some sort of exception to the rules for best friends though; stahn isn't sure how leon would take atsushi expressing similar sentiments even though stahn himself is happy for them.

for a moment though, stahn's eyes widen with surprise at atsushi's words. he's so used to hearing the opposite; that he's too nice, that it's a weakness for him to have such strong feelings about the people around him, that he needs to suck up even the worst of his pain because other people need him.

so someone saying to him the very same thing he needs to hear—the thing he would undoubtedly tell someone else in his position—it's surprising. his expression relaxes into a small smile...

though it's what he needs to hear and it makes him feel a lot better in some ways, he can't just accept it as it is.]

I'll be okay, Atsushi. There are a lot of things I still have to do, so I won't let it break me. [even though things are hard. he has a duty as a swordian master and so many people counting on him—his friends, his family, the entire world—so he can't crumble for too long.] But getting something to eat together still sounds like it would be fun.

As friends, not just because things get tough sometimes.