It was the least he could do to reach out and hold her, pulling her head to his shoulder, to let her use it to dry the tears.
His other hand cradled the back of her head. "This is...you know things have been different, Mi-chan." Her reaction caught him off guard, even if he knew it really, really shouldn't have. She was an emotional person by nature.
That, a small part of him reminded him, was why he was *DOING* this to begin with.
"I'll always be here for you, you know," he whispered. "You're my best friend, regardless of what happens. I wouldn't give that up for anything."
Inwardly, he frowned. It SOUNDED cliche. But what were you supposed to do when you actually MEANT your terribly cliched lines?