[ That pause doesn't make Ashton nervous at all. Not one bit. He knows that not everyone will be able to accept him how he is, but he is hoping at least those who knew him before these changes could see that not much has changed.
...and yet part of him doesn't think it would be so bad in the long run. He has Diva now; other friends are important to him, too, but as long as she doesn't reject him, he could live on.
The answer makes him smile, though, because all-told he'd much rather have approval than people shunning him. ] That's right! [ He laughs. ] I'm still me, and I agree. I'm happy to hear that, Akito.
I know... I know some people are worried about what it means, but I'm not going to go around hurting people. It isn't who, or what, I am.