[ It's sort of Soubi's job to make comments like that.
But yeah, he's actually pretty pleased, overall. Pleased enough that his smile widens a little at Ritsuka's exclamation and subsequent protest. ]
The data has to come from something, doesn't it?
[ All right, all right. He's done teasing for now. Because it does actually sting to be dismissed so soon. That's what that is, isn't it? Ritsuka implying that he no longer wants him around? Still, as usual, Soubi's going to try to fish something more concrete out of him. ]
Do you want to go by yourself?
[ His smile doesn't falter, even though the thought that Ritsuka wants to send him away is a needle sinking straight into his heart. It doesn't even occur to Soubi that it could very well be the opposite. He's used to rejection rather than acceptance, so that's usually what he assumes. ]