( well that's... blunt. but, you know what, maybe it's for the better. helps it get through mika's thick skull that he means what he says when he says it, and also, they're words with a good meaning despite their sharp delivery; even with his own doubts in himself, mika can understand what iori is getting at with that. in any case, noting the way the food is pushed towards him, he lets the cat be and instead makes to grab the water, holding it in his hands carefully, and sipping at it as iori explains the whole pheromone deal going on.

mika had kind of understood the gist of it, had gone out of his way to make sure he did, but still. hearing that iori's avoidance had come from a place of concern rather than disdain is... a little bit reassuring. the rest of it, he's a little insulted, but a little resigned to the fact that it's kind of true. those black ears at the top of his head flatten slightly, and he interjects. )

To be fair, yanno we didn't really have to worry 'bout Chroma back home.

( he thought it was just money and not, like, food, where he has to actually keep track of his intake. )

An' if ya were uncomfortable with that, ya could'a just told me, too, instead of goin' outta yer way to avoid me. Ya had me real spooked, after all.

( sure, iori feels pretty irresistible, even now, but mika'd like to think that if he knows someone's uncomfortable with his actions, he can rein himself in. )