[ He's felt weighed down for so long, especially now, that the urge to laugh at the comment isn't squashed in time to stop it. Ryo lets it sure fairly quickly, but that's because he feels slightly off for laughing at his friend's expense. ]

I'll just file it away with the other things I can't tell him.

[ It's dangerously close to midnight. Stray bits of conversation he's made out from guests have mentioned an unmasking that his stubborn ways might just complicate.

Story of the evening, really. The amusement that had lifted some of his more serious demeanor slips into deep thought. He takes a deep breath, decision made. ]

I'm in love with him. He doesn't know. I'd rather keep it that way. I don't need to give him another reason to hide from me.

[ This is far from a happy confession. It was to a stranger that he'd barely met. His fingers reach up to his mask and try again, at a loss if it doesn't come off. It does, and he grimaces, looking down at the inside of the mask. ]

Deal?