Although the sight of the melodist's tears made his heart jolt, the smile that joined them eased his worries just a little. A part of him wished to reach out and brush them away so they would no longer threaten to fall, except it felt like a selfish move on his part to put an end to these newly awakened feelings.

Not knowing what it could be that he was supposed to do, only wishing that he could somehow figure out how to communicate his intent as he went, Ace responded with a single, but firm nod, while wearing the warmest smile he could muster. Thankfully, the last part wasn't at all difficult.

"Tear, would you mind—..." it belatedly struck him how oddly inappropriate his request seemed, the familiar warmth creeping up his cheeks, "if I stayed a while longer? I know how reckless it might sound, on the evening before a long journey." He gave his bag a single tap with his fingers before continuing. "And, uh, I've also brought some food for her, if you're worried about that."

The Chocobo's energy reserves were not endless, as opposed to what the small animal might have taken for certain, now waddling back and forth as she fruitlessly attempted to scale the armrest. When she would eventually acknowledge her exhaustion, it would probably take a while to recover the lost stamina. He'd still promised to show Tear a few tricks, hadn't he?

Even as his eyes follow the bird's movements, the boy's words are undoubtedly directed at his partner beside him.

"I just don't feel like going back. Not... yet."