There was no fooling his partner, was there? Releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding, Ace found himself captivated by the kindness of her response. The boy then opened his mouth as if to speak, only to be denied any sound, not even fully knowing whether the movement of his lips just now had meant to be one of thanks, or if he'd wanted to speak out her name to let her know that he was there for her, too. Both, perhaps.

Relaxing into her touch, he then listened carefully to the girl's tale, one of so many she would get to present that evening. Sound. Light. Wind. The lightly cadet inclined his head to the side as he studied her features, smiling tenderly as he noted how each of these words had left its mark somewhere among them.

"It's a good name." Against his own emotional turmoil, he still spoke with a certain degree of confidence, since his reply could not have been any different after what he had just been told. "Keep it," he asked firmly, wishing to somehow underline his point, well-aware that what he was about to say was likely to change the girl's mind.

Though it didn't come without some effort, this time, the little bow he gave with his head was nothing but genuine.

"She was one of us. Rem." There was a pause. "Rem and Machina, they were the new additions to our class of twelve. The last time I spoke to them, it was after they had fallen into crystal stasis."

However, Ace knew he could not allow himself to continue for the time being, for his explanation could only be complete if he presented it in its entirety. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't do that yet, for Tear's sake.

"... One day, I will tell you the entire story. I promise."