Jonathan's dead quiet, the words sinking in his bones and rattling around his skull in a way that made him almost sort of feel a dull ache in his head. His veins felt ice cold, heart clenching in his chest as he considered the words that he had never taken the time to truly think about. Perhaps it was the sex muddling his thoughts, but he'd never felt like they were just brothers... but when he compared this relationship to Erina, there was something of a distinct difference that he had been struggling to understand.

"I meant it when I said I loved you. And I meant it when I said we had a special connection that others can't understand." You could tell from his voice that he was struggling, still realizing his own feelings as he was speaking them. "And I don't know if all I consider you to be is family, but... maybe. Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't love you in the way that you want me to love you." It was a kind of upsetting revelation, and he could feel tears pricking at the corners of his eyes despite himself. "You're special to me in a way that's different than other people, unique from even Erina, but maybe love doesn't mean in love."