[He doesn't avoid the fist, only lets out a small oof when it connects. Yes, he knows what she was going to say.]

...I meant what I said in the meeting. I don't want to go back to being dead. But I thought, a couple hours in exchange to being left alone -

[Natsuno sees the carving in her pocket and the rest of the sentence burns to ashes in his mouth. What is he even saying?

He closes his eyes, sigh, opens them again to look at her.]

I'm sorry, Rita. I was stupid, and cruel. I never wanted to hurt you.