Her neutrality had been half-teasing still, as stoicism and silence was one of the best ways to get a person to continue talking. And that had worked. The man had made it obvious from his previous statement that he had a fondness for her... and from the emotional outburst, a large fondness. His stating outright that he had reacted strongly towards her added to that, making it less of a generic like, and more of a... what was the word that Takato had used? A crush.

Hm.

Either way, first of all, there was some clearing up to do. Renamon stepped towards Jiraiya, invading her own comfort zone by stopping a foot away. "Don't respond like that," she said firmly. "I am not a child, regardless of the age of this body, and my own... shortcomings with emotions are my own--not for anyone else to choose as an excuse."

Which he had, really. Used them as an excuse for her to not like him. Like it was a decisive thing, already finished. Renamon was annoyed, and let that emotion reach her eyes.

"If you are going to say you like me, do so. Don't play this game." She paused her speech, leaning forward a few more inches. "I will make my own decisions on who I do and do not like."

At least she was admiting she could like someone.