[ Yuri waves the very notion away like a puff of smoke. He could say many things to that, but he opts for the simplest one to begin with. The one that should, in theory, leave no room for further concern where impugning Claude is concerned. ]

Hypotheticals aren't slander.

[ Yuri has no doubt that Claude has turned many a hypothetical about in his mind. He certainly has, about various things. About various people. Coming from a background such as his, it's often been a matter of survival. Hayame needn't think that he'll view her thoughts as a reflection on what she thinks of Claude.

Well, with one exception. It's clear that he's very dear to her, to worry so about his reaction to this form she now has access to. ]

Were I in a position similar to his, I'd think what matters is the individual, more so than their shape. He's never voiced dissatisfaction over being different, surely.

[ As best he understands it, the Claude of his timeline has dreams of unity between peoples who view one another as entirely different. So he'd heard, back in the brief time they'd all been at the academy.

In their world, those differences are in culture and appearance rather than build, but a man with such aspirations often has personal reasons behind them. That must hold true with this Claude too.

And someone like that, he thinks, would not be so easily swayed. Nor would a sharp-eyed bowman fail to see Hayame is most comfortable in her own skin. That'd matter more than any small convenience. ]