His face goes pale, and all words die in the back of his throat. He can't even think of an answer, let alone articulate one properly with words. Why does he think so little of himself? Because it's a fact that I'm a useless person who only ever thinks of himself and can't protect anyone. He's too afraid, too weak, too pathetic to ask himself the right questions to answers that he's too scared to face. A person like that doesn't deserve to believe in themselves.

His eyes stay on his lap, but his breathing audibly strains as he stumbles nervously over his words.

"W-why would she - ask you that...?"