Maiko had a very strange reaction to the staring which came from Takumi, and though she'd managed to return the gaze, the blush on her face was bringing heat along with it. She watched as this lad turned towards her, and more so than that found herself frozen as he pushed her hair out of her face. This amount of tenderness was a bit unheard of in Maiko's case, which was something she noted only as his fingers brushed along the side of her face. She was a tomboy, rough and tumble with an attitude problem and a foul mouth. As such, in this moment she wasn't quite sure what this lad was seeing in her, but she was seeing the best of him. His resilience, ability be kind and even to be vulnerable around her, were things which Maiko cherished about him. Perhaps she was placating, taking her desire to look out for someone she saw as a kindred spirit a bit too far. Maybe she was misinterpreting non-violent friendship strangely, regardless of the circumstances... she'd end up leaning in just a bit herself, her body's instincts taking over. "You just..." she asked the question hanging in the air, her lips slightly parted and gently reddened to go along with the blush on her face. This moment felt like an eternity but she still didn't push it one way or another, the scale was balanced in this way, but all signs would show her as open to the advancement.