"He does?" He talks about me? Billy doesn't ask the second question out loud, but it's clear enough. He hadn't thought about that, really, but...but good. He's glad he can make Nida happy. He deserves happy. "I mean, I'm glad. He is a good guy. A good friend." Because that's all he should be. Nida needs friends. He's called Billy his best friend, after all, and it wouldn't be fair of him to jeopardize that, would it?

Even if the pleasant warmth that jolts him at Seifer's words makes him realize that maybe, part of him kind of might want to. Billy's slowly flushing bright crimson as he looks at Seifer, startled and shaking his head, lifting a hand to fuss with his hair. "What?? I--no, I mean, you've got it--we're just friends," he eventually manages. "I mean, I'm still sort of--working through some stuff. And it's not like he's interested in me that way." Notice how he doesn't say he's not interested.

"We're just friends. We joke around. That's all."