Takakage sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. His countenance seems to... crumple a little, if that word could even be used. He suddenly looks more tired than before, and his smile vanishes.

He waits until Kotoha finishes speaking.

"I know. It's just a speech pattern." Did you mean: a habit of constantly trying to make your condition sound not so bad. "I've read up on medical procedures before, so I understand what's been happening."

"And... I'm not physically hurt. It's more of... soul trauma, so to speak." His pre-existing fatigue aside, that is. "I had to do powerful magic to drive off the demon, and it cost more than I thought it would." It required the execution of a technique he had only envisioned, never practiced.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to pay more attention next time."