"You're not!" There's not as much conviction as the last time he jumped to speak, but it's not from any doubt. But he has to deny that- "I'd never find you repulsive. It's nothing like that."

But then, what is it, right? How to explain it to a guy that doesn't know anything about sports? A life the total opposite of his? Tidus struggles, trying to think.

"When fans wanna hug me, they... it's like hugging a persona, you know? Tidus, the blitzball star! It's nice, but it's not personal, you know? And I'm not really standing around and hanging out with them. It's like a quick thing, sign something, you're done."

There wasn't any comparison. Not to hugging someone closer, 'off the job' so to speak. Compared to them...

"The only other person I've hugged as much as you is Yuna. That's it." A half-hearted scoff. "Maybe my mom when she was alive?"