...You're doing great. [ she's not sure haruhi herself realizes just how much time has passed. ] Frankly, I wasn't sure whether you and these would even be compatible.

[ she hasn't lifted her fingers from the girl's shoulder. ] I know I didn't bring you down into much more than a trance, but even that's encouraging.

[ she's never spoken so...gently with haruhi, before now. speaking to her almost as though she were one of her girls. ]