[This is breeching awkward territory for reasons he can guess but continues to miss the mark on, promptly ignoring what his head's trying to tell him and focusing on Facts instead of Feelings. Facts like Ruby's giving him a strange look for holding the door open, Facts like he usually doesn't do this for people, Facts like his backpack suddenly feels twenty-times heavier and his feet are glued to the ground, and Facts like he really, really need to go back to being a hermit for a bit to get back in inventor mode.

But he's excited. He's excited for showing Ruby the eventual product and maybe a little concerned about her critiques but...she's allowed.]

Wait if I wasn't Hiro would that make a difference? [That throws him for a loop, but he shuts the door behind them and works on locking up.] Forget it. [And now that they're outside...he scuffs his toe against the sidewalk and looks back in the direction of the residential area.] ...by the way? Thanks for showing up. [He needed the distraction and Ruby so far seems to be a good one.] Kinda means a lot.