[He doesn't say anything at first. He turns to face her, peering closely and leaning in until they're practically nose to nose as he simply looks at her and allows himself to really think on that.

Is that true? Is it true that he's still himself even when he's not acting like himself? More than anything he's aware of the shame and guilt that's usually associated with the fact he tried to kill someone, not to mention the anger that nothing changed and his own cacophony of other emotions tied to Tadashi and his death. Cerealia's had a way of messing things up for the two of them and yet Ruby makes sense. People do things that seem like good ideas. Tadashi ran into a fire because it seemed like a good idea, the thing he had to do. Hiro tried to avenge him because it seemed like a good idea, the thing he had to do. But of course one is more acceptable than the other.

So. He doesn't quite believe her but there's a strong sense of relief that she believes him and he drops his gaze and just sort of pushes his forehead against hers and stares down at their intertwined arms and hands.]

Don't be upset if I don't believe all of that right away, okay? I'm working on it. [There's a twitch of his lips like he's trying to grin but it's not working too well.] You'd think we'd have solved all of this by now. It's been months. [But then again, he supposes nobody thought they'd see Tadashi ever again and have to deal with the consequences.] ...it's stupid, but I just want him to know that even with all of that I'm still trying to make things right and I'm still trying to help people like he wanted. And now I'm not even sure he wants to listen to the rest of the story.

Have I ever mentioned Cerealia really, really sucks sometimes? Maybe I should ask Dipper more about his memory-erasing gun.