Sephiroth's lips can't help quirking faintly at Byleth's words. "Perhaps it's a bit of that," he concedes. "But...it's just as much that you deserve to know something of me before you offer me friendship. At the very least, things that might affect your decision to do so. Some would find the things I've done too much to get past...with or without any excuses."

He hesitates briefly, then steps forward, stretching out a gloved hand to take hers. "But if you are still truly interested...then I won't second-guess your resolve. Having told you what you need to know to make the decision, that choice is yours."