Hm, maybe I've dealt with extraordinarily stubborn people before. [surely only that and nothing else

and he pauses as well before smiling.]

Think nothing of it, Ema. We're friends, that's just what friends do. [this afterschool special brought to you by...] I saw some twine in there, does your injury from before need stitches? [because boy that was going to be a fun thing to happen. not painful at all]