It's fine!! He doesn't mind! Not the blush, not the silence, and not a drooling, very happy Clippy. He even reaches his free hand over to offer it to said Clippy. Good... dog? Weird helmet dog? Good pokemon.

"I mean it," he says, quiet and sincere. "It's... been something weighing me down for a long time now. I know the others meant well when they pushed - and then you just said to take my time. That meant a lot."

If there's one thing Shiro Shirogane can do, it's make a little speech on the spot.

... At least until Byleth compliments him. Then he's losing his composure to blushing and tripping on his words. "I - it. Thank - you."