The two of them have history, Riku understands that Naminé had struggled with her own worth and the potential for her powers to cause incredible harm makes her weigh her choices with great deliberation on the potential consequences. He has also known her to be decisive and determined when the situation calls for it. Others might see her demure demeanor and mistake her for being too fragile to rely on.

Not Riku. Which is why he doesn't think twice about it when he draws a boundary - the memory is one that causes him pain when he reflects on it, it sits too close to the subject of his prolonged grief. It simply doesn't occur to him that she might take it as a blanket refusal.

But her reaction does stand out, of course he asks, "No contest, you're a lot more important than bleating my way through awkward introductions with these guys," he puts a hand on his hip, "But I'm kinda glad to hear I'm not the only one who can screw up grilled cheese sandwiches."

The joke is dry. "...Are you sure it's alright? It feels like," he pauses as he grasps for how he wants to frame it, "You're withdrawn. Like you used to with DiZ- Ansem the Wise."