[ She gives one of those little huffs that he'll known to recognize as a laugh by now – her smiles are rare and her real laughs are non-existent, so this is as close as it gets. ]

It's tempting but I think I'll pass. That sounds like a good way to end up with an even bigger headache than I started with.

[ That she can make a joke in return is probably a good sign, though, and she does sound relatively soothed – her eyes have fluttered shut again and she's not exactly sleepy but she does feel... restful, maybe.

He's not wrong, though, that venting some of her energy might be good for her. At the very least, having something productive to do would be a good distraction. ]

There must be something else I can do, though. Even if it's just doing more to help Taeko-san when she needs it.