(it all comes in the wording. something he would only know from his time here before is broad, but there's so much he can put together, and at the same time, it's so shallow when one looks at it too close.

so, there's a moment where he stops, and just smiles.)

Oh! I don't want to answer at all! It's much more fun to leave you wondering whether I remember or not. It's my pop quiz, Nikolai! You had your own little game, now I'll have mine! It's only fair, isn't it?! Pop quiz! When did you figure out you like me best over your co-patriot?!

(he knows gogol was not the only one who was here, after all. isn't that an answer in itself, that answers nothing at all?)