[...Ah, Soren, so that's your choice. Maaomi nods, solemnly, at the bird. He then crouches down to face Ikki more directly. He's not trying to freak her out or anything, but what comes next is gravely important. It's not something super serious, per se, but it is something that she ought to understand]

Ikki-chan, Soren came to you for a reason, I'm now certain. And I'm sure he has something to ask of you - something deeply instinctual to him, a question ["will you be my Partner?"] that he knew he might one day ask of a human since the moment he was born. However... like me, you're not from the world of his ancestors. Like me, you don't instinctually understand the question he's asking. I learned it by trial and error, but as humans are creatures of words, I'd like to try to explain it to you with words first. Would you like to hear me out?