[Ishimaru falls quiet at that; he's definitely still there, he hasn't retreated off into his head again, but he's clearly not too sure how to answer it, and if anything the question is striking him strangely.

He's rather aware that there are some things that just...single people out like that, some sort of social mark that renders them different from others; he's just never really been good at identifying what they are or seeing them in others.]

Well, you do tend to give off the impression that you'll do what you're told without questioning it too much. Especially if the request is given forcefully enough.