"Uh... why?" He actually had to think about that for a second, before: "Well, I know how it feels, to, y'know, have people make up meanspirited rumors about you." He offered a lackluster smile, knowing full well the admission was probably expected.

"Besides, I don't think anybody should have to hear those kinds of things! Especially given the situation!" Back to moralizing; the morality was strong in this one. "That kind of thing's just cruel...!"

Honestly, even if Mirai fessed up right then that the rumors were true, Kura still would have felt bad for him. If it was Mirai's way of coping, or something, then nobody had any right to make him feel bad about it! Or spread rumors about it! The one he'd heard seemed almost barbed to rub Mirai's name in the dirt, so...