The words 'I panicked' will be pried out from between his cold dead mouth, and not a single second sooner. However, what does slip out as he sways is, "Why am I-"

Chikusa cuts himself off, mouth snapping shut, and just spends a moment swaying in place as the world reorients itself. That wasn't supposed to come out. Just another moment of things not aligning with his self, his body, and his mind.

...And frankly, there's still a chance he's snapped something, but isn't acknowledging it at all. Hard to tell while he's just standing.

"...I wasn't trying to work you up."