That guilt he carries does certainly seem to strain their relationship, at least on his side. He never referred to her as his girlfriend, so I wonder if he doesn't think himself 'worthy' or the like after his betrayal.

I kind of seemed like the author was walking back the rigidness of Kabuki acting to not paint it in a negative light or as if it were stagnating by rattling off a few 'innovations' that keep it from being complete regurgitation.