I'm not sayin' ya should, only that it was an option. You're preachin' to the choir, remember? "If I stay safe, I won't get anywhere" is exactly why I do what I do.

[ it's very obvious, and ryouma sympathises because there is another unfortunate side effect to living this way. ]

Not everybody's gonna get that, though, and some people won't take no for an answer. The sure way t' avoid this is not gettin' close to anybody, but that's easier said than done...

[ so, he gets it. but it doesn't mean he knows what to do with that. or what he ought to say. he can commiserate, at least? ]