Kouta just stares blankly at first, tries to speak, fails miserably, then opens his mouth to speak again.]
... so your family runs Yggdrasill?
[It's certainly sounding like it. Kouta had some sneaking suspicions that Takatora had a lot of ties, with all the authority he seemed to carry, coupled with being a Rider. If Yggdrasill was behind the Riders, it would make sense for them to have some of their own, more than just the one who helped protect Ryouma.
It changes things a lot to know this and he can understand why Micchy never told them, especially with how much people tended to hate Yggdrasill, but...
Kouta goes silent for a bit, trying to think of what to say.]
I guess it makes sense, how you feel like you should have known more, how you should have been the one to protect us. Takatora... and you... You guys had a pretty big weight on your shoulders, huh? ... I can't even think of what it must have been like for you guys, knowing these things and having to hide them. Knowing you might not be able to save everyone.
[He flexes his fingers at his side.]
I don't expect you to get better all at once. Maybe you'll never get better, but you're not Mitsuzane in this world. You don't have to worry about saving us anymore. You don't have to follow orders from anyone. ... so I don't want to see you build a cage around yourself and lock your heart away. You were such a good friend to all of us. People deserve the pleasure of being your friend.
no subject
Kouta just stares blankly at first, tries to speak, fails miserably, then opens his mouth to speak again.]
... so your family runs Yggdrasill?
[It's certainly sounding like it. Kouta had some sneaking suspicions that Takatora had a lot of ties, with all the authority he seemed to carry, coupled with being a Rider. If Yggdrasill was behind the Riders, it would make sense for them to have some of their own, more than just the one who helped protect Ryouma.
It changes things a lot to know this and he can understand why Micchy never told them, especially with how much people tended to hate Yggdrasill, but...
Kouta goes silent for a bit, trying to think of what to say.]
I guess it makes sense, how you feel like you should have known more, how you should have been the one to protect us. Takatora... and you... You guys had a pretty big weight on your shoulders, huh? ... I can't even think of what it must have been like for you guys, knowing these things and having to hide them. Knowing you might not be able to save everyone.
[He flexes his fingers at his side.]
I don't expect you to get better all at once. Maybe you'll never get better, but you're not Mitsuzane in this world. You don't have to worry about saving us anymore. You don't have to follow orders from anyone. ... so I don't want to see you build a cage around yourself and lock your heart away. You were such a good friend to all of us. People deserve the pleasure of being your friend.