I didn't say anything like that to Kanji - at least, not on purpose - but I didn't defend him. Or tell you not to say things like that. I haven't always been...

[He looks down, takes a deep breath, and looks back up.]

I was worried about how people would see me, too. And I was intimidated by Kanji's - his Shadow, and his reputation. So it's not something where you should think you're the only one who got it wrong.

... And when I figured out it didn't matter to me, either, I chickened out of telling you. So you don't have to worry that I'm going to think... anything bad about it.