[It hadn't been his intention at the start, not consciously, anyway. But recently, he's been thinking about where he's failed, and why. What he's doing wrong. There's too much to keep straight, it feels.

He sags a little at Ishimaru's touch.]

I'm a joke. I grew afraid of failure, and looked for an easy way to tell people there's no easy way and not to fear failure. As if I have any right.

[He's breathing hard. By this point he must look so pathetic that crying can't make him look any worse, but it still hurts. Physically. Damn ribs.]

If... when I fail again, when I falter, will you make sure I don't run from it again?