unknownrival | [Video - daydreams virus.]

[A scene that would not be out of place in Issei's temple normally. With a small smile, Issei pours tea for another man, lean and stern-looking even when there was nothing to be particularly stern with. He sits down across from him after being thanked and sips his own tea before speaking.]

You know... I always did want to introduce you to my friends. A number have come and gone over the years, so I can't reflect too much on them... ah, but considering the subject, I suppose that doesn't matter as much. Still, I don't want to get too caught up in missing everyone.

You would have liked Kasumi-nee best, I think. She came to stay with us for a time, and is as dear to me as a sister as you are as a brother. She's kind, and gentle, and I don't think that you could have found any fault with her. Perhaps even you two would have considered each other siblings by extension.

And besides her... Retasu, too. She's younger than me, still a student, but you would have been a good teacher for her. Perhaps, with the encouragement of someone like you who can always be believed, we could have helped her more. I'll do my best on my own. For that matter, I would have liked Karen to be in my class, even if we had to compete for the position of student council president. The school could only benefit.

Kaitou Kid, I imagine, you wouldn't have gotten along with well at all. Considering your history, I wonder...

I had my reasons for all of it. You should know that. [He seems completely calm, without any of the anger that might be assumed to come from someone with such harsh features.]

I do. And you should know that his reasons are as good as yours were, and his actions better. Well, maybe it's that I love him that would have driven you to dislike. [Issei chuckles quietly.] You are an elder brother after all. Hakuba would have been more on your good side, intelligent, composed, not drawn too much to rule-breaking. The less said about you and Tyki, I think, the better. And William, no, would I have mentioned Mag to you first?

I could really go on for days about all the people I, at some point or another, wanted you to meet. But in the end, that isn't what I want the most. I wouldn't care who you come to meet or what you think of them if I could have you alive again.

But what if you don't like them? Or they don't like you? Or what if some disaster happens?

I suppose there aren't monsters attacking everywhere we go anymore, so you might be right.

I would be considerably more loath to visit if being attacked was inevitable.

I'm older than you and I want to keep you safe. You shouldn't have to keep me safe.

That's how I feel about you, too. You shouldn't have to bother to try and protect me when I'm so much less of a normal person than you are. It's my duty to keep the people I care about safe.

It's my duty as well. I'm a monk, and more than that, it's who I am normal or not.

I still want to keep you safe, even if you want to be the one doing that for other people. It's the best I can do.

You're wrong about that. There are a lot of people who care about you. You should care about yourself more.

I'm always disappointing you, and you won't let me help you. I should at least be making myself useful.

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