I just want a bit part in your life

[Issei is praying. Anyone who knows anything of Japanese Buddhism will recognize that. Even those who aren't familiar will know that he isn't doing it very well. He keeps stopping and restarting after making a mistake. Eventually, he gives up altogether.]

I'm a failure as a monk... If I cannot purify myself of such base thoughts, of what use am I? I should, should be running the streets rather than living in a temple!

[There's a loud thunk.]

Ow. Even beating my head against the wall will not remove these thoughts, it seems. Dear Buddha, help me...

"I don't know what to do in this situation," Issei explained, gripping his drink (water) tightly. He was considering clinging to Birkin, the only familiar person in this whole place.

They were at a bar. A gay bar. For people looking for dates. Issei already had a boyfriend. Even if he had been single, he wasn't one for the loose atmosphere. What was going on? Why was he at such a place?

Well, because Birkin had asked him to and he'd accepted. Now here he was, nervously looking around and trying not to panic.