[His tone is soft.] Yes, I could do that. After all, it's not as though I have a temple to go back to. [Pause.] The desire to protect people in a wonderful trait. [There's a faint smile.] Human beings are resilient, especially when given such a powerful will. Unfortunately, however, there's always going to be something out there that- ...nobody can be saved from.

[His expression darkens a moment as his thoughts return to his mother.] No matter how important they are to you.

[The last thing Akihiko says has Seishin giving a faintly concerned look, at first. When it fades, it's replaced by that dark look, once again. He hadn't only lost his mother. He'd lost his father, too. As well as nearly all of his friends- those like family, included.]

...Neither do I.

[Perhaps that's what assisted in his decision to repair his relationship with Toshio, since he's all Seishin has left.

With that thought in mind, Seishin has to wonder...how hard it must be for Akihiko.]

We all have our burdens to bear. Keeping the burdens buried, in silence, only results in lonely suffering.