[ There's a pause, but it isn't because he's impressed or frightened. It's because the well of his anger overflows into his chest. The dispersing of that all spreads the fingerlings of tension through skin and through bone. Ryo's attention doesn't shift. ]

Is it?

[ It bites itself off in parceled syllables, seamless and clear. He's awake as he can be under this new experiment, his attention fixed and even. He doesn't care about whatever Kira says or about the other guys. He doesn't give a shit about what Kira thinks he should or shouldn't think. Ryo had made a promise months ago. He hasn't broken it. He's killed plenty for Akira. He's personally seen to it, the gun in his hand back then a familiar and comforting weight. He'd taken that man's life and so too his mother's, just for being associated. It was what he had to do to protect him. It's what he'd do no matter the cost.

He'd like to see anyone try to rip Akira from him. ] For someone who says they have no interest, you're very invested in making some point and giving unsolicited advice in a hallway.

[ He's just saying. He might deny certain emotions, but he can certainly tell what emotions others are displaying to him. Don't give him that stuff about doing it for the fun of it like he hasn't done that one too. ]