"It's fine if you need others." Seimei said, looking away to a point in the middle distance. "I'm simply saying that I don't. You're better at making friends than I am. I've been alone here thus far... and I'll manage if I am alone again."

The words were carefully chosen, soft with just the faintest hint of pain. "It will be hard, though. It is good if you have others to depend on..." Bitterness rose up like bile and he wanted to push Ritsuka to the floor and walk away, cursing him for spreading his loyalty so thin it could be ripped with one careless swipe.

He hated him for that. Hated him and it was poison in his veins. He added the cherry to this angst sundae. "I just want what's best for you."