[He's quiet, to let Ryuji have time to think about it, if he has to. To work his way verbally through it. He's not interested in a quick answer, or a joke. Luckily, he doesn't have to put up with playing it off. He just closes his eyes and listens, nodding once. He doesn't know the whole story behind Ryuji's childhood, and he's absolutely not going to pry, but... he'd had an inkling, at least, after their time in the bar. And he already knew that his coach broke his leg.

That Ryuji would still want to live his life the way it is, instead of changing it...]

You really are the protagonist of your own life story, huh?

[It's kind of a weird thing to say, but he means it, glancing to him for a moment before looking up again. He should have expected the question to be turned back on him, and it's almost sad, thinking about hypotheticals when he's already made his choice. Made his choice, then ended up here, instead. After all this time... there's no way the Academy is still considering him a candidate for the Project.]

If it meant I could prove wrong all those people who said people without talent weren't any better than fish crap, I'd do it.

[He holds up a hand, looks at it as if he could physically grab hold of a talent.]

But it's not like that matters here.