I dunno if I'd say I'm the protag. It's just that... I wanna make a life for myself with my own hands. Not have any regrets. That sorta thing. It's more of an aesthetic than a role.

[Even then, was he really doing that great a job of it to begin with?]

What're you...

[Can Hajime not try to catch shooting stars like it'll give him some super power? Ryuji sighs, exasperated, and moves his arm outward to knock Hajime's out from his philosophical pining.]

You're right. It doesn't matter.

[He's starting to get annoyed, but he can't put his finger on why. Just that it's there. It's always there- anger, and can't stop a few biting words from chastising Hajime by mistake... the bluntness just kind of rolls with him.]

You think havin' some super power would've done something for Rogue? It was the paralysis, the loss of gravity. [God, even saying her name.

He catches himself, holding that into his chest, and feeling... really, really bad about it.]

The world's just. It's messed up. Bad things happen, good things happen. Doesn't matter if you're Ultraman or some bum on the streets. You're doin' what you can here, and there's not a single person on this station that doesn't see you as an equal.

And if they don't, I swear to god I'll kick their ass.