[Oh.

It's nowhere near what Ryuji thought it would end up being, and surprised, he feels entirely disconnected from Hajime for a second before... it starts crashing down on him. And it sucks- his friend is being crushed by all the lives he didn't lead, all the things he perceived that he couldn't do... it's just. It's wrong. No one should feel so divested in their own capabilities that they can't make a difference in the world.

Ryuji's instinct is to take Hajime and wrap an arm around him, even if it's just a gesture to protect him... from himself, but he doesn't make a movement like that. Never one to be incredibly great with what his words entail, he's always relied on action, on physical cues, things like that to get across the meaning behind things. So it's difficult, to say the least, because he hates that Hajime thinks this way. Thinks so little of himself.]

So... why can't you be like us?

[He scratches the back of his head, and it's with unease that his grimaced features look back on his friend.]

If you wanna fight back against fucked up people, you just have to believe in yourself that you can make change out there in the world. Wave the flag of rebellion, all that shit that comes along with it.

We're just a bunch of normal teens that got caught up in something we probably shouldn't have to begin with.

[He looks up at Hajime, unsure of what he's trying to get at, before it dawns on him.]

Why don't you join us? You can be a thief, too.