[Kotetsu almost feels like a 10-year-old under the scrutiny of the look. No matter how old he gets, there are always times like that—and today, it's particularly apparent for him. Despite his best attempts, Kotetsu can't keep eye contact. He plays for the best thing he can grab a hold of:

He acts his role.]

Aaaah, yeah. It was a pretty tough mission, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. Kinda easy points, you know?

[Points, he used to make points, it's not that hard to do

It's part of his job back home. Was.]

There were close calls, but we got through it in one piece.

You shoulda' seen the teamwork we had going there, for a while. It was pretty cool, if you ask me.

[He's had days where he dragged himself face-first into his couch before. Bruised and scraped just like this. Skipped out on a shower just like this, achy, tired, full of self-doubt that spiraled into something nasty and ugly and almost mean-spirited.

But at least he always got enough points to keep his job. When things were bleak, he always did what he could to keep his promise to Tomoe. He can't be a hero to anyone here if he can't protect them; isn't that why he's getting points? So they can be free. Go home.

He's just being a hero in someway, somehow. If he can't be one for Kaede, or for Sternbild, or for Tomoe, he has to be one for the people here he cares about. He has to, to make up for what he failed at.

you're retired

it's pretty obvious why

Because he can't even protect his own daughter in his dreams?

ha]