[A lesson someone else important taught him, too-- Nanami rises to mind as she often does and he inclines his head.]

I almost gave up once. I almost gave into despair, and I felt like everything would crush me, and why should I keep fighting when there'd be no point to it in the end? [He was going to disappear anyway--] But I was wrong.

So I won't. [Though he's tempted to cuff him for that smartass comment.] If I start looking like I'm going to, I'll give you permission to give me a hard time about it. [And, under the guise of thoughtfulness when it's actually the most affectionate of needling,] Though you probably wouldn't need it to, aniki.