[He can tell he's getting under Ninurrta's skin. There's something satisfying in it, watching the boy grapple with the existence of someone who's actually trash, to hang onto his belief that it was worth handing Kagari a promise like that.

Poor, stupid kid. He'd be willing to let him take it back, if it wouldn't be a waste of time to offer. Maybe he'll realize his mistake before it's too late.]

Maybe I'm not, but if you think you're one of them because you're desperate to prove your usefulness, you fit in even better than I thought you did.

[He scoffs, derisively]

But hey, I'm not in any huge rush to die, and like I said, it's not like I can stop you from trying to protect me. Here's hoping you don't come to regret it, eh?

[He cushions his head against his arms, then, and leans up against the wall, one leg crossing over the other. He wears his grin like he's in on some big secret Ninurrta isn't, offering a grin that's infuriatingly knowing.]

I'll tell you something though, Ninu-san. Sometimes? People are born to be nothing. It's not so bad, you know.

[When you'll be worthless to society regardless, it doesn't matter what you do or don't do. If that's the only freedom he'll ever have, he'll take it.]

Kind of nice, even, when you get used to it.

[A wink]

Food for thought.