[Bluntly said:] Life might be short, but I wouldn't mind if mine were shorter.

[He'd resigned himself to that fate long ago. With a small intake of breath, he speaks up again, taking on a specific tone that must be imitated from somewhere even if Taro doesn't know the person it with whom it originated:]

"I know you're a good kid right now, but you must be killed. We can't risk you becoming the Devil." --Do you know how many times I've heard that? Even if I wanted to, there's no way I can just stop thinking about it, even if it would make me happier.