I value your opinion of me. It is heartening to know that you do not think of me as a worse person.

[ His voice is tight. He's angry--angry at himself, for allowing those emotions to get the best of him; at the Instructor, for demanding this of them; at Owen, for provoking him. Behind all that, there's a touch of shame Gentaro doesn't know how to handle.

Well. Ignoring those uncomfortable feelings has never done him wrong. ]

I would warn you not to provoke those stronger than you, but there would be no point, would there?