"You are focusing entirely on sentimental considerations," Ishiah points out, watching Rin's little movements, from swirling the straw in his glass to slumping over in a dejected manner. It's petulant, but Rin is a child, after all. Petulance should be expected.

If anything, Rin's brother is the more unusual one there.

"The idea that you haven't shared a life, the idea that you don't have many things in common, why should either of these things get in the way of your relationship? The both of you had very different priorities for many years, which is why your skill lags behind him, beyond the matter of your differing personalities. Now would be the opportunity to close the gap," he says, tilting his head. "But you don't seem confident in that possibility. What is it that you want to get out of your relationship with him?"