...Is that what it looks like? [Because yeah, "shinki's pasts don't matter" is something he doesn't really believe himself. But there'd been no reason not to relay it. At least until he'd seen how badly Chikusa had reacted.]

I said it because it's something that shinki should follow. But I...don't know why I can't follow that conviction. [No, he does know, but the reason is "because I'm me," and that's not exactly convincing, or even logical.]

...It might have been a mistake to say it when I don't believe it. [But there'd been a reason he'd chosen to.] ...The conversation might have headed somewhere dangerous. I wanted to head that off. You caught me...I lied.

...Does that anger you?