[He's still not sure how he feels about Aomine looking at him so much. Katze is used to hiding. Behind a cigarette, behind his hair, in a shadow. He's used to people not wanting to look at him too long.

Aomine says he'll be careful. It's a promise that Katze's not sure he'll keep but you can't force someone to do something. He knows better than to crush the bird before it's flown from his palm, and he hopes he never has to crush it at all.]

I wasn't always so tough. You stay alive by worrying. Advising.

[The touch to his face startles him. There's a kind of wary look in his eyes, like a dog afraid it's about to be struck. But there's no reason to expect that from the teenager, and Katze eventually relaxes into it.]

I was younger and much smaller in Ceres. It skews your view a little, I think.

[Maybe that scar on his face has something to do with it too. Katze is still looking him over, but he at least has the grace to not be looking him over suggestively. For now.]

You'll be fine. I'm sure.