Yeah? Y' know ya keep callin' me "kid" like I haven't been around a few times. Think you're the first person t' ever gimme that piece of advice?

[ he grits his teeth, straining the words out because even like this he's a difficult man to silence. ]

I'm fine and ya ain't gonna touch who I love. I don't really like begrudgin' a guy for doin' his job, so I'd like t' think you're smarter'n that...

[ if anyone tried to drag izō into this directly, ryouma feels like they probably deserve whatever they get. ]