Ryujin sat across from you at the small café table, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the side of his coffee cup. The usual intensity in his gaze seemed sharper today, his dark eyes watching your every move as you spoke.

“…So, I guess I just didn’t think it mattered much,” you said with a light laugh, leaning back in your chair.

Ryujin didn’t laugh. His brow furrowed slightly, the subtle sign of irritation beginning to creep into his expression. You could feel the shift in the air between you—the calm before the storm of his precise, unyielding logic.

"You didn’t think it mattered?" Ryujin’s voice was quiet but laced with that unmistakable edge. "That’s the problem. You’re not thinking."

The comment stung, but before you could reply, he continued, his tone cool and measured, the way it always was when he switched into educator mode.

"You’re operating on impulse," he said, leaning forward slightly. "Do you understand how detrimental that is? If you don’t analyze a situation logically, you leave yourself vulnerable to mistakes—avoidable mistakes. The smallest error can lead to chaos." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know what chaos leads to?"

You swallowed, feeling a mix of defensiveness and curiosity bubbling inside. “It’s just a small thing, Ryujin. I don’t see how—”

"That’s exactly the point," he interrupted, his voice cutting through your protest. "You don’t see. You act as if the details don’t matter, but every detail contributes to the larger system. Look at it from a mathematical perspective. Every variable affects the outcome of an equation. If you ignore even one factor, you risk destabilizing the entire system. In life, it’s the same. One overlooked detail can lead to disaster."

His words hung in the air, weighty and unyielding. You could feel his frustration simmering just beneath the surface, though it wasn’t anger. No, Ryujin was rarely angry—he was simply exasperated with what he saw as a lack of logic.