[ Rather than answer, he closes his eyes and lets himself drop into the onsen all the way. He didn't bother to take a proper breath beforehand so he doesn't stay down too long, just enough to drench himself in the hot water and let the heat soak into his skin. He shakes his head when he surfaces (he'll go chasing after his now wet towel later), his voice stronger than it was before.

It's a notable difference because while it's clear he's bothered by this, there's another emotion tangled up in it, one he doesn't express too often. Anger. Natsuno and anger make for things like genocide and burning every bridge in his closest friendship and then some. But here, he can't really be angry at Watanuki properly, at least if he wants to achieve his goal. So instead it's been sitting on him, but now that he's started it's easier to spit out. ]

He wanted me to be your keeper. Something about how you need help knowing right from wrong and how to make better judgments. He would give me wings but for every person you killed I would lose a feather. I guess he thought he was being poetic or something because if I just "guided you" and helped you find "nonviolent" solutions to your problems then I could have the freedom of flight.

That's not freedom, and I refuse to ever be trapped in a cage again. And I'd never let that happen to you either.