[hikari falls silent again, mulling over his words. what to say, what not to say. he feels guilty for hiding anything from a friend, but there are details that he's always been reluctant to voice.]

... Our nation was built on warfare. For generations, Clan Ku has perpetuated that cycle—the belief that there is glory through bloodshed and sacrifice. Mugen... embodies all the worst qualities of our family, too strongly.

[his mouth presses into a line, before he shakes his head slowly.]

The fact that I don't hold such beliefs is one of the many reasons why he has always hated me. [tightly,] And why, I suppose, he would rather slaughter our own people than have me succeed the throne over him.