"It's all right." Kariya smiles again as they continue to move. He's used to people assuming things about him, so it doesn't bother him a great deal. Most people's assumptions today are far milder than the ones he had to grow up with. He won't say he's glad he had that kind of childhood, but it did accustom him to many of life's hardships.

"I've lived in the States for a few years now. The system here has its problems, but there are good things about it, too. And a lot of people who try to make a difference. It's much better than it is in some other places, I know." There's a lot more he could say about the issue, but it isn't the time. Comparatively, he doesn't know much about the mental health system in his homeland, because he was kept far away from it by his family, in spite of having mental health problems.

"It would be my pleasure, too. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

As he talks, he remains alert. He leads them outside. The earth is churning around them, slowly. The worms he's called here aren't very fast, but there are so many of them that they're hard to miss, literally millions of them having responded to him. He knows they can't do much in a battle, realistically, but they might be able to serve as a distraction or unbalance people. Outside, he's more aware of the surroundings, as his communication with the worms allows him to sense where animals, including humans, are walking. He has a much better sense of the lay of the land out here.