I've been trying for years to do that, to take it and deal with it...!!

[He shakes his head, biting back a pained wail at the confirmation

(she's not confirming it she's just talking back with you)

that Atem would never want to see him again.]

My friends...they're his friends too. They...they ought to just be his friend. He's stronger, better at this than I could ever be. He's had to help me with everything, there's nothing I've done on my own, ever...

[That...probably isn't true. But Ryou is distraught enough that he can't think of a single time Atem hasn't won the game for him right now.]

And with him, you...d-don't have to worry about being hurt because I'm nothing but bad luck...