“You think I’m threatening him? No. What happened to him happened before I met him.“ He may not get along very well with Kudou, but he wouldn’t force that fate upon anyone.
“But let’s just say that there is a certain river with only one current. Somehow, despite how so many have tried to swim against the current, he managed to, without losing his intellect in the slightest. Understand the river is something we all are in.”
“I’m not certain if you were aware or not, but I have never enjoyed working through your riddles."
This admission on Hakuba’s part came with an irritated, but somewhat sheepish, roll of his eyes. The language barrier was something that he had worked at extensively, but no matter how studious he was, there would always be more Japanese word play references than he could possibly grasp. Every riddle of Kaitou’s was eventually solved, true – he kept up with the heists even when overseas – but it always took him far too long for his comfort and pride.
"Is Edogawa-kun all right? Is he safe? Do I need to step in, some how, to guarantee that he is in a positive environment?"
Clearly, the detective had misunderstood. The ache in his heart was strong and he wondered, intentions good but misplaced, if he ought to be leaving to make a trip to the Mouri Detective Agency at that moment to rectify whatever horrible situation the boy had been put in. From one kindred spirit to another… he would do whatever it took!