Hiro, believe me when I say I didn't used to be. I've been doing this for years now, though. That's why I'm okay with it. I did...and do...what I have to do to make sure that people get to live an ordinary life. Without worrying about a monster, or fearing that the Earth might be destroyed. I'm okay with it because it's the right thing.

[Rei takes a breath and smiles wistfully.]

It's what heroes do. You sacrifice things to do the right thing. I saved the future, and it cost me nothing except having a mundane school life. I gave up on that when I turned ten, you know. And the dividends paid out for that loss far, far outweigh the loss.