I don't know. [But then he backtracks--]--I mean...hm. I'm not sure how to describe this taste.

[Or rather, he doesn't really know where to start with the things he takes issue with in regards to himself. He does consider something, though--]

...But the old me probably would have known. Back then, it felt like I had an answer for everything. And now...actually come to think of it, I never did give you a proper answer for that question you asked me a moment ago, did I?

[The one about whether or not he wanted to survive, and how he said all that stuff about being "the optimistic type" and it would be "hypocritical" to be anything else otherwise.]

[Of all the things that Masaomi could have said, that actually seems to strike a nerve, judging by the look he gets in response for that "joke". But, Cilan quickly focuses on the question at hand again rather than allowing himself to get annoyed by that comment--'cause truth be told, Masaomi might actually be right about that. Still...]

Don't misunderstand me, I still stand by what I said before. It would be wrong of me to say that I didn't want to survive. It's just... [He thinks for a moment, before...ah, found it.] ...rather than wanting to survive, it feels like we need to survive. If we don't survive, and thus leave behind all of the memories and lessons that were gained during our stay here, then it almost feels like everything that happened here didn't matter in the end.

[Bad memories aside, if we leave and act as if nothing happened, then what was the point of being brought here to Luceti in the first place? ...Why should we even have this conversation about fixing our weaknesses if we're just going to go right back to being who we used to be before all of this?]

...Mm. I suppose as far as they're concerned, they have other things to worry about. [Well, maybe not for past Cilan, who was happy and simply enjoying the time he spent with his friends--the last thing he remembers was celebrating because Ash had earned his 8th Unova Gym badge. Any major concern he had at the time was probably something like "gosh, I hope that he'll do well in the Pokemon League tournament!"...now he worries about things like "I really hope he doesn't die in this place", copy-pasted several times over to include Iris, his brother, and probably anyone else he has ever said at least three words to here.

He may have some mixed feelings about surviving and not wanting to give up some of the memories he has, but...he's a little envious of the Cilan of the past; he doesn't have to worry about such things, unlike the Cilan that's here in Luceti now.

Speaking of our past selves, though...]

What about you, then? If the Masaomi of the past could see the Masaomi that's standing here now...what kind of opinion do you think he would have about you?

[Cilan said that he thinks his past self would be disappointed with him. Would your past self be disappointed too, or do you think he would be proud of who you are now?]

[That gets a slight eyebrow raise.]

"Cool", huh? [...It's really tempting to make a joke here, but instead he lets it slide.] ...Well, I suppose I could understand why he might think that, at least in regards to the idea that our former selves would be terrified to know some of the things we've done or experienced here.

[Unless you were thinking of some other reason for why he would be terrified of you, that is.]

Hm...I don't know if "lame" is the appropriate word I would use to describe this taste. After all, you are someone that I think could at least be considered "capable" when it comes right down to it.

[Cilan didn't get involved with missions, but from what he's seen from the drafts, you do seem to have some idea of what you're doing when you're out there fighting, and that's not actually counting the stuff involving Linda.]

Really? [Huh...] May I ask why?

I see. [...] I must admit, it's hard to say whether that's a bad thing or not that you don't have that mindset. I'm not a connoisseur when it comes to that particular area of expertise. [And thank god for that, because nobody needs to hear Cilan say weird things about this taste.] After all, we don't have a pressing need for soldiers, where I'm from.

[Sure, Team Rocket and some of the other evil gangs are a pain, but there hasn't been an actual war in Unova for quite a long time, not since the legend of the Black and White Heroes. (And besides, being told that you have the perfect mindset to be a soldier in a war that can cost people their lives isn't exactly a cheery thought to think about, you know?)]

"On the whole"? [Hmm] ...Well, I suppose, on the whole in regard to Unova, the worst we've got are gangs like Team Rocket causing trouble, which I can only hope that you don't have to face any similarly unsavory people where you're from.

[He's not naive enough to think that gangs don't exist in other worlds, but at least Masaomi doesn't have to personally deal with any, right...]

[That gets a slight eyebrow raise. Fine, he'll phrase it as a question, then.]

Do you have unsavory people like that where you're from, Masaomi? [Gangs like Team Rocket, or just any detestable people in general?]

[...Oh yeah, he sort of vaguely remembers you mentioning a few details like Shizuo and the Slasher a long time ago, but all of that possibly going on at once? Yikes, none of that seems very appealing.]

And I thought just having Team Rocket around was bad enough...it sounds like your home has a lot on it's plate to contend with. [Which is probably putting it lightly.] I hope it doesn't affect your personal life too much...

...It still sounds like a rather dangerous place to live in sometimes, but I'm glad that you know how to keep yourself safe from harm.

[...Or does he? Masaomi seems to know what he's doing, but...hm, that might be another question to keep in mind when it's our turn to ask something again...]

...Out of harm's way, you mean? [ahaha] Well...in my case, that's a hard thing to do, being a Pokemon Connoisseur and a Gym Leader, there's a risk of harm now and again. But even then, I suppose I was doing well with staying out of trouble, until I started traveling with Ash and Iris, and met people like Team Rocket. The latter tends to show up when you least expect them to, despite attempts to avoid them, and then with the former...well, one day it might be a normal excursion to the next city over, the next you're being chased by ghost Pokemon in abandoned buildings, or being attacked by Bouffalant simply because they don't like your hair-style. [...Those are some pretty specific examples, Cilan.]

Either way, our life has had an unpredictable flavor to it that makes it hard to completely stay out of harm's way. Of course, that's not even getting into the trouble you can get into here, so... [Long story short, it might be impossible, but at least he tries.]