[He laughed again at that, shaking his head. He figured you cared, you doofus. He was just teasing, mostly. That's how Akira was.]

...

... Do you think Goro feels the same way? Think he's a little bitter?

[It wasn't exactly the same situation, but he had more or less befriended him and then screwed him over. Even if Goro had made the first move, Akira sometimes wondered if he was bitter about it.]

No, maybe he's not. He doesn't seem bitter. Not at me, anyway. [A little bitter at himself, if anything.]

I guess I understand, really. But for your sake, I hope you continue to sound like him. No matter how much you hate it, it's a good look on you.