... I set this up months ago. [His voice has quieted, realizing now how afraid Tetsuo is, though he doesn't know of what and he doesn't understand it. Prison just seems very boring to Minato, and not at all helpful for Tetsuo, to punish him for something he was only doing because he was lost.

He's so obviously not like that now. Well, lost in a different way-- but non-violent. Powerless. It seems doubly terrible to put him in prison like this. So he tries to reassure him.]

But it didn't seem like the right time to bring it up, so I've been waiting. It's okay. If I'm responsible for you, then I take it seriously. I won't let anyone come after you-- even if you had your powers, I would defend you.