Talk:Re: Chapter 89/@comment-27345913-20160820163613/@comment-10733658-20160820173103

^ Excellent points.

Ultimately, it's one more situation that forced characters into an ugly choice. And Houji is not only the squad leader, but Takizawa's former partner/mentor. So he put the choice on himself entirely, and made a decision that would hurt everyone. We don't know his thought process to know whether he felt like lying would be wrong, or whether he couldn't bring himself to do it, or felt he had to keep up a stern mask of professionalism even in this situation.

But it's definitely ugly, and harsh, and cruel to Takizawa that was basically like a kid wanting to be given approval. Houji's rejection was really the final straw.

I have to wonder if there's some cultural contexts that are missing in the discussion. I know that Japanese corporate culture has a big focus on responsibility, and the strict ideas of how a superior is supposed to be towards their subordinates.