[...it'd be nice if he could be more like a sword.

it's not the first time itsuki's had the thought, but he's never really seriously ruminated on it. he doesn't have to be a sword to fight well, or to be someone buzen can reliably depend on, or be trusted to take care of himself. those aren't limited to swords.

he just feels it more now, especially after this mission.]

...I'm sorry. [he barely keeps himself from saying 'you're more important to me than the mission is', because itsuki knows it'll just hurt buzen to hear it. it won't fix anything, and it might make things worse,

even if it's the truth]

I know that regretting it now won't change anything. But I do regret it. I wish Hyuuga-kun and you didn't get hurt. It shouldn't have been him or you.

[if anything, he should have reaped the consequences of his own choices.]