[How does he cope. Surely Kratos has noticed how ungraceful Yuan is at dealing with others; how readily he reacts even to things that weren't intended to wound. Yuan knows he does these things, and yet rarely finds a way to correct them even as he's aware of them happening.]

[He doesn't think he has a good answer for Kratos.]

Poorly.

[But that isn't really an answer. Yuan grimaces, and waits a bit to see if Kratos will look back at him.]

I choose my battles, when I can. There's no use in taking on the whole world at once-- it's exhausting, and pointless.

Some people matter. Most of them don't.

[Caring is just as exhausting as fighting. There's a reason Yuan hasn't done much for those who are his fellows by blood.]

I keep my expectations low, and therefore am rarely disappointed when the world fails to be kind.

[The failing of hopes, when constant, becomes a weight all its own. Yuan learned this lesson early, and began to settle only for what he was sure he could reach. ...He had been very, very certain about that bet, because there was no other option.]