a message from Hiko Seijuro

to Kenshin:

"Because you have slain so many people, you don't even value your life. That is what allows the manslayer deep in your heart to take over your soul. Even using the powers of a manslayer to sacrifice yourself to protect those that you love or the weak, it is only a moment in the long continuous strands of time.
Live on Kenshin.
Then you'll be able to use Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki as you please.
And, you'll never again lose to the manslayer hidden inside you."

to Lenz:

"Because you have failed so many times, you don't even value your goals. That is what allows the depressed Lenz deep in your heart to take over your soul. Even using stress and fear to force yourself to study, it is only temporary.
Always Love, Lenz.
Then you'll be able to succeed or score A+'s as you please.
And, you'll never again lose to the depressed Lenz hidden inside you."
_____

Have I not been valueing the Love of Learning, escaping all along?
_____

Just as Kenshin has seen his foster sisters killed in front of him, filling him with Fear;

So was Lenz seeing other kids fail and be rejected by society, filling him with Fear.

but as he focuses on the Will to Live now,
Lenz focuses on the Will to Love.