"Maybe that's part of it? Like...they knew you when you were smaller, so they couldn't help but want to keep you from the stuff you were actually ready for."

It's a guess, and his tone says as much. "...I know that some people here have that kind of outlook because of my age...so, if that kind of thought stuck..."

But then again, are people like that even in the sorts of places Otoha was? Hm.