This manga started out around the time I was born and now I'm almost an adult. I cant imagine how slow and agonizing this is for long term readers. I have mad respect for all of the people who have stuck with this -- you deserve an award.
When he was talking about walking awake and alone, I suddenly thought of the lyric, "I walk a lonely road" from Green Day's song Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Now I cant get that song out of my head, lol