"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but skirting the rules like that will eliminate the benefits of the training."

"...Why?"

"Because the pacing is deliberately designed. A Jedi requires a certain mindset, and to foster that in a temple environment requires time."

"What's the mindset?"

"Calmness, peace, focus. A unification with the Force."

"...How are you supposed to do that if you don't have friends, though?"

"It can be very effective, for a certain sort of person."

She looks very skeptical. 

"You look like you disagree."

"That's just... Not how it works for me."

"How does it work for you?"

"...If I'm alone my head goes - really nuts. My thoughts get faster and then they get mean to me. And people who don't like me are... Dunno. Lots of times they don't count for not being alone. I think if they dislike me my head gets bad faster? But most people who don't like me dislike me instead."

She seems to be struggling. 

"I - think I'm really only at peace when someone's touching me? Doesn't matter if I know them, though if someone touches me a lot I feel better whenever they're around? And lots of my older friends will let me snuggle up to them so long as I stay really quiet and don't otherwise bother them, which is really nice, and most of my older friends don't like me so I think someone not liking me doesn't actually matter there. - And it's like, calm touching that's best I think, 'cause if my little kid friends are climbing over me, that'll help sometimes and not other times? But if someone's touching me I never really feel alone."

"There is another option, besides joining the Order immediately. I could take some time off and train you informally. We'd stay in the Outer Rim, most likely, and you would be able to see your friends."

"...I dunno they'd even want to keep seeing me."

"You can make new ones."

"I'm bad at making friends who like me, though, unless they're really little and don't know better..."

"Many things have changed for you. Perhaps that will prove to be another one."

"...Maybe."

"But you like me?"

"I do."

Bright grin! "Then I might not need other friends."

"I'm only one person, Anakin. I can't be everything for you."

"Why not?"

"I'm not perfect. I have limits and I have flaws. There will be days I make mistakes, days I annoy you, days I won't have enough attention to spare for you. Needs of your I simply won't be able to meet."

"I can meet lots of my own needs. And I don't always need attention, just - someone who doesn't mind me being close."

"I don't want you to have a single point of failure, Anakin."