[Ken would honestly always be a complicated subject for him - the last thing he remembered, after all, was hearing how much the other hated him for what he did (something he'd never fault him for). Fuuka was lucky enough to get the privilege to see that other side of a young boy who regretted his actions - but Shinjiro was put into a position where that was something he'd likely never get to hear from the kid himself. It was partly why he'd almost considered telling her off when the boy's name had been brought into the conversation - but again, that wouldn't have solved anything. Knowing she hadn't been there to hear any part of that exchange, would have only ended with him getting more irritated and angry because as much as he hated to admit it - all those emotions he'd been keeping at bay about that particular situation were still fresh and he wouldn't have been able to keep a cool head no matter how hard he tried.

Yet he also understood that she was just trying to find a way to make him understand something that he adamantly refused to believe himself. Shinji didn't necessarily want to die, at least not as much as Fuuka was likely thinking, but with the way things had turned out, he was just glad that Ken wasn't the one who ended up taking his life in the end.

If anything, being able to give up his life protecting him, was something that he wouldn't take back no matter what Fuuka said.]

Good. [He paused, then, partly because the thank you felt unnecessary, but also for the simple fact that he felt relieved that he was able to do something. If he'd been able to put her mind at ease - even if it was a little, then this whole stupid conversation had been well worth the trouble. So he defaults to the usual sigh, the frost already melting around him as one hand moved to ruffle the top of her head.]

Now get to bed. I'll stick around to clean up this mess - and before you start to protest, no. I don't want your help.