I'll forgive ya first, if you won't. [ That part of what Scott said, at least, he could answer easily enough.

Shinjiro leanded in also. They weren't quite touching, yet. This wasn't like the dream. He just ... didn't want to shout out personal stuff to be heard over the party's loud noise, that's all.

He looked away, but at Scott's hands, rather than his own, slowly peeling off the label on his beer. ]

I. Uh. Like hangin round you, too. Might not need your help, but.

Um.

... I do feel like you understand. More than just, shared histories, I guess. And if you're weird, it's a nice kinda weird. Just ... you try even harder than I do, looks like, to do good, y'know? You try so damn hard.

Wish you'd be a little nicer to yourself sometimes.

[ Because Shinjiro was a giant hypocrite, of course. ]