Kai had to pause, lips parting ever so slightly with a sentiment he didn't have the words for. Taking credit for something like this seemed wildly incorrect but... God, if this was the one good thing his dumb ass could manage in his life, Kai was more than okay with that. If nothing else, this was good.

"Shinji..."

Rolling a little, Kai propped himself up to look at him just a bit better. He couldn't really be too disheartened by some of that-- compared to where Shinji had been about a year ago, even just "maybe not ever really liking himself" was. Real Big Progress? Wanting to be better would just keep changing that for the better, maybe? That felt right, at least. Kai wanted to believe in that.

He settled his hand warm near the far edge of Shinji's collar, squeezing lightly. "You'll get there. Definitely."