Shinjiro sighed as Ken flinched away from him, remorse now settling in heavy and deep. Clear on his face, weighting down his chest - his shoulders hunched a little as he shrugged. "It aint your fault. There's nothin to apologize for."

His face twisted a little. "You aren't the one who died. You aren't the one who fucked up three years ago. You aren't the one who ran from that - you aren't the one who left everybody, kid. I don't regret what happened last night - months ago for you - but I do regret you had to go through all that, and you feel bad enough to apologize now for tellin me the truth."

Glancing at Ken from under his bangs, Shinjiro told him, sincere and gruff, "I don't know if it matters, but I'm ... impressed, and proud, with everythin you've done. You deserved better, though. Don't blame yourself for givin me the news or anythin, all right?"