"Thanks," Kai murmured as he turned a soft look on Shinji. "I'm sure it would have been fine, but... Me too. I feel better about it too." Confirmed across the board that this was the best for everyone. They were all perfectly capable of being on their own, but it was fine. They really didn't need to be apart just yet.

"Let's go feed the little guy," he went on, giving everyone's hand a warm squeeze. Hang in there, Pen Pen. They'd be there in a jiffy.