Even while they're busy exchanging sweet and affectionate gestures like this, Shinji's unprepared for how a statement like that one would make his heart flutter. His hands still in surprise for just a moment, before he moves them down to either side of Kai's head and carefully runs his thumbs over his temples.

That daring peek is definitely rewarded with a look at some choice color hitting Shinji's cheeks, though his expression quickly shifts from surprise to something a little more... somber. "I'm glad... I can be putting them to good use." How nice that they can be doing things that make the people he cares about happy, and holding on to these important things.