What. What what what what what---Shinji had seen many things so far in his short life. Shadows, Tatarus, Dark Hour...yet Mitsuru breaking down was not one of them. Physical contact of any sort wasn't either. The two combined....a near improbability, especially when she knew he was wasn't...

"H-hey!---Nrggh let---" Damn she was holding on pretty tight and he wasn't going to accidentally hurt her by attempting to push her away (only Aki got that treatment). "What's gotten into you?" Seriously, there was a very audible ounce of worry in there. This wasn't you at all.