[The touch is easy to relax to, and even if the words in part give him a tinge of regret, it's... that he can at least give this happiness to Shiro now - he's grateful for it. Wants to make him happy a hundred times over to make up for the time it took.]
I know. I'm glad now it's... [Not like that. Better. He holds his arms around Shiro now in more of an embrace. Truth is he never realized either, didn't allow himself the notion, Shiro or otherwise. There's a smile a little in his voice again after a moment.] Couldn't have guessed it'd be like this, huh.