at first, he didn't show it, but when he found out the truth about his father, he wilted.

Shin was waiting for any excuse, even a pathetic apology, even if it was shrouded in lies.

he couldn't forget the day his own father pointed a gun at him, as if if he had taken his own son's life, he would have been able to live with peace of mind.

after the incident, you asked him "does it bother you?", but Shin just shook his head in a silent answer of no.

In the evening, the two of you were sitting in the room. you were resting after skill development training while he was just sitting next to you, too quiet for his usual state.

"do you know what was the most annoying thing?" he suddenly spoke, staring at a single point on the floor.

"what do you mean?"

"I'm talking about my father."

these words were enough for you to take a sitting position, looking at him attentively, encouraging him to continue talking.

"false expectations. I spent most of my life thinking about him, missing him, only to find out later that he was bad."

"Shin..." you whisper softly, covering his hand with yours as if it would make him feel better.

"then he just covered me with his back, as if he wanted me to be grateful to him."

he pauses between the words, as if he's not sure if he should speak, but then he continues.

"I just wanted him to say that he missed me at least a little, looked for me, thought about me, but all he did was tell me off before he died. am I just a bad son?"

your fingers instinctively tighten on his arm, and your eyes become determined to change his mind.

"it's not like that, we just can't figure out what's in other people's minds."

"but my ability, I can read minds, but there wasn't a single sound one in my father's head..."

did you see the moisture in his eyes? you just hugged him silently, stroking his back soothingly with your palms.

at that moment? that was all he needed.

"you saved not only that child on the ship, but also all the other people on the ship, me and Sakamoto. you're a hero with a pure heart, that's how I see you."

he closed his eyes, hiding his face in your shoulder as his shoulders trembled. If only you knew how grateful he was to you, but his voice was too shaky to say it.