[She was right. Compared to everyone else who just needed an open ear, maybe a shoulder to cry on, both Kanji and Naoto were those two stubborn asses who had been forced to grow up early, and had mile-high walls that needed to be scaled before anything else.

...Souji really was a fuckin' saint.

Kanji draped an arm over Naoto's shoulders.]

Yeah, true. It took me two years to tell someone I love 'em. How the hell would I open myself up enough to be...

[He thoughtfully looked skyward.]

...Yeah. Vulnerable's the word. For people like us, goin' down to skin n' open heart's a whole huge thing.