Kaoru smiles. He understands that the kiss means Kei's mind is settling, not so lost in the problem he's facing that he can't see what's around him. It feels good to have his playfulness reciprocated, to feel valued. Not that Kei doesn't always value him, but Kaoru can feel helpless in the face of Kei's stress and anxiety, and that's where insecurity looms.

After the kiss, he leans back. "For what it's worth, I think you should hear them out. Try it. If you don't like it, you don't have to stay."