There's nothing wrong with being mad at the situation in general, Shinji would think, but if she doesn't voice those worries, he has no idea that they're going through her mind at all.

Instead, she turns his earlier question back on him. Very perceptive, Kyoko.

He doesn't answer right away, but it's pretty immediately evident to him how telling a pause like that might be. He turns the word over in his head for a moment before breathing out a soft, "No." It's a thought that's occurred to him before, but up until now, he hasn't had to confront it this directly. It's easy to pretend like it might not be the case when he's the only one who knows it, but he's not going to just... lie about it.

"That probably sounds pretty awful of me."