It's not like he can really fault Kai for not understanding the full scope of what these affections from Shinji in specific might lead to. There were still a lot of truths about himself he wasn't willing to divulge so easily, even with the extra coaxing from the hot springs. His track record with the people he's cared this much about, the fact that he's never been able to piece together even a fraction of that same care for himself...

Ah, no, he has actually made a point to mention how he really does hate himself to Kai before, hasn't he? And Kai would still hate to lose him, even knowing that. It's not... the same, he doesn't think, as returning those feelings, so maybe that's... okay? He's not sure. He knew there was no way this wouldn't get complicated and messy if he let his feelings come out like that, so he's not exactly prepared to deal with the fallout now that they've managed to slip past his defenses.

Softly, "I'm... not going anywhere," he can assure that much, no matter how loud the part of him that would like nothing more than to just run off right now might be. His selfishness to hold on to those assurances as tightly as possible is a lot stronger in the moment.

"You don't have to feel the same, you can even forget I said it, if you want. That would be fine! But... I won't go anywhere, if you don't want me to."