The scoops do a very good job of helping to usher Shinji back down the hall, but gosh and golly if he isn't far less at its mercy than he'd normally find himself. With just a little bit of effort, his toes can meet the ground, all while that smooch is in a generally easier to reach range. How truly unusual.

What is he supposed to do if not return that smooch, though? It's a good, if fleeting, distraction, and it brings a brief flash of a smile to Shinji's lips.

"Um," he utters quietly, like he's trying to keep what he has to say on the down-low from any other parties who may be prone to worrying, as that smile fades into a more tempered look of concern. "I think... there might be some kind of problem?"