Whether he may be an ajin or not really wouldn't have meant a whole lot going forward, either way. Shinji doesn't want to see him die, whether or not he'd come back to life. Nobody gets to die on him, not if he can help it.

But that's not something he had any control of while Kai was gone. And honestly, would he truly be able to control that here? All he can count on in the future is that promise, which, yes, if Kai says he won't be doing anything reckless, Shinji can trust that. But still... still.

"Kaito..."

That's awful. He doesn't know what else to say to that. It's horrifying, and even thinking of Kai going through it makes him feel sick.