The biggest problem of all: himself.

But, no, he's not speaking depreciatively, and it's good that Kai seems to have pieced together the problem here now that he's not swept up in being affectionate. "Me," he confirms, taking a moment to himself to really absorb this heightened perspective now that he has someone else right in front of him. It's different...! Not, like, bad, but definitely different.

"I don't... really know what to do about it?" Is this some weird Havenwell prank that can be reversed? He doesn't quite sound panicked about it, at least, mostly baffled above whatever concern is still simmering away.

"Not... particularly." He takes a moment to sort of assess himself, but he doesn't feel strange or sore at all. That's not a huge indicator of anything, he doesn't think - when everyone was randomly shrinking down to child-sized, it wasn't like that was an inherently uncomfortable process, for example. He hadn't kept his memories of Havenwell for that, though, so it's probably not... the exact same thing.

A spot of cozy contact usually helps with that kind of weirdness, so perhaps that scoop would be a fruitful move in the long run? Shinji's more than willing to keep his arms loosely draped around the other boy, at any rate.

"I didn't notice anything different earlier, either. Yesterday I was the same as always, right?" As far as he knew, surely Kai's second opinion on that would be valuable.

That sure is a possibility he hadn't even considered. His eyes go round in surprise as the plausibility of that potential settles on him, and for a moment he just kind of... thinks that over.

"I... maybe?" But ? why ? Why him and why now?? But perhaps a more pertinent concern with that idea is, "If that's the case... I don't really have any clothes that fit well now."

He's lucky that he likes his sleepwear generally pretty roomy, but past that. Not. So much.

Delightful.

A clothes swap isn't a terrible idea, though. In fact, it's probably the best solution for this particular problem!

"Is that okay?" As if Kai would offer if it wasn't. Actually... he probably would, but it seems like something harmless enough either way. He watches Kai's hands as they play with the hem of his shirt, focus lingering there for just a moment before looking back up at his face. "Hopefully it won't be for too long," be it a temporary or permanent change, "but I'd really appreciate it."

He would not ask for those particular clothes explicitly because Kyoko, actually.

"That's a good idea," wouldn't want to catch her too much by surprise, after all. But with Kai's blessing securely in place, Shinji lifts one hand to gently pat Kai's cheek. "Thank you," both for lending him the clothes and the offer of warning. "You're a lifesaver, Kai. I won't be too long."

Unfortunately(?), there's no time for any kind of tryst, whole or otherwise, as Shinji stayed true to his word of making short work of picking out something from Kai's wardrobe. Here he comes, down the hall! Feeling fairly self-conscious about this whole dilemma but, presently, largely curious over what all this hubbub is about!

"Do you need help with something...?"

Hello, Kyoko! Hope that warning Kai delivered went well. What are we up to here?