[Rei stares right back into his eyes, not flinching. He understands how serious Rin is, and even though he knows that logically it shouldn't, because they're only teenagers, sitting on a couch in t-shirts and sweatpants with uncertain futures before them, he suddenly feels like this moment holds a lot of gravity.

He suddenly knows for sure he wants to make it happen, whatever "it" means for them.]

I believe I know firsthand, having been one of your "pursuits" myself. [He reaches up to slip off his glasses while Rin's eyes are closed, because he's close enough to see Rin's beauty without them, and they just get in the way.]

I think you'll find that I am also not so easily discouraged.

[He slips his outside arm up onto Rin's shoulder, tilts his head just a little and kisses him, like he's done many times before. But something feels a little different today, or maybe that's just his imagination.]