"For some reason, that doesn't exactly stop people from worrying." Shinji doesn't get that part himself, but he also doesn't understand pretending to be okay. He hasn't been on the same page as 'okay' since the orphanage fire.

(He might've finally worked back into the same book as 'okay,' which is a weird thought, really.)

"Could probably still get Koro-chan to sit on him, if it comes to it. Smartest damn dog I ever met. He'd go for it."