[He's quiet for a good half a minute after Shuichi's done talking, just letting that sink in. Not because it's hard to comply with but...that's it? That's...all he wants? Tears start to prickle at the corners of his eyes and he hastily lifts a hand to wipe them away with his sleeves, though they're still obviously there, eyes still overly glassy. He thought...this would be impossible. He though, even when Shuichi reached "I could forgive you", that it'd be one of those things where he could only forgive him if he wasn't going to be him anymore. Because he's not stupid, he knows he's hard to put up with. But that's not what Shuichi's asking for at all. When he finally replies, his voice is a little strained, carrying the kind of tone that says he's on the verge of crying.]

I don't...ever want to do things like that again, Saihara-chan. I don't. I just want to have fun, and that wasn't fun... I know sometimes I'm mean - really mean - but I'm not...like that. I-I'm not that cruel, I'm not a mur-- [Well...no. He can't say he's not a murderer anymore, can he? Taking a deep breath, he shakes his head a little and wipes at his eyes again. This is what he hates about being honest. Once you start on the feelings road, you can't just stop...and that road only leads to feeling gross and being in pain. He bows once more, even lower than the last one.]

I promise, I'll never do anything like that ever again. And whatever you can't forgive, I'll do my best to make right, no matter how long that takes or what I have to do. So...so p-please accept my apology.

[Please forgive him.]