[It's funny, almost. Pittman is absolutely right--the person who's been punishing Ryuki the most all of this time has been Ryuki, unable to let go of that guilt and self-loathing for what he did to his superior, who he cared so deeply for, and to his own beliefs and determination to carry out proper justice.

All this time, he's thought--surely it isn't fair, surely it's not right for him to be paired up with someone when he's this much of a mess, and definitely not Pittman, who seems to be everything he wanted to be himself but failed to live up to.

But... this is an outcome he'd never anticipated. And it's making him re-evaluate, and rethink a lot of things. But most of all, most importantly:]

You... really...

[He shakes his head, laughing a little choked up sound.]

Of course you really mean it. You've always said things you mean.

[He swallows tightly, drags in a deep breath... and slowly breathes it out, some of the tension that's settled on his shoulders since day one slowly seeping out.]

... Thank you. I--don't really know how much it means coming from me right now, but... but I want to make up for the things I've done. Until I'm... a lot more worthy of your kindness.