Shikamaru doesn't really know what he wants. He only knows what he doesn't want. He doesn't want to see Souji unhappy. He'll do anything to bury whatever ugly, awful bitterness that caused him to play this game in the first place. He'll find a way to fix this.

"...No," he utters. "If you're really okay with that, then we're alright. It's just... this isn't a thing. I want you to understand. We're just friends."

But he punctuates that with another kiss to Souji's lips.