Shuuhei can't blame Renji for having trouble picturing Kensei talking about feelings, so he chuckles when Renji mentions this. "I could hardly believe it myself when he said it. Had to stop myself from pinching my arm or something to prove it was really happening." But he's happy that Renji is happy for him, especially after Shuuhei had been so cryptic about his struggles at the time to be happy for Renji's previous announcement.
Despite the stress of confessing his until-recently-secret relationship, Shuuhei is relieved to clear the air. Renji is one of his dearest friends, after all. So he nods gratefully as Renji points out how much their situations have in common. "It is nice to have someone to talk to about this," he agrees.
He snorts softly into his drink when Renji praises his vocabulary. "Occupational habit of journalism, I think." That and Shuuhei's own desperation to hide his unsightly origins, but he won't bring down the mood by mentioning that. The question about Kensei's family, however, brings its own sobriety. Shuuhei worries his lips for a moment, then admits the truth.
"I don't know what they think. He… hasn't told them yet. And the fact that he hasn't… leads me to believe that he thinks they won't take it well."
--- Renji is equally glad to have been able to clear the air. It had bothered him, knowing that something was bothering Shuuhei, and all the more that it nearly seemed like he disliked Renji's newly-publicized relationship. But knowing what he knows now, it makes a lot of sense. Renji is not quick to ascribe jealousy to his friend, but.. He sure knows how he would feel if roles had been reversed. Especially with how eerily similar their partners are. Nobles, rather stiff and by-the-book, traditional..
"I see.." He says, circling his cup on the tabletop as Shuuhei relays his concern about the Mugurumas' opinion of him. It is certainly not an unwarranted concern. Byakuya's family is not thrilled by him either, to say the least. To the point of them.. Pushing eligible women on Byakuya for him to marry instead. Once Byakuya makes a choice, though, he stands by it, Renji can at least be sure of that. He doesn't know so much about Muguruma-taichou. Though he seems equally duty-bound..
"Y've talked about this with 'm?" The inevitability of telling them. It can't be remaining some great secret for long, now the cat's out of the bag. "I mean.. They'll find out eventually, right?" For better or for worse.
"The Kuchikis hate my guts," he laughs { because what else can he do about something that depressing? } and lifts his cup to his lips, emptying it. "But I ain't in it fer them, so.. It is what it is."
