Can you imagine how much Slur's words must have hit Shin back then?
Because he already felt guilty for being a burden to Sakamoto, and Slur plays right into this.
We even see Shin thinking about those words later, where he is too afraid to even show himself to Sakamoto because of it.
Shin is already very insecure about his strength, feeling like a burden all the time and always apologizing when he thinks he is useless. We see this quite often in the manga.
And since especially Sakamoto was the first to see a use in Shin, he is even more focused on trying to prove himself to especially Sakamoto. But now, as he thinks that he was nothing but a burden to Sakamoto, in his head, he completely lost his worth as a person. Uzuki's words amplify that belief.
I am so useless, I'd be better off dead.
That's why he can't even show himself to Sakamoto. He thinks he doesn't even have the right to be there. Give Sakamoto the fruit basker and disappear from his sight, because he shouldn't be there anyway.
This must have been hard to say for Shin. See how he avoids Sakamoto's eyes, looking at the floor, sweating, trying to self soothe by putting his hand on his neck. He is nervous, ashamed, insecure. Feeling that he shouldn't even stand here, in front of the very person that has to put up with a useless thing like him.
What Sakamoto said next was soo important for Shin, because he again valued Shin, telling him that no, I still need you, you're important to me.
And even though it's in character for Taro to think those lines instead of saying them out loud and it's also kind of used for comedy, I just wish he could have said it out loud.
Shin can read minds, sure. But thinking feels like the "easier route" to say those meaningful words. And I am sure that somewhere, Shin appreciates people communicating those things loudly instead of taking the "easier route" just because he can read minds.
He needs to hear those words. We see tears in the corners of his eyes. He was moved by Sakamoto's words, maybe even relieved that yes, Sakamoto still sees a value in him. But by just thinking those words, Sakamoto unintentionally put up a ever so thin wall between them, that could be broken by openly saying those words out loud to Shin.
Like I said, I think it is in Character for Taro to just think this, being vulnerable isn't really easy for him. In a way it even shows how their bond works because Taro can rely on Shin understanding him, even if he isn't a man of many words. And that is beautiful too, in a way.
Anyway, another instance where Sakamoto saves Shin from physical danger (Uzuki) but also from Shin himself (spiralling into the pits of feeling worthless and thinking it's better to off himself)
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