[Souda's spines still wave and twitch as Giorno talks— but then with his last few words, those spines settle down and Souda kind of stares ahead a bit dazedly.]

Takin' care of me... that's what it is, huh.

[He seems to sweep right back into reality and with that grounding, hugs Giorno tighter and lifts him up off the ground, crying crocodile tears for once.]

Giorno! You're the realest dude I've met in ages!

[What does that even mean? Regardless, Souda sets Giorno back down quickly and laughs.]

I'm the one who should be thanking you.

[And for now, Souda really doesn't think about the possibility of that changing, even if their pasts were revealed.]