She gave him a sad smile. It really did hurt to see him aching like this. She knew she couldn’t help him fix the Wall, otherwise she would offer that in a heartbeat. Still, she figured there had to be something.

“I see that… but you know what I think? I think the ice pack would be even more helpful….”

She gently took it from his blobby grasp and placed it against his head. Hopefully, she could keep it there for him while he insisted on continuing to work.

“…if it was right here,” she finished, smiling down at him. She decided to stay seated on her knees so as not to hurt her own back trying to keep the ice pack on the Repairman’s head.

He didn’t resist when she took the pack away from him. Clearly, she wasn’t fooled by those assurances, so why bother? Besides, the ice pack was now back on his head, where it could ease his aching and his nerves.

“I guess you’re right,” he sighed, half in defeat and half in gratitude. “It is better there.”

He did his best to hurry so Shinko didn’t have to hold the ice pack for him for very long. He could dig the roller out of his toolbox without too much issue (though the sounds of the tools shifting grated on him somewhat), and while it was a bit painful for him to get a bucket of plaster out, he could at least drop it quicker than he picked it up. 

After a quick and messy coating, he turned back to Shinko.

“That’s done,” he said, relieved. Noticing her worry, he continued, “I…guess I could sit down until another break happens.”