Paul judges that the moment of potential toppling crisis has passed. As such, he twists around on the couch to slip his free arm around Midoriya's shoulder in what he hopes will be taken as comforting solidarity.

"There's no thing that's 'supposed to' happen," he says, gently, not letting his attention fall to the gleaming dampness still on Midoriya's face. "I've heard of things like this before. You didn't do anything wrong."

That's not exactly what Midoriya asked. It may not be exactly what he meant, either, but it feels important to Paul to make sure that's established. They both like getting things right. They like having done what they were supposed to do, and if he knows Midoriya, there's a risk of him imagining he's spoiled something. And he says he knows he's safe with Paul, and Paul wants that to be true in every way it can be.

"It's just meant to make you feel good. If it didn't, that's the spice's fault, if you think about it. It should know better than to be unkind to you." That makes sense to Paul, in the moment.