Morale is something that he's good at, and for a moment Aiichiro gets lost in the idea of actually being able to help everyone on the ship be happier. For one blessed moment, he forgets what's happening here.

Then as he watched Motochika eat, the voice comes back into his mind, ever so slowly, reminding him.

That's right, he won't be cooking for this man anymore. Or seeing him at all, very soon. But it's all right, because everyone will be happy once it's over.

It's all he can do to not fidget while the older man eats.

"I'm really happy when I can help others."