Ishigaki listens carefully to Midousuji explain himself so poetically, down to the rhythm to his voice- quiet compared to his normal flow, but still low. The contrast from his usual demeanor was so special, he then realizes, that Ishigaki couldn’t help but stare.

He can't quite decipher his meaning- Midousuji being so eccentric and all, but given the context, Ishigaki has to guess what he's describing so complicatedly is... yes, happiness. Or the start of it. It figures- with Midousuji's magical way of thinking, he sure was... dense at the most basic concepts. It's fine, though. Even if it was one step- a step that took years to even make- Midousuji took one, and Ishigaki is patient.

When Midousuji speaks again, his speech before it took out any biting edge to his now defensive routine. It causes Ishigaki to wonder if his crude mannerisms was something that he had schooled himself carefully over time, but without much evidence, that thought doesn't linger. 

When Midousuji is having trouble with such a simple question like that, maybe it was pity Ishigaki should be feeling- but there were other things that tied into it from being so simple.

"It's not pity. It's, gee, I dunno- someone caring about your well being? A wild concept, right?" Ishigaki chooses to be more blunt in his wording- though his tone light hearted, hand movements thrown in as he speaks.  "Maybe that's what you're doing too. Well... starting to. You're on the right track."

Ishigaki is referring to Midousuji's team, obviously- not giving his phrasing a second thought.