You were right, gentleness isn't naivety. By throwing every part of yourself to became blade, you aren't going far.
But shields is different, for it protecting the people and give a "Small hope" for we know eventually the hope will growing bigger.
You see, I don't really care who kazuma end up with, because kazuma really does have great chemistry with everyone of course except aqua.
(In Ln kazuma state he see aqua as another pet beside emperor zil and chomusuke)