Shuji is that work friend that you love spending shifts with. Sure he is pretty cynical and sarcastic, but Elliot doesn't honestly mind it that much- he's very well aware not EVERYONE can be sunflower and rainbows all the time. Heck he's not even like that all the time, and shuji speaks to his slightly sarcastic and cynical streak that exists in this pure egg.

He loves Shuji's writing and definitely owns his book. he views his work as inspirational, that Shuji keeps going with his passion (not even giving into writing genres he's not interested in either!). Basically, he's super fond of Shuji as a friend and as another artist.

But seriously, he'd like to be able to hang out with him one day and not have it go insane.