Zenkichi carefully looked at Hamuko, still surprised by the sheer will she seemed to carry—how she insisted, time and time again, that they were all human. He was still processing everything, and she wasn’t backing down from this narrative of hope she was pushing. It was both unnerving and admirable.

"Yeah," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, though his gaze remained steady. "You’re something else, kid. First time we meet and you’re already-" He stops and shook his head with a low chuckle, but it wasn’t one of humor. More of a bitter, self-loathing kind of laugh. "Don’t expect me to start handing out gold stars or anything. I don’t have anything savory to share."

He stopped himself, though. His words were starting to wear thin even for him. He wasn’t in the mood to keep dragging it all out.

Akane, however, was fully down for the idea. "I think it’d be great to get to know you more!" she said, all youthful enthusiasm in her voice. "I mean, you’ve been through so much, right? I want to understand. We should exchange contacts-!"

Zenkichi blinked at her for a moment. The contrast between her energy and his jaded weariness could have been a punchline in itself. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. This wasn’t a situation where he wanted to drag everyone down with his own sour mood, but he couldn’t help it.

"Gotta say though, I-" he muttered under his breath, then louder, he added, "I didn’t mean to make this feel like an interrogation or anything. Old habits die hard, y’know? But..." his gaze is fleeting. Understanding behind his otherwise unflinching mask. "-it's good that you are keeping your chin up. Maybe that's what this place needs."