Both Zenkichi and Akane pause for a moment the moment Hamuko speaks. Zenkichi's grief shifts, eyes widening as his lips part in shock meanwhile Akane shudders a deep breath seeing the girl who had welcomed her with open arms now crying with tears leaving her eyes.

Akane's gaze drifted, as if trying to come to terms with the scene unfolding before him.

A frustrated ghost of a growl surfaced from him. "Ough this turned into a big damn mess...Hamuko-san, you couldn't have known the truth, there's no reason for you to apologize-!"

"Let's talk outside all this," he pleads to Akane as he gestures between himself and the door. "We need time to recover, all of you. Akane, come with me right now."