Akihiko couldn't help laughing at Shinji's explanation, though his eyes were still rimmed with tears. "Really? Definitely a Sanada, then. How'd that happen?"

Maybe some people would have deemed small-talk trivial at this point, but to him, it was a welcome reprieve from the shock he'd received upon realizing exactly who she was. They had a lot to talk about, but perhaps the best way to handle that would be to ease into it.

"Was he skulking around and looking suspicious? He does that, sometimes."