Was that so harsh? Certainly, it was blunt-- blunter than he usually is-- but he doesn't think it should warrant a Seiichi.

That's the knee-jerk thought, anyway, until Hokuto takes his hand and asks that dreadful question that stops him cold. It stops him because he realizes in that moment is that what he really wants to know cannot be answered in any questions about Akaya and this new thing he has:

Will I ever find that kind of happiness too?

If he didn't have doubts about that, the ghost of this relationship wouldn't continue to haunt him, and he wouldn't have to fear losing something he'd already thrown away.

He averts his eyes. "I'm sorry. Nothing."