[For a long moment, Akechi says nothing. His eyes narrow, gaze flitting across her face as if searching for any hint of duplicity. Haru's like Ren and the rest of the Thieves, infuriating in their honesty. In their willingness to forgive. Yoshizawa he'd understood; she'd never been as deep into the inner circle of the Thieves as the rest. Ren he knew to be a fool from the start, and Ann, well. While her intelligence might be bounded, her kindness is not.

But Haru? He stares at her with a disbelief he can't quite hide behind years of practice, his hand once again hovering over the board, though all thoughts of chess strategy have fled his mind.]

I don't need to be handled with velvet gloves, Okumura-san, [he says finally with a frown, meeting her eyes.] Working together to take down a common enemy is one thing, but I don't need your pity.