[His eyes go wide, and suddenly the shock within how he replied lost its more childish edge.
No matter what tone colors his voice, however, Ichiru can't find any words to say immediately after. What could he say to something like that? Is there even any way to console over something that clearly has been a truth for Zero for a while now? Years he imagines, because the brother before him has very noticeably changed, since the moment Ichiru saw his face in this world. To have even the faintest realization of how Zero had suffered, too, leaves his heart lodged at the back of his throat.
Fresh tears began to well up heavy within Ichiru's eyes before he could try and hold them back. All he could do, then, was throw his arms back around Zero, wishing that he could hold him even tighter than he already was.]