The prince's immediate reaction is surprising to Akito and at first he thinks that he indeed spoke too much about his soldiering activities. His insides knot up as he looks at Hiro, waiting for the sword to fall. But instead of being upset, he expresses great confusion and shock, the line about them being naked making him flustered. He stays silent however, letting the prince say his bit about rain and how normally people get sick from being out in it. The sudden falter in his story drives the former soldier to move closer to his betrothed, slightly worried. He's not heard the details of Hiro's birth mother, though he knows she was killed by natural causes. These thoughts don't cross his mind however and he just shuffles awkwardly a step away from the seated man, unsure of what to do.

Hiro rambles on, eventually falling silent having passed through many subjects and leaving poor Akito at a bit of a loss. The line about him being uncomfortable in the rain however brings a small smile back to his face and he drops into a comfortable seated position in front of the royal to be more comfortable as he talks. Hoko slips out, sensing that they will be still for a while, and crawls over to Hiro, trying to crawl into his Kimono with his soft little paws digging at the edge of his kimono. The sight makes Akito both amused and nervous, but he keeps silent about it rather than pulling Hoko back, knowing that his intended will need to get used to the little critter in all aspects if they are to live peacefully together.

“Training in the rain wasn't nearly as bad as riding in the rain, and that was only at first. Now. . .” He looks into the rain with a distant gleam behind his eyes. “Now, I feel strange not being out there, training. It was one of the most bonding experiences, all of us out, together, moving as one, the mist making us all look almost other worldly. . .I mean, we would train together when it was not raining, but in the rain, to avoid killing one another, we all followed the same motions, so no one was stepping wrong and hitting another soldier in the low visibility. We were like one body, one mind, all moving and thinking as one, the rain barely a consideration. . .”

Reaching over he absentmindedly pulls a finger food from the bag and eats it slowly. “I am not sure if I would call it crazy as it did what was intended, and saved many lives on the more inhospitable days on the battlefield. . .” Licking his fingers he murmurs, “And I did get sick the first few times, but after a while my body grew stronger and I no longer got sick in rain or cold. I'm not sure if what my father had us do was standard, so I am not sure your father would even know about it. That may explain why you have never heard of it.” Looking over at Hiro he smiles faintly. “I am glad to hear you have been well. Sickness is no fun, and can be very dangerous.” With only a faint shake in his head he reaches out and covers Hiro's hand with his own, giving it a little squeeze.