There's a brief moment where he's tempted to inform Yaichirou that he doesn't have any idea what Kou's direction was, but he bites his tongue again. It's social commentary, he knows it is. It had been expected for so long that Kou would inherit the responsibility as head of the Ichijo family that it makes perfect sense for someone who's been out of the scene for a while not to have any new speculations on the matter.

Something hot and bitter bubbles up in his throat and Kou swallows it, forcing the ugly burning feeling to stew in his guts where it belongs. He glances away, wishing the bus would hit a big bump and throw them all to the floor so he could get out of answering.

It doesn't. What sounds like a change of topic to any casual observers who happen to speak fluent Japanese should be a razor edged explanation to Yaichirou's ears if he thinks it over. "Sachiko will be having a birthday, soon. I wonder what local toys I can find to send to her..."