Ianto noticed how Akihiko reacted to this, and noted that it was not the reaction that he'd thought would happen-- it was almost uncharacteristically sad for Akihiko. Then he remembered, the first day that the two of them had met, Akihiko'd told him about his parents and his sister and trying to save them, so he could sympathize. He bitterly noted that all three of them were tragic enough to understand each other, at least somewhat. Aside from Lisa, he certainly felt guilty about abandoning his own sister for Torchwood.

"I'm sorry too, Jack, I know how much he means to you," he said, stroking the knee that he had hold of. "But this can't be just memories. It can't've been for very long, and you must have put him back, because I'd've known about it otherwise. But you unfroze him, didn't you?"

Jack tensed, before closing his eyes and leaning his head on top of Akihiko's. "We did it with Tommy, every year, and while the drink was finishing up, I just... I thought..."