[Hifumi nods, completely unsurprised by that information. Maybe a little surprised he actually shared it, but the information itself isn't exactly news.]

Ren was the only person I talked to about my mother's... well, everything, and then he asked me for her name, and she changed. From there it was only natural that I thought about who might be assisting him, and several people at school noticed your attitude toward your former teacher changed as good as overnight. That and you were the only person in Ren's circle of friends who didn't go to his school. [Well, and Futaba, but she wasn't going much of anywhere. That's somewhat different.]

That aside, I am sorry our paths didn't cross at school more often. I think we both could have benefited from someone who understands what life in the public eye is like.

[To say nothing of what having a parental figure who failed you massively is like, but that's another ball of wax entirely.]