[ Seventeen. Atsushi relaxes incrementally upon hearing that, and maybe even looks slightly excited... if it weren't for the fact that he's temporarily blind and can't really confirm what's being relayed to him. ]

Are you really...? I'm eighteen, so— we're almost the same age. [ This is a first! It's not like he ever really socialized at his orphanage, so this is somewhat novel, and reflects in the upwards rise of his voice. ] —Ah, sorry. I don't mean to sound so eager, in a place like this.

But... you're talking like you've been here for a long time...?