[that--]

[gets an (understandable) flash of surprise on his features, a moment where Akira is thrown off guard, because of all the things he was expecting when he followed the strange man down the alleyway, this was not one of them]

[he pauses, then holds up both of his hands, palms facing forward, to indicate that he isn't here to cause trouble, either]

I guess to anyone else, it wouldn't be.

[but. . .]

But there are kids in the Grand Market I've been keeping an eye on. I thought if you were going around asking people if they needed assistance, you might know about them.