[Ikki notices the kid ignoring his question, he doesn't like it but he won't press. Kid or not, it's Marco and he's old enough to deal with his own issues anyway.

He doesn't get in the conversation about books, mostly because he reads whatever Kotomi is ready most of the time, what with listening to her read out-loud and all. At least until Marco starts to ask him a question and... Really? Ikki arches an eyebrow, the kid isn't very fast, is he? Or his mind is too busy to have realized it.]

Not "like you", I don't fully transform. But I'm a phoenix, yes. Soaring across the sky as a bird made of flames, creating flames [He eyes Kotomi, hoping she won't freak out just by the mention of it.] with my... "Haki" as you would know it... Rising from my ashes... [Literally.] I do all that.

[He chuckles at the comment about it being a secret, he's not sure if that's still a secret with adult Marco but it's not as if he has the habit of going around spilling about others. He just ruffles the kid's hair a bit.]

I don't think Kotomi-chan or me have the habit of telling secrets around, don't worry.

Now, anyone wants an ice-cream? [Looking at both Kotomi and Marco, unless they prefer to keep talking standing there.]