Akane doesn't know why she's back in Cherrygrove when everything just makes her remember Connie more and more. Well, no, she does sort of know. Mostly it's just that there's no warps to New Bark, so if she wants to catch the ferry to Pallet Town, like she's been thinking about doing, and just-- going over to Kanto and trying the whole pokemon journey again from the beginning, this time on her own... well. If she's going to do that, she has to hit the road in Cherrygrove.

"Mr Jack--?"

Akane hasn't talked to either of Connie's adopted uncles since Connie disappeared, so it's just startling to see him here. Especially since...

"What happened to your mask?" she asks, confused. Akane Tendo is not the most observant creature in the world, but even she can tell when a guy isn't wearing the mask that she's never seen him without.