[ Luckily for Akechi, he's completely susceptible to some light teasing. If he weren't already planning to follow through on the suggestion, Akira would be now. ]
No. I live on hard mode. [ He's starting to sound like Futaba. Even the time apart can't shake the influence she's had on him. ] That's nothing.
[ He sticks the spoonful of curry into his mouth. ]
[ It's obvious that he's played into it just as Akechi hoped, but Akira's mood has been lifted far too high for him to be bothered by it. He simply hums as he finishes the bite of curry. ]
[ He breathes out a laugh before going in for another sip of coffee. From what he's learned about Akechi, him reading manga is no longer that strange of a thought. ]
I'd have to challenge the different masters of cooking and then use everything I learned along the way to make the perfect tonkatsu sandwich at the end of my journey, right?
Right. But then I suppose the person waiting to face you at the end turns out to be your old master, who is now also disgraced and using cooking for evil... or something like that.
[Thinking up an appropriately stupid and dramatic twist isn't as easy as those stories make it look.]
[ Akira laughs over the rim of his cup. How does one use cooking for evil? He has to think about that for a moment. ]
Ah, he's trying to remove all convenience store foods from existence. [ For some reason he's imagining Sojiro when he's at his grumpiest in the role of villain. It's... more fitting than it should be. ] And only the most perfect sandwich will bring him to his knees.
[That has no right being funny but he actually does laugh a little at the thought of a storyline like that.]
This sounds like an episode of Featherman now, somehow. Though, that really would be a terrible foe. I think even I would be spurred on to make the perfect sandwich if only to protect the convenience stores I love so dearly.
[Akechi hums as he eats, smiling to himself. How long has it been since he had the chance to sit down and eat with someone? After everything with Sae, of course he couldn't eat with her. But she was the only one he could. Well, aside from a certain someone on rare occasions but he had been too busy for that recently, too.
Even if, all things considered, it was better to be alone— even if he was happier and better off that way, even if he doesn't really need to eat with anyone else like a child...]
[ The suggestion breaks the quiet, getting Akira to look up from his food. ]
Sure.
[ The answer takes no consideration. His thoughts on Akechi may be complicated, but the past couple of weeks have proven one thing certain: Akira likes spending time with him. He can't deny that, especially not when they're stuck in this situation together. ]
You have my... [ Not number. ] watch info. Just let me know.
[ Sometimes Akechi's voice or smile takes on a distant quality—like there's a depth to his thoughts that doesn't quite reach the surface. Like their current meal, it reminds him of some of the quieter afternoons at Leblanc. ]
So let's do it again soon. [ They have plenty of cooking plans to get through, after all.
Once his plate is cleared, Akira sits back, linking together his fingers to stretch his arms up and over his head. It's probably the most contented he's felt since before the full moon. ]
[ Seems Akechi isn't the only one whose feelings are leaking into his body language. Akira pauses, hooking his hands behind his head. It's a relaxed, familiar position, but now, the tips of his ears brush at his forearms where they didn't before. ]
... This is the closest I've felt to home since coming here. [ And the closest to himself since the transformation began. ] It's nice.
[The honesty doesn't surprise him but rather the frankness of Akira's feelings. It usually feels difficult to read him, like he has to be especially alert, and sometimes he thinks that might be the point, as though Akira wants it that way. But since he said something like that, he wants to return the favour a little.]
Mm... I don't know anything about that. [He has never had a 'home' and the closest thing he had was peace.] But... I feel more relaxed than before. Some of the fog is gone. It's nice.
[He laughs softly, realising he said the same thing as Akira. Even the words before it amount to the same feeling, even if he doesn't know it.]
[ It's honest, just not as honest as he could be. Opening up about the good things is easier than doing so about the bad, about how terribly homesick he is underneath the determination to adapt and how he worries about the ways in which each full moon will change him, not just physically but mentally as well.
Having the gesture returned brings a small quirk to his mouth. ]
It's kind of like that. Home is where you can feel relaxed.
Oh, is that all? I've been complaining for nothing. [But he clearly isn't bothered, rather just teasing Akira's simple words.] But I understand, I think. Something like a place where you can be yourself in some way, right?
[ The teasing coaxes out a playfully deadpan look in return, and he unhooks his hands and goes for his coffee cup to drain the remainder. ]
That's right. [ He places the cup down alongside the plate. Does Akechi have anywhere that makes him feel that way? ] A place where you'll always be accepted.
[Akechi gives a hum of acknowledgement as he considers that, staying quiet for a moment after as he debates how he wants to answer. It could be a very telling answer, whatever he chooses. If he brushes it aside, it confirms he never had anything like that, which feels rather pitiable and he hates that. Telling a certain truth, though, might be too much in another direction.
But he already told him once before, a little bit at least, so he thinks it could be safe to expand on it.]
I liked visiting Leblanc. You didn't treat me as anything unusual when I was there, in a bad way or a good way. None of the customers seemed to notice anything unusual about me... And the Boss would talk to me like he did the other customers. I don't really know how to explain it... but I vastly preferred it to anything else.
[ Propping an elbow on the table, Akira leans forward to rest his chin in his palm. Most of the time, he hadn't known what to make of Akechi's presence at Leblanc. It seemed dangerous to have the detective suspicious of them under the same roof, yet he enjoyed their brief exchanges there, wary as Akira was. Even once he knew for sure that Akechi was sided with the enemy, that sentiment lingered. ]
... It's special like that. [ And for some reason, he's glad it's important to Akechi, too. ]
[Something about that doesn't sit right with him and he shakes his head.]
A place isn't special. Or at least, that is my experience with the many places I've been. The people who create the atmosphere of a place are what gives it all of its memories and shape the connections made of it, for better or for worse. They press themselves into a space and make it impossible to associate it any other way. The warmth there was...
[He gives a dismissive wave of his hand, frowning to himself for a brief moment before he smiles.] Ah, but I could be wrong. Did you want help with the dishes? That much I can do.
[ The words resonate with him—Akechi's always been more articulate when it comes to voicing his thoughts, and Akira finds that they're a perfect mirror of his own feelings. Tokyo, Shujin, even Leblanc itself, might be nice, but all of his best memories are related to the people he spent time with there. ]
No, I can't argue with that. [ And really, it's like Akechi is paying him an indirect compliment.
Akira smiles as he gets up from his chair and collects his plate and cup. ] Sure.
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No. I live on hard mode. [ He's starting to sound like Futaba. Even the time apart can't shake the influence she's had on him. ] That's nothing.
[ He sticks the spoonful of curry into his mouth. ]
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I didn't think you would disappoint me.
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How would I ever survive the shame?
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[Cooking manga, like all weirdly specific manga, is wild.]
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I'd have to challenge the different masters of cooking and then use everything I learned along the way to make the perfect tonkatsu sandwich at the end of my journey, right?
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Right. But then I suppose the person waiting to face you at the end turns out to be your old master, who is now also disgraced and using cooking for evil... or something like that.
[Thinking up an appropriately stupid and dramatic twist isn't as easy as those stories make it look.]
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[ Akira laughs over the rim of his cup. How does one use cooking for evil? He has to think about that for a moment. ]
Ah, he's trying to remove all convenience store foods from existence. [ For some reason he's imagining Sojiro when he's at his grumpiest in the role of villain. It's... more fitting than it should be. ] And only the most perfect sandwich will bring him to his knees.
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This sounds like an episode of Featherman now, somehow. Though, that really would be a terrible foe. I think even I would be spurred on to make the perfect sandwich if only to protect the convenience stores I love so dearly.
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[ With a far too serious nod, he scoops another heaping spoonful of curry. ]
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Even if, all things considered, it was better to be alone— even if he was happier and better off that way, even if he doesn't really need to eat with anyone else like a child...]
You should eat lunch with me sometimes.
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Sure.
[ The answer takes no consideration. His thoughts on Akechi may be complicated, but the past couple of weeks have proven one thing certain: Akira likes spending time with him. He can't deny that, especially not when they're stuck in this situation together. ]
You have my... [ Not number. ] watch info. Just let me know.
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Oh? Are you giving me a carte blanche to invite you anytime?
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[ He scrapes at his plate, collecting some of the last of the curry. ]
Today was fun.
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[Then he spoons up the last of it and savours the bite. This could end at any time, so he wants to remember this much at least.]
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So let's do it again soon. [ They have plenty of cooking plans to get through, after all.
Once his plate is cleared, Akira sits back, linking together his fingers to stretch his arms up and over his head. It's probably the most contented he's felt since before the full moon. ]
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You seem awfully peaceful. Why is that?
[Before he wouldn't have asked. Now, he feels like he should.]
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... This is the closest I've felt to home since coming here. [ And the closest to himself since the transformation began. ] It's nice.
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Mm... I don't know anything about that. [He has never had a 'home' and the closest thing he had was peace.] But... I feel more relaxed than before. Some of the fog is gone. It's nice.
[He laughs softly, realising he said the same thing as Akira. Even the words before it amount to the same feeling, even if he doesn't know it.]
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Having the gesture returned brings a small quirk to his mouth. ]
It's kind of like that. Home is where you can feel relaxed.
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Oh, is that all? I've been complaining for nothing. [But he clearly isn't bothered, rather just teasing Akira's simple words.] But I understand, I think. Something like a place where you can be yourself in some way, right?
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That's right. [ He places the cup down alongside the plate. Does Akechi have anywhere that makes him feel that way? ] A place where you'll always be accepted.
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But he already told him once before, a little bit at least, so he thinks it could be safe to expand on it.]
I liked visiting Leblanc. You didn't treat me as anything unusual when I was there, in a bad way or a good way. None of the customers seemed to notice anything unusual about me... And the Boss would talk to me like he did the other customers. I don't really know how to explain it... but I vastly preferred it to anything else.
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... It's special like that. [ And for some reason, he's glad it's important to Akechi, too. ]
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A place isn't special. Or at least, that is my experience with the many places I've been. The people who create the atmosphere of a place are what gives it all of its memories and shape the connections made of it, for better or for worse. They press themselves into a space and make it impossible to associate it any other way. The warmth there was...
[He gives a dismissive wave of his hand, frowning to himself for a brief moment before he smiles.] Ah, but I could be wrong. Did you want help with the dishes? That much I can do.
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No, I can't argue with that. [ And really, it's like Akechi is paying him an indirect compliment.
Akira smiles as he gets up from his chair and collects his plate and cup. ] Sure.
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