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Akira hadn't thought seeing him in person would affect him as much as it does. After all, he's had two months to mentally prepare himself for this moment.

And yet, the sight of Goro Akechi, alive and in the flesh, perfectly put-together and looking like he was made to sit under the studio lighting, makes him feel... some kind of way. Unsettled, for sure, knowing what he knows now. Then again, there's a part of him that hasn't stopped feeling unsettled since he first (well, perhaps first isn't accurate) jolted awake to find himself on the train to Yongen-Jaya again. In one piece. Not bleeding out on the ground with a megalomaniacal pseudo-god bearing down on him. And, most importantly, as the only one with any recollection of all they'd been through.

It doesn't take Akira long to come to the most logical conclusion: That somewhere along the line, he screwed up. Somehow, it hadn't been enough, and now he has an opportunity to fix it—which would be a lot easier if he were to have some notion of what, specifically, he needs to fix, or even if this is a one-time deal.

At first, he tries copying his previous motions as closely as possible. People always talk about their regrets like they would change them in a heartbeat, given the chance, but the thought of altering the timeline as he knows it is overwhelming. The more Akira steps away from his previous path, the less accurate his existing knowledge may become, the bigger the chance that he may miss something important from the first time around.

That reasoning goes out the window pretty quickly. Akira finds that he can't watch Shiho Suzui jump off that building again, can't go through hearing that agony in Ann's voice a second time when he can so easily prevent it. So he stops her. It's what the Phantom Thieves would do. And things change... but not in a way that affects the flow of events in any profound way. Ann still stumbles after them into the Metaverse and finds the conviction to awaken her persona, somehow. He's not sure how it works out, but it does. What Akira does know is that fate is what you make of it. If he believes in his teammates, they'll end up where they need to be.

But for all of that, he still wavers as they're leaving the recording area. Up until now, the decisions to change things have been easy. Akechi, on the other hand... where to start? Is it even salvageable? Akira's not certain, but when he thinks of their last meeting in Shido's palace, Akechi's remark about the possibility of them meeting a few years earlier, the sounds of gunshots echoing from the other side of the bulkhead—he can't not try. It's not years, but maybe this handful of months will be enough.

Akira lets Ann go ahead with a nod, sliding his hands into his pockets as he tries to maintain his usual casual demeanor. Any moment now...

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At the moment, Akechi doesn't think much at all about Akira. He's interesting, to be sure, and running into an interesting student from Shujin academy... well, it certainly is something. At the moment, Akechi doesn't actually suspect Akira at all - doesn't even think to suspect him beyond the 'everyone at Shujin is a suspect, along with everyone that knows Kamoshida' baseline he has to go off of.

But still, Akira is interesting. Akechi isn't lying when he says that most people aren't willing to speak so freely with him, especially not when it comes to disagreeing with him. And it's especially rare for someone to plainly disagree with him without being condescending about it. The politely worded doubtful questions don't count; the people that ask them are still yesmen trying to give him an opportunity to counter their points and look all the smarter for it.

So for that reason alone, Akira stands out. And while Akechi doesn't really like anyone, he's already got positive thoughts about Akira. So after he thanks him for their exchange, he asks a question of his own, one ha's actually, genuinely hoping for a positive response for.

"Would you mind talking with me again?"

This sense of déjà vu should've worn off by now, he thinks. Even moreso because Akira's replayed this encounter in his head plenty of times. Before, after finding out Akechi's true nature, while wondering how long did he know? Recently, trying to figure out how he's supposed to spin something good out of it.

It's still jarring to hear the same words directly from Akechi's mouth. He follows the beats of the conversation closely enough to his memory, up until the question is posed.

"Fine by me," Akira responds, knee-jerk. And for all that he's thought about how to go about this, for all that he's brushed up on his conversational skills, the next part still sounds sort of awkward and out of left field.

"... Do you like coffee?"

Not that he doesn't know the answer already.

The 'fine by me' is all Akechi is expecting and all that he needs. The sudden question about coffee comes across just as awkward and abrupt as Akira thinks. Akechi's half turned away by the time he asks. Even so he pauses, looking puzzled for a moment before a smile wins out.

"I do, as a matter of fact." He'd started drinking just for the caffeine, but lately it's become something he enjoys for its own sake. "I've actually been trying to find a new cafe as my go-to. Do you have somewhere in mind?" Actually, hadn't Sae mentioned something about a cafe she's been visiting recently? The one run by the guardian of a certain someone's daughter...? Well, Akechi supposes he can just go there if wherever Akira takes him doesn't pat out.

Good to know that Akechi's smiles are as inscrutable as ever. As much as it puts Akira on edge to be in close quarters with someone who tried to kill him on more than one occasion, there's also something about speaking to Akechi that's—familiar, perhaps, in a way that makes the words roll off Akira's tongue more naturally.

He returns the smile.

"I'm boarding at a café in Yongen-Jaya called Leblanc. If you drop by sometime, I could make you a cup and we could talk more," he offers with a gesture of his hand.

There's a shift inside his bag where it rests against his back. Probably Morgana wondering what the hell he's playing at, inviting over the guy who just condemned them on television. But hey, Akira knows what he's doing. Totally.

... Wait a minute.

"Leblanc...?" Akechi sounds more thoughtful than anything, but he's definitely mostly surprised. That's totally the place Sae told him about, isn't it? He doesn't go as far as to say that out loud, however. He'll let Akira think he's puzzled by the foreign name, or whatever else he's like to assume. "Well, I'm not in Yongen-Jaya too often, but I'll be certain to stop by the next time I'm near." He certainly has to go to Shibuya often enough, and Yongen's not too far from there.

The fact that Akira is boarding at a cafe is a little strange, though. Akechi is a bit suspicious of the intentions behind inviting him over so soon after meeting him, but the rest of the situation is interesting enough for him to not worry about it.

"Great." Akira actually does sound pretty pleased. Phase one of his plan is proceeding smoothly, after all. He hasn't quite figured out the details of how he's going to tackle phase two, the part where he has to convince Akechi to change his ways without giving away his own identity, but having a rough outline is helpful. Makoto would be proud, he thinks. That is, if this didn't have the potential to backfire spectacularly and put his life in even more danger than the first time around.

It's tempting to draw out the conversation more, make it more likely that Akechi will take him up on his invitation, but Akira can see Ryuji in the distance, heading their way. Exposing Akechi to that amount of vitriol might sour whatever good impression this conversation has left.

So instead, he slides his hand back into his pocket and tips his head slightly. "I'll see you around?"

Ah, now the conversation is over. Akechi meets Akira's comment with a nod.

"I'll see you soon."

But despite that promise, it's actually some time before Akechi actually stops by Leblanc again - a full month, as a matter of fact. In that time the Phantom Thieves get up to their usual business, particularly against a certain Junya Kaneshiro. His change of heart is a particularly hairy wrench in Shido's plans, but an unexpectedly nasty stumbling block for Akechi. He's not yet aware of Shido's plan to murder the Okumura and set the Phantom Thieves up for the fall - so for him, all that's happened is a small but sudden and significant shift in public perception against him.

It's troublesome to be sure, and even the chance to spin the story in his favor during an interview don't help.

It's not unusual for Akechi to be wrapped in thought - that's sort of his job - but he's definitely more preoccupied than usual as he makes his way to Yongen-Jaya. It's probably poor manners to drop in without warning so close to finals, but it's not like he has Akira's phone number handy. He can always just get coffee like a regular customer if it's a bad time.

It's a pleasantly warm evening when Akechi lets himself through Leblanc's front door, which means the cafe interior is pleasantly cool in comparison. He doesn't call out a greeting as he enters, but he doesn't hesitate to glance around and try to place Akira, either.

Akira never thought he'd be disappointed by a lack of Akechi at the counter in Leblanc, but it's actually a recurring sentiment over the next month. Thankfully, he doesn't have much time to dwell on the feeling, what with everything else that goes on in the days of a student-slash-Phantom-Thief. Having a general idea of the future doesn't make life as much of a breeze as one would expect, he's long found out.

This happens to one of those evenings when he does have time to think about it. There's not much else to do but let his mind wander when he's standing over the sink, washcloth in one hand and plate in the other, motions idle—wander to how frustrating it is to sit back and wait, knowing that time is ticking by, a steady march towards an uncertain future. Everything else is going off without a hitch, but is it going to be enough? They hadn't been strong enough the first time around, but maybe if Akechi were there...

A possibility that's looking more and more unlikely by the day. Akira is contemplating the merits of "running into" Akechi when the jingle of the bell by the door snaps him out of his thoughts. He glances over his shoulder towards the entrance.

Speak of the devil.

"Ah. 'Evening," he calls out once their eyes meet, after Sojiro gives a greeting of his own. Akira moves with a bit more purpose now, rinsing off the plate and then drying off his hands so that he can step towards the counter.

Oh good, he's here. Akechi's curious expression melts into a smile as he meets Akira's gaze. It's one of his neutrally polite smiles, as far as Akechi is concerned, but there's something genuine behind it as well.

"Ah, I was hoping you'd be here." That much is true, at least. Akechi strides forward and takes a seat, gravitating towards one close to where Akira stands. "Sorry to drop by so abruptly. I finally had some free time, so I had to jump on the opportunity." Turns out trying to track down a group of people who may as well be literal phantoms is a bit time consuming, even with the unique tools at his disposal.

"Don't worry about it," Akira says, shrugging off the apology casually, like he's not relieved to see Akechi's face outside of the television. (There's another unexpected feeling.) He continues, injecting a bit of quiet humor into his voice, "Here I thought you'd forgotten about me."

It's a joke, yeah, but part of him really had started to wonder. Maybe it's understandable, knowing how many masks Akechi is juggling.

Well, regardless—this is Akira's chance to make some headway. He shifts into the spot across from Akechi's seat. "Do you want something to drink?"

It's a joke and Akechi takes it as such, but he sees the need to clarify as well. He responds with a soft laugh and a shake of his head.

"Hardly." Akechi lies about a lot of things (not that Akira realizes that, he thinks) but his interest in Akira isn't feigned. "Actually, I've been curious to hear what you think about the latest development in the Phantom Thieves incidents." Akechi should probably be tired of talking about it by now, but his curiosity persists. "Even the police had barely made any sort of progress in the Kaneshiro case when he suddenly confessed."

As for coffee, Akechi gives it a moment of thought before he orders the house blend. May as well figure out their baseline first.

Edited 2019-01-04 11:08 (UTC)

It's about that time in the evening where the customers stop coming, so once Sojiro sees that he's got it under control ("You two know each other?" "We've met a couple of times." "Huh." Calling Akechi a friend would be a bit of a stretch, after all.), he excuses himself to go pick up a couple of things from the store. That leaves the two of them as Akira gets to work on the coffee.

"It made a big statement," he responds after a moment of thought. It would be much easier to feign ignorance as to the news, but Akira knows that won't get him anywhere here. Akechi is too sharp to believe that, anyway. Instead, he weighs his words as carefully as he goes about his work. "Even criminals out of the police's reach aren't safe from them."

It's weird how Akechi knows that Akira will surprise him, yet still manage to be surprised.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. Skipping past the end result and looking right at the intent behind their actions..." It's an uncommon talent. Akechi can appreciate it. "So you think the escalation from a corrupt teacher to a career criminal is deliberate and not incidental?"

"It could just be a coincidence," Akira admits with a shrug of the shoulder that isn't holding steady as he pours the first bit of water over the coffee grounds. Probably best not to seem too convinced of any particular line of reasoning. "But if they're really trying to uphold justice, it's a good deterrent."

A coincidence...? Akechi doesn't really think so, but he looks contemplative for a moment all the same.

"The escalation being a coincidence might be more likely than you realize." He folds his hands in front of him, watching Akira work. "Kamoshida and Madarame were both sent calling cards that addressed the abuse of their students, and Junya Kaneshiro was suspected of ring-leading a scam that targeted minors that spent time in Shibuya." All worthy targets, sure, but... "That opens the possibility that their actions are personally motivated, rather than the result of some lofty ideal." He actually sounds a little disappointed about that.

There's a moment where he's quiet, letting Akechi's words settle over the sound of the coffee draining into the cup. Listening to him ruminate, it's really no surprise that he'd figured them out before—and will again, at some point. Hopefully Akira can make some kind of impact before then.

"Why not both?" he questions, curiosity working its way into his voice. It honestly is interesting to hear Akechi's perspective, although it does feel somewhat self-indulgent. And, well, a bit dangerous. He really doesn't need to be helping Akechi connect the dots any quicker, but...

Akira's question earns him an amused look.

"You don't think the two are mutually exclusive?" He doesn't sound annoyed or condescending, just a bit curious. "I can't say I disagree with you, however. Even if they are motivated by self interest, forcing their targets to confess rather than simply blackmailing them into complacency speaks of a group that may be concerned with more than just their own benefit."

Blackmail is the route Akechi would go with - but he does have a more meaningful goal as far as he's concerned. So he doesn't really see it the same way.

A thoughtful noise rings in Akira's throat as he pours the last of the water into the filter. "Not necessarily."

"If it were me," he starts, meeting Akechi's eyes now, "and I wanted to start cleaning up the world, I think it would make the most sense to start by dealing with the injustices close to me." Maybe he's toeing a line, but there's a sense of thrill to it, not unlike the rush he gets from sneaking up behind a Shadow. Luckily, Akira's able to quell the compulsive grin that usually goes along with the feeling. He doesn't need Akechi thinking he's unhinged. "I guess we'll have to see with their next target."

He finishes up the coffee and places the cup and saucer before Akechi, corners of his mouth upturned. "Enjoy."

That's a pretty bold assertion, isn't it? Especially considering that Akira fits the profile Akechi has built for the Phantom Thieves so far. He wonders if...

Well, there's no way to be sure of it now, and no sense in dwelling on it when he's just been served coffee. Akechi murmurs his thanks and takes a sip, but unsurprisingly it doesn't take long for him to speak up again.

"My, this is excellent! I can see why Sae-san recommended this place."

"Glad you like it." It's hard not to be pleased when someone derives joy from something he's made—even Akechi, whose sincerity he often finds himself questioning. Akira would like to believe his expression is genuine. It lights up his face more than that made-for-television smile, anyway.

There's no doubt that Sojiro would have some choice words for him if he returned to find a mess on the counter, so Akira starts to tidy up where he just finished working, carding through the myriad of thoughts in his head. Normally he's content to let the other person set the pace of their relationship, to listen and offer whatever's needed, but this situation calls for a more active role.

"I'm curious about something, too," Akira speaks up after a few beats of silence, gathering up the things that need to go into the sink.

The lull in conversation as Akira start to clean up feels natural. Akechi doesn't try to fill it. He minds his own business for the time being, enjoying the coffee and reflecting that he really will have to come here more often. Interesting conversation and good coffee? Either of those on their own can be tricky to find. Both of them together is a rare treat.

The sudden interruption catches Akechi by surprise, but like usual he's quick to recover.

"Ask away. I'm curious to know what someone like you gets curious about." It's another one of his lame little jokes, though a bit more subtle than the usual ones.

Akira moves the things in his grasp to the sink before he continues his thought, wiping his palms on his apron as he steps back over to the counter.

"Do you ever take a break? You said this is your free time, but you're spending it talking about the case with me. Not that I mind," Akira amends, instinctively sliding his hands into his pockets. He takes care to make sure his tone doesn't sound judgmental—because it isn't, really. It's something he's genuinely wondered before: What in the world does Goro Akechi do for fun? For all that Akira feels that he'd come to understand about him in those final couple of months, there's still a lot about Akechi that's a mystery to him, and maybe that's a good jumping-off point.

Well that's... blunt, and once again unexpected. Akechi can't help but chuckle.

"This isn't relaxing to you?" He sounds like he's joking, but not entirely like he's joking. "It's true that I'm usually preoccupied with school and assisting the police..." And since he doesn't have any friends his age (or at all) and most adults don't want to hear about school, he defaults to his job.

Still, it's not like that's all he does.

"I like to find hidden gems and interesting new restaurants." Obviously, given that he's here. "And if I can, I'll spend my free afternoons at rock climbing gyms." Maybe he can be the one to surprise Akira this time.

It's not relaxing, would be his first thought, as would be probably anyone's in the same situation. There is something inherently not at all relaxing about having a conversation alone in a room with your attempted murderer.

And yet... despite knowing that, Akira does find part of himself at ease. The same part that legitimately wants to know more about Akechi, the same part that saw the parallels between them, the same part that felt a brief glimmer of hope right after their last battle.

His eyebrows notch up slightly at the last bit of information. "Hm," Akira sounds out, glancing over Akechi as if trying to imagine him rock climbing. Despite his initial surprise, it's easier than expected. "I've heard rock climbing is as much about strategy and technique as about strength... so I think I could see it."

Akechi's ready to be doubted, so the conclusion Akira eventually comes to just delights him.

"You heard correctly. Though when you say it like that, I can't help but feel like you think it doesn't suit me." Not that he sounds the least bit upset by that implication. Akechi knows how he looks, and he wouldn't guess someone like him would have a hobby like that, either. "You might enjoy it yourself, if you're ever curious enough to try."

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