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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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Akechi nods to give Akira the go-ahead to open the folder. Inside are a few sheets of paper covered with names, pictures, and conclusions, all linked together by arrows labeled with dates, percentages, and yen amounts.

"That's the idea." Akechi leans a little closer, pointing out the various players and explaining their connections. "If you follow the flow of the money there should be a discernible end point. But instead it just vanishes." And money doesn't do that. It has to go somewhere. "I'm close to having the full picture but there's still pieces I'm missing. If we can find those pieces then everything will fall into place."

He finds himself momentarily distracted when Akechi comes closer, acutely aware of his presence for some reason. It's easy enough to chalk it up to a lingering sense of caution around him. Rightly so, Akira reminds himself before refocusing on the documents inside. Flipping through them, he skims the information while mentally filing away the explanations that Akechi gives him.

"I see..." It sounds pretty cut-and-dry at first, but Akira sees now that this will probably involve him asking the right questions. It's unlikely Kawanabe would let anything important slip without prompting.

Akira flips the folder shut and sets it on the counter, and some of Joker's confidence slips into his voice when he speaks. "I'll get you what you need."

Maybe Akechi should find that unhesitating confidence off-putting - this is a case that's been giving him trouble, after all - but instead all he feels is relief. Just an hour ago he'd felt hopelessly stuck. Now he thinks there might be a chance.

"I'll be counting on you." Which might seem unfounded considering they haven't talked that much, but... "You have a way of drawing people towards you."

The faith Akechi puts in him brings a smile to Akira's lips, even moreso than the seeming compliment he drops after. Most people would probably question his confidence, but Akechi just accepts it, like he understands that when Akira sets his mind on something, he won't settle for anything less than the desired result.

"You think so?" He reaches up to brush his fingers through his unruly fringe. Sometimes Akira wonders if that's really the case, and it's not just that he's the one being drawn in. People in need of help seem to be a weakness for him, after all. Akechi might as well be Exhibit A. Akira's not sure he knows anyone right now who needs his intervention more than Akechi does.

"I know it." Now it's Akechi's turn to sound confident. "I don't know anyone with the sort of social circle you keep - or who carries a cat around in their bag." Morgana alone merits comment, honestly.

As does Akira's ability to not be constantly covered in cat hair, actually. Akechi would ask for advice if he had a pet.

"And that applies to me as well, of course." His tone is a little softer now. Not affectionate, but just a little bit fond instead of merely amused. "I've never met anyone quite as easy to talk to."

Without missing a beat, Akira deadpans, "He's my emotional support animal," but a cheeky grin soon threatens to break through, giving him away. He has to give Akechi that one, at least. Even he realizes that the cat thing is pretty weird.

His expression softens around the edges as Akechi continues. The statement brings back memories of previous time, one now lost, where he'd expressed a similar sentiment to Akira. His only response had been a quiet nod, still skeptical of Akechi's intentions. It feels so far in the past now, almost like a dream. Akira is grateful for the second chance to give a real reply.

"You can talk to me about anything, you know," he offers, making sure to keep his tone light. "Doesn't just have to be work."

The last time around (not that Akechi realizes it) he'd been willing to divulge information about himself and his past without much prompting. As he said, Akira is uncommonly easy to speak with. But now that the invitation has been extended he doesn't take the opportunity. It feels more like it's not his idea when someone else offers.

"One day there might be something besides work." But despite the joking reply there's something contemplative in Akechi's voice and expression. He's never actually had anyone he could just talk to. Maybe it'll be nice.

But for now, it's late and it's probably time to go. Akechi closes his briefcase again, though he doesn't stand to leave just yet.

"I don't think you'll need any help with this - but if you do, give me a call. Even if I'm in an interview I'll call back as soon as I'm done."

It's understandable that Akechi doesn't spill his thoughts at the proposal. There's no way it would be that easy, after all. Besides, Akira should be pleased enough with their conversation this evening. Small steps and all of that.

But the aforementioned conversation seems to be winding down now, so he nods his acknowledgement, promising to contact Akechi if he needs a hand (or rather, once he has the information they need, ideally) before soon seeing him out the door.

The first move Akira makes is offer to accompany Yusuke the next time he sees Kawanabe. After that, he just has to wait... and consider how he's going to bring up the data Akechi gave him in a casual conversation.

A few days later finds him in the middle of one of his usual rituals: his weekly tour of the Tokyo vending machines. Even after months in the Metaverse, there are things about it Akira doesn't think he'll ever understand—like why soft drinks seem to give them an unnatural burst of energy when there. Maybe it's a cognition thing? Who knows. They're cheap, and if he hits the machines on the right day, Akira can grab everyone's favorites.

He slides a can of Joylent into the extra bag he's brought along and steps away from the vending machine along the side of Central Street, pulling out his journal to peek at the list he keeps. Next is... the arcade.

Akechi isn't intending to meet with Akira again any time soon. Not out of any desire to avoid him or a lack of time, but simply because there's not much point just yet. And without school to worry about for the time being Akechi has time to catch up on some other projects and hobbies he hasn't paid as much attention to lately.

But it seems like he and Akira are going to run into one another anyway. Akira doesn't particularly stand out on his own, but someone with two bags, a list, and an apparent vending-machine related mission is a little harder to miss. From there it's just a matter of recognizing that mop of hair.

"I shouldn't be surprised an interesting person has interesting hobbies." Even though he's having a hell of a time figuring out what exactly Akira is up to... but he can at least make a guess. "Are you trying to collect limited flavors?"

Running into people he knows isn't completely unheard of, but Akira doesn't quite expect Akechi to be the one to stumble upon him in the middle of his quest. The familiar voice has him glancing over his shoulder, nodding a greeting, and it's not until Akechi hazards a guess at his purpose that Akira realizes that, yes, this might look a bit eccentric to him.

"Just shopping," he clarifies with a shrug, like this is normal behavior. Although... that's an interesting thought Akechi has triggered. Not the collecting, but the limited flavors. Maybe they would have a stronger effect in the Metaverse? Akira makes a mental note to test it out at some point. "My friends like these."

He slides his journal back into his bag and now turns fully to Akechi. "What brings you here?"

Just shopping for his friends out of a bunch of vending machines.

... Yeah, Akira would say something like that as if it were perfectly normal. Akechi cant help but look amused, especially when it's his turn to give an answer.

"Collecting limited flavors." Not from vending machines but: "A few restaurants I like have put out some seasonal recipes, so I'm hoping to try them all before they're out."

"Ah." An answering smile surfaces when Akira hears that he's on a quest of his own. It's very Akechi.

He shifts the bag onto his shoulder, thankful that he's still early on in making his rounds, so it's not yet that heavy. "Any recommendations so far?"

"There's a nikuman shop with a plum and pork bun, and a confectionery with peach-mango sorbet." There's a few other he's checked out, as well, but those two stood out. Particularly because they're two he actually liked, rather than one of the many he'd clinically categorized for the sake of later conversation.

Actually, isn't Leblanc's coffee like that, too? It's an interesting realization that Akechi immediately decides to consider some other time.

"What about you? Any interesting soft drinks I should look into?"

"Too bad they're limited. They sound good." And they do. Maybe he should look it up and invite someone there on one of his next hangouts. Akira sticks a pin in that idea as well.

The question draws a thoughtful noise out of him. Akechi doesn't seem like the type of person to consume many soft drinks—but he could be wrong. "My favorite's 1UP. Earl Green isn't bad either." His look then turns a little bit mischievous. "But if you're feeling adventurous, try Nastea."

It's true that Akechi is more of a coffee, tea, and water sort of guy, but you can get those out of vending machines, too. And Akira's suggestions all seem on the level, except for...

"Nastea?" That name... kind of tells him all he needs to know. Though would Akira really recommend him something genuinely awful.

... Possibly, actually. He's been fairly reserved so far, but there's no way Akechi has missed that mischievous nature of his.

"I think I might be good on that sort of adventure, actually. I'll have to try your other suggestions, first."

"That's a shame," Akira remarks, though his expression speaks more of amusement than any real disappointment. Making the silly suggestion is worth it, just to see the honest response pan across Akechi's face. It's refreshing, and there's a part of him that finds some enjoyment in drawing out a reaction from underneath that carefully composed exterior.

"Well," he continues, the impishness fading a bit, though a grin lingers, "it's fine as long as you don't find something you like more than Leblanc's coffee. You're a regular now."

And just like that, Akechi's wariness bleeds away. This conversation is much more familiar ground.

"There's not a chance of that." He's not just being polite, either. There's a distinctly genuine quality to his tone and expression that's becoming more and more common during his conversations with Akira. "Even if I did find better coffee, the atmosphere in Leblanc is unparalleled."

And he won't say it (right now) but it's nice to be somewhere that's empty enough frequently enough for him to rarely be recognized.

"Still, I can't see any harm in trying new things. Would you mind some company while you shop?"

His statement is intended as a joke, but the honest response Akechi gives somehow triggers a small sense of relief, nonetheless. Akira isn't quite sure which concerns are being quelled. Maybe he's just glad that all of this seems to be working, at least on some level.

It comes as a pleasant surprise when Akechi asks to tag along. The companionship wouldn't be unwelcome, so Akira shakes his head at the question. "Not at all."

Which means that it's time to get back on track—to the next destination, it is. "Next is one in the arcade," he informs Akechi before easily slipping back into the foot traffic along the street. The building in question is only a short ways up the street, so before long, they're passing through the automatic doors and into the more dimly lit interior of the arcade.

Akechi is pretty sure he wouldn't have asked to tag along even as recently as a week ago, but with each new interaction Akira becomes more and more interesting. In this case, chiefly due to the fact that hitting up vending machines for his friends instead of having them fend for themselves is... pretty weird, for lack of a better descriptor. Especially considering that he clearly has a system for it in place. How often does he do this? And why? And also--

"You come to an arcade for drinks instead of games?" Yeah, that part in particular stands out. What a weird guy.

Akira can't help but look amused at the question. "I come for games sometimes," he points out as he leads the way to the vending machine near the door. "This machine just sells some of the harder-to-find drinks." Like... there it is, Arginade. And it looks like the last can left—good timing.

"Have you been to an arcade before now?" He has to ask, because now that they're bathed in the colorful lights and various beeps of the machines, Akira realizes exactly how out-of-place Akechi looks here. It reminds him of the time he accompanied Makoto, and his expression softens a bit at the memory, though he's still finding humor in the mental image of Akechi at the arcade machines.

Interesting choice that the arcade would house some of the rarer drinks - but he supposes someone dedicated to playing games for hours on end might appreciate being able to simply step aside and grab a drink.

"I haven't been in an arcade in years." His expression and tone have suddenly gone quite solemn. Akira can probably figure out why, but Akechi doesn't realize that. "My mother passed away when I was young, and I was in the foster system for some time after that." Unlike the 'first' time Akechi told Akira this he doesn't jump right into the story about his father ditching them and his mother's eventual suicide. He's not quite to the same low point he'll be at a few weeks from now. "There wasn't any money to spare for things like arcades, and now I'm usually busy with other things."

Edited 2019-01-12 02:42 (UTC)

Oh. Akira had been hoping that Akechi would come to trust him enough that he would confide in him about his past again, but he doesn't anticipate the small clench in his chest that comes with hearing it. Knowing what he knows now, having seen Akechi come undone in that last encounter, the words have even more significance now.

"I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," Akira says, tone apologetic but not pitying. "I'm sorry about your mom. It must've been lonely."

There's a pause before he turns into the machine and slots in a couple of coins, pressing the buttons to select a drink after a moment of consideration. A fruit-flavored tea thunks out once he decides, and Akira retrieves it, holding it out to Akechi. "This one's good too."

When Akira replies Akechi only looks puzzled. It's genuinely odd for him to get a response like that. It's odd to meet someone that seems to actually understand and doesn't get give him rote condolences that are forgotten as soon as they're spoken. It isn't even like he said much, but those four simple words - It must have been lonely. - are more than Akechi's even been given before. He has absolutely not idea how he's supposed to respond.

He feels dumb for being so affected by so little, but even that isn't enough to shake off how happy those words make him.

Akechi is so caught up in his thoughts that he's caught off guard again when Akira offers him the bottle of tea, but he's quicker to respond this time.

"Oh - thank you." He gives him a faint smile. "... And it's alright. I've had a long time to come to terms with it." And he's going to get revenge soon anyway. So it's fine. Honestly, he thinks Akira's response got to him more than the actual memory did.

He doesn't miss the confusion that falls over Akechi's face. As much as Akira is aware that people have failed Akechi, it's unsettling to think that some basic kindness would be regarded like that, like it's something new and foreign. It must've been lonely. He really means it, but maybe it runs deeper than he thought.

"No problem," he responds with a nod before turning back to the vending machine to nab that last Arginade.

Akira is straightening up from grabbing the drink when he speaks up again. "And if you ever want to give the arcade another shot, I'll play a few rounds with you." That sharp edge to his smile sneaks back in. "I won't go easy on you, though."

Ah, there. This is much easier. Even Akechi, as unused as he is to normal conversations with (seemingly) normal kids his age, is more comfortable with this.

"I wouldn't expect you to." What would the fun in that be? "Though if you're going to challenge me to arcade games I'll have to challenge you to chess at some point in exchange."

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