scaling | ( for fabrications )

( for fabrications )

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...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Much like Akira, Akechi isn't dressed too different from usual. It's just that his 'usual' is decidedly preppy and put together. Regardless, he doesn't comment on Akira's outfit and doesn't try to draw attention to his own. Despite the joking he's sure it's not an actual date.

"There's noting to worry about. One of my colleagues just wanted to confirm something about a case we're working on." Which isn't entirely a lie. It's just that his colleague is more like his boss, and the case is more of a conspiracy.

Fortunately, Akechi doesn't yet realize it's Kobayakawa they're planning to target next. Going out for lunch with his students might be weird if he did.

"Shall we get going, then?" Sounding humored, he adds: "I admit, I've been excited about this all week."

He hadn't been intentionally mining for information, but Akechi's response piques his curiosity nonetheless. Could it be another smooth lie to cover up something having to do with Shido? Or it could just be a regular case, now that he's fully aware Akechi handles those as well. Either way, it's not something he can really pry into expecting honesty, so Akira simply nods at the explanation.

At Akechi's prompting, he leads the way out of the station. "Hopefully it lives up to the hype, then," he answers with a smile. Though, even of it doesn't, that's a bonding experience in itself.

The short trek takes them to Central Street, right to the diner that Akira has visited so many times in the past, both alone and with friends. At least the staff have a better impression of him this time around—having done the entire school year already, he hasn't needed to camp here, spending hours studying over coffee refills and nothing else.

Akira slides into the booth seat of his usual table, thankful that the place is as quiet as it usually is.

Like usual, there's nothing to indicate whether Akechi is being misleading or not, aside from the knowledge that he's usually being misleading. Regardless, once they start walking he doesn't act like he has anything in mind besides dessert. It helps that that's more or less true.

He is a little surprised by where they go, however. Not because he dislikes it, but because...

"I've passed by here a few times." Probably more than a few, actually. "I've never been inside, though." It has an... interesting aesthetic, he thinks, but he doesn't dislike it. It's certainly different from the trendy places he tends to favor. "I can see why you like it here."

"This is where I go when I want quiet but don't want to be at home," Akira admits, offering a small smile.

It's no surprise to hear that Akechi hasn't been here before. This place may be cozy, but it doesn't have the same vibe that Leblanc does, not quite the feel that blends well with Akechi's image. On the other hand, Akira looks perfectly at home as he picks up the laminated flyer advertising the new series of parfaits they're offering. Strangely, his mind hadn't jumped to Ann when he saw it earlier in the week, but rather to Akechi—and whether he would like it. The fact that it could be useful had only occurred to Akira later.

He's already got an idea of which he wants to try, so he merely glances over the menu before offering it to Akechi. "The coffee here is pretty good too," he adds. "Not as good as Leblanc's, though." Clearly.

Realizing that Akira fits right is the first thing that leaps to Akechi's mind, though he's long since realized that's just Akira's nature. He has a talent for seeming right at home in 'common' places.

Akechi accepts the menu, grinning at Akira's comment.

"Advertising for the competition?" As if a cafe a ten minute train ride away could be competition. "You don't have to worry, though. I prefer tea with desserts." And tea is definitely not Leblanc's specialty. Akechi looks over the menu himself and immediately zeroes in on the parfaits. After a moment of considering he makes his own decision, and when the waitress comes by he ends up ordering what's probably the sweetest one on the menu.

"That's a relief," he breathes out, just as joking, because he's pretty sure that Akechi comes around for more than just coffee at this point. At least Akira hopes so.

The waitress greets him with a small measure of familiarity—and Akechi with something more like recognition, although she doesn't let on any more than that, thankfully. Akira's order is much less decadent, a simple strawberry and anmitsu parfait, and once the waitress departs with their orders, he can't help raising his eyebrows at Akechi.

"You really have a sweet tooth, huh?" At least some of that has to be genuine. Akira can't imagine stomaching it if he didn't have some appreciation for sugary stuff.

It's definitely more than just the coffee that brings Akechi around - but he doesn't mention that, of course. He doesn't even think that perhaps he should.

"Guilty as charged." He doesn't sound guilty as he makes his 'confession'. "Desserts are something of a weakness of mine. They're always what I like best when I'm trying new restaurants." As opposed to all of the courses he simply doesn't hate or has no real opinion on.

Akira considers the merits of inviting Akechi to the Wilton Hotel buffet next time, right up until he recalls running into Shido there. Definitely not a meeting he would want to risk if there's a chance that Shido frequents that place.

Instead, he props his chin in his palm. "What's your favorite?" This is nice. Regular conversation, nothing to read into.

Happening to run into Shido in public is something Akechi is used to at this point. He knows how to handle himself when it happens. But if the thought of running into him while in Akira's company had occurred to him, he'd be feeling pretty uneasy right about now. He's been careful to not let any of his fellow conspirators know much about his social life and the idea of one of them realizing that he and Akira are more than just acquaintances...

Well, Akechi's not a mind reader, so these thoughts don't occur to him. So he stays relaxed and is able to answer Akira's question without hesitation or unease.

"Pancakes." Actually, hadn't he first run into Akira when he overheard he and his friends discussing pancakes...? "Though if you ask me to pick a type we might be here all day while I debate." Not really - he hasn't put that much thought into it - but as a joking comment works. "What about you?" He doesn't clarify if he's asking Akira's favorite food, favorite dessert, or favorite pancake, in part because it doesn't occur to him to. Asking for such mundane information about a person isn't something he does often.

Well, that's unexpected. Who would've thought that Akechi's favorite dessert would be the thing that originally ruined all of his carefully laid plans? Akira, for one, has a newfound appreciation for pancakes. A smile peeks out alongside his fingers. "All right, I won't make you pick."

When the question is turned back at him, Akira doesn't have an answer on hand the way Akechi does. Dessert has never really been a focus for him, and so often does he just go with the flow set by others rather than seeking out the things he likes himself. So it takes a moment of deliberation before he comes up with a response.

"Probably tiramisu." It's boring and predictable—Akira, who spends so much time around coffee, enjoying a coffee-flavored dessert. Nonetheless...

"Hmm..."

Boring and predictable is right, honestly, but Akechi doesn't find himself disappointed. He think he'll be surprised if Akira ever manages to disappoint him, at this point. That's a dangerous pedestal to put someone on, though, so he shakes off the thought.

"That's the most shocking thing I've learned about you yet." Unlike with his usual jokes he doesn't lean very much into a light tone this time. He almost sounds and looks serious, aside from his smile. "I know a place that has tiramisu pancakes. Maybe we can go there, next time."

"I'll be sure to keep the surprises coming," Akira replies, though there's more of a humorous tinge to his voice than there was to Akechi's. There's still one surprise in store, and it's most certainly going to top the list, whenever Akechi realizes his secret identity.

But the thought of that impending discovery is a little bit unnerving, so Akira shoves it to the back of his mind, instead focusing on the suggestion being thrown out. "Sure," he agrees without needing to think twice. The fact that Akechi is already talking about a next time is encouraging. "Best of both worlds."

Even without a solid suspicion that Akira is one of the Phantom Thieves (the possibility has more than just occurred to Akechi, of course, but at the moment he's doesn't view it as an especially likely possibility) he doesn't expect Akira to morph into a boring person any time soon. So to both the upcoming surprises and the promise of another lunch date...

"I'm looking forward to it." He's suddenly very glad the waitress didn't say much despite recognizing him. They might not be that lucky in the future. Right now, however, he's happy to enjoy the relative privacy provided by this particular restaurant. He doesn't hesitate to dig in once their food arrives, but even though he takes his time with it and makes plenty of idle conversation in between bites he still can't help but feel that time is passing too quickly. He doesn't usually mind parting ways with someone quickly, but it's a bit disappointing today.

On the other hand, it's not like he has anything urgent he has to take care of. So maybe...

"... This is a little abrupt, but did you have anything else planned for today?"

Akira, similarly, is going through his parfait at a leisurely rate, savoring each bite and the conversation between. It's really more of his default—an unhurried pace, the kind that's completely at odds with his history of slamming burgers twice the size of his head in thirty minutes.

"Not really." He'd been thinking about picking up a shift at the bar, but that wouldn't be until later tonight. Plus, if Akechi is interested in extending their encounter, he's completely on board. It's... actually been pretty fun, he realizes, and things like sides and lies have barely crossed his mind throughout their lunch.

Whether that's a good thing is still up in the air. Akira knows, in the back of his head, that Akechi is still extremely dangerous, and he should be staying alert at all times.

"What are you thinking?" he asks, scraping the bottom of the glass for the remaining bits of food.

A spike of actual, genuine excitement goes through Akechi when Akira agrees. He doesn't dwell on it or even have too obvious a reaction, but his expression brightens when Akira not only says he's free but also asks when Akechi has in mind.

"Well, we could always go right to pancakes after this." That's definitely a joke; not even Akechi is ready to get dessert again this soon. "But I was actually planning on going to the rock climbing gym later this afternoon. Today isn't usually busy, even during the summer, so it'd be a good time for a beginner to join me."

His tone is calm, but he's a bit more intent than he'd normally be in this situation. He's already come up with a list of reasons why Akira might decline - not feeling well, thinking it's boring, not wanting to deal with going back home to change into appropriate clothes - but he's really hoping he won't.

He doesn't really have any expectations (this "hanging out with Akechi" thing is still foreign territory, after all), so the suggestion of rock climbing is a pleasant surprise, an old passing exchange that he wasn't sure would ever come up again.

"Alright." Akira doesn't have to dig deep to see that he really does want to tag along. Not only will it prolong their time together, but he'll also get to put all of the exercise he's been doing to use somewhere other than the Metaverse for once. "I'll need to swing by Leblanc to change. Do you want to just meet there?"

Akechi manages to avoid looking like a complete dork when Akira agrees, but there's no hiding the way his expression lights up. He'd already half convinced himself that Akira was about to say no.

"That'll be easiest. I need to stop by my apartment, too." And while Akira could probably borrow clothes from Akechi in a pinch, Leblanc isn't that far away and Akechi's not entirely sure if he's okay with Akira knowing where he lives just yet. He's happy to spend time with Akira, but that's something else entirely. So he gives Akira the gym's address and some simple advice: "You'll want something loose and easy to move in." Akechi's pretty sure he's seen people show up in their pajamas.

That's not how he dresses, but it's still pretty uncommon to see him in something like track pants and a t-shirt, and with a gym bag instead of a briefcase. Once again, he's not really worried about it and is just happy to lift his hand to wave Akira over once he sees him approaching.

Akira doesn't quite dress down to the point of pajamas. Instead, he opts for the usual black track pants and shirt that he does for his regular visits to the gym—an outfit similar to Akechi's, though he images the casual nature of it is much less surprising on him than it is on Akechi. He actually wasn't sure until this point if Akechi even owned a t-shirt. The thought has his lips just barely quirking upwards as he approaches, offering a nod to meet the wave.

"Sorry if you were waiting long," he speaks up, mirroring Akechi's greeting earlier this afternoon. "Had to buy cat food on the way home." Which is code for stopping to buy Morgana a sushi set from the convenience store so that he wouldn't be too miffed about being ditched for a second outing in one day.

Immediately, Akechi finds it a little strange that Akira would go get cat food now instead of waiting until the final trip back - but he can immediately think of a few reasons why he might. Maybe whatever store he uses might close early before he expects to return, or maybe Akira really does spoil his cat as much as he seems to. Still, he looks thoughtful for a brief moment before he shakes his head at the apology.

"I wasn't. My apartment is near, but I still have to walk." So he hasn't had to linger outside for long, but he's still happy to step inside and get started.

Though the gym is clean and spacious it's as quiet as Akechi had promised, with only a few other people in the gym itself. The girl working the front desk seems familiar with Akechi and a bit surprised to see him with another person, though she doesn't say anything about it out loud. Instead she greets them both and, upon hearing that Akira is new, starts walking him through the process of checking in. Luckily the actual usage fee is waived since it's his first time and he's here with a current member, and the rental fee for shoes isn't bad. Once that's taken care of, though, Akechi has a slightly odd question.

"How much do you weigh?" Probably right around what Akechi does, but it's always best to be certain.

The clerk's mild surprise isn't lost on Akira, and it only takes him a moment to make the connection that his presence is the source. Before, he would've thought that Akechi would have no shortage of people eager to spend time with him. That may still be true, but now Akira has seen things that lead him to believe Akechi isn't particularly the "hanging out" type. Which makes this outing all the more meaningful.

Check-in is quick and smooth, and soon enough, Akira is changing into the rented shoes. He glances up at the question, taken off-guard at first, though he comes to the obvious conclusion that it has to do with climbing.

"Around 64." Probably. Takemi keeps track of his weight for her trials, so it's not like he doesn't get weighed often enough, but Akira rarely pays attention to it.

Akehci had just enough of a social life to not seem off-putting, but outings like today are rare enough to be unheard of for him. Which he's aware of, of course, but he's not really thinking about what it means.

"Perfect." And just like he suspected. It feels good to be right. "Some of the walls have auto-belays, but for a few of them you need a partner. It's best if the person on the ground is about your weight or a little heavier." So 64 is a good range to be in. More teasing, he adds: "Though if you're not a fan of height, we can skip right to bouldering - but that doesn't use harnesses at all."

The teasing suggestion earns a grin from Akira. "I like heights, so this is fine." Although, the idea of climbing without a harness feels more up his alley—more like the sort he does in the Metaverse.

But, at the same time, he knows the safer route is the way to go. Certain friends already look at Akechi with distaste every time he badmouths the Phantom Thieves. Akira can only imagine how they'd react if he got injured hanging out with Akechi.

Shoes snugly on his feet, he stands up straight, waiting for the next bit of instruction.

Even with having only met them a few times, and even without knowing the extent of their distaste, Akechi is aware that at least some of Akira's friends don't care for him. It's not like Ryuji is subtle about it, or like Makoto was ever anything but coolly polite to him.

They're the furthest thing from his mind right now, however. He's focused on walking Akira through the basics, explaining the safety features, and showing him how to clip in to the auto-belay. It's definitely strange to be here and working with another person but he's quickly finding he actually enjoys it. He wouldn't have believed if even a week ago, but he supposes that's just the effect Akira has on him.

"One you get to the top, just let go and the belay will lower you to the ground." He doesn't even think that Akira might not make it, even as a beginner. "It's more of a solo activity from here on out, but I can still give you advice or pointers if you need." Honestly, he could probably just go do his own thing while Akira climbs, but he doesn't actually want to.

Not for the first time, Akira's attention drifts, more caught up in observing Akechi than completely absorbing what he's saying. Watching him demonstrate attaching to the auto-belay triggers the thought that he actually has pretty nice hands—a thought the sensible part of his brain immediately counters with a reminder that those same hands would've shot him, given the chance. It only sends a thrill through him, and Akira thinks he'd rather throw himself from the top of the rock climbing wall than try to read into that reaction.

"... Thanks," he says, a little belated, once the tutorial has wrapped up. Even distracted, Akira's sure he's got the important points down. All of that texting in class at least taught him how to successfully divide his attention. "I'd say let me know if you see me doing anything wrong, but I'll probably know when I slip."

All that's left is to climb. With a small nod to himself, Akira sets off, fairly quick at first, though he slows down as he gains some height, mentally mapping out his path a few holds ahead.

"You'll be halfway to the ground before I can help." And with that slightly ominous warning, Akechi steps back and lets Akira get to work.

Akechi is distracted by Akira himself, but the nature of it is quite different. Sure, he definitely admires the simple physical prowess that lets Akira throw himself right into a new activity, and how easy he makes it look. But mixed in with the admiration is a sudden undercurrent of simmering jealousy. Akechi's been having fun with these outings - more fun that he's had in years, as a matter of fact - but it suddenly feels both completely incomprehensible and completely natural that people gather around Akira despite all his unrefined edges.

Why wouldn't people be drawn to someone that everything seems to come easily to?

And yet, why is Akira the one that can make everything seem so natural?

It doesn't take Akechi long to chase away the dark thoughts and the gloomy expression they brought, already telling himself there's no real reason to be jealous. Still, it takes a moment for him to stop zoning out loud enough to realizes Akira has slowed down. Right, he's supposed to be teaching him.

"You were more right than you realized when you said this was as much about strategy and technique as about strength." Which isn't really advice, but still encouragement that Akira is on the right track and that slowing down isn't a bad thing.

( for fabrications )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject