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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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"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."

"I think it suits you," Akira clarifies, but he doesn't elaborate any more than that. He'd have a hard time explaining that while other people might see him as the type to stick to mental exercises, Akira has witnessed Akechi in battle, both at his side and as his opponent, and knows the extent of his strength.

"I'll give it a try sometime." It would be a good non-Phantom Thieves conversation topic at least, and Akira's always up for trying out new things. "Maybe I'll request some beginner tips from you." The suggestion comes with a small smile.

"I'd be delighted to lend a hand." And he's even being honest when he says that.

The rest of his visit passes comfortably enough, with Akechi making mild conversation and not drifting back towards subjects as heavy as the Phantom Thieves. He departs with a promise to drop in again soon, and for the rest of the July he makes a point of stopping by as often as he can manage. Which is really only once a week, but still.

Medjed declaring war on the Phantom Thieves catches his interest, but he doesn't let it worry him. They'll be gone soon either way; the groundwork to murder Okumura and have the Phantom Thieves take the fall has already been laid. Akechi isn't happy about it, but he's not unhappy either, and it doesn't take long for him to decide it's fine. Okumura is just as corrupt as the rest of them, after all, and Akechi thinks he'll probably have targeted him after the fact anyway.

With his pursuit of the Phantom Thieves de-prioritized for the moment he's able to shift his focus back to more mundane cases. Which turns itself into an opportunity to reach out to Akira again. Akechi doesn't think twice before jumping on the opportunity.

It's an uncomfortably warm autumn evening when Akechi enters Leblanc and takes his usual seat at the bar. Akira isn't in yet, but since Akechi will actually order more than a single cup of coffee Sojiro doesn't mind him settling in to wait. So Akechi does exactly that, ordering a cup of coffee, opening his briefcase, and getting right to reviewing the information he's already gathered.

He may have pushed it too hard today, Akira admits to himself as he approaches Leblanc, exhaustion weighing heavy on his frame. At his insistence, they had continued on in Futaba's Palace, fatigued but spurred on by the information they discovered inside. The date of the supposed cleanse still looms safe distance in the future, but it's impossible to drag out the infiltration when he knows that Futaba is suffering by herself.

And, well, he misses her. If one thing is for sure, it's that this ordeal has made Akira realize exactly how much his life changes over his months in Tokyo. Being thrust back to the beginning, being alone again, dyes everything in stark contrast.

Akira is watching a stream of messages pop up in the group chat as he shoulders open the door the rest of the way, glancing up to return Sojiro's customary greeting, and it's when he does so that he catches sight of a familiar figure in the usual spot. A half-smile rises to the surface on its own.

"Hey." He casts a quick look over Akechi and to the papers on the counter. It looks like work, Akira notes with a small pang of disappointment. If Akechi is busy, the polite thing to do would be to leave him to it, no interruptions...

But he probably should butt in.

There's been progress during their visits, but it's slow, and Akira still doesn't feel like he's much closer to getting through to him. If anything, he can feel himself softening to Akechi's presence, the wariness melting away as he gets more accustomed to picking out which expressions are genuine and when he's simply putting on a front.

Letting the door shut behind him, Akira continues into the cafe and gives a nod towards the documents. "Phantom Thieves?"

Akechi's not the greatest as self-reflection, but just how much he's come to enjoy Akira's company isn't lost on him. He'd never thought he'd be in a situation where just seeing someone would be enough to improve his mood, but that's exactly what happens when he looks over and sees Akira walk through the door.

"Not this time." He's not surprised that Akira immediately assumes it's related to the Phantom Thieves, at least. They're practically all Akechi has worked on lately. "But it is something I was hoping to get your opinion on." After a brief pause, Akechi adds: "If you're not too busy, that is." He's getting back fairly late, and he already seems a little tired. Akechi won't be shocked if he needs to dip out.

It comes as a pleasant surprise that Akechi is asking for his opinion on a case other than the Phantom Thieves. Maybe things are going a bit better than Akira thought, if Akechi is seeking him out for input on his other work as well.

"I'm not busy." His tiredness has already subsided a bit, inexplicably. Akira slides his phone back into his pocket and claims the seat next to Akechi's, setting his bag on the floor to allow his passenger to slink off to the attic if he so desires. (Although, Morgana may want to listen in—he seems to be under the impression that these ongoing interactions are Akira's attempt to mine information on the investigation. He hasn't bothered correcting him; it's easier that way.)

Leaning forward, he folds his arms across the counter and peers over at Akechi. "Kurusu Consulting Service, open for business," Akira jokes lightly, prompting him to continue.

The news is good all on its own, and the joke just makes it better. There's no stopping Akechi's amused smile.

"I hope your hourly rate isn't too steep."

There's no stopping is unfunny jokes, either, but as usual he's quick to move on. His expression grows somber as he slips his papers back into his briefcase.

"I was reviewing the previous Phantom Thieves cases when I stumbled across some unsettling rumors about a man named Akio Kawanabe. Exploiting the artists he sponsors, demanding money to host their exhibits, accepting kickbacks from scholarships..." Pretty routine stuff, but especially alarming for one particular reason. "He and Madarame were fellow students, and remained colleagues in the professional world for some time after graduation."

Ah. That's one of the genuine ones. Akira can't help but feel a flutter of satisfaction when he draws a real smile out of Akechi.

But the feeling is short-lived. Akechi starts expounding the details of the case, and the name immediately sets off a blip on Akira's mental radar. Kawanabe...

That's right. The artist who offered to sponsor Yusuke. He doesn't seem at all like someone with ill intentions, but Madarame's front had been extremely convincing as well, so they can't discount the possibility. The thought of Yusuke being preyed on the same kind of person twice makes him feel sick, although Akira doubts he would just take it a second time.

"That's... troubling," he murmurs, propping his chin up in a palm. "He approached a friend of mine about sponsorship." There's no use hiding it, not when he knows that if Akechi digs into the details of Kawanabe's activities, it'll come up eventually. If it hasn't already, that is.

Akira already knows about him, huh? That makes things easier.

"Yusuke Kitagawa, I presume?" That's a name that's been on Akechi's radar for some time now. Partly due to his connection to Madarame, and partly due to his friendship with Akira. "Looking at the flow of money and established patterns, I believe there's a strong possibility that Kitagawa-kun is next on his radar. However..." Akechi sits back in his chair, frowning. "I lack any sort of proof, and I'm too well-known to easily gather more." He glances back to Akira again. "That's where I was hoping you might help."

Akira confirms his guess with a nod. No surprise that Akechi has already looked into things. Ace detective and all.

What's there to consider? It's Yusuke. Akira has to check in on this. On top of that, doing a favor for Akechi will surely win him some points. And, quite honestly, the thought of helping to bust a criminal the old-fashioned way is... kind of awesome. Not as grandiose as pulling heists in the Metaverse, for sure, but there's definitely an appeal to assisting Akechi with his detective work.

So there's only a brief moment of silence before he fixes Akechi with a resolved look and asks, "What do you need me to do?"

( for fabrications )

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