[ Everyone should be as concerned as Kawakami when it comes to his diet, but he will take attractive for eating massive burgers as a compliment. ]
I know.
[ He knows that their times together is littered with some truths that neither of them bring to light. It's meant only for them to just know... Which is why he finds it surprising that Akechi dares to cement his fondness for pancakes. Akira remembers when they spent time with Kasumi at the cafe and he vaguely talks about his love for sweets being part of his image, but didn't confirm anything. It was all in implication.
Which is like Akechi.
He's somewhat remorseful that pancakes ended up being the other boy's downfall, but eh. It's because of pancakes Akira's alive, so he can't feel that sorry. Also, they're together thanks to pancakes, now to enjoy a whopping fluffy big pancake. Akira's eyes widen with a big invisible !! shooting out of his head when he sees it coming to their table.
Ohhhhhh. It looks so fluffy. He ogles it with wonder and awe. ]
You can bounce a coin off that.
[ WHO EVEN SAYS THAT ABOUT A PANCAKE? AKIRA DOES. ]
( well, of course akira does. what else do you bounce a coin off of? exactly, and now akechi is wondering if that's just something the frizzy haired teen likes or finds attractive in others? to say that akechi might one day be called 'pancake boy' and get told to dance is only part of the equation, but also if he had an appropriately sized... )
What does that have to do with edibility? Or flavor? ( frown! ) Don't ruin the sanctity of pancakes by hurling something dirty on it, especially this one.
( this big boy. this chonker of pannycake. a veritable chonkcake. )
But listen. This isn't why I invited you here.
( he has to table the discussion on pancakes and :booty: for later. )
... surely you're curious as to how I was able to escape Dr. Maruki's cognition?
[ Please. It wouldn't be edible if he did? How could you expect him to have any serious conversation when the food is already here. As Akechi talks, his eyes are glued to the fluffy cake, but the keywords force his attention back on the other boy. His lips press into a tight line, gaze flicking back to the food, then back up.
He remembers when Maruki visited Leblanc to try and talk negotiations, using Akechi's life as weight. It shook him then and the memory, when it comes, is still haunting. ]
Yeah. [ Who wouldn't be? He thought Akechi truly survived until Maruki unveiled the truth— ] But you wouldn't go down that easily, though.
[ That's what Akira believes in his heart. It's what feels right. ]
( it's that belief that... well, he's not sure if it was akira's desire alone to somehow protect him, but he's here now and that's what mostly matters. waking up outside of the palace before the rest of the thieves got there, he was able to escape being seen by others only to be accosted by men in suits. )
I wouldn't. ( a correction: ) I didn't.
( he looks down at the pancake, taking a fork to cut a small portion out of the edge. not the center, fluffiest part (where the coin might blast through the ceiling and go into space if bounced properly) but somewhere with a little more texture? not that it's any thinner than any other part of the pancake, a sign of true greatness. )
I thought all this time... you only existed to spite me. Selfish I know, and I still feel that way to some extent.
( akechi calmly lifts the fork, though there are slight trembles as he digests his thoughts before the pancake is secured inside his mouf. )
But you believed in me anyway. So did the rest of them, after time. Right?
[ He doesn't know if he can say he trusts Akechi. In a way he does, but his rational mind tells him he can't always take what the fallen detective says to heart. He did once try to kill him... He killed many people. As Futaba said in Mementos when they traveled that odd block, they can trust his ability. They made a deal and Akechi did keep it.
Prodding the pancake's soft surface with his fork, he revisits their reactions to see Akechi gone again... Then their reactions to the truth. It hurt them to know it never changed, but they had to accept it. ]
We didn't have a choice. [ He isn't going to sugarcoat it. When facing someone as dangerous as Maruki, a man who learned to bend reality to his will, it was better to team up— ] But we did believe in you.
[ The team wouldn't have offered Akechi a chance to knock Shido down if they didn't think he could change his ways. It doesn't mean they forgive him, but they understand him. They're similar people, wounded and looking to stand up for themselves in this cruel world. Akira also thinks Akechi is similar to himself and it's something they've already confirmed. ]
I always have. [ A part of him considered forgetting about Akechi... There was so much on his shoulders, weighing him down, so latching onto a ghost isn't the greatest option. However, he didn't want to give up on him yet. ] This time, you have to accept my support.
[ Finally, he takes a piece of the pancake and admires it, but it doesn't go into his mouth. He holds it out to Akechi and, if he doesn't take it, he'll make sure to bop his cheek with the cake. ]
( he's about to open his mouth, say something soft and sincere--- perhaps almost out of character for the detective, whose desire for revenge was a thread ripped out of him a long tiem ago. or rather, it certainly feels that way: months? barely. he hasn't had a chance to rest yet, or ever, in his entire life. and at this very moment where he doesn't feel the need to withdraw?
the pancake. it touches his cheek. warm. soft. wow. )
This is not how I expected you to show your support. ( he bites back a surge of vitriol, but even with akira, it's difficult to not grit his teeth and feel the throbbing of some vein in his forehead. )
But I did ask you to be here, and I'm glad that you came.
( he could've ignored akechi, left him to wonder. the worst part about everything is that the unknown still exists, and the tension still makes him ache. even now. )
Do you still have the glove on you? If so... can you show it to me?
( what quality is it in? or did he feed it to morgana. who knows. )
[ Ah, yes, that face is everyday Akechi for you. The pancake piece stays out, waiting to be devoured by someone. Anyone. Akira lets it hang in the air, twirling it around as he flips and spins the utensil between his fingers—Sojiro tells him not to play with his food enough, but he can't say anything if he isn't here!
This visit... To say that he came just for Akechi and his benefit would be a lie, though it's partially true. The reunion means just as much for Akira as it does the boy next to him. An end to one story brings forth a new beginning to another. He's held onto the glove for quite some time... It's usually stored in his desk at home in the countryside, but today it's in his pocket. It'd be impolite to leave his duel invitation at home, after all. However, he doesn't reach for it. ]
If you eat this piece, I'll show it to you.
[ He can't eat it cause it already touched Akechi's face and he knows the other boy would drag him for being unsanitary if he did. ]
( he raises a hand to his temple, closing his eyes. he swears at times akira acts like he's a high school student--- wait, he is one. technically, so is akechi. it feels like they should be much older, that their story has probably aged them by thirty or forty years. still, that doesn't resolve the immediate issue of being pancake'd. )
... you're lucky that I want to do this, regardless of your demand.
( slowly but surely, akechi opens his mouth and takes the piece into his mouth. he lips over it, pulls it off, and chews.
very, very slowly.
it's soft and tender. sweet and pillow-like. is this what heaven is supposed to taste like? he doesn't know. there's a lot of he has the taste for but this goes beyond his expectations.
[ Akira knows they've both gone through so much, especially Akechi. Maybe they have mentally aged, then the fact that the other boy doesn't tend to spend time with his peers... Opting out to use it on adults—all of it in the past. They're high schoolers. Well, Akira is still a high schooler, now with college exams waiting for him at the end of the road.
Speaking of doing things teenagers should do, he scoots closer after placing the fork down. Camera out, he switches it to camera mode. ]
After we take a picture.
[ How could Akechi forget the main part of being a foodie?! Taking selfies with meals? Even if there are some slices in it already, it still looks good enough for a picture. If anything, it adds to it being organic rather than desperate for likes. ]
Only if you're in it with me and that you'll send me a copy, too.
( because there's no way he'd be in a picture with this chonker of a pancake without his company/accomplice/partner-in-cwime. maybe akira was already planning to do this, to make this a selfie plus two, but he rather be safe than sorry. people might assume that he ate this pancake all by himself, which would be a pretty scandalous (read: embarrassing) picture.
he... contemplates the best way two people can fit. perhaps if they both sit behind it, and someone else takes the picture? or does that take away from the selfie-esque nature from it, where the perspective ends up lacking?
or maybe in front of it, with the pancake behind.
that's perfect. )
Here. Pull up your chair next to me, so...
( with them in the foreground, that would work. maybe. is this how you do food pictures. )
[ Akira is already on it. His seat is pulled right next to Akechi's while his phone is positioned in a way to best take a selfie to get both of them and the pancake. When Akechi suggests it, he turns to him with this flummoxed expression. Rubbing his neck, he tries not to look too shocked. Maybe it's too presumptuous of him to assume selfie first.
What meta says is that they're both idiots. ]
Yeah.
[ Nodding, why would he not send it to him? Anyway, he holds the camera up and tilts it so it captures everything. ]
Make an expression that comes naturally to you.
[ Not smile. Something that feels right. Got it? He puts the timer on—3. 2. 1! ]
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no subject
I know.
[ He knows that their times together is littered with some truths that neither of them bring to light. It's meant only for them to just know... Which is why he finds it surprising that Akechi dares to cement his fondness for pancakes. Akira remembers when they spent time with Kasumi at the cafe and he vaguely talks about his love for sweets being part of his image, but didn't confirm anything. It was all in implication.
Which is like Akechi.
He's somewhat remorseful that pancakes ended up being the other boy's downfall, but eh. It's because of pancakes Akira's alive, so he can't feel that sorry. Also, they're together thanks to pancakes, now to enjoy a whopping fluffy big pancake. Akira's eyes widen with a big invisible !! shooting out of his head when he sees it coming to their table.
Ohhhhhh. It looks so fluffy. He ogles it with wonder and awe. ]
You can bounce a coin off that.
[ WHO EVEN SAYS THAT ABOUT A PANCAKE? AKIRA DOES. ]
no subject
What does that have to do with edibility? Or flavor? ( frown! ) Don't ruin the sanctity of pancakes by hurling something dirty on it, especially this one.
( this big boy. this chonker of pannycake. a veritable chonkcake. )
But listen. This isn't why I invited you here.
( he has to table the discussion on pancakes and :booty: for later. )
... surely you're curious as to how I was able to escape Dr. Maruki's cognition?
no subject
[ Please. It wouldn't be edible if he did? How could you expect him to have any serious conversation when the food is already here. As Akechi talks, his eyes are glued to the fluffy cake, but the keywords force his attention back on the other boy. His lips press into a tight line, gaze flicking back to the food, then back up.
He remembers when Maruki visited Leblanc to try and talk negotiations, using Akechi's life as weight. It shook him then and the memory, when it comes, is still haunting. ]
Yeah. [ Who wouldn't be? He thought Akechi truly survived until Maruki unveiled the truth— ] But you wouldn't go down that easily, though.
[ That's what Akira believes in his heart. It's what feels right. ]
no subject
I wouldn't. ( a correction: ) I didn't.
( he looks down at the pancake, taking a fork to cut a small portion out of the edge. not the center, fluffiest part (where the coin might blast through the ceiling and go into space if bounced properly) but somewhere with a little more texture? not that it's any thinner than any other part of the pancake, a sign of true greatness. )
I thought all this time... you only existed to spite me. Selfish I know, and I still feel that way to some extent.
( akechi calmly lifts the fork, though there are slight trembles as he digests his thoughts before the pancake is secured inside his mouf. )
But you believed in me anyway. So did the rest of them, after time. Right?
no subject
Prodding the pancake's soft surface with his fork, he revisits their reactions to see Akechi gone again... Then their reactions to the truth. It hurt them to know it never changed, but they had to accept it. ]
We didn't have a choice. [ He isn't going to sugarcoat it. When facing someone as dangerous as Maruki, a man who learned to bend reality to his will, it was better to team up— ] But we did believe in you.
[ The team wouldn't have offered Akechi a chance to knock Shido down if they didn't think he could change his ways. It doesn't mean they forgive him, but they understand him. They're similar people, wounded and looking to stand up for themselves in this cruel world. Akira also thinks Akechi is similar to himself and it's something they've already confirmed. ]
I always have. [ A part of him considered forgetting about Akechi... There was so much on his shoulders, weighing him down, so latching onto a ghost isn't the greatest option. However, he didn't want to give up on him yet. ] This time, you have to accept my support.
[ Finally, he takes a piece of the pancake and admires it, but it doesn't go into his mouth. He holds it out to Akechi and, if he doesn't take it, he'll make sure to bop his cheek with the cake. ]
no subject
the pancake. it touches his cheek. warm. soft. wow. )
This is not how I expected you to show your support. ( he bites back a surge of vitriol, but even with akira, it's difficult to not grit his teeth and feel the throbbing of some vein in his forehead. )
But I did ask you to be here, and I'm glad that you came.
( he could've ignored akechi, left him to wonder. the worst part about everything is that the unknown still exists, and the tension still makes him ache. even now. )
Do you still have the glove on you? If so... can you show it to me?
( what quality is it in? or did he feed it to morgana. who knows. )
no subject
This visit... To say that he came just for Akechi and his benefit would be a lie, though it's partially true. The reunion means just as much for Akira as it does the boy next to him. An end to one story brings forth a new beginning to another. He's held onto the glove for quite some time... It's usually stored in his desk at home in the countryside, but today it's in his pocket. It'd be impolite to leave his duel invitation at home, after all. However, he doesn't reach for it. ]
If you eat this piece, I'll show it to you.
[ He can't eat it cause it already touched Akechi's face and he knows the other boy would drag him for being unsanitary if he did. ]
no subject
... you're lucky that I want to do this, regardless of your demand.
( slowly but surely, akechi opens his mouth and takes the piece into his mouth. he lips over it, pulls it off, and chews.
very, very slowly.
it's soft and tender. sweet and pillow-like. is this what heaven is supposed to taste like? he doesn't know. there's a lot of he has the taste for but this goes beyond his expectations.
after swallowing: )
... you have to try some too.
no subject
Speaking of doing things teenagers should do, he scoots closer after placing the fork down. Camera out, he switches it to camera mode. ]
After we take a picture.
[ How could Akechi forget the main part of being a foodie?! Taking selfies with meals? Even if there are some slices in it already, it still looks good enough for a picture. If anything, it adds to it being organic rather than desperate for likes. ]
no subject
( because there's no way he'd be in a picture with this chonker of a pancake without his company/accomplice/partner-in-cwime. maybe akira was already planning to do this, to make this a selfie plus two, but he rather be safe than sorry. people might assume that he ate this pancake all by himself, which would be a pretty scandalous (read: embarrassing) picture.
he... contemplates the best way two people can fit. perhaps if they both sit behind it, and someone else takes the picture? or does that take away from the selfie-esque nature from it, where the perspective ends up lacking?
or maybe in front of it, with the pancake behind.
that's perfect. )
Here. Pull up your chair next to me, so...
( with them in the foreground, that would work. maybe. is this how you do food pictures. )
no subject
What meta says is that they're both idiots. ]
Yeah.
[ Nodding, why would he not send it to him? Anyway, he holds the camera up and tilts it so it captures everything. ]
Make an expression that comes naturally to you.
[ Not smile. Something that feels right. Got it? He puts the timer on—3. 2. 1! ]