[Day 15, afternoon: Akechi]

[purrtagonist]

[Ichigo sleeps the day away. and honestly, Akira almost does, too. but at some point he manages to disentangle himself from his napping buddy to sneak out and pull a certain someone aside, right into an empty classroom]

[once they're there? Akira leans his shoulder against a wall, crutch tucked underneath one arm, back facing Akechi]

I need your help.

Comments

[afailedmurder]

I can't say that's the word I would use.

[though he also would never even conceive of the possibility that it could be a compliment]

[purrtagonist]

[in these circumstances it totally isn't]

Oh yeah? What word would you use?

[afailedmurder]

There are no other words within orders of magnitude of "stubborn."

[purrtagonist]

[. . . laughs, head bowed, shoulders hunched. it's without humor, because he totally knows that's true]

Well. . .

Here I am, stubbornness giving way to something else, for once.

[afailedmurder]

You make a good point. And I'm relieved, of course...

[he thought he was going to have to force you to kill him, after all]

Maybe I simply don't know how else to conceptualize you. Could it be that I'm the stubborn one?

[purrtagonist]

[god, that would've been a mess]

Relieved. . . that's one of us.

[very wry]

It could be that we both are. Just a little bit.

[afailedmurder]

[as long as we're being wry]

That's probably why they chose us. Anyone else would likely have talked out their differences half a year ago.

[purrtagonist]

[YES LET US CONTINUE WITH THIS WRYNESS]

But we have made many attempts.

And you didn't kill me that one time we explored the nurse's office together, so that makes us friends.

[afailedmurder]

[laughs darkly]

You were worried, huh? Even though I think you're probably the one person I definitely wouldn't have killed that night.

[purrtagonist]

[HONESTLY, he wouldn't mind continuing with the wryness, but also pissing off Akechi right before asking him to be his alibi seems like a bad. . . idea]

[so he drops the dark humor for something a little more honest. why not? Akechi's already seen far more of him than he ever wanted to share. they're at this point now, and there's no turning back]

I was worried. A little bit for me, but mostly for everyone else.

But ultimately, I'm glad I decided to trust you that night.

[afailedmurder]

[probably a wise call there]

It worked out well, didn't it? Now we can save everyone.

[purrtagonist]

Aha. . .

[the wan smile is back. but he needs to have more conviction about this, right? this is his choice, it's for the good of everyone here, and he needs to follow through]

[(are these the thoughts that ran through Akechi's head when he first awoke his Persona, when he first realized he had the power to enact his kind of justice?)]

Yeah. We can.

[afailedmurder]

[regards him for a moment]

...I know it won't be easy.

[purrtagonist]

Of course not.

[a small, tiny shrug]

But for the sake of everyone here, I can do it.

[afailedmurder]

You can. And then afterward, you'll be finished with all of this.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . nts: don't tell Akechi he has no intention of quitting]

That's not why I'm doing this.

[afailedmurder]

I wasn't trying to insinuate otherwise. But it's, mm... nice to have something to look forward to, during the most unpleasant parts.

[murder protips!]

[purrtagonist]

[THANKS AKECHI]

A silver lining to compromising my values as a Phantom Thief for what I feel like is a good cause?

[. . .]

[ugh. grimaces when he says that]

[afailedmurder]

[well la-de-dah Mr. Values—but no, don't get irritated, he doesn't get it]

Even ordinary people do what they must in dire situations. It will only change who you are if you let it.

[purrtagonist]

[now that's actual good advice]

. . . right. Of course.

[afailedmurder]

...Don't take for granted that she can't defend herself, either. Even if she looks weak, she's probably armed.

[purrtagonist]

I'd be surprised if she isn't armed, actually.

[CONSIDERING. . . Erika]

There aren't any firearms in this school.

[he doesn't say this aloud, but he is quietly wondering if the raccoons would give him one]

[afailedmurder]

You're still injured as well...

You may be able to deceive her, but as she is both observant and deeply paranoid, that'll be easier said than done.

[frowns. he'll say it:]

Talk to the raccoons. I'm sure they'll accommodate you.

[purrtagonist]

[Goro Akechi: there to say things you're a bit afraid to ask aloud]

I'll-- figure something out.

She is the one who asked me to accompany her, so she must have some level of. . . trust. For me.

[mmmmm yeah that only makes it worse]

[afailedmurder]

...

It's best not to focus on that.