[meanwhile? Akira's fingers curl into the sleeves of his shirt, grip tight, almost shaking. a telltale sign of that constantly buzzing anger he's learned to control so damn well. but something like this? this is more than enough to tap into those supplies, to let a few drops seep out into the open air]

Maya, Himemiya-san, and Utena. . . none of them deserved what happened to them.

[sssssaying that firmly]

If the remaining reapers are just like Hawthorne, then I can't-- [hrrrgh. here, he tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling]

I can't imagine any of them would be willing to talk with us like I had hoped for.

[Dahlia sure didn't look like the paragon of helpfulness. that, combined with what Max said about how reapers are "usually sadists," is starting to make him rethink his approach]