[after that stunning opening, akechi's next reply takes at least five minutes to craft. he's struggling to get the wording just right]
Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking the two of us were in good standing. You understand the truth of what happened, of course, but even so, I'm well aware that it doesn't erase the nightmare of your own experience.
What I mean to say is-
Tell me what you want from me to make the two of us even. Whatever it is, consider it done.
Is not exactly what he expected. He was fully expecting Akechi to yell at him in all caps to talk to Souji, or to explain things to Souji, or otherwise just straighten things out. He'd be an idiot to say he didn't see that argument happening and he wishes he could step in without blowing it up worse. He's learned that by now to keep his mouth shut (sometimes).
Being asked like this... What does he even do?
Well. It isn't exclusive to Akechi but.]
I do understand the truth. And to be honest, it's not anything you've got to make up for
But I could use your help. You and the Phantom Thieves if you'll hear me out. It probably won't go over well though.
[Of course it would make things easier for Akechi if Yosuke would explain the newfound complexities of their relationship, but as far as he's concerned, Yosuke's the one he slaughtered and it's his truth alone to either share or hide. Akechi has no right to spread it, even if it makes him look like the bad guy.
It's a role he's familiar enough playing.
It's not the action Akechi was hoping to hear - whether that was him settling some of Yosuke's debts or taking on a favor for him or perhaps even letting the other boy kill him in return - but he was honest in what he said. Whatever Yosuke asks, Akechi will do anything he can to make it happen.]
[Please don't hate me, Souji. The other boy is so silent on anything he actually wants or needs for himself, it's hard to gauge if he'd be grateful for this help or not.
But he knows he himself is going to worry any time something big happens and Souji doesn't have his Personas.]
I need the Phantom Thieves' help. Something happened with Souji's Personas before he got here. [As if he doesn't know what that something is.] I don't think he'd ask for help on his own. He says he's fine without them but
With how insane things get here, I think it'd be better if he could access them. And I don't know how to help him with that. Amamiya-san explained how you guys did things back in Tokyo. And I saw how the Metaverse worked here when it got screwed up big-scale. I wondered if something similar could be focused on just helping him.
Maybe? Or I dunno. I've never done something like what you guys do, I dunno if it'd be possible to see what's happening and find a way to unlock his Personas again or Whatever But yeah
Anyway, I'll be upfront and say this isn't something that we've ever dealt directly with either, but if this is what you need from me, I'll speak privately with Amamiya about it. That way, if we're unable to fulfill this request, at the very least, this won't be spread among all of the Phantom Thieves.
[for Yosuke's sake more than Souji's, but it still stands]
[There's a long few minutes, almost ten minutes, where it likely seems that the conversation is over and Yosuke's moved on to do something else.
But.]
You know, you aren't as mean as the energy you give off. You're surprisingly kind. [Not 'nice'. He is pointedly not saying Akechi is 'nice' because that's different.]
[Akechi does move on from the conversation when Yosuke doesn't respond, throwing his Leaf aside and flopping onto his dorm room bed. And by the time the next text comes in, both his and Nancy's little fae kittens are kneading their pinprick claws into his back while Akechi blindly reaches for his device.
The word choice is effective.
'Nice' would have left the older boy sending Yosuke a twenty paragraph essay on why no single part of him was nice. But kind....... Akechi still doesn't think it fits, but perhaps Ren's influence is rubbing off on him. There's no denying he's done plenty of kind things over the last year, been selfless and sometimes even heroic when he's needed to be.
Huh.]
If you're hitting on me, I'd like to remind you that your boyfriend already hates me.
[It's one of those rare goro akechi jokes, not great, but more than he usually allows himself.]
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timeasmymeasure
it keeps happening
Date: 2026-04-26 06:09 am (UTC)Yep. What's up.
open mouth, insert bad angsty take-
Date: 2026-04-26 06:13 am (UTC)Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking the two of us were in good standing. You understand the truth of what happened, of course, but even so, I'm well aware that it doesn't erase the nightmare of your own experience.
What I mean to say is-
Tell me what you want from me to make the two of us even. Whatever it is, consider it done.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:18 am (UTC)Is not exactly what he expected. He was fully expecting Akechi to yell at him in all caps to talk to Souji, or to explain things to Souji, or otherwise just straighten things out. He'd be an idiot to say he didn't see that argument happening and he wishes he could step in without blowing it up worse. He's learned that by now to keep his mouth shut (sometimes).
Being asked like this... What does he even do?
Well. It isn't exclusive to Akechi but.]
I do understand the truth. And to be honest, it's not anything you've got to make up for
But
I could use your help. You and the Phantom Thieves if you'll hear me out. It probably won't go over well though.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:24 am (UTC)It's a role he's familiar enough playing.
It's not the action Akechi was hoping to hear - whether that was him settling some of Yosuke's debts or taking on a favor for him or perhaps even letting the other boy kill him in return - but he was honest in what he said. Whatever Yosuke asks, Akechi will do anything he can to make it happen.]
Tell me.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:29 am (UTC)But he knows he himself is going to worry any time something big happens and Souji doesn't have his Personas.]
I need the Phantom Thieves' help.
Something happened with Souji's Personas before he got here. [As if he doesn't know what that something is.] I don't think he'd ask for help on his own. He says he's fine without them but
With how insane things get here, I think it'd be better if he could access them. And I don't know how to help him with that. Amamiya-san explained how you guys did things back in Tokyo. And I saw how the Metaverse worked here when it got screwed up big-scale. I wondered if something similar could be focused on just helping him.
1/2
Date: 2026-04-26 06:33 am (UTC)2/2
Date: 2026-04-26 06:34 am (UTC)1/2
Date: 2026-04-26 06:35 am (UTC)I bet you did
Re: 2/2
Date: 2026-04-26 06:36 am (UTC)Or
I dunno. I've never done something like what you guys do, I dunno if it'd be possible to see what's happening and find a way to unlock his Personas again or
Whatever
But yeah
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:41 am (UTC)Anyway, I'll be upfront and say this isn't something that we've ever dealt directly with either, but if this is what you need from me, I'll speak privately with Amamiya about it. That way, if we're unable to fulfill this request, at the very least, this won't be spread among all of the Phantom Thieves.
[for Yosuke's sake more than Souji's, but it still stands]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:42 am (UTC)I started to bring it up to him too
Just
You know him. Stays busy
But seriously thanks
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:45 am (UTC)But you're right, he does. Annoyingly so. ...However, I do have my own ways to keep his attention. I'll ensure we don't keep you waiting long.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:48 am (UTC)[CHECKMATE.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 06:52 am (UTC)But.]
You know, you aren't as mean as the energy you give off. You're surprisingly kind. [Not 'nice'. He is pointedly not saying Akechi is 'nice' because that's different.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 07:02 am (UTC)The word choice is effective.
'Nice' would have left the older boy sending Yosuke a twenty paragraph essay on why no single part of him was nice. But kind....... Akechi still doesn't think it fits, but perhaps Ren's influence is rubbing off on him. There's no denying he's done plenty of kind things over the last year, been selfless and sometimes even heroic when he's needed to be.
Huh.]
If you're hitting on me, I'd like to remind you that your boyfriend already hates me.
[It's one of those rare goro akechi jokes, not great, but more than he usually allows himself.]
Don't go ruining my reputation now.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 07:05 am (UTC)He looks back at the message and can't help a little laugh.]
I would never
on both counts
no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 07:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-26 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-05-02 09:14 am (UTC)