[He won't. In fact, he's there earlier than strictly necessary. A good 20 minutes at that, because he wants to do this right. It's important, more so since Maruki had said that Akechi wasn't used to kindness, and that puts more pressure on him to make an apology the correct way.
After all, it wasn't Akechi's fault. Akechi hadn't started the fight, hadn't deserved what Kazuya had done to him.
So he'll wait for Akechi to show up, as early as he is, the others cleaned knife tucked away nicely and wrapped in just as clean cloth.]
[Is the first and only comment Akechi makes to that. The photo is studied, and downloaded to his files. He'll try to discern the symbols later. It may be something familiar in Mementos.
A curse skill on par with Tyrant Chaos - something Loki should have. Doesn't. Magatsu-Izanagi does and there's an all new mystery surrounding an unknown user with a powerful persona.]
He may be new to awakening or perhaps incapable of handling pain.
[Delicious HP slurping skills. Yum. Maybe he just needs to get good. ♥]
[What a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. Oh, it's fallen right into his lap. Akechi plucks the homemade sushi with his chopsticks - holds it in the air, right by his mouth.]
I think it's best we help him grow, don't you think? Build some character. Perhaps conquer a fear.
No, the people with the gold cuffs don't have devices. I did make a map of Somnius for him and indicated where he could find me so we could meet up again, but...
Because he's an interesting person, and I just gave you a lot of information. You could do the same.
I indicated that I'm spending most of my time by the crystal, but also pointed out our home and the farm. We were attacked just outside of it, and he ended up resting in the farmhouse, so he knows the area somewhat.
[He does. ♥ He takes a bite of his sushi for a moment of silence, a bit of dramatic flair and-]
This may surprise you, but Maruki-san is easily frightened. Even a dripping sink scares him - it's quite sad. I think we could quell those fears with a bit of effort.
You thought I was a kind hearted media personality with a desire to seek justice. I'm a murderer for hire, working for the most rotten people on earth. Cruel. Some might say evil. I've tried to kill you multiple times.
To be fair, as soon as I started getting to know you in person as opposed to through a television screen and magazine articles, I didn't think that for very long.
What's your point? I trusted you then, I trust you now. You've never betrayed that trust.
[It it good - it tastes even better with a side of malicious intent.
He finishes off the piece and immediately goes for another - smile plastered, but not all feigned. It's not bad at all. It reminds him of home, the konbinis, a conveyer belt with 100 yen plates.]
He isn't weak in the slightest - that's why making him stronger in this area will allow him to be formidable in others. Facing fears is the quickest way to grow.
Though it's not quite the same -
As an example, when I met you, cooking supposedly wasn't your forte. Now, you're able to recreate sushi from my reality - a feat that even some trained professionals can't manage. That's how people grow.
Again, I've tried to kill you - multiple times in various ways. I'll murder you in our reality without hesitation or mercy. That is a betrayal - it's the most unforgivable kind.
[ logically, this tracks. she can understand it. she's never had a problem understanding akechi.
but she knows maruki well too. so applying this logic doesn't line up as neatly as it would. it's just like the time they talked about bb. it's strange. to her, akechi is smart. he understands izutsumi and knows how to lay it down.
has she grown? has akechi become smaller? or maybe they're more equal now.
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