Oh, is it irritating when someone doesn't present their whole self in an easily digestible manner? I had no idea.

[ Mild. Joking. If he had a crossword book, he'd whap Akechi upside the head with it.

And that question–

Doesn't have a true answer. Not one that isn't a question itself, anyway. And not one that Maruki is willing to ask now, or even any time soon.

Besides, what would it reveal? A common connection that he's all but certain of. A student he sought out for his own motives but grew attached to, a Phantom Thief he put all his faith in to deliver him to where he needed to be. He died, but he didn't. A guiding light. They were going to catch up after the new year.

Irrelevant. Maybe one day, but not today.

Off the dirt path, into the perpetually damp soft grass that surrounds the lake. Hands back in his pockets. ]

Well... Sometimes I climb trees to rescue cats.

[ And a grin breaks out over his face immediately. ]

I'm just kidding, of course. About that being a sordid confession! Not about doing it. I really do.

[ If he's naturally gravitating toward the area he chose as his stakeout spot night after night in the Forest of Dreams, well, that's his business. ]

But no, Akechi. At this point, you know more about me than anyone does. In either reality.