oversizedshoulderpads | [NOPE] in between rounds, ONSEN TIME

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goro akechi

[NOPE] in between rounds, ONSEN TIME

[It's finally men's hour at the hot spring, and Akechi is ready to relax. Which is to say, he's ready to gnaw his own leg off if it means getting away from Phantom Thieves for even a little while. He addresses the leader directly, ignoring the peons.]

Say, Kurusu, do you if Shuichi and I take first crack at the onsen?

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...Mm. Alright.

[he glances back over his shoulder just once before going with him]

[starts stripping down and shoving his clothes in a basket]

The onsen seems large enough that I shouldn't have to talk to him...

I still don't understand the necessity of staying with these people. They could have saved their money and dropped us off at a hostel or a manga cafe. It's not as though I'm a flight risk when all we have is foreign currency.

Edited 2018-02-11 06:49 (UTC)

[he sighs a little before he starts taking his clothes off as well]

I don't think that's the issue. They're not worried about what you'll do, they're worried about you. Being alright, I mean. At least, Kurusu-kun definitely is.

I believe it for Kurusu, but the rest of them hate my guts. Kitagawa's simply the only one blunt enough to admit it, and I barely did anything to him.

[plopping down on a stool to rinse himself off. he can wash away everything except for his sour mood]

[he sits down too, thinking quietly for a moment]

...That may be true. But... you can hate someone for something they did and still know there were circumstances that drove them to it. And you can still wish something better for them than what they got. I... am familiar enough with that. I'm sure they all have complicated feelings.

Would you really prefer it if they just never wanted to see you again?

[good question]

...I don't know. It would definitely be easier. For them too, I should think.

Sometimes things you want are hard, though. I know if I saw anyone from my game again, I wouldn't let things end there.

That's not the same, though. I was... manipulated, I suppose, but the crimes I've committed were very personal to some of them. Eventually I tried to kill them all, but when I failed, they showed me mercy. Almost kindness.

I realized a lot of things at that moment. One of them was that this group of people who hated and pitied me were the closest things that I'd ever had to friends. Of course I didn't want to go on after that...

I'm sorry I didn't tell you.

[he's quiet for a while again]

...It is a bit the same. All the people I ever knew were my friends from that game, and a lot of them killed each other, or planned to.

They've made the choice to show you kindness, both then and now. Maybe it's just pity. But maybe they really are the people who can understand you more than anyone, and maybe you can be friends, despite everything. You won't know if you just run away.

And neither will they. And they want to know. That's what Kitagawa-kun really wants to know, I think.

When I said it was personal for them... I mean it was personal for them. It didn't mean anything to me. For me, committing murder was... somewhere between mindlessly following orders and playing a game. That's what makes it different.

[sighs]

Well, you're right about Kitagawa. He's trying to understand, and nothing he said was wrong... but he's such an asshole about it, I can't help but want to fight.

That’s fine. I mean, not fine, but... I don’t think think it’s fair for him to expect you to have all the answers right away, either. And even friends fight sometimes. Just... I don’t think you should give up on it.

Mm.

[ducks his head under the water for a little too long, but when he's done he's worked up some semblance of calm]

A nice soak should ease the tension... right?

[a small smile]

Hopefully, yeah.

[he quickly finishes up washing up himself]

Then I'll give it a try.

But I'll be glad when we can have some alone time.

A-Ah.

[he shifts a bit and then stands up]

...Yeah, me too.

[also standing up]

I'd like to take you out on a proper date.

[blinks and looks at him in surprise]

Oh.

...You're right, that would be... nice.

What did you think I was saying, hm? I'm starting to suspect you may have a dirty mind, Shuichi.

Ah, I-I, th-that is...

Hmmmmm? What is it?

[leaning in]

Um. It's true that... I'm looking forward to other kinds of alone time, too.

........

How long do you think until they follow us in here? Maybe if we pretended to argue...

I'm not going to pretend to argue with you!

I suppose you're right — I'd have a difficult time arguing with my mouth full.

Into the water, then?

.......

[Shuichi looks extremely conflicted for a moment, but]

M-mm, yeah. I do want to make a good impression on Kitakawa-kun.

[or at least, not have his first impression be getting caught having sex in a public place.

he takes a deep calming breath.]

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afailedmurder - 2018-02-12 07:24 (UTC) - Expand

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truthstranger - 2018-02-12 07:44 (UTC) - Expand

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