... In which Akechi, instead of hanging out normally to deepen their bond, asks Rin to Mementos for a duel, and she is able to catch a first glimpse at the side he is concealing behind the expertly crafted mask of kindness and charm.

Or—me having a little too much fun with Akechi's Rank 8... Fairly unreasonable amounts of UST and the gun equivalent of 'knife to the throat' is all I shall say.

******************************************

Still nothing.

Every few seconds, I find myself glancing back at my phone and the new group chat that's been suspiciously silent today. It's been almost a week since we started Sae's palace and Futaba bugged Akechi's phone, and still, nothing has come of it.

I shovel spoon after spoon of delicious dinner curry into my mouth, but mentally, I'm far away. With each passing, fruitless day I become increasingly fed up with my friends' disregard for his privacy, and closer to the moment when I'll be ready to confront them with my true opinion on their plan.

Spending more time fighting alongside Akechi in the Metaverse helped.

We got almost halfway through the palace yesterday, said Futaba. She was as surprised as everyone else when I announced we leave it be for the day, for no apparent reason, instead of powering through until we hit the almost obligatory roadblock.

But the further we get into it, the more I realize that this is a palace that I'm happy to drag out for as long as I possibly can.

I barely notice that I've finished my dinner. My head's in the Metaverse—because in my head, the palace is never-ending. I think about Akechi fighting with us, about baton passing and swapping items with him, about sitting side by side in a safe room, exchanging idle chatter... About Makoto's and Haru's new showtime, and how much I'm itching to ask Akechi, of all my teammates, to come up with one of our own.

But... I clench the spoon so tight my knuckles shine white. He isn't a real teammate. I peak at the new group chat. My friends don't seem to get tired of reminding neither me nor him of this fact.

They are justified in being suspicious of him, I have to remind myself for the millionth time. It doesn't change the fact that I hate how we have to deceive him with every fiber of my heart that hammers violently against my ribcage as though trying to express its disapproval. What I hate even more is that my friends all apparently think they also have to be so outright rude to him, more often than not.

And yet... a part of me can't help but hate myself too—for being so trusting, so willing. So ready to blindly hold out my heart, for him to... break?

Well... I guess it'll come down to whether he can make my heart bleed out any faster than it already seems to be.

"Hey, what about my dinner?"

I jerk up when Morgana's voice disrupts my gloomy thoughts.

"Didn't boss prepare anything for me? Hmph..." He leaps up on the counter beside me and I shake my head. "Oh well... I'll have to go and remind him that I exist, then." Morgana shrugs and I can't help but roll my eyes.

"Hey, so... did Futaba text yet?" he asks moments later, bringing me back to reality.

I shake my head again and Morgana groans. "This isn't good. I wonder why we haven't gotten any results yet...?"

I swallow and summon all the courage I have mustered over the last few days.

"Maybe it's a sign that we made a mistake?"

> "What if we were wrong, and it won't amount to anything?"

Morgana gives me a long look. "You really don't like that we're taking the safe approach here, do you? Why is that? Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?"

I cast my eyes down at my empty plate, then finally nod. The safe approach. The way he phrased it, it doesn't sound like we're deceiving and excluding someone I want to embrace instead.

I open my mouth to ask Morgana if he'll finally let me ask Akechi openly about why he lied about when he discovered the Metaverse when my phone chimes.

Both our heads turn towards it and I pick it up with hands that are suddenly shaking. But... my heart skips a beat; it's not Futaba or the group. It's...

—Hey. Are you free right now?

—I think we should talk. It's time we establish something important.

"Akechi... He wants to talk? Well, there is something he's not telling us," Morgana says as he peeks at the screen, and my heart skips a beat; I know exactly what he means.

"... Are you gonna go see him?"

I nod, a little too eagerly. Is this the chance I've been waiting for? Will he finally tell me what's going on and spill about why he lied to us?

Before Morgana can respond, he is interrupted by another notification... but it's not Akechi this time.

FUTABA—Hey Rin, what do you think the liar wants to talk about?

ANN—Huh?

—What do you mean?

FUTABA—Akechi texted her just now.

—Something about meeting up and talking.

RYUJI—What?!

ANN—You should probably go... but be careful!

FUTABA—My words exactly.

I close the group chat and try not to feel like my own privacy has been violated. There were never any talks about reading his texts to me as well!

"Hm..." Morgana shakes his head. "I gotta hand it to you—if he does reveal anything crucial and it turns out you were right, I'll apologize. But Futaba has a point, don't do anything reckless, okay? If he wants to talk, let him. But if he doesn't... I would advise you to wait with asking any questions of your own."

I hold Morgana's earnest and concerned gaze for a moment, then I let reason win over my fuming emotions. It can't hurt to wait a little longer... The deadline is still weeks away, and Akechi himself said no moves will be made until then.

Still... I tap the screen and hesitate, then open Akechi's text to reply. No need to respond in the group if they're going to read my messages to him anyway.

I stare at his portrait for a second longer than I have to, finding myself hoping fervently that he'll tell me everything of his own accord, sooner rather than later.

—I'll be there.

He replies almost immediately.

—Thanks.

—Then I'll be waiting in Kichijoji.

Morgana and I exchange a glance, and without another word, he jumps into my bag. I don't even have the mind to think about telling Sojiro that I'm leaving.

The entire subway ride I can't slow my galloping heart. Whether it's because of what Akechi may say, or just because it's him—I don't know. The more I think about it, the clearer it becomes to me that there's something I've not told him either—something I should have told him a while ago, honestly, but...

Be cautious, I still hear Morgana say. We don't know if Akechi's lying about anything else, or what his true agenda is, for proposing to work with us.

Cautious... the word tastes sour in my mouth. The safe approach. But the longer we fight side by side in the Metaverse, the harder I also find it to believe that he joined up with us for a completely ulterior motive.

By the time I exit the subway, I'm smiling. I've never seen him quite this excited to undertake something. Up until now, I've not seen him this motivated among a larger group of people. I know—I see—that he enjoys being with us. It's very apparent, and it's oddly warming my heart.

I've pieced together a long time ago that he is and probably has been, lonely all his life. He's never had much spare time; understandable, with his school and his job, and considering how ostracized honor students are in general—and how his celebrity status would only add to that—I also can't imagine he socializes much at school. He told me himself that he has no noteworthy family and lives alone.

And that's exactly why I hate deceiving him so much. It's not just that I care about him. It's also that... this, what he has here with us now, is most likely a first. And it's also why... why I'm hoping, praying that whatever my friends are so paranoid about will evaporate into thin air soon. Because I still haven't given up hope that if it does, he could join us honestly.

But that's not the thing that I'm not telling him. Maybe, if I finally do, it would give him a reason to be honest with me as well.

Akechi is waiting in front of "Penguin Sniper" as he always does, staring at his phone with a frown. I bury my hands in my pockets and walk up to him, trying to act natural. The thing that I know I should finally tell him—now more than ever—is beating at the back of my mind like a sledgehammer. But the little courage I had scraped together is deserting me, as it seems.

As soon as he senses my presence, Akechi looks up. "Our mission is going great. All we need to do is wait for the proposed date," he says without introduction.

I nod and he turns and stashes away his phone, then looks at me with narrowed eyes and an ever-so-faint smile that is pleasantly knotting my insides.

"Haha..." he tilts his head, "Perhaps it's not quite appropriate, but... I confess I'm a little excited for this."

I sense Morgana peeking out of my bag and swallow.

"Do you have time? I want to talk to you about something..." Akechi stares past me absentmindedly and I nod again. That's why I'm here.

Please, I plea internally. Tell me what is going on. Tell me you had a good reason to lie to us, and that all this paranoia is pointless. That I can... trust you. I swallow again. If you do, it might just give me enough courage to tell you my own secret... how I really feel about you. Suddenly I feel like if I can't get this off my chest soon, I'll explode.

"It'd be best if we went somewhere where there aren't many people around," Akechi continues, and his tone shifts. "How about, let's say... Mementos?"

I look up. Did I hear correctly? I stare at Akechi, bewildered. Then I suddenly wonder if he has a request for me—one he'd rather have handled privately like Futaba.

"... Nobody can get in our way there."

I swallow again and try my absolute hardest to read the look in his eyes, but his expression is blank. Collected and calm on the surface, as always, but there's something I can't make out for the life of me stirring beneath, so close it might boil over any second.

I do feel like my bond with Akechi is about to get stronger, but...

"He wants the two of you to go to Mementos alone...?" Morgana interrupts my thoughts; he looks back and forth between Akechi and I, then sighs. "Well, you guys are strong enough that you should be fine, but..." he moves closer to my ear and lowers his voice. "Be ready for anything, I guess."

I nod and attempt a smile, most likely failing miserably. Though my heart is still racing, I'm more anxious than anything now—to find out what he could possibly want.

"Then let's head to Shibuya," Akechi says, picking up his briefcase.

"Akechi just wants to go with you, right?" Morgana leaps out of my bag with the finesse of an experienced cat. "Then I'll be waiting outside... Be careful."

He remains behind while Akechi and I head for the subway. We ride in silence, and I still can neither calm my mind in regards to what he's proposing, nor my own feelings for him, which I've admitted to myself a while ago.

No matter what he will or won't reveal about his own intentions, I need to tell him this, I conclude as we exit the subway. If I ever want to rest easy again, I have to. And—I look at him from the corner of my eye—it's not... inconceivable that he may return my feelings. So far, he's not given me any reason to think he doesn't.

An excited tingle runs down my spine. Quite the opposite, actually. I allow myself to reflect on our interactions in the past; he certainly implied more than once that he feels the same. It should be impossible that he wouldn't be interested in me in some capacity, at least. For what has to be the hundredth time, I remember his sharp, unfiltered "What are you doing to me...?" and feel the familiar pleasant shiver.

Well... of course, there's his lie about the Metaverse, and our plan to deceive him now. Things are a lot more complicated than they used to be, but still.

As soon as we arrive, Akechi takes out his phone right by the subway entrance and activates the Nav without a word. Something's clearly on his mind and all I really want is to walk up and hug him, tell him that he doesn't have to shoulder a potential problem all by himself. I don't care if my team is suspecting him. I won't... until I'm presented with undeniable and hard evidence, I won't. I will be his friend—I tell myself as the navigation activates and we fade into the Metaverse—if I can't be more than that to him, I'll be his friend. No matter what anyone says.

And then we're there, in Mementos. I can never make up my mind about whether I find this place fascinating or creepy... both, maybe. "Well," Akechi stops when we reach a dead end with no shadows in sight. "This place should do nicely..."

I look around. There's nothing here; we're alone, and even though this seems an almost suspiciously perfect spot to talk about what we've been keeping from each other, I can't shake the growing feeling of dread. It honestly hasn't really faded ever since our last pool game.

But for now, maybe I should focus on finding out why we're here.

"What did you want to discuss?"

> "Why are we in Mementos?"

Akechi turns to face me. For a moment his gaze flickers to the side, then he reaches into his pocket. "... This."

I flinch as I find myself staring down the open muzzle of a gun. He cocks it at me casually, perfectly composed. It is... I swallow, my heart hammers but not from giddy excitement this time. I'm fighting an instinct to retreat. This... is not the ray gun model that he uses in Metaverse battles... It's his real gun.

"Remember what I told you?" Akechi takes a step closer, and another until the gun hovers inches over my chest... my heart. "If you ever won against me using my right hand, I'd take you on with everything I've got."

He is staring holes into my eyes, not faltering for a single moment, and his voice lowers until it is barely more than a whisper—deep and drenched with an emotion I can't pinpoint for the life of me. And despite the pungent air of danger he's doing a damn good job at creating, it's effectively turning my knees into jelly.

I blink up at him and try to fight the sudden heat in my cheeks, to sort through my clouded mind, and form coherent thoughts. I recall our last pool game perfectly, and what he said after I won, but...

> "I thought you meant in pool..."

"Is this what you meant?"

Akechi holds the gun steady but his head tilts away from me until I can't see his eyes anymore. "That wasn't enough to satisfy me." He makes the words sound both accusing and provocative at the same time. "It's your own fault, though."

I stare at his gloved finger that hovers over the trigger. He's not going to pull it, of that I am oddly certain. No, this... it's all just a mind game. And against my better judgment, I find myself falling for it.

"You've not only grown fast, and continuously exceeded and... subverted my expectation, you also..." He tilts the gun slightly, then takes another step closer. If I reached out, I could touch him now. "You do and say things that... You're not like anyone else, Rin Amamiya."

My heart skips a beat at the way he says my name... my full name, for the first time.

"You just don't know when to quit." Akechi laughs quietly; it sends a shiver down my spine. "There is no other way." He looks back at me with an odd gleam I haven't seen before. "I have to be certain. You and I," he smiles but this time, only with his mouth, "have to be certain. That... it's not too late yet."

I frown. He's not making any sense, but beneath the barrel of his gun, my heart is hammering. Whether it's from anxiety, anticipation, or... because he is now closer than he's ever let me outside of our dance in the rain... or all of the above. Heaven only knows.

"Either way, I've built up this urge to duel you... without holding anything back," he announces and shifts his weight.

A duel? I blink, surprised... until I realize I probably shouldn't be. Because... why not? Honestly, upon hearing his proposition, I feel genuine relief. I've never considered something like that but it makes odd sense, for what he announced he wants us to be, and it explains why he brought me here. And... it could be fun.

In his eyes, I see a new kind of iron determination. He's not explaining what he meant earlier, and... I suddenly feel an excited tingle creep up my spine.

If that's what he wants, I can't help but smile... I'll give him the fight of his life.

"All right..."

> "You're on."

As soon as I say the words, he retracts the gun and leans back. "Thank you for indulging my selfish request." He smiles almost too brightly and I swallow hard. "No need for pleasantries at this point, correct?"

Something in the way he speaks those last words chills me to the bone.

Akechi swiftly stashes the gun away, then extends a hand to initiate the battle. "Let's go!"

Only now do I realize that I haven't exactly come prepared for a fight. I'm fairly low on items and I haven't actually visited the Velvet Room to fuse new Personas in ages; I wanted to wait until we get further into Sae's palace and I can recruit some new ones... well, it's too late now, I suppose.

"You won't be able to defeat me unless you actually fight with lethal intent," Akechi says suddenly and I listen up. "Now, show me your true skills."

I evaluate my options. Not exactly top tier, but... well. I hope I will be fine. What's worrying me more at the moment is actually his 'lethal intent' remark. Because I most certainly won't be attempting to kill him any time soon.

... I can't imagine he'd do it any differently with me.

For a while, we exchange blows and though I'm definitely not fighting with everything I have, I can already tell he isn't either. It's like trying to get a feel for your opponent before going all out, except I'd never actually go all out on him.

When both our healths begin to teeter on half I wonder if I should heal—or if that would be cheating, considering I'm not sure if he has any healing items left for himself.

"Nice... How fascinating," Akechi suddenly interrupts the battle and leans back. "Can you take this?"

I stagger back from how hard his Megidola hits and abandon all thoughts of doing this without healing. Besides... it was he who wanted me to use everything I've got, right?

Like that, it doesn't take much longer until his health is sufficiently depleted... and Akechi confirms that he indeed did not mean to fight to the lethal end. "Haha..." he takes a step back and glares at me. For a moment, an unprecedented amount of animosity flashes through his eyes. "This was not expected..."

Once more I'm face to face with him, but now he is glaring at me as though he's not done yet. Slowly but surely I begin asking myself if there was more behind this request than just the fun of a little competition.

"... No wonder you're the leader of the Phantom Thieves," he finally speaks and shakes his head. "You've caught up to me on this front already, too..."

For a moment I wonder if it is just the exhaustion from the fight or if he is genuinely this disappointed in the outcome. It's not like I decimated him effortlessly, or anything... I take a deep breath, not even trying to conceal how much this tired me out. But when I look at Akechi again, I can without a doubt see the want to keep going.

... I'm not sure how to feel about that.

"Is this what you wanted?"

> "... Was that all you've got?"

"Do you want to keep going?"

The corner of his mouth twitches up. "Of course not." I suppress a shiver from the calm certainty in his voice. "But if we go any further, we'd both go beyond the point of no return, wouldn't we?"

His look is piercing and determined, more so than before. I swallow. Then he takes a step forward. He's been keeping his distance so far, but now that he's close again, I can feel the tension he radiates even without the gun.

"In all honesty," Akechi says, lowering his voice to barely more than a whisper. "I'd love to see just how far we can go."

Although I'm pleasantly surprised at how unadulterated his expression suddenly looks, it's also still unnerving. I can't pinpoint the emotion he's wearing, genuine or not.

"But we have an important mission coming up," Akechi speaks up again and brushes past me. "Until that's finished, you're a vital ally to me." Moments later he halts and looks back. "... We're done here. Let's go."

I have no choice but to follow when he activates the Nav and kicks us out of the Metaverse. But for whatever it's worth, my heart is beating hard at the back of my throat. Why? Not even I know that for sure. Everything, in a way.

We reappear behind the subway station, right where we entered; passersby can't see us here. I'm not sure if I expected Akechi to say anything else now, but when he does speak, I'm still more or less surprised.

"Once again," he says, "you surprised me today." He's looking my way, but his face is half-concealed in the shade; I can't make it out properly. "As allies fighting alongside one another, your strength is truly reassuring. In all honesty, it's to the point that I'd be relying on you in a pinch."

For some reason, his words surprise me again. I hadn't expected him to freely admit something like this to anyone... and I can't help but feel honored.

> "I'd say the same for you."

"The feeling's mutual."

"Is that so?" He laughs. "Well, that would please me greatly." For a second Akechi turns from me and I wonder if he's just going to take off, or if he's going to tell me anything else... the questions I've been keeping in this whole time burn at the back of my throat but I'm biting them back.

Then he twists back and shakes his head. "I'm sorry I asked you to indulge me, but I do feel a bit better now."

I can't help but wonder what it is exactly about fighting me that is making him feel better. But I do feel like my bond with Akechi is growing deeper...

RANK UP!

CONFIDANT: Goro Akechi | JUSTICE ^ RANK 8

~

[You will now earn more EXP from Arcana Burst when fusing Personas of the Justice Arcana!]

Akechi seems deep in thought. More than ever I feel like now is the time for us to exchange secrets—confessions? He beats me to speaking: "By the way," he says, "about that duel—even though you're not so much the competitive type—if we had fought to the end, do you see yourself winning?"

I'm taken aback by the question. In my eyes, we did fight to the end, but... he did say that thing about wondering how far we could go. I swallow.

> "I already told you I won't give up."

"I don't know."

"I'm not sure I even want to find out..."

"I had a feeling you'd say that." He smiles and I smile back. I am reminded of how he's the first person who's ever managed to get me even remotely interested in competing. It's more fun than I thought, honestly—when it's with him, anyway.

Then, his stance suddenly shifts. "Well... Let me be entirely honest with you."

Is this it? I tense and look at him expectantly.

Before I can react, Akechi's stepped out of the shade, toward me, leaned in, and tilted my chin up. The leather of his glove feels smooth against my skin and the sensation is setting off a million tiny fireworks in my chest. His soft breath tickles my face and my lips part, all on their own. He wouldn't need to lean in much further to kiss me. And at that moment, every cell in my body is screaming at him to do it. To let this be it, his honesty.

But when I finally gather the courage to look up into his eyes I nearly wince back.

"—I hate you."

Something breaks, inside of me. At least that is what it feels like. I can't look away, can't stop telling myself he couldn't truly have meant that—not with everything that's happened between us so far, but—

He's looked at me in so many ways that have honestly concerned, even chilled, me before. But when I take him in now, I feel as though that layer of composure he's keeping up at all times is entirely gone. I briefly recall the moment that I've successfully repressed, back after our trip to the park. But even then... it wasn't like this. Because what I now make out beneath terrifies me more than just a little bit.

Akechi lets out a derisive scoff. "Your uniqueness and your gift for transforming every adversity into an opportunity... That revolting optimism, hope, and love that pours out of you and contaminates everything in its path, as if the rest of us asked for it! The way you refuse to quit."

His voice is quiet, almost soft, in stark contrast to the putrid disdain in it. His grip on my chin doesn't tighten, but he doesn't let go either. "It's like some vile force from the darkest pit of hell sent you to be my personal undoing."

I swallow repeatedly, attempting to slow my galloping heart, but it's beating at the back of my throat as though it means to scream in protest. I'm searching his face for anything—something I've misinterpreted, something I've done wrong. And though he's so close, and so... honest now, I can't find what I'm looking for.

I... don't want him to hate me!

The thought hits like a tidal wave. All the hopes—the feelings that I've had for him, for who knows how long—burn beneath my skin like embers. But... I blink once, twice, only then understanding that tears have welled up in my eyes. He finds the love I've been giving him... revolting.

Was it a mistake to believe there was ever something between us? Was it all a figment of my imagination after all?

I bite my lip in sudden anger. Why would he... hate me? I ask myself even though for some reason, I feel incredibly naïve for it. What he said just now doesn't justify hatred. He can't honestly hate me just because I've been doing my best to love him!

"You're the one person I can't afford to..." Akechi hesitates and his eyes narrow, ever so slightly. "... Afford to lose to." He releases me at last.

I falter. That didn't sound like...

This time, it is I who takes a step closer. Akechi looks up and I search his, for once restless, expression for the answer to my question. Whether he truly meant 'hate', or whether this is all a misunderstanding... Whether he could genuinely hate me just for loving him... Or whether it's a different kind of emotion. One that I could find a sensible explanation for.

Whether there's any chance for us, still... at all.

> "I don't hate you."

"Do you really hate me?"

"What did I do...?"

His head jerks up and even though I've spoken quietly, the sound of my own voice seems piercingly in my ears.

"You really are—!" Akechi breaks off, actually speechless. I only have a moment to wonder why, and whether that means that I'm right, before he continues: "... Is that so, eh?" His expression darkens. "Have you ever considered that maybe it would be better for... all of us if you did?"

He looks away from me and I can't help but wonder if my words touched him at all. If he cares about what I think, or if whatever 'would be better for all of us' means is all he thinks about. And whether I care if he cares. Whether I... should. "We are what we are, at this point... correct?"

It takes me a moment to understand he means being rivals, then I nod.

"No need for it to become anything else."

The way he says that feels like a stab to the chest, worse than his 'I hate you'. Because while I'm not entirely certain whether he meant that, the way he speaks now makes it clear he means it this time.

But also... I stare at him and bite my lip harder. Did I imagine that, or was that undertone... regret, just now?

"Either way... I'll let you have this win today—but next time, I will be victorious."

The way he says it sounds like he's never been more certain of anything in his life. And once more he manages to chill me by simply speaking. Although I find myself wondering whether he means our duel earlier... or something else.

For a heartbeat, he is silent, then an actual smile dashes across his face. It is fleeting but it also gives me hope... as the first genuine smile I've seen from him today.

"... Let this be my proof."

I watch with confusion as he raises his right hand, then his left. Before I can process what he's doing, something flies at my face. I just about jerk my own hand up to catch it. When I look at my fingers that are clutched around the item he just threw at me my jaw drops. In my hand is one of the gloves Akechi usually wears. I wager it's a couple of sizes too big for me but the leather is soft and something about holding it makes me want to never let it go again.

Despite the complicated exchange earlier, my face is burning. I have no idea why this makes me feel something oddly close to what I felt when he kissed my hand back at that TV station... even though he's not even touched me.

"There's a tradition in the West to throw one's glove at their opponent when demanding a duel." Akechi is smiling again as he speaks, and the way he's looking at me now makes me want to forget all the mixed signals he's been sending today and do what he's accused me of—follow my heart—believe—against all odds.

"Should the opponent accept the glove, the duel is also accepted." He clasps his hands together, one with, one without glove. The glove in my hand. I tighten my grip on it, trying my absolute best to think straight.

He's not making it easy, right now. But whatever answer I give him, I can't shake the feeling that it will have lasting consequences.

> "I accept."

"Let me think about it..."

Akechi's smile widens. For a while, we simply stand there, across from each other. I'm still clutching his glove like a lifeline, trying not to think about how I probably won't be able to stop myself from trying it on as soon as he's gone.

"Well," Akechi finally says, and to my dismay, his smile fades. "In that case... I have another question for you."

I nod without hesitation. Akechi lets out a breath and crosses his arms. "Then tell me... What is it that I am to you, really?"

I stare at him, unable to think of a single thing to say. What... am I supposed to respond to a question like that? It crosses my mind that I could use this opportunity to confess to him like I meant to, but... something tells me that isn't what he wants to hear right now.

Concepts and words begin clogging my head, all in one way or another describing our relationship, him, but none of them feel sufficient. There is no 'word' for what he is to me. I try to steady my breathing, in vain. Not one. A hundred... a million... perhaps.

Now I'm really holding his glove like a lifeline... Because Akechi's still waiting for an answer. And I have to give him one.

> "My counterpart."

"My rival."

"My friend."

For a moment, his eyes widen with surprise. I don't think Akechi expected this answer, and, quite frankly, I didn't either. It kind of just came to me—perhaps that would be the word that most closely describes what he is to me. Even if I still find it insufficient in some ways, considering it's unusual to feel such a strong attraction to one's counterpart... I think.

Then again... I smile. There is a natural attraction between north and south, isn't there? And if even the laws of physics say so...?

"Is that... so?" Akechi finally speaks, then shakes his head. "Is that... what you see me as? A counterpart."

I can't tell for certain whether he liked the answer.

"A counterpart," he repeats, and I'm beginning to think that yes, he did like it. "An equal," he says solemnly. "A counterpart is an equal, no? Is that what I am to you? Really?" There's an undertone in his voice that unsettles me again. "Am I an equal?" he repeats. "Or merely the one who has to lose in order for you to keep winning?"

A shiver runs down my spine from how much his voice suddenly sounds like when he said to my face that he hated me for loving him.

"Never forget that, will you?" Akechi laughs dryly. "Whenever you falter, just think that you can't lose as long as I keep doing it. Those are the roles we were assigned." His voice grows quieter with every word until it's barely more than a low, toneless whisper. "... If we choose to follow them, anyway."

I stare at him, unable to respond. I'm not sure where this is coming from, or what he means, but I think I'm now grasping what kind of emotion it was that he mistook for hatred, earlier. I still can't put it into words, but... I think I understand.

I take two steps forward and place a hand on his shoulder. I'm not quite sure why, maybe I assumed that a gesture would better convey what I mean than words could. But the moment I touch him, Akechi immediately jerks his arm back. Before I can properly process what he's doing I'm staring at the barrel of his gun.

"What is that supposed to be?" he hisses and I jerk my arms up on instinct. With his every step forward I take one back, not even paying attention to where I'm going.

"I don't want to be pitied." He practically spits the words in my face; the raw disgust in them sears into me. "Especially not by you."

My mind is screaming—in confusion, and yes, now in something like fear too. I'm keeping my hands up and even though in the back of my head I'm still convinced he's just trying to intimidate me... it's working.

Then, Akechi stops. A few moments pass before he retracts the hand with the gun. Another moment later he wordlessly takes out the magazine and turns it upside down, then presents it to me. It's... empty.

The gun's not loaded, it's never been. I watch as he puts the empty magazine back in its place, then has the audacity to give me a self-satisfied smirk. "Don't tell me that actually scared you."

He's done a lot of honestly impertinent things that messed with me before but now, for the first time, I have to suppress the urge to physically punch him. I would never hit anyone, but... the impulse is there, and that's surprising enough for me.

Akechi doesn't care. He takes a step closer, then he's hovering over me with that same look that sends chills down my spine and turns my knees to jelly, all at once. His eyes are dark, endless depths that I want to get lost in.

He leans in, cocking the gun. The black of his glove is nigh indistinguishable from that of his weapon. Even though I'm aware it's not loaded, I once again retreat on instinct until my back hits the wall.

Ever so slowly, he steps closer until he's mere inches away. He raises the gun... and places it directly over my heart. I can sense the cold of the muzzle through the fabric of my jacket, seeping into my chest like delicious venom.

I can't avert my eyes from his. Not when he's so close I can feel his breath on my face, so much warmer than the steel of his gun. "Know this... you may pride yourself on never giving up but so do I. No matter what, I will never stop fighting," he says in a low voice. The way he does it almost sounds... soft. "Not for any reason... especially not because of some unprovable theory."

My heart pounds like a sledgehammer and I'm suddenly combatting the urge to close the inch-wide gap between us and kiss him.

"And... make certain that you never forget..." He leans in until his mouth is at my ear; his soft exhale caresses my cheek and a strand of his hair grazes my temple. I'm holding my breath as he whispers: "... I am the one who will defeat you."

I was holding my breath deliberately, so far—now I'm unable to let it go. To breathe. To think... because my mind is a jumbled mess, and all that my senses perceive is him.

... Until it suddenly clears—the mist chased by the truth that's blooming in my chest and tingling on my skin. I clutch his glove that I'm still holding tighter and look up. Because it dawns on me that he just told me what he really meant when he spoke of hatred, earlier.

It truly is ironic that it's Akechi himself—who previously expressed such disdain for it—who has given me my precious hope back now; it paints a bright smile on my face.

Then, before he can move, my hand flies up and I have the gun by the barrel.

"You're right, I will never give up."

"We'll see whose will is stronger."

> "And I am the one who won't stop believing."

I clutch the barrel tightly and for a moment his eyes widen with surprise. His mouth opens slightly and he retreats a couple inches, clearly taken aback.

I feel triumph at having startled him for once... until he removes the gun from my chest and retracts it. I have to let go or I would have fallen straight into him.

"You really are, aren't you... Hah. You always find ways to surprise me, even if it is by being plainly foolish." He smiles, but it's not the kind of smile I'm used to from him. It's straight-out wicked. If he keeps it up, I might just get used to it, though. "I find that fascinating, you know?"

Right back at you, I think and watch as he hesitates for a heartbeat, then turns back to point the gun at me again.

I flash a smile that I hope is as cheeky as his.

"You think that's still going to intimidate me?"

> "I'm aware that's not loaded, you know?"

"Oh, yeah," says Akechi and his nefarious smirk grows wider. Then he pulls the trigger.

Nothing happens, of course, except for a faint click. I still recoil and hit the wall behind me, immediately cursing my own inability to keep my composure, which I've been told is supposedly one of my greatest strengths. I may have won the duel earlier, but Akechi won our little mind game, and from the looks of him he's perfectly aware of this.

I hope he feels the emotion I'm attempting to convey through intense glaring as he turns away from me to finally stash the gun away and brush invisible dust particles off his immaculate blazer. Something burning—like anger, amusement, and longing all mashed into one.

"Ah, look at the time," he turns to face me again and flashes another one of those new, devious smiles. "Let's call it a day... for now." He looks at the entrance to the subway station, up ahead, and back at me. Then, he has the audacity to deliver a gallant bow like he just asked me for a dance and not a fight. "Goodbye."

Well... Despite my best efforts, a ridiculously wide grin spreads across my face as I stare after him until he disappears into the distant crowd of subway passengers. Maybe, in our own, strange way, that was exactly what he did.

***

It takes an oddly long time until I've properly caught my breath and cleared my head. I'm nowhere close to wrapping it around what just happened though.

Eventually, I breathe out and allow my legs to give way, sliding down until I'm sitting against the wall, with my knees pulled up.

I have no idea for how long I remain there, clutching Akechi's glove, trying to think. I come to the conclusion that I really can't deny it anymore: whatever this was, it was something new.

I always knew there was more to Akechi than what he was showing people, especially since that fateful trip to the park. Then, the glimpse I had caught was so brief I had successfully repressed it. Now though, I can't help but wonder... how much exactly he is still hiding.

So far, I thought the way I knew him was more or less... genuine. Now I have to ask myself if this might be closer to what he is really like, underneath that meticulously crafted and upheld façade I was banging against, but not able to truly crack... until today. It is disconcerting to think that, despite my former confidence in knowing him, I may actually know far less than I presumed.

And if so... why would he go through the trouble of concealing his true self to the point where he might have crafted a whole... what, fake? personality for the sake of it. It just seems so... unnecessary, at least to me. Considering that—when I go over what happened—whatever the hell this was, I can't say I didn't like it. And that's a laughably massive understatement.

I really assumed I knew him. The thought almost makes me laugh. Still, I'm struggling to comprehend how there could still be so much more beneath even what he'd already shown me. The Goro Akechi I thought I knew was charming, considerate, kind, intelligent, deft, and skilled at practically everything—a perfect Prince Charming in every way—but also dreadfully lonely and closed off, far more used to rejection and cruelty than anyone should be.

But this... I tighten my grip on his glove. There seems to be much more to discover about Prince Charming than I previously thought. And if this is the Goro Akechi I'm about to find if I dig any deeper... well. That's one hell of an incentive to keep going.

The only question that I am avoiding as best I can because I don't feel ready to face it yet is whether this also means that he could be hiding more than just aspects of his personality. Whether my friends may be right and I should be more careful. Whether I should be... running for my life.

I have no idea how much time passed when Morgana finally finds me, fur standing on end with concern. Only when I check the time do I realize that Sojiro—whom I haven't even told I was going out—will be worried out of his mind if I don't get home soon.

"Did Akechi do something to you?" Morgana asks as I finally pull myself to my feet and start walking toward the subway station.

I shake my head.

... Well, technically he upended everything I thought I knew about him and practically declared a personal war on me. With gauntlet, and all. I stuff it deep into my pocket before Morgana can notice it.

But... no, he didn't do anything that significant.

"Good. Why didn't you head home sooner?" he lectures me but I hardly listen. My mind is preoccupied with... everything that happened, and with everything that might still happen. I want to stay positive and oblivious, but the more time I have to consider it all, the less I can ignore the dreadful implications of what happened today, and what it could mean for us. The harder I try to ignore it, the more I feel the looming uncertainty regarding Akechi's true intentions, and his lie about the Metaverse, that we still haven't solved.

Little did I know that when we do, in just a few days, it would shatter my whole lovesick little dream world—and mark the end of all genuine happiness, for him and for me, in a long, long time.