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[There's plenty of space. You could probably seat a reasonably-sized elementary school class on this bed. He draws his legs up, all the same, and rather than stand on ceremony, starts to eat with a muttered itadakimasu.

The ramen is better than the pancakes. 8/10, though not as good as the ramen from that place in Ogikubo. Or the one near Tsukiji.]

Did you say he made this? [Slurp.]

Yes. Hawk really wanted ramen for dinner, so he prepared it with care.

[He'll watch his other self quietly. He seems to be liking it? That's good. What's really important is that he's eating.

Whatever happened... clearly, it was worse than he claims.]

[Though his hands are a little clumsy and slow, he's putting the ramen away at a rate of knots—though he also watches younger-him.]

It sounds like he's getting spoiled rotten. [And it sounds as if Akechi approves.]

I should think he's due for a little spoiling. Crow's already promised a trip to Destinyland at some point or another.

[It's enticing, because of course it is. They could've never gone to such an expensive park before, and yet...]

I just hope he doesn't burn himself out. He's taken on a lot of responsibility.

[He pauses, chopsticks in mouth, before swallowing and replying.]

It wouldn't be your fault if he did. Of course, it would be a little inconvenient.

[Because someone would have to step in. And Akechi sounds as unenthusiastic about that as anyone has ever sounded.]

I'm trying to help where I can. It's not too different from caring for Nanako-chan, but of course he wants to protect me, too.

[He crosses his arms, pouting a little.]

I wanted to explore one of the other doors, but he told me I'm not equipped to deal with "real demons," and when I tried to arm myself at Daidara Metalworks, he vetoed it because we live with small children.

[The look on his face is probably more appropriate to Mementos, which he recently eviscerated, than to a conversation with younger-him. He carefully reminds himself that other-him is receiving every word he says to younger-him, and then he ignores that reminder.]

Mm. And it's not as if you're incapable. You're as smart, and you have as much potential, as any one of us. [Including him. That's just self-evident.]

Exactly! And I've been training in the TV world and Mementos.

[Well, when he's had time. Obviously, the kids have hindered some of his efforts, since he's tried to keep their existences a secret.]

Besides, I fully suspect he has weapons of his own stashed somewhere. I could keep mine in the TV, and the kids wouldn't be able to reach them.

Until you drag them all into Mementos and give them personas. [He does not say this at all as if it's a bad idea. Then he slurps another lot of noodles into his mouth.]

...I'm not sure they'd ready for a place like Mementos. They're really little.

[And can little kids even manifest Personas? It seems too risky. Too many uncertain variables.]

I was kidding. [He dabs in the bowl with his chopsticks, then....]

Listen. Are you sure you aren't hungry? I'm being a terrible host or some shit. There's frozen stuff in the kitchen.

You're not being a terrible host. You're clearly tired and need to eat and get some rest.

[Lookit that slightly puffy-cheeked pout. It's a scowl, really! Not a pout... but he still has some of that baby fat to his face that makes him look about as intimidating as a chinchilla.]

Even so, you're welcome to them if you want one. [He has not mentioned the small dessert in the fridge.]

I do appreciate the offer, of course.

[Hmm, he sits quietly pondering what to say or do here.]

...Are you sure you don't want that water?

[He's just going to keep fussing, isn't he?]

I suppose it couldn't hurt. If you don't mind.

I'll be right back.

[It shouldn't take long for him to slip into the kitchen and get him a nice glass. He even puts some ice in it, in case he's hot from all that Mementos action.

When he returns, he even brings a coaster. Where did he find it? Good question. Perhaps it's from elsewhere in the house. Perhaps he just happened to have one for... some reason.

Either way, he'll set the coaster and glass down on the little table.]

[Of course there are coasters. This is a (rather barren) luxury apartment, and Akechi spends most of his time being prissy as hell to boot. In the time it takes to get a glass of water, he's downed the ramen broth, muttered a gochisousama to the empty room like he does, and has curled back up on the bed with an arm around his pillow.

He looks up at younger-him with exhausted eyes.] Thank you.

You're welcome.

[He plops back down, still giving his other self the space he probably needs right now.]

With the exertion from fighting in Mementos, I just thought it would help to hydrate.

[It's so strange. Is there a gene for taking care of people? Is that the real difference, the thing that he's either missing, or conveniently skipped out on?

He yawns, watching younger-him and absolutely not blinking.] Technically, you want to hydrate while you're in Mementos, as well as afterwards.

Make sure—[again, he covers a yawn]—when you get the suit? Track down the flap closures before you need them. That was a rough five minutes.

The flap-

[Oh.

Oh.

He facepalms upon realization.]

...I suppose that would be a difficult hurdle for the unprepared. I'll, ah. Keep that in mind.

[But peeing in the Metaverse. That sounds gross. His nose wrinkles a little at the mental image.]

Anyway, it's okay if you need to sleep. You look like you could use the rest.

Mmhm. [And he snuggles closer to the pillow, eyes closed, already half-there. He ought to feel in danger, but he doesn't.

And then he's asleep.]

[He waits a bit just to ensure his other self is soundly asleep, and once he's certain of this, he very, very quietly tucks him in.

By the time Akechi wakes up, he'll probably find his younger counterpart curled up further down on the bed, having eventually fallen asleep himself.

He made sure to give him some space, though. Boundaries are important.]

[But not long after he blacks out—maybe about ten minutes or so—Akechi starts to twitch, and make soft little sounds. He's dreaming. He can see the steel walls and table of a room he's already scoped out, and a boy sitting there with glasses and messy hair, staring at him with contemptuous eyes. He raises the gun....

It doesn't look like a very good dream. It might even disturb someone who was sleeping nearby.]

[It's for that reason that the younger Akechi tries to watch over his other self, unsure of whether to say or do anything. He's already tucked him in, and...

Well.

It reminds him of those nights when his mama would pass out after work. The restless tossing and turning, the unhappy sobs and whimpers.

His concerns leave him watching dutifully until his own exhaustion takes him, and he passes out, curled up like a little ball.]

[... and some nine hours later, at the first glimmer of dawn through the blinds—nine hours, what the hell, what is he going to do when he goes back—he snaps awake like a machine, eyes wide, like he does. He takes a moment to remember who he is, and manage it into the background, and then he sits upright, reaching for the corner of the quilt to throw it off—

And the kid's still there. Asleep at the foot of the bed. Like a dog or a cat, what the shit?

Akechi blinks at him, astonished, and feeling a bit violated.]

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