Chapter Text
“What are you doing here?!”
You knew that voice, and you suddenly remembered that you knew this room. You slowly turned, seeing a dark figure hunched over, just like your dream. This time you could see him clearly—a crack in his black helmet revealing a rust colored eye.
"Akechi?" You called.
His voice bellowed in pain. "Leave—get out now...!"
The words rang in your head like deja vu. You knew what was coming next, forcing yourself to look at the shadows no matter how weak your knees felt. And there it was—beige blazer, ash brown hair, and the same rust colored gaze. Your legs began moving, one after the other, walking accelerating into running.
You wouldn’t let this end like your dream—no.
You refused to let this end like your dream.
August 10th, 20xx
"Oh," Akechi smiled, "I never thought I'd see you here."
It was the first time you'd ever been to Jazz Jin. While passing through Kichijoji, a beautiful melody brought your attention to the club, and on a whim, you decided to enter. The bar was dimly lit and smelt of smoke, but there was something endearing about its homely appearance and worn furniture.
The Detective Prince sat near the stage, dressed in the beige blazer of Tokyo’s most prestigious high school. He tilted his head as you grew closer, tawny strands brushing over rust colored eyes. It was the first time you'd seen him alone, free of his adoring fans.
"I never would've thought I'd find you here either," you spoke honestly, rubbing the back of your neck. "And to be frank, I didn't think you'd remember me."
He chuckled. "How could I not? You certainly gave me a piece of your mind before."
"Ah, that…" you blushed. During your school's field trip to the TV station back in June, Akechi was a guest star. He openly talked about his disapproval of the Phantom Thieves, saying that their form of justice was wrong—and when the host asked you whether or not you agreed, your answer was blunt.
"Did you do anything to stop Kamoshida from abusing my schoolmates, Akechi-san? 'Cause if you didn’t, you don’t have the right to say whether the Phantom Thieves are just or not.”
"I'm sorry," you winced after remembering.
"Actually, I really appreciate your sincerity. It was a nice change..." his gaze was downcast for a moment, and then he flashed another smile. "Would you like to join me? I'd love to hear more of your insight."
You sat in the empty seat beside Akechi, chatting about the Phantom Thieves over the soft hum of jazz. You even managed to learn a little about him—that he was a third year and that he loved bicycling around the city. The hours quickly passed from 10 to 11, and then from 11 to 12; you hadn’t noticed how late it was until the club’s singer announced she was done for the night, and when the detective also mentioned he needed to leave, you did everything to try and hide your disappointment. Although, you ended up being pleasantly surprised.
"We should do this again—but let's not leave it to chance next time." He pulled out his phone. "Would you like to exchange contact information with me?"
That night ‘Akechi Goro’ became a new contact in your phone.
~*~*~*~*~
It didn’t take long for the two of you to become friends. He valued your ability to see all sides of an issue, and you appreciated his mature company. But even after four months of hanging out, getting food, and exploring Tokyo together, you knew nothing about his family, his friends, or his thoughts. Whenever you tried asking anything deeper than superficial, he would gracefully deflect the question.
A feeling was growing inside you that the Detective Prince was hiding something. You noticed how the smile on his lips didn’t always reach his eyes, and that sometimes his words seemed caught in his throat as if he were lying. Every now and then, you'd catch glimpses of what you could only describe as a darkness. You craved to see more of it—more of what you felt was Akechi's true feelings...
Your wish would be granted on a cold, rainy night in the dead of fall.