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[And it's a giveaway, of course. Because this time, the glimmer's not a glimmer. His lips part, and he stares into Akechi's eyes as if he's hit a roadblock, and he stares....]

I really have to go. [Again, he turns on his heel, and heads briskly off.]

[He waffles. Does he let him go, or does he follow?

Hm.]

Where will you go? Okumura-san isn't here. Honestly, most of the people here are other versions of us or Ren- or perhaps you know him as Akira Kurusu. Morgana is present, and a boy named Naoya Toudou, as well as my world's Dr. Maruki.

Otherwise, there are only cognitions. Facsimiles of real people.

[Ren's name makes him hesitate, but again, it's Maruki's that brings him to a standstill, with that odd, processing look in his eyes.]

... Ren's here? [He comes out with it, eventually. But he was heading to Leblanc. Of course Ren should be here....

He pinches his nose.] I have to say, this is a little confusing.

Not the Ren either of us know, I suspect. This is a Ren who is not a Phantom Thief, nor does he live or work at Leblanc. He's... friendly, but has lived a difficult life.

[But he's from a "Ren Timeline." That is most interesting. Is there some significance to that? Food for thought.]

[The glimmer for "Phantom Thief" is barely there; he mutters.] Talking to you is giving me a headache. Are you just going to follow me?

[He doesn't like the idea of Ren being alone. Ren is... well, he's difficult to see, sometimes.]

This world can be very unpredictable. It may seem familiar on the surface, but it'd be irresponsible of me to turn a blind eye. After all, I'm rather well versed in this realm.

[It's not even entirely dishonest. Something is off with this Akechi. It's worrisome.]

[He blows air through his lips, tapping a finger on the side of his case. "unpredictable" doesn't sound too worrisome; he doesn't have much of a sense of danger. But he reaches a decision.]

Very well. Would you like to join me at Leblanc? Perhaps Ren will be there, or Okumura-san, and we can put all of this to bed. Or, at a minimum, we can get a nice cup of coffee.

Fair enough. Just be mindful- there may be a "cat" on the prowl, and he may find our presence alarming.

[He'll go ahead and let this other Akechi lead, to give him some sense of control. It's the least he could do, really.]

A cat? [Again, the glassy little laugh, as if he has no idea what Akechi is getting at—which he doesn't.] Well, Yongen is full of them. I doubt that will pose us too much of a problem.

[He doesn't notice he's being allowed to lead. Nor does he seem too concerned about an unknown quantity walking behind him. When they reach Leblanc, the door is open, but when he steps inside... there's nobody there.]

Boss? [He sounds uncertain.] Ren? Is anyone here?

Boss isn't here, I'm afraid. I believe one of the Rens- well, he goes by Akira- lives here, but he must be out right now.

[He follows the other inside, sighing at the lonely atmosphere. This place should be warm. Welcoming. A home away from home.]

We can still sit down if you'd like, but I understand if you'd rather go elsewhere. Jazz Jin wouldn't be the worst place to chat.

[But no; he blinks, and the moment seems to have bounced off him—not unlike a certain other of them, actually. But that one doesn't mean it. He peers at Akechi as if he's said something strange.]

Not at all. We may be the first here, but that's not to say others won't arrive. It would be better if they didn't find the place empty, don't you think?

[And, setting down his case, he takes a seat in one of the booths, as if he's done it a thousand times. He almost sounds normal.] Shall I summarise?

That's if they show up. I've been here almost a month, and I've yet to see many of my friends and family.

[But he sits all the same, across from the other.]

Go ahead and summarize.

[He folds his hands on the table, as if it's nothing more than something to do.]

Very well. This place looks like Yongen, but it's not. The place back there is known as the Velvet Room. It's inhabited by a strange-looking gentleman named Igor, who logic suggests at least knows why we are here. Your presence supports the theory that the many-worlds hypothesis is in play.

Also, none of my friends are here. I'm quite alone. [He frowns. Like that's the most objectionable part of it all.]

Edited 2023-09-07 02:15 (UTC)

Alone in some regards but not others.

[Hmm... This is a difficult path to tread. There is clearly something off with this Akechi, but he is also torn from his home. From people he cherishes. He seems... disappointed, to say the least.]

All of us have been pulled from our homes, just like you. We all have left people behind. Though many of us share the same faces, we are still distinct individuals whose lives differ enough that it isn't quite a house of mirrors.

I wouldn't say it's inherently comforting, but what I am saying is there are people with whom you could learn to confide in.

That sounds like the voice of experience talking. [Because where is everyone else? Haru, Ren, Makoto, Futaba, Yusuke and the others? Sae-san will be fine without him; he was about to step back anyway—but....]

You sound very lonely, if you don't mind the observation.

[He cracks a rather strained smile. It is rather transparent, and this is another Akechi.]

I suppose it can't be helped. There are a lot of people who aren't here, and I'm sort of the "odd Akechi out" in some regards. My Ren and I are both Phantom Thieves, our enemy is not someone who has caused "psychotic breakdowns" or "mental shutdowns" en masse, and very few people here know Inaba the way that I do.

Edited 2023-09-07 13:35 (UTC)

... I see. [Something is buzzing in the back of his mind. His hands shift in their fold, as he stares down at the empty space between then....]

I, um. [What were they saying? He looks lost, before he blinks, and brightens.] You'll have me thinking I'm not supposed to be here. I am Goro Akechi—[Honest.]—but "odd one out" is starting to sound a good way of putting it.

[It's possible the terminal uncuriosity is the least Akechi thing about him.]

Are you sure you're all right? You seem a little...

[Hm, how to put it.]

It almost feels like you're in a daze at points. I mean no disrespect, of course. This is a lot to take in. Being pulled from the comfort of your home and thrust into a parallel reality with your own mirror image.

Why don't you tell me about your reality?

[... but at that, he just laughs again, soft and charming.] You're right. I think I am a little dizzy. I didn't expect this when I woke up this morning.

I'm afraid there's not very much to tell. I'm almost nineteen. I've just finished high school—last week, actually. I've been working as a rookie detective, believe it or not. I... live in Kichijoji?

[His smile returns, too; he tilts his head.] It's just the world, you know. My world, I suppose; my life. I don't know what you expect me to say—though you made your reality sound quite dramatic.

Edited 2023-09-07 21:11 (UTC)

That would make you the oldest one here, by a margin of at least a few months. There's another Akechi close to our age, but he's from November and, ah... Well, let's just say his world doesn't sound nearly as peaceful as yours.

[He chuckles dryly at the prospect.]

I don't know what sort of crimes you solve as a detective, but for a majority of us, our worlds lean heavily into the supernatural. Quite a few of us have experienced hardships one would think are exclusive to nightmares. It's... good you seem to have avoided that, I suppose.

[Akechi's smile slowly fades. Because now he comes to think of it, doesn't he often wake as if from nightmares?—with the dream itself gone, and only its effects lingering...?] That sounds remarkable. Quite alarming, too. I'll try not to rub my good luck in people's faces.

[Something tells him that this is best not inquired into, though, so he does not. His smile returns, smaller and more distracted.]

People have such ideas about detective work. It's all very run-of-the-mill, and of course, I'm very junior. Mainly I help a colleague with her investigations. [Sae-san, of course, who he remembers as the most attentive mentor he could ever have asked for.]

Oh? So you never tackle more high profile cases, then? Murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking and the like...

[Not that this is bad necessarily, but certainly as a consequence of his work with Naoto Shirogane, he's seen some rather grisly cases, even if not all of them he tackled on the front lines.

Hell, he met Naoto during a supernatural murder case.]

[His eyes widen as he hears this. But is it the same dazed look that's accompanied him through this conversation, or more genuine confusion?] Honestly, talking to you is like looking into a novel. All these supernatural and violent things.

You aren't telling me you come from a world where people really are murdered and kidnapped...?

[But he puts a hand to his temple, rubbing in a circle. His head is killing him.]

...And you don't?

[What. Already, his behavior was strange, but he could chalk that up to something odd with his cognition. It's not unlike the brainwashing cases he's been pursuing back home, but an entire world...

He stares, wide eyed, because this all seems rather peculiar.]

Well, of course not. [But his other hand goes to his temple; he makes a discomfited sound in his throat.]

It's just—research. Data collection, matchmaking, missing cats, lost wallets. Unexpected items. Things of that sort.

[And yet, why does it feel like... no, his mind skips right off the idea that it feels like anything. Like a stone skipping on water, only to inevitably sink.]

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