#akai is being pampered and cherished cooking curry recipes and reading holmes-adjacent books in exchange for some guarding

[soveryanon]

Akai mostly hanging around Yuusaku&Yukiko lately is catnip to me.

I love how Yukiko keeps gushing about how handsome Akai is - to her husband, in front of her kid, in front of the whole world on camera airing live while impersonating her husband, no shame whatsoever, Yukiko is living her best life.

It had also been her first impression ten years ago!

Courtesy of Sera, we know that Yukiko was wearing make-up when visiting Akai-Subaru to help him with his disguise~ (And that's not a glass for water, uh).

(GA also said he liked to think that Yukiko calls Akai "Shuu-chan"... SHUU-CHAN...)

Akai himself is shown mostly appreciative of her help, and a bit amused!

And Yuusaku.

There is something incredibly insane about Yuusaku having written a whole script, BLATANTLY BASED ON AKAI, that went on to receive a PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, while he had heard about Akai's existence a few months ago (at most)?

"Wizard of the Ripples" wasn't only about the two future Silver Bullets meeting; it was also Akai&Yuusaku (and Shinichi) solving the case in parallel, without meeting, with Yukiko as the only witness.

And Yuusaku&Akai have been talking and theorizing together - they're the ones who got the "KARASUMA" riddle, and Yuusaku&Yukiko immediately teamed up with Akai when they thought Vermouth could be after them (bringing the rest of the FBI along, but we saw Akai directing the bug-sweeping operations afterward and he had stayed with the Kudous in their room).

Much to Conan's dismay, Yuusaku&Yukiko&Akai have been in cahoots together... and inflicted the Akai&Shinichi Strategy on Shinichi himself.

Look at Conan being kept of the loop, for once - he might have engineered the meeting between Furuya and Akai&the Kudous (Furuya, at least, estimated that he was behind it), but he doesn't know enough of what transpired since... he doesn't get the "tea party" reference (Yukiko asking around which tea the guests would like to drink).

And in return, Akai has so much respect for Yuusaku's strategizing... that he has no problem receiving small dispatching orders from Yuusaku, and that he doesn't hesitate to tell his own boss to wait it out for Yuusaku's advice. Just normal things to do, he's basically the Kudous' (watch)dog at this point!

(Akai still thinks that the FBI plans tend to suck, but NOW he has someone they can refer to for guidance.)

I love the small details added in the anime adaptation that Furuya was absolutely dumbfounded upon seeing the Kudous, when he infiltrated the manor, and seeked out confirmation from Akai that what was unfolding was actually happening for real. Akai's little nod, as he's vouching for Yuusaku&Yukiko!

^that's his "Aren't my sugar parents cool, Rei-kun? :D" face.

It's also extremely logical that, since the Kudous are back, Akai doesn't need to stay disguised as "Subaru" while indoors anymore (the Kudous can now answer and welcome any guest, invited or not)... but it also means that Akai is now seen roaming inside of the house WITH HIS HAIR BARE TO THE WORLD AND IN COSY SWEATERS, AND???

This is absolutely depraved, coming from him?!

(HIS BARE! HAIR! WITHOUT THE BEANIE?! SHOWING HIS MOST INTIMATE PART?!)

(It also makes me emotional that he seems to be reverting to a fashion style that feels like home - very close to Tsutomu 17 years ago. He's fine! He's in his healing arc, being sugarbabied and offered tea and mystery to solve!)

My overall points are:

the first episodes with Yuusaku&Yukiko gave me the impression that they're in an open relationship, with lots of occasional nonsense and jealousy (and Shinichi knows, guesses too much, doesn't want to hear anything about this nonsense and has been very happy to live far away from it for the last few years)

Akai, who isn't married to his childhood friend, and who has dated TWO DIFFERENT PERSONS, DO YOU REALIZE HOW UNHEARD-OF THAT IS IN THIS UNIVERSE, is the DCMK-verse equivalent of promiscuous.

In conclusion: they fork, your honour.