#akira’s angst train

[keikikait]

ᴡᴀʏ ᴏᴜᴛ (ʙɪᴋᴇʀ!ᴍᴇɢᴜᴍɪ x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

for my other megumi fic, click here (warning - smut!)

pairing: biker!megumi x f!reader (au, both are early to mid 20's)

word count: 2k

summary: you love your new apartment, as small as it is. it's in the perfect place, right next to the train station, and is cheap as hell. the only downside? your neighbour, who revs his bike outside your window every morning.

warnings: NO SMUT!, no angst!, multi part series, kind of enemies to lovers, slowburn?, megumi is kinda rude lmaoooo, the girls are fighting!, he says sweetheart twice, reader is kinda down bad lmao

a note: sorry for the delay, i've been busy with work! also, 8 square metres is about 86 square feet :).

please reblog and like, it means a lot! let me know what you think!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

The rent was cheap. Suspiciously cheap. 

You should’ve been wary, but you didn’t have many options. After a bitter fallout with your roommate, you needed to move out quickly. You should’ve paid more attention to the listing, you realise, as you stop in front of the building and it sinks in that your new digs weren’t 18 square metres.

It was eight square metres. 

Thankfully, you didn’t have much furniture with you, needing to sell it all to afford the move. Your apartment was essentially one long, two-story hallway, just enough for your desk chair and TV. 

You get settled in quickly, trying to liven up the place by replanting your herb garden outside on your small porch. The apartment doors faced an alley, and on the other side of the alley was another apartment building. You didn’t know how much sunlight your basil would get, but that’s a problem for future you.

A problem for the current you, however, was your neighbour's motorcycle. The bike is an exact replica of the legendary Honda Super Cub that was used in the original anime Akira, and as pretty as it is, that shit is loud. His apartment is right on the edge by the sidewalk, meaning the only place he can park it is right in front of your window.

You’ve tried everything. Earplugs. Noise-cancelling headphones. Ear plugs under your noise-cancelling headphones. Sleeping with a white noise machine. Nothing works. You only moved in a month ago but you’re already sick of this mysterious man and his bike. You don’t run into each other often, catching glimpses of him as he drives off in the morning and comes home at night. You didn’t want to be that neighbour, the one that complains about every single little thing, but it was driving you mad. He revs his bike so loudly and for so long, that you’re starting to think he’s doing it on purpose.

You wake up that fateful morning and decide you’ve had enough. You wait for him to return home, hyping yourself up in the mirror before heading outside to confront him. You idle nervously in front of his front door for a few seconds before knocking. 

He answers, looking exhausted, his hair a mess from his helmet. “Yeah?” You have to admit, he’s pretty cute. Tall and lean, with bicep muscles that strain against the fabric of his black t-shirt. And you swear you can see some eyeliner smudged on his water line.

You smile, trying to come across as calm and casual, slightly flustered by how attractive he is. “Hey. I’m your new next-door neighbour,” You gesture with your thumb. “I don’t wanna be that person, but would it be possible for you to not rev your engine so loud in the morning? It’s just…it’s right by my window, and it’s really loud.”

He lets out a sigh of frustration, not exactly in the mood for what you're throwing at him. It was already 9 pm on the third day in a row that he had worked the late shift, and this was not something he needed right now. He looks at you, his expression a mixture of irritation and confusion. “Look, I'm not doing it on purpose. I park where I park, nothing is going to change that. You just moved in, this is how it's been and how it's always going to be.”

You blink, a little taken aback by how rude he was being. “I understand that, but surely I'm not the only person in the building who gets inconvenienced by your bike.”

He crosses his arms, his eyes narrowing. The last thing he wants to do after a long shift is argue with someone about something as insignificant as noise. “Look, if you don't like it, then move out. I don't see anybody else complaining. You're the only one.”

You clench your jaw. You had some experience with bikes, your ex-boyfriend being a mechanic. You knew it was possible to make the revving quieter, it just seems like he didn’t care. “Can’t you just buy a muffler silencer?”

He lets out a short, sharp laugh, one that doesn't hold a single trace of humor.  “A muffler silencer? For a Super Cub? Are you serious? That would be like asking a Ferrari to be quiet.”

“You can’t expect everyone to just be okay with how loud your bike is, man.” You say. “I’m sure it inconveniences everyone in the building, but no one wants to be the person that confronts you.”

He seems to be holding back from saying what he wants to say, taking a shallow breath. “Look. It's my bike. I can do whatever I want with it. No one else is bothered, so why should you be any different? Why do you care so much?”

“You’re not the only person who works early mornings.” You say. “You aren’t the only person in the world, you know.”

That strikes a nerve, clearly, but he still doesn't seem interested in hearing what you're saying. He just rolls his eyes, looking away at his bike for a moment before looking back at you. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but in case you haven't realised, you're not that important.”

“Neither are you.” You say impulsively. It was mean, and you didn’t like being mean, but he wasn’t giving you any other option.

He glares at you, his expression darkening. It's only for a moment, but you can see there is actual vitriol in his eyes. “Look, I'm going to make this simple for you. If you don't like the noise, then move out. That bike is not going anywhere. It has more meaning to me than you'll ever understand.”

“Yeah, I’m sure Akira meant so much to you as a kid,” You say sarcastically. “It doesn’t matter. You can’t keep doing this, man. Buy a muffler silencer.” 

He laughs, but there's a slight tinge of bitterness to it. “Oh, so it's just a cartoon to you? It’s not an influential masterpiece that changed motorcycle and animation culture forever? Okay, great. Good to know.” He is starting to get worked up, but then he shakes his head, trying to regain his composure. “Look, like I said, I am not doing anything to this bike. Not the mufflers, nothing.”

“Then park it somewhere else.” You snap. “Keep it away from my window. I don’t want to hear that shit.”

There's a flash of annoyance on his face. “There's no place to park it away from your window unless I block the sidewalk, which I guarantee you would cause more inconvenience. You're just going to have to deal with it.”

“Are you always this rude and stuck up?” The question stumbles out of your mouth before your mind can process it.

His temper flares up. He takes a step towards you, putting his hands on his hips as he glares at you. “Are you always this entitled and self-absorbed?”

You take a step back. You hate to admit it, but the way he towers over you is arousing. His cologne fills your nostrils and you find yourself getting lightheaded. It was slightly spicy, with a hint of vanilla and coffee. 

You ground yourself, swallowing hard. “Look, I don’t want to argue with you. I just want us to come to a reasonable compromise.”

He glares at you, his eyes boring into you as you step back. You can feel the heat on your skin as if every drop of sweat in his body has been activated by the situation. His cologne is overwhelming you, filling your whole body. “There is no compromise to make here. You don't like the noise, tough. You're just going to have to get used to it or move out. That's it.”

Your eye twitches. “You’re such an asshole.” At this point, you didn’t feel bad being mean to him. He kind of deserved it.

He laughs, seeming almost amused by your temper. “You're one to talk. You come barging up to my apartment, demanding I make changes to my bike, and then you get mad at me when I tell you not to waste your time. Look in the mirror, sweetheart, and then come back with the right to tell me I'm an asshole.”

Fuck. You shouldn’t like the way he says sweetheart, but it causes your throat to dry up. “I tried to be nice to you,” You say. “You’re the one that got defensive and rude.”

“Nice? Maybe in your little dreamland that's what you think you were doing. Maybe you even believe that you were just being friendly and reasonable, I don't know. But in reality, all you were doing was pissing me off and acting like some sort of entitled princess.” He takes a step closer to you, his finger pointed in your face. “But one thing is certain. I’m not changing anything about my bike just to make you happy.”

He’s so close to you that it makes your head spin. You step back again, leaning against the railing surrounding his small porch. “Look, I’m sorry, but you can’t blame me for being upset.”

He doesn't seem interested in letting you off the hook yet, not when he looks so close to snapping. “It doesn't matter if you're upset or not. You don't get what you want by coming here and giving me an attitude like a fucking brat.”

You swallow hard. Fuck. You shouldn’t be attracted to this man, he was rude as hell and didn’t seem to care that he was inconveniencing not only you but everyone in the building. But you couldn’t help yourself. He was so pretty, and he smelled so good, and his voice was so nice. You were going to have to change your panties when you got back home. 

You stand up straight, trying to stay headstrong. “You’re being incredibly rude about this.”

“And you're being incredibly entitled. There's only one of us that needs to change here, and it's not me.” He narrows his eyes, his gaze still burning into you.

You lick your lips. “Look, we’re not going to get anywhere by arguing.”

He gives another one of those short, sharp laughs. He smiles, and it makes your stomach flip. “You finally said something smart. I didn’t know it was so difficult for you. Now, are you ready to accept that you're not going to get what you want, or do you want to keep wasting my time?”

Your eyes narrow. What the fuck? “Excuse me? Did you just call me dumb?”

A smirk spreads across his lips. “You heard me. Or did you need me to repeat it for you?”

You let out a sharp laugh, moving off of his porch. “You know what? Fuck you.”

He raises his eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. “Oh, so you've switched from demanding to insults? Real mature, aren't you?”

You head over to your apartment, laughing again. “I should’ve known trying to reason with you would be impossible.” 

He calls after you. “You're damn right it's impossible. You come here, make some demands, and then get mad when I tell you no. You're a spoiled brat who always gets her way, aren't you? Well, today's a bad day for you, sweetheart.” 

“Fuck you.” You say, holding the door to your apartment open. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I’m not sure I want to.” He says, smirking slightly. “I’m not into brats like you. I think you need to be taken down a few pegs. You need someone to put you in your place.”

You scoff and flip him off before slamming the door behind you, and just like that, you have given up. 

He leans against his door, crossing his arms and smiling as he watches you leave, his eyes on your ass. He’s just a tiny bit disappointed that you gave up so quickly. He's got to admit, it was pretty fun messing with you, watching how angry you get. He thought you looked cute like that, your cheeks all red and flustered.

Maybe next time…

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

part two is here

dedicated to the lovely @whereflowerswenttodie

[noa-ciharu]

A CLAMP ship can be divided into two categories:

Messed up beyond what is humanly possible

Drowning in so much fluff you get diabetes from simply being in their proximity

Of course, there are overlaps mostly to make the reader suffer even more when they hit you with the angst train

Clamp ships angst scale:

Since no space on badly organized graph I'll write captions under cut

Tooth rooting fluff category:

Akira/Utako, CSD and Duklyon couples(0.5 angst points):

-Look, it's Clamp's mangas so 0 angst is impossible thing to happen

-Very cute, very funny, very 'no angst' so they deserve lowest score on scale

Syaosaku (ccs) and Touyuki (1.0 angst points)

-Rooth rooting fluff

-Fluff so sweet you need to drink water immediately afterwards

-Some miniature drama happened but nothing much

-Love conquers all

Saika/Kakei and their Wish counterparts (1.5 angst points)

-couple so sexy they haven't angsted one day in their sexy lives

- angst is bc their adopted son and his bf are angsting (aka plot angst)

-fucked so kinky even hell kicked them out

-demon!angel and angel!demon

Shuichiro/Kohaku(2 angst points)

-"we gathered here today because some *glares ar coffin* couldn't stay alive"

- very cute, very sweet

-not much do be said here rly

Fujimoto/Kobato(2.2 angst points)

- tsundere boy and sweet girl

-angst caused by misunderstandings and plot

-Kobato is so cute idk how could he be mean to her in beginning. Must be bc of tsundere genes

Fiero/Fuu and Ascot/Umi which I forgot to add (3.0 angst points)

-seen coming from miles away

- side couples

-very cute

-they get along well so all angst points is bc of plot

Rikuou/Kazehaya(3.3 angst points)

-boy was clamp not subtle

-condom saved a life

-BL tropes on maxxx

-some angst was starting to unravel but series was put on hiatus so we'll never know

Lantis/Hikari/Eagle(4.0 angst points)

-canon poly go brrrr

-a bit rushed

-power of love saved the world

-is it better if I don't ask about age gaps?

'Prepare tissues, tears might be incoming' category

Hideki/Chii(4.8 angst points)

- your dick was tricked, get prepared for feels

- very sweet and innocent

-psychological questions in background

-more than you bargained for

Clow/Yuuko(5.0 angst points)

- love so strong it fucked up time and space

- idk where to put them since there's no backstory but enough hints to indicate there was some (probably tragic) backstory

- bastard man pulled best woman in the universe

-if you stumbled upon TRC after CCS, my condolences in advance

Syaosaku (TRC) (5.6 angst points)

- angst kicks in from first chapter and inky get worse

-"i'll sacrifice myself for you so you don't suffer" *processes to make other one suffer*

-feathers are problematic in this one

Kurofai(6.6 angst points)

-litetally married couple with 4 and half kids

-opostites attract

- one beated another into going to therapy

-could have ended tragic but instead it became slow burn healing couple ❤

Sorata/Arashi(6.6 angst points)

-flirting, teasing, flirting then bam - they fucked

- X couple so ofc they're have 0 common sense

- very sweet and fun couple and then angst kicks in

- silver lining of X being on hiatus is that Sorata is still alive :')

Zagato/his princess with name I'm unable to spell (7.0 angst points)

- starts off as cliche not even a couple but then plot twist twists you

- and you're on the floor bathing in own tears

-Clamp's casual angst

-'I don't want to live without you' type of couple

-self destructive

'Are you ready for pure pain and suffering?' Category

Douwata (7.4 angst points)

-'I'll always love you' vibes

-pain of loving someone who's self sacrificial and lacks self worth

- pinning phrase lasts for century

- eggs are problematic in this one

- eyes too

Yasha/Ashura(7.9 angst points)

-tragedy seen miles away

-the amount of hair in this ship, it's unparalleled

-very devoted and touching

- 'happy ending' but at what cost?

Kazuhiko/Oura(8.3 angst points)

-alright, we all knew beforehand she was dead but amount of feels that hit, I wasn't expecting that

- one of rare instances of non-chasity couple

-songs hit super hard

-actually whole manga hits super hard

Souma/Kendappa(8.8 angst points)

- Shakespeare wishes he wrote them

- tragic lesbians. Clamp pls let lesbians be together at least once

-kendappa why????

-again, plot twist twisted us all ;-;

Fuukam (9.0 angst points)

-very sexy, very fucked up

-were a very sweet couple then plot kicked in and one turned into antichrist

- you're minding your own business and bam:fuukam feels hit you like bullet train

- ending was meant to be so tragic even editors said it's too tragic

Taishakuten/Ashura ou(9.8 angst points)

- Shakespeare wishes he wrote this one as well

-proposes a solution to how never part from your lover

-you've heard about Clamp's eye loss trope, now prepare for Clamp's eye gain trope

- not much is seen about them but from little we've seen they're tragic on steroids and lack common sense

-at least they're happily married teachers in shoten

Seisub(+∞ angst points)

-it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye

-extemly messed up. No therapy can fix them

-canon but at what cost?

- "I got feelings for first time in my life so there's only one logical thing to do now:die"

- there are many universes out there but not in one is seisub happily together. Really, even in Shoten Seishirou is a serial killer

- at least we're not Subaru

[luvinghanni]

I've been watching this anime titled the fable, and my favorite character there is Satou Akira...no one was writing for him so I was wondering if you could write something for him.. if not, it's ok

Hey Anon 💕 I've never heard of The Fable but I would love to write a fic for you! I wasn't sure what genre you wanted (smut, fluff, angst) so I wrote a super SUPER slight fluff fic- pls tell me if you'd like any changes and I hope you like it!

Please forgive if he's OOC i'm going off a few edits, personal research, and clips 😭

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Final Target- Satou Akira x Fem!Reader

Coming from a problematic background would always follow you no matter how many changes you made to your life. Even if you don't take any actions yourself, coming from a family with Yakuza ties sticks; permanently. Ever since you were a child this was a fact you had been forced to learn. Murder? Crime? Shady deals? never been appealing to you, in fact just the thought made you sick despite the thousands of hours you were forced to spend training. Many think it's "cool" or "interesting" to be a part of that life but they couldn't be more wrong, oh how you wished you could shatter their rose coloured glasses.

As soon as you became old enough you tried your hardest to loosen those connections, even going as far to change your name three times and change your entire appearance. Despite your efforts your life would never be ordinary, you would never be truly safe from all harm and you knew this- just like how you knew that one guy had been following you for well over a week now. Most people would go straight to assuming a stalker had taken a specific gross liking to them but you had been raised better than that. Persistently being followed? Conveniently in the same places at the same time? The inability to find who this man was? This wasn't just stalking, this had to be some form of a hit on your life and he seemed to get closer by the day.

You began getting paranoid, starting to sleep with your gun by your bedside every night in the event that this (assumed) hitman decided to take his chance. Nights came and went and yet you were surprisingly still living and breathing, you would think this would make you feel relieved but it only made you more conscious of your surroundings- why wasn't the hit being carried out? Maybe it was just a stalker and you overthought it?

It had been at least two weeks at this point and you'd just returned from your final shift of the week. Full body aching from the stress of being on your feet all day servicing customers you felt the burning need for a hot shower and an early night. As you switched the shower on a click sounded from the hallway, almost like a door closing..this couldn't have been a coincidence. Leaving the shower running so as to not draw attention to yourself you clutched the army knife that previously lay dormant in your jean pocket, heart sinking at the realisation that your pistol sat in your bedside drawer- at least 3 rooms away from your current location.

Every second felt agonisingly slow as your skin burned with adrenaline and your heart pounded in your chest.

The sound of footsteps reached your ears joining the insufferable sound of your pounding heart, the two creating a symphony of anxiety within you. Thinking fast you moved your body flush against the bathroom wall, your only coverage being the half closed door to your left. One step, you tried your best to slow your breathing. Two steps, your palms began to sweat as you clung to your knife. The door began to creak open as you prepared yourself to just swing and run.

The second a form began to appear around the door you swung your knife slashing whatever you could to give you time to run only getting to the kitchen before you felt the ground drop beneath you, knocking your head on the counter as you collapsed. In an attempt to get up you tried rolling onto your stomach but a heavy weight on your stomach prevented any form of movement. Your head throbbed as a migraine began forming.

In weak pulses your hands attempted to grab the now long out of reach weapon from the icy kitchen floor unfortunately only being met with a sharp knee pressed harshly against your bicep resulting in a groan being forced through gritted teeth as the cold barrel of a silencer pressed against your temple.

"What do you want from me?" you attempted to bargain "..whoever sent you what do they want? Money? Drugs??" silence was all you were met with, black eyes piercing yours as you stared up to the masked intruder, their grip increasing to keep you from escaping.

You felt all hope slowly slip from you "please just tell me..i'm begging you, before you kill me" eyes slowly beginning to close in acceptance "I'm not going to kill you." a cold tone suddenly came from behind the mask causing your eyes to flutter open at his words.

Silence fell between you.

"Then what are you here for.." confusion and concern evident in your words "I'm not going to hurt you..end of. But the other people after you might." the weights on your arm and torso began to loosen as he eased off of you allowing you to sit up against the lower kitchen cabinets. The intruder sighed rubbing his wrists, pistol still in grasp. "What does any of this have to do with me, why am i wanted?" head throbbing harder by the minute as your eyes lay still on the midnight eyes looking in your direction. "Your Father is in some shit and you're the bait- everyone wants to go after daddy's little girl." You had nothing left to say, you expected this would happen eventually you just never thought it would be today.

Thoughts flooded every last inch of your mind- where would you go? would you have to change your entire life again? who was this guy and why was he trying to help you in the first place? Two gloves fingers snapped in front of your face pulling you out of your messy head "Listen, I can help but we have to leave now. So unless you want to die get up." He rose to his feet extending an arm in expectation of your own rise, eyes just as cold and empty as they had been previously as he helped you rise to your feet.

The world spun rapidly as you got to your feet, teetering sideways before your arm was grabbed pulling u flush into the chest of the still unknown man in your kitchen, your vision doubled as you finally got a close up view of his eyes, they were deep and almost mesmerising in a sense. You stared at eachother for a few seconds with your joint breathing being the only sounds you could hear.

The throbbing in your head became unbearable as your vision started to blur and darken, the last thing you remember being the familiar? but blurry face finally revealed as the scruffy mask was ripped off and placed over your own head. "Wait..Satou..?" You were too out of it to connect the dots on what was occurring, only really stirring when he flung you up and over his shoulder carrying your now fully unconscious figure out the door, "Sleep Y/N.".

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I really hope this was to your liking anon 😭 I kind of didn't know what direction to take this especially as I have no idea what the character is like but i hope you like it all the same.

Thank you so much for your submission it helps me sm with my writing i appreciate you so much 💕☺️

-Hanni

[weloveakechi]

As Dreamers Do Chapter 3

Hello everyone! Here’s chapter three of As Dreamers Do! I’m excited to share this one with you since it’s the first time we’ll be getting some of Akira’s POV in addition to Goro’s. I hope you enjoy it!

I’m trying something new with posting my chapter this time, rather than having the big AO3 box I’m just going to drop the full contents here and provide some links.

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Persona 5 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences  Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply  Relationships: Akechi Goro & Kurusu Akira  Characters: Akechi Goro, Persona 5 Protagonist, Kurusu Akira, Sakamoto Ryuji, Takamaki Ann, Morgana (Persona Series), Shido Masayoshi, Sakura Sojiro, Niijima Sae, Niijima Makoto, Kitagawa Yusuke, Okumura Haru  Additional Tags: New Game +, Time Travel, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Akechi Goro-centric, POV Akechi Goro, POV Kurusu Akira, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, the boys are gonna go through it, Time travel AU with unreliable narrators, Reset the timeline he said fix your mistakes he said no one said anything about this, More tags to be added as the fic progresses, goro akechi has a velvet room, Akechi Goro Has Social Links | Confidants  Summary: 

“I wonder why we couldn’t have met a few years earlier.” Akira remembers, those words so clearly. They had been Akechi’s wish standing there, facing the Phantom Thieves, his plans in ruins, soul rent, desires so torn he’d manifested two personas all on his own, with no help from anyone.

The stars press into his palm, sharp enough to leave indents prickled across his skin. Two years. He’d wished to arrive two years earlier. Not a day. What good does a day make when Akechi has already spent so many years alone?

First Chapter | AO3 Link

~

Goro: Did your boss actually kill you?

The message releases with a pleasant swishing sound as Goro holds one handle on the train. It’s late enough in the morning Kurusu should be in class, so he doesn’t expect a quick response. He’s not even sure why he bothers reaching out. He should let things lie for a bit, hope Kurusu passes the whole Metaverse adventure off as a bad dream, or those drugs he’d mentioned. 

He’s on his way to see the doctor, arm still bothering him. He’d told himself he was going to message Kurusu about the doctor’s name if he couldn’t figure it out on his own, but a quick internet search on the train showed only one who fit the bill: Dr. Takemi. So that left him with nothing important to message the boy about. Perhaps it’s that he’s bored. Standing here on the train, waiting out the time between one stop and the other. 

Kurusu: How do you have my number? Better yet, how do I have yours??

He buries a chuckle behind his hand at the response. 

Goro: I added myself when I was looking at the navigation app yesterday. 

Goro: You need more friends. Your contact list was deplorable.

The response comes hot on the heels of Goro’s message: 

Kurusu: I have plenty of friends.

Goro’s fingers are quick as he types:

Goro: Oh yes, the ones who end up bleeding all the time. I retract my statement in favor of a new one: You need better friends.  

That has notification dots appearing quickly on his screen as Kurusu scrambles to respond. Goro lets his little smile widen into a proper grin. It's a nice tiny bit of payback for ruining his plans yesterday. It’s not a mauling, but it will do. 

“Yongen-Jaya.” The announcement pings as the train pulls to a gentle stop.

Goro tucks his phone into a pocket, ignoring the buzz that presses against his palm. He’ll let Kurusu stew for a bit. He has a doctor to find, after all. 

He slips out of the station, and onto the surprisingly populated street going over what he knows about Dr. Takemi. Kurusu had been right, rumors surrounded her practice, making all sorts of wild claims about her from how she robs graves to her development of a super drug that cures death. 

What has Goro most curious about her isn’t any of the rumors. It’s Kurusu knowing her. Despite claiming he'd only just moved here he seemed to know her well, if his tone had been anything to go by. Sure he could simply have had a single rather memorable experience at her clinic, or known her from a visit to his small town, but Goro knows it’s more than that. He can feel it. Kurusu’s whole reaction about it all set off Goro’s detective instincts and he’s not going to let this go. 

What’s even odder about it all, is how Goro wants to believe both statements are true. Simultaneously Kurusu is new to the area, and knows the doctor well. It’s a strange feeling. When he considers it for a long time it makes his head hurt, thoughts fogging up a bit like he’s missing something vital he can’t quite grasp it yet. 

The clinic is out of the way, tucked away up some stairs and not marked clearly. All that tells Goro he’s on the right track is a small unassuming sign. It’s clear she wants to stay under the radar. Goro intends to keep it that way as well. 

“Hello,” he calls, stepping inside, “I’m looking for Dr. Takemi?”

The woman behind the counter glances up, “That’s me.” 

Goro smiles and approaches her, taking in her appearance as he does. She’s well dressed, if a little gothic in nature. Her open lab coat reveals a dark shirt, whose logo Goro can’t make out as it’s cut off beneath the counter. A series of bracelets jingle on her wrist as she waves him over, studs flashing in the light. He can see why people might gossip, but the woman owns her own practice and can dress however she wishes. 

“I apologize, I don’t have an appointment. However, you come highly recommended.” 

She doesn’t bother hiding a snort at that, but gestures at him, “What can I help you with?” 

“I was told you could help me with a rather dicey injury?”

Her eyes flash over him, taking in the school uniform before lingering on his face. His smile stays locked in place, as unassuming and pleasant as ever. Every interaction, a lie he sells with perfection and polish. 

She leans back, “You’re pretty young to be hiding something like that from your parents.” 

“Ah, you see I’m here on my own. I moved for school.” Goro keeps his tone breezy, there’s no tragedy behind his words for her to find. No lie to catch him in. Everything he’s said is the truth. He’s left it just open enough so she’ll believe he’s a student living in the dorms, not an orphan emancipated far too early who’d struck a deal with the devil to earn a semblance of freedom. 

“If you call living under his thumb freedom.” Loki jabs. 

Goro wants to snap at him to shut up. He keeps his face neutral instead. 

“Hmm.” She considers, before her gaze sharpens, “You look familiar.” 

He chuckles, shifting another piece on the board as he plays this game of familiarity he’s growing accustomed to. Fame provides its own drawbacks and rewards. One is that people tend to trust him more than they really should. 

“You’ve probably seen me in one of my recent interviews. Goro Akechi, at your service.” He gives a little flourish with a hand, not quite bowing, more presenting himself to her. 

She jerks up, chair rattling as she straightens, “I haven’t done anything to be under investigation, you know. Those rumors are just that, everything here is above board and all my licenses are up to date.” 

Well that wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. He makes a mental note to take a much closer look at her. If she is being harassed, he could use helping her to his advantage. The longer he stands here, the more he began to realize just what a boon it was that Kurusu had sent him here. 

Ever since signing on with Shido, Goro’s privacy and freedom have been limited. He goes to Shido’s doctors. Drops everything to follow Shido’s beck and call. Even his agent is one of Shido’s men. His money is at least his own, made from his work and what he has found in Palaces and Mementos. He's never breathed a word of that particular windfall to Shido or his men. Some secrets are best kept close, tight to his chest. 

The idea of simply having anyone in his life unconnected with the man is refreshing. Even if he doesn’t end up making frequent use of the resource. 

“I assure you, I have no ill intentions towards you.” He raises both hands in his defense, wincing at how his wound pulls at the movement, “I am genuinely here for your assistance. Kurusu-kun sent me.” 

“Don’t know him.” Dr. Takemi’s response is instant, after a moment her eyes soften, “That, however, does look like it needs some work.”

One glance at his arm tells Goro he’s managed to irritate the wound again during his trip here. Despite the bleeding having stopped overnight it seems it's started again, red can be seen gently pooling, seeping out like an ink stain across his jacket. 

“As I said. I am in need of some discreet help. I can pay whatever you charge, please don’t worry about that.” 

Dr. Takemi’s chair makes a gentle scraping sound as she stands, “I’m sure you can, Mr. Detective. Come on back to the exam room and I’ll take a look.”

“Thank you.”

The decision to stay silent as she examines him is an easy one. Goro has little desire to answer more questions than is necessary. At the same time, he doesn’t want to disrupt her work. So he sits on the medical cot as she takes his arm gently and examines the deep scratches there. 

Her lips press together in a not quite hidden look of concern, made more obvious by the furtive glance she gives his school uniform. 

“The casualty of a case.“ Goro supplies, at last, “An ongoing one.” 

She hums a reply as she works, needle in hand to start numbing the skin around the injury. It’s pink and puffy, obviously irritated from Goro’s walk over, but to his eyes free from signs of infection. 

“You’re going to need quite a few stitches.” She tells him, “This is not going to be fun, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. They aren’t my first.”

The moment he says the words he knows they are the wrong sentiment to share. Takemi’s mouth presses into a thinner line, almost disappearing. 

At last she asks, “Do the police not have doctors?”

Goro wants to shrug, but thinks better of it with his arm is semi immobilized, a needle hovering above it. He’d rather not add getting stabbed to the week’s events. Even an accidental one. 

“They do.” 

She shoots him a glance that says: So? Explain. 

Goro goes for the truth, or as close to it as he can, “As an independent detective I don’t always work with them.” 

“What have you done in the past when you were hurt then?” 

The question comes as she begins the stitches and despite himself, Goro has to bite back a wince. It’s not a painful feeling per say, but neither is it pleasant. 

“To be honest, this is the first time I’ve sustained such an injury on one of my own investigations. They are normally less dangerous.” His gaze drifts over to a sign hanging on the wall that lists the symptoms of a heart attack while he speaks, unwilling to look her directly in the eyes, “I was not expecting this one to go as poorly as it did either.” 

Takemi doesn’t comment further as she works, and Goro lets it drop as well. His eyes turn back to her, or rather his arm, tracking the movement of the needle as it dips up and down, in and out of his skin. Quite a few stitches indeed. 

One thing still bothers him, “You really don’t know Kurusu-kun?” 

“I’ll admit, I wasn’t paying close attention earlier. Describe him?”

“Messy hair, glasses that cover most of his face, fairly nondescript aside from this air he has about him, like he’s ready to—” Ruin all your hard work, dash your plans, and have fun doing it, “Like he’s hiding something.”

“Kid, I get a lot like that here. You fit the hiding something description pretty well yourself.” 

Goro coughs, surprise rattling him, “I told you—”

“Mmhm, investigation. Yep.” She finishes the stitches and deftly wraps his arm. 

There is something about her posture and tone that sets off tiny alarm bells in Goro’s head, but he can’t pin it down. Even as she leans back, considering him. 

“You know–”

Goro’s not sure he likes where this is going. 

“You’re young, healthy, strong, and apparently don’t have a set school schedule.”

Now he has to defend himself, “While the school allows me much time off for my work, and various appearances, I am still required to attend and complete coursework.” 

“All the better for me then.” 

“Just what does that mean?” He’s now more than a little concerned. 

She leans towards him, elbows on her thighs, chin cupped in a palm, “I’d like you to become my guinea pig.”

Goro blinks at her, genuinely surprised, “Pardon me, but what do you mean by that?” 

Just what kind of person is this doctor Kurusu recommended? 

Her grin is sharp, but not unkind, “I need some help with a drug I’m developing. It’s totally safe but needs some work to get it where I want it. What do you say? I can sweeten the pot with some painkillers and specialized medicine, if your line of work continues down the dangerous path it’s suddenly taken.”

Participating in an unsanctioned clinical trial is not exactly what Goro has planned to do with his incredibly limited free time, but…it could give him a real connection with her. Hadn’t he just decided that he could benefit from that kind of relationship?

Still, it won’t hurt to make sure she’s legitimate first, before diving into anything too deeply. So far she has shown herself to be competent, however he’ll feel more comfortable after doing a deep dive into her history. 

“Would you give me a few days to consider your offer?” He asks. 

She raises her other hand, flicking her wrist nonchalantly, bracelets clicking together merrily, “That’s fine. It’ll take time to get things set up anyway. No matter what you decide, make sure to come in when you need medical help in the future. I’d hate to see you seriously hurt because you’re trying to avoid getting fired or kicked out of school.” 

He nodded, “Of course. Thank you.” 

“And be sure to keep that clean. I’m going to give you an ointment to help prevent infection. The stitches should disintegrate on their own, but if you have trouble come back and I’ll do a follow up.” 

A feeling of satisfaction washes over Goro as he exits the clinic. He’s looped the small bag of medicine she gave him over his good wrist, along with his soiled jacket. He’ll need to get it cleaned sooner rather than later so the stain doesn’t set. 

An email ping reminds him of his phone. Takemi didn’t totally deny knowing Kurusu the second time he asked, only slid around the question. 

Kurusu’s message from earlier still sits unread on his phone. The words take a second to make sense and Goro flicks back up to his earlier text. He’d told Kurusu he needed better friends. The response makes him blink.

Kurusu: Good thing I’ve got you now.

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Friends? They’ve known each other less than a day. That is not friendship. Not that he wants or needs friends. Kurusu is simply a curiosity. Just a Metaverse user who hasn’t awakened to his power yet and should be kept close so he won't accidentally interrupt Goro’s plans. 

He has no reasonable response for that, so he chooses to shift the tone of the conversation. Calling Kurusu’s lie. 

Goro: The doctor says she doesn’t know you. 

The reply doesn’t take long. 

Kurusu: I didn’t say she did. Only that I knew of her. 

Goro rolls his eyes, glancing up long enough to check where he’s going as he walks down the street. If he remembers right, Sae-san’s favorite hole-in-the-wall coffee place is somewhere around here. He’s got some time before his meeting with her, and a good cup of coffee sounds like heaven right now. 

Goro: You spoke like you knew her well.

The faint scent of coffee and something spicy draws him down a street. At last he sees it, plants surrounding the outside, a red sign above the door that reads: Leblanc. The name rings familiar and he’s pretty sure Sae-san’s shop of choice. The little sign outside the door tells him they serve not only coffee, but curry as well, answering the question of the spice in the air. What an odd combination, odd enough Goro knows he has to try it. 

Before he can even reach for the handle, his phone rings. Goro fishes it from his pocket and scowls as Shido’s name lights up the screen. He takes a step back from the door to get out of the way. After another breath, he schools his features, knowing that even visible dislike can find its way into his voice, and takes the call. 

“I’ve just received notice that Minato Takashi reported major structural issues with the rails for the subway, by both providing evidence and turning himself in for taking bribes to keep quiet about it.” Shido’s tone is cold, questioning. 

Goro can’t help it, his eyes go wide. Such a change in attitude is a surprise to say the least. His actions in the Metaverse have always impacted people’s cognition, this is true. But to have such a turnaround from a conversation? He’s never considered it before, though it makes sense. If he can drive a person temporarily mad with Call of Chaos, or even make them shut down by killing their Shadow Self, talking one down doesn’t seem so strange. 

It’s something Shido would never consider himself. He has always seen the Metaverse as a tool for manipulation of the worst kind. It is his own private shadow realm where he can threaten, coerce, and kill those who might get in his way. He would never dream of using it to convince someone they were doing something wrong.

It makes him wonder... 

“Well that answers the question of why I couldn’t locate him yesterday.” Goro says, dropping in just enough surprise and frustration into his tone to make Shido believe he’s as in the dark by this as everyone else. 

“It’s rare you miss a target.” There is something dangerous in his tone, prodding for the real reason things failed this time.

In the time Goro has been working for Shido he’s missed only four targets, with Takashi ticking that number up to five. They don’t have a formal contract between them, but what they have has worked so far. Goro follows Shido’s orders without fail, and in return receives status and power. It’s Shido’s agent that’s helped Goro find fame, and Shido’s influence that let him break free from the foster system at last. Any failure strips his usefulness away, and threatens to take him out of Shido’s orbit. 

“It won’t happen again.” Goro promises, like he can even make such a promise. But he has to. He cannot fail again. 

He has done too much and worked too hard to fall from grace now. Not when he can see the light at last. Shido’s laid out his plan to ascension clearly before Goro and all of the pieces are in place at last. They need only work the plan for the next few months and then, well. Then Goro’s own plans will come to fruition as well. 

“See that it doesn’t.” Is all that Shido says before the line cuts dead. 

His jaw works, teeth grinding together as Goro struggles to pull himself together. He hates how after all this time Shido’s disappointment still stings. No one else in the world makes him feel so small with so few words, or so happy with just as few. 

He’s pathetic . Like a dog trampling after his master, begging for a little praise. Clinging to his words like they’re golden honey. 

It makes him sick. 

The door to the café opens, and an older couple walk out, voices filling the air about little nothings, coffee and how sweet the “new boy” is. The sound grounds Goro back in the present, reminds him why he’s here. He needs that coffee now more than ever. 

Consciously, he lets his jaw loosen, and takes in a long slow breath. He holds the air in his lungs, so much of it there he might burst, and just feels the pressure for a long moment. Then just as slowly he lets it out, and the relief is palpable. It’s a simple technique that doesn’t always work, but blended with the familiar scent of coffee it does the trick today. 

Just a little longer, he only has to put up with Shido a little longer and then it’ll be him hanging on Goro’s words. His life in Goro’s hands. Loki smiles at that thought too, humming with anticipation of the day they’ll finally see their revenge made real. 

He rolls his shoulders and smooths his features. With his public mask firmly back in place he takes the time to make sure nothing incriminating is showing on his phone. Not that there ever is. Shido makes it a point not to put his orders in writing. They do their business face to face or over the phone. 

A little notification lingers on his chat app, a reply from Kurusu. 

Kurusu: You know, it’s not nice to act so suspicious after receiving help.  

He snorts at that and chooses to leave his response for a little later, after he’s seated. He’s lingered in front of this building long enough. 

The bell rings pleasantly behind him as he steps in and surveys the café. The ambience is perfect. The exact kind of place that Goro loves: small and cozy, covered in colors that are warm and dark. It has that kind of out of the way look that says the owner has little desire to allow trends to bend their aesthetic. Best of all, the whole place is permeated with the scent of coffee, all kinds of roasts mixing together in a divine blend that comforts rather than assaults. The scent of curry blends nicely with it, complex and mouthwatering even this early in the day. Goro is sure that by the time he leaves, the scent will have sunk into him like a second skin.

It’s quiet, no music plays to distract or draw attention. Instead there is a television that is running the news, the voices turned down so one might have to strain to hear them. Goro has a feeling there are rarely more than two customers here at a time. Especially since at this hour any café in Kichijoji or Shibuya would be at least half full. Right now, he’s the only customer. 

A man works behind the counter, facing away from him as he replaces a jar on the shelf filled end to end with coffee beans. 

“Welcome in.” the man says, “I’ll be with you in just a minute.” 

While he waits, Goro slides onto one of the stools, draping his coat across the back of it, and hooking his bag on the end. He’s left his briefcase at home today, the item is too bulky to carry with an injured arm and still navigate the few places he has to go before returning home. 

The man shifts to cleaning up dishes, left over by the previous customers Goro guesses. He doesn’t mind, he’s not in a hurry, plus this gives him a little time to respond to Kurusu. 

Goro: You must admit, yesterday was rather strange. I think I’m owed a little suspicion. 

Goro sends off the message with little thought to getting a response right away. It’s give and take right now as they say nothing and try to see who might bend first. A moment later, a phone pings to his left. Surprise makes him lift his eyes to see the origin of the coincidence. 

Standing just at the edge of a staircase, phone in hand, mouth agape, is Akira Kurusu. 

‘Crap.’ Akira thinks. ‘Crap, crap, double crap with a slice of cheese.’

Akechi is not supposed to be in Leblanc right now. He is not supposed to be in Leblanc for another few days at least, according to his plan. His carefully plotted, well formed, not totally slapped together last minute plan. The plan he is trying to follow to a T because if he messes it up then that will be it for him and Akechi and the whole stupid plan . 

What good is going back in time to solve problems if no one bothers to be in the right places for those problems to be solved around them? Honestly, it’s like Akira is the only one in the bunch who actually knows the plan. The plan he’d had all of last night to come up with because apparently that’s what making a deal with Jose gives him. 

Still, if he could, he’d shake Jose for being so taciturn about it all. Oh so yeah, Akira has the chance to right his mistakes this way. But dropping him practically right in Akechi’s lap with no warning had been uncalled for. Give a guy at least ten minutes to plan a thing. 

Oh and tell him exactly what point in space and time he’s going to find himself in. That’d be really helpful too. 

The last thing Akira needs is Akechi poking his nose into things when he shouldn’t be. Sure yes, he had screwed up by being so familiar and open about the whole Dr. Takemi thing before immediately claiming he’d just moved there. That was stupid, he’s a big enough man to admit that. 

But is Akechi really so suspicious that a slip like that might make him decide to take a closer look at him already? Of course he is. Akechi is nothing but suspicion and lies wrapped up in a pretty smile and false niceties. Any mistake on Akira’s part is sure to set off all of his alarm bells.

If the universe was kind to either of them, Akira never would have needed to go back in time. He and Akechi could have met earlier. 

He knows they could be great friends with a little more time. Being rivals is a given, but given a real chance, Akira knows he can pierce through Akechi’s shell and find not just a rival or an ally, but a friend hiding underneath. 

He wonders if meeting him the day of his arrival in Tokyo is early enough. If he’d had his way, his wish , it would have been years. Before either of them even knew what the Metaverse is. But the universe has never really been truly kind to either of them. 

Jose has always been kind to him though and Akira thinks perhaps he is something a little universe like. 

The short time he’s been given will simply have to be enough. It’s the only second chance he’s going to get. 

“Akechi, what are you doing here?” 

He steps out of the alcove and over to where Akechi is seated. It’s shocking seeing him here, in the same chair he has always picked, looking at him with the same kind of amusement he’d frequently show well into their friendship. It makes Akira want to be just as familiar with him, to lean into jokes and confidences they haven’t created yet. To talk with an Akechi still waiting in the wings. 

He’s already slipped up though, as Akechi’s eyes go just a little wide at Akira’s casual address for him. Never one to let on too much, that look is all Akira gets to let him know he’s probably moving too fast.

The thing is, he can’t help it. It’s so good to see Akechi again. When he’d come flying out in Mementos, Persona in the air, Akira had almost stopped breathing. He hadn’t expected it. Hadn’t expected him so soon. But there he had been, Black Mask and all, six seconds away from scruffing him like a cat. 

He’d almost flung himself at him. It had taken everything in him not to, his mind screaming wait, don’t fuck this up idiot. Don’t scare him off. Don’t get him killed again. 

It doesn’t stop his skin from itching, his hands feeling empty, his heart being an aching, excited mess that still can’t quite believe any of it is real. Because he’s alive. He’s here in Leblanc sitting in his usual seat, looking at Akira like he wants to pick him apart under a microscope to see what makes him tick. And alive. 

Akira will do everything in his power to make sure he stays that way. 

Akehi raises his arm, the sleeve is rolled up and a bandage has been expertly wrapped around it, neater than Akira has ever been able to manage. 

“I took your advice and went to visit Takami-san.” He raises an eyebrow at him, “Or have you already forgotten our conversation about her not knowing you?”

The phone in his palm buzzes again, reminding him of Akechi’s unread message. At the sound, the other boy smirks. What an ass. 

He'd missed him so much.  

Akira needs five minutes to put himself together but instead he’s faced with Akechi looking deeply amused at the predicament he’s in right now. He shoves the phone in his back pocket, and prays it doesn’t fall out. No need to reply when Akechi is right here. 

“Right!” He pastes on a smile they both know is forced, and rubs the back of his neck, “I’m sorry I’m just so surprised to see you here, it’s a school day.”

To his ears, he sounds like he’s panicking. He wonders if Akechi can hear the same thing. Though Akira doesn’t know what he’d even think if that were the case. The last thing Akechi could suspect him of is being a time traveler…right?

The eyebrow seemingly arches higher, “It seems neither of us are where we are supposed to be then.” 

Sojiro saves him by turning around at last, taking notice of both boys. Akira tries not to give him a panicked look, and thinks he succeeds. Unfortunately for him, this Sojiro hardly knows him and still thinks he’s trouble packaged in messy hair and glasses. Arriving late his first day had done nothing to help mitigate that little issue either. 

Sojiro puts a hand on his hip and in a disappointed tone Akira hasn’t heard in almost two years says, “I told you not to bother my customers.” 

If Akechi keeps upping the smugness of his look he’s afraid the other boy’s eyebrow might just pop off and take off towards outer space.

“Is this your boss?” He asks, tone infuriatingly even. 

“Boss?” Sojiro barks out a laugh, “Sure, with the amount of cleaning he’s done since he got here it’s a fair enough title.” He holds a hand out to Akechi,  “Sojiro Sakura, I take it you’re one of his friends?” 

“Indeed. We became acquainted yesterday in fact.” 

He’s forgotten how perfectly polished Akechi is when wearing his Detective Prince mask. Akira’s too used to the Akechi who’d warmed up to him, and the one who freely threw barbs and insults at him like endearments. This Akechi is like a doll, face just so, voice pitched perfectly pleasant, smile devoid of life. Akira’s stomach rolls. 

“Makes sense, this guy only just got here.”

Akira could kiss Sojiro, he’d probably hate that, but that doesn’t stop him wanting to express his undying gratitude. No way can Akechi still think he’s been lying about moving recently with that unprompted statement. 

He shoots his own smug look at Akechi, giving him his best “told ‘ya” grin. It does little to squash the amusement glittering behind Akechi’s eyes. He’s having fun playing with Akira, and piecing together this new element in his life. Akira has little intention of letting him know everything about himself just yet. Mystery is how he caught him in the first place. 

“I see.” Akechi flashes Sojiro a smile, his expression pulling into something like a predator, eager and plotting, or at least that’s what Akira reads in the tone and sharpening of his eyes. Everyone else sees the pleasant boy he's worked so hard to polish, especially when he says, “Still, Kurusu is someone I can see myself becoming close friends with.” 

Liar . Akira knows full well that all Akechi is worried about right now is just how much trouble this other Metaverse user will be to him. Every second and word between them is a calculation to determine just how much of a stumbling block Akira might be to his plans. And boy, what a stumbling block Akira plans to be. If he can pull this off Akechi’s plans are going to go off the rails far earlier than he could ever imagine. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll have a real shot at redemption this time. 

Sojiro grunts, the sound almost amused, “Well, what’ll it be? Might as well get you both a cup and let you talk.” 

After a brief glance up at the menu Akira answers, “Blue Mountain.” He shoots a surprised look at Akechi as he hears his words doubled, the other boy having answered the same thing at the same time. 

Sojiro only shakes his head, and starts working on the coffee.

Silence settles between them until both cups rest steaming in front of them. Akira has taken the seat by Akechi, since it would be silly to stand in such circumstances. Sojiro tries not to make a show of watching both of them try their coffee, wiping up a nonexistent drop off the counter while surreptitiously eyeing them. Sojiro has never been very good at hiding how much he cares for very long, whether that’s about coffee or the kids in his life. 

Akira doesn’t have to pretend to enjoy the drink. He’s been dying for a cup of this for weeks now. Only his Sojiro was waiting on a shipment, and he couldn’t very well ask for a cup after slinking in late on his first day under this one’s care. 

So he smiles into the cup, breathing deeply, and savors the familiar scent. Akira loves making coffee, but his will never taste exactly like Sojiro’s just like Sojiro’s will never taste like his. It is a treat when his adopted father makes him a mug.

“This is incredible, Sakura-San.” It’s the first genuinely honest thing Akira’s heard from Akechi in this timeline, the words said with real enjoyment as his eyes light up, “Far better than anything I’ve had before. Sae-san was right about this place.”

“Sae-san? As in Sae Niijima?” Sojiro frowns. 

“Yes.” Akechi’s tone is pleasant, “We work together on cases sometimes.”

“On cases?” Sojiro askes, frowning at Akechi, “I thought you looked kind of familiar. You’re that detective kid who's on tv sometimes.” His gaze turns on Akira, and something mischievous comes over his features, “Quite the find for a first friend here.”

Quite the find indeed. Almost as if fate had thrown Akira directly into his path. Thank goodness it hadn’t literally dropped him on Akechi, or made him materialize in front of him or something so painfully direct. That would have been impossible to explain. 

“Just lucky like that.” Akira shrugs between sips of blessedly good coffee, “Maybe Akechi will even introduce me to Niijima-san soon.” He turns to smile at his friend, but Akechi’s not paying attention to him, his gaze instead on his phone.

“Akechi?” Akira asks. 

He jerks his head up, blinking, “I apologize. It seems I misremembered the time for a meeting.” 

He scoops the required yen for his coffee from his pocket and sets it on the counter. The next second, he’s on his feet, tossing his jacket over his shoulder and giving the coffee a forlorn look. He’s hardly had any time at all to drink it.

Without really thinking, Akira stands too and steps behind the counter. He moves automatically, years of practice guiding his hands as he scoops a to-go cup from Sojiro’s secret stash and starts pouring Akechi’s coffee into it. Sojiro doesn’t do takeout, claiming it’s far too much trouble. However, on occasion he’ll give a longtime customer a cup on the way out. He’ll start carrying more now that Akira’s here, and Akira will be able to track his growing affection by how gently he’s handed the cup as he finishes his curry in the mornings. 

Sojiro either doesn’t notice or care that Akira’s made himself at home in the café after less than 24 hours living there. Instead, he’s taken Akechi’s money over to the register. Dimly Akira hears them discussing a receipt. 

Akira adds the extra from the carafe when he notices the cup isn’t full enough, and adds in a little sugar and cream, to balance it out the way Akechi likes this blend, before giving it a quick stir. He pops the lid on top and slides it over to him with a grin.

“Since you liked it so much.” he explains. 

Akechi’s lips twist into an odd kind of frown, like he’s not sure how to react to this display of barista prowess Akria’s just put on. But he takes the cup, holding it carefully in the hand not currently carrying a small bag and his jacket. 

He takes a step away from the bar and stops, turning his gaze directly on Akira, “Thank you. I am sorry to have to leave so quickly, I had wanted to discuss yesterday further with you.”

Akira waves him off, “Tomorrow, after school.” 

[nero-vanderwolf]

Trains were fascinating.

The way they sped along the tracks, not stopping for anything- or if they did. it was often too late.

Yuuki Mishima had always been fascinated by dark topics. Maybe that was why he was so interested in the Phantom Thieves. They delved into the depths of one’s psyche, did something to trigger a change of mentality, and went on their merry ways.

Ever since his parents divorced, he had become interested in the topic of death, too.

How it would feel, what it would look like. What would happen afterwards, if it was possible to die without dying.

Of course it was possible. The mental shutdown victims were proof of that. How would that feel, he wondered. Would it hurt? Would it be like falling asleep? Would it feel like anything at all?

“Mishima!”

Mishima looked behind him to see Akira, jogging towards him. That cat was poking its head out of his bag, its eyes narrowed as if in suspicion. How funny. A cat being suspicious of him; dumb, boring Mishima.

“Hey, are you okay?” Akira asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Mishima shrugged, glancing back at the rails. “I think I missed my train,” he said hollowly. He did that on purpose. He wanted to be anywhere other than home, anywhere other than locked in his room with his grief and anger and bitterness. Anywhere other than here, talking to Akira Kusuru and his weird cat.

“Wanna come to LeBlanc for a bit? We have curry,” Akira offered.

Mishima couldn’t deny that it was tempting, having warm food in a cozy environment like LeBlanc- but he knew that if he went with Akira, questions would be asked, and he couldn’t handle that sort of thing.

“Thank you, but I should really get home. My mom might start to worry.”

Yuuki Mishima has always been good at lying through his teeth. Lying was how he survived Kamoshida, how he survived his parents, how he survived.

Akira frowned, but let his hand slide off of Mishima’s shoulder.

“Well, our door is open if you change your mind,” he said, and Mishima nodded, stepping forward towards the rails. A train was coming, he could hear it.

“Bye, Kusuru. See you at school. By the way- there’s a few new requests for you. Check those out.”

He ignored the worried looks people (Akira) were giving him as he walked into the carriage. Fuck going home. He wanted to go somewhere that didn’t know Yuuki Mishima. He wanted to go somewhere that didn’t know Yuuki Mishima was interested in gorey topics, that didn’t know Yuuki Mishima was fascinated by death, that didn’t know Yuuki Mishima was good at lying through his teeth.

He wanted to leave and never come back.

MISHIMA ANGST???????? HOLY SHIT???????

I love the way mishima is just. a liar. it connects to his arcana, the moon. im not a master at tarot meanings but looking up the moon its pretty much about lying. putting up a false self to cover up what's happened in the past and it just fits mishima so well. he NEEDS to be a part of the phantom thieves because its all about throwing your mask away. LET HIM THROW HIS MASK AWAY!!!! GRAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

[episodeoftv]

Round 1 of 8, Group 7 of 8

propaganda and summaries are under the cut (May include spoilers)

Bones: 2.09 Aliens in a Spaceship / 2.10 The Headless Witch in the Woods

tw Dead bodies (two kids), someone gets hit by a car, emergency first aid, blood and gore.

When Hodgins and Brennan are buried alive, it's a race against time and a kidnapper who doesn't negotiate.

Bones and Hodgins have to use their knowledge to help save themselves before they run out of air, while the rest of the crew frantically try to find them in time. Angst, science, and murders. What more could you ask for?

Ressha Sentai Toqger: 1.20 Smiling is Dangerous

tw comedic nudity, Akira gets deadnamed which is :\, Akira-typical suicidal tendencies

Jack-in-the-Box Shadow's ability to send people flying away from him if they laugh affects all the ToQgers except Akira, leading the others to help Akira find his sense of humor or else he may be killed.

wellfor starters, this time Kagura trips during the opening theme song (it changes from episode to episode). We get to see Toqgers 1-5 try to get to know their very depressed, very stoic 6th ranger. there's a bit of intrigue from Glitter (who's in love with Schwartz) and Schwartz (who just wants to focus on being a general), along with Glitter's mom Madam Noire (who's scheming for power by marrying her daughter off to the Emperor) and Baron noticing that at the end. In the meantime, the train kids try to be funny, with disastrous results. The translators did their best, ok? In the end, the Toqgers get some insight into Akira's mindset, although they can't do much about his depression at this point. At this point he doesn't feel worthy of being called their friend. But they all appreciate him, even thought Right totally got upstaged on his plan.

[newtypezaku]

P-P-P-Power Rankings!!

Shinkalion: Change the World (Last: 1): TAISEI SURVIVED HIS FIRST BATTLE BUT ANGSTED OVER WHETHER HE WAS WORTHY OF JOINING THE ORGANIZATION.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (Last: 2): D infiltrated Red's hideout and snagged the artifact before facing off with the whole squad on the roof.

Kaiju No. 8 (Last: 5): Kafka unleashed on some other kaiju and decided to hide as a human to take the defense force test one more time.

Wind Breaker (Last: 4): Haruka earned some cred on his first day but also started trouble with a neighboring gang while on patrol.

Delicious in Dungeon (Last: 3): Shuro and Kabru ambushed Laios' party and learned the terrible truth about Falin's revival.

The Youkai Next to Me (Last: NR): Prepared to sacrifice himself for the town, Jiro discovered just how many folks were looking out for him.

Train to the End of the World (Last: 6): Akira found herself barricaded in the train as the last defense against brain mushrooms.

Tensura (Last: 7): Rimuru passed off a variety of administrative tasks to his cabinet, who also offloaded them as soon as possible.

Aiming for eight each week cuz eighters gonna eight. [Full Watch List]

[symphonic-scream]

I would like to hear how he met them.

:)

This part of the au is, for the most part, the most angsty? And it's barely. Just cause I'm keeping everything else as, comfort feeling

SO HERE'S HOW EVERYONE MET AKIRA IN THE PHANTOM QUEERS AU

In chronological order

Futaba!

Futaba was already living with Sojiro when Akira got in trouble in his hometown. Sojiro was reluctant to take in a second kid while trying his best to parent Futaba, but they assure him he's doing great and they don't need all his time and attention

So Akira comes into their lives, and when he catches Futaba struggling to make ramen at 2 am, he gives them a hand and. Siblings for life

RYUJI

They met on the train first! They were standing beside each other, did the bro nod, went about their day. Then a day later they were both at the same beef bowl place. Another nod. Then the DVD rental. The restaurant. Fishing-

After a week they both decided destiny wanted them to be bros! Ryuji was crushing a bit at first too ngl

ANN

Ryuji introduced them! He invited Akira to Girls and Gays night (their night out drinking during uni) and that's when they all first found Crossroads! Akira was taken immediately and would return each night until Lala agreed to hire him, and it also cemented his friendship with Ann

Yusuke!!

He was wandering around looking for inspiration for a new portfolio piece between his first and second year, the theme being queer identities and young expressionism. So. He wandered into Crossroads and met Akira, or rather Aki-chan. Very early into drag too

After a night long conversation and a date set up for Akira to do a little modeling for Yusuke, he had him meet the others and it was history from there

GORO

There was a police investigation at Crossroads one fall. One of the regulars- an older business man -had been caught doing some insider trading and pretty much everyone associated with Crossroads had to be spoken to to see if they'd been spilled to

Akira was interviewed by the PI on retainer. In drag. They didn't get along at first, but once Akira dropped his Aki-chan act and was Stinky Crime Boy persona, well. Goro was quick to agree to meet up another time for a drink on the house

MAKOTO AND HARU!

So. This one is a little longer? And this is the. Angst part of the post but just a bit

Makoto was out with some of her classmates after a tough exam in their course when she runs into some old, acquaintances from middle school. From when she was just starting to transition. You can probably see where it's going

She ducks into Crossroads to get away, hands shaking as she texts Haru the address, with an apology for interrupting her later cooking class when Akira kindly guides her to a back table, getting her a glass of water

He's in drag, lays on the usual attitude but a little lightly, and Makoto mumbles out a "sorry I have a girlfriend" and he just "great. I have a boyfriend. Wanna gush about her to feel better?"

And when Haru bursts in looking for a shaken Makoto she finds her love half sloshed in a back booth with Akira, both half in tears as they share photos of their partners

They end up keeping in touch and even remaining friends!

And of course, Hifumi wanders into Crossroads trying to find herself. But that's been knew

[tricksterlatte]

One of my favorite parts about writing my main Akeshu WIP is how I will be writing spiraling trains of thought that are crushing my soul...and in the meantime, the dialogue will have Akira shit talking Akechi for shotgunning several Five Hour Energy shots in one sitting out of gay desperation. There’s an angst metaphor related to otters. I have an ancient edit of Akira in that one Spongebob episode where he won’t go outside, and his hallucination of Arsene was a penny. Akechi was a used napkin. This is simply how I survive.

[ao3feed-iwaoi]

"You can fall in love with everyone but not with the SNAKE!"

Read this masterpiece on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ivFRQ0f

by Aphrodite_Yi

Terushima gets invited into a training camp with 10 different teams all around Miyagi and Tokyo. Will he meet his true love or will he just end up heart broken?

[ A story about Terushima falling in love with Daishou.]

Words: 261, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Haikyuu!!

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, M/M

Characters: Terushima Yuuji, Daishou Suguru, Bobata Kazuma, Futamata Takeharu, Tsuchiyu Arata, Numajiri Rintarou, Kuribayashi Runa, Numai Kazuma, Takachiho Yoshiya, Sakishima Isumi, Seguro Akihiko, Yamaka Mika, Sawamura Daichi, Azumane Asahi, Nishinoya Yuu, Tanaka Ryuunosuke, Kinoshita Hisashi, Tsukishima Kei, Yachi Hitoka, Kuroo Tetsurou, Kai Nobuyuki, Yaku Morisuke, Yamamoto Taketora, Kozume Kenma, Fukunaga Shouhei, Inuoka Sou, Teshiro Tamahiko, Shibayama Yuuki, Haiba Alisa, Oikawa Tooru, Watari Shinji, Kindaichi Yuutarou, Kyoutani Kentarou, Kamasaki Yasushi, Moniwa Kaname, Sasaya Takehito

Relationships: Daishou Suguru/Terushima Yuuji, Sawamura Daichi/Sugawara Koushi, Haiba Alisa/Yamaka Mika, Azumane Asahi/Nishinoya Yuu, Konoha Akinori/Washio Tatsuki, Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou, Kozume Kenma/Kuroo Tetsurou, Kinoshita Hisashi/Narita Kazuhito, Ennoshita Chikara/Tanaka Ryuunosuke, Shimizu Kiyoko/Yachi Hitoka, Kamasaki Yasushi/Moniwa Kaname, Aone Takanobu/Futakuchi Kenji, Goshiki Tsutomu/Koganegawa Kanji, Haiba Lev/Yaku Morisuke, Kai Nobuyuki/Teshiro Tamahiko, Inuoka Sou/Kuguri Naoyasu/Shibayama Yuuki, Tendou Satori/Ushijima Wakatoshi, Semi Eita/Shirabu Kenjirou, Kawanishi Taichi/Yamagata Hayato, Shirofuku Yukie/Suzumeda Kaori, Hinata Shouyou/Kageyama Tobio, Tsukishima Kei/Yamaguchi Tadashi, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru, Hanamaki Takahiro/Matsukawa Issei, Kyoutani Kentarou/Yahaba Shigeru, Kindaichi Yuutarou/Kunimi Akira, Hiroo Kouji/Sakishima Isumi, Numai Kazuma/Takachiho Yoshiya, Akama Sou/Seguro Akihiko, Miya Atsumu/Sakusa Kiyoomi, Akagi Michinari/Komori Motoya, Kita Shinsuke/Ojiro Aran, Ginjima Hitoshi/Oomimi Ren, Miya Osamu/Suna Rintarou

Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Falling In Love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ivFRQ0f

[ao3feed-danganronpa]

Mirror's Deceit (Mirror's Edge Universe/(He)Artless Deceit)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/7UevFXN

by sentinelkinjo

Tomoya Morita can't be a therapist in a utopia. Everyone is forced to smile even when under the pressure of cracking, tearing at the fucking seams. His only solace, it seems, is receiving letters from Runners, from people on the verge of escaping the world permanently. He becomes a runner to ensure those people that need help find a lifeline in him, and life is good. He only takes safe paths, those unpatrolled by Kimura-Security Authorities.

But it turns out he might have a bigger problem on his hands.. One much bigger than he may have ever anticipated in his years of training.

Words: 2217, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Dangan Ronpa Series, Danganronpa (He)Artless Deceit, Dangan Ronpa (He)artless Deceit

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

Characters: Tomoya Morita, Akira Hayasaka, Yumeo Arakawa, Izanami Hoshimiya, Shion Morita, Other Character Tags to Be Added

Relationships: Tomoya Morita/Akira Hayasaka, Yumeo Arakawa/Izanami Hoshimiya, Other Relationship Tags to Be Added

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Mirror's Edge Fusion, Alternate Universe, Light Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Violence, Running, Parkour, Deviates From Canon, going into this with no plans boys we stay winning, Mirrors Edge AU, i love mirrors edge can you tell yet, i got both games 3 days ago

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/7UevFXN

[composereggwrites]

Falling Panic / Watching Rising

Rating: T

Warning: Choose not to warn

Fandom: Persona 5

Characters: Akira Kurusu, Ryuji Sakomoto, Morgana (Persona Sries)

Additional Tags: Febuwhump 2023, Time Loop, Angst

Summary:

Chapter 1 - Febuwhump day 8: Falling

Akira is on a train.

This would be normal, except he vividly remembers being erased from existence.

Chapter 2 - Febuwhump day 7: Watching (Refusing)

What’s the matter…? Are you simply going to watch? Are you forsaking him to save yourself? Death awaits him if you do nothing.

Was your previous conviction a mistake?

He could.

Akira could run.

[koppeine-writings]

Tarot Card Bingo V1 Masterlist

Thank you for @godestof3worlds for recommending this Bingo challenge! I had so much fun for this kind of bingo, and can't wait to write more. (Full bingo board is below the cut.)

hiding behind a cigarette

Square Fills: Seven of Cups

Fandom & Character/s: Takuto Maruki-centric (Persona 5 Royal)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warnings: whump; descriptions of self-harm

a break (from this happy world)

Square Fills: Five of Cups

Fandom & Character/s: Persona 5 Protagonist-centric (Persona 5)

Rating: General Audiences

anonymous kyoto letters

Square Fills: Ten of Wands

Fandom & Character/s: HaseMaru | Takuto Maruki x Zenkichi Hasegawa (Persona 5)

Rating: General Audiences

coffee and flower crowns

Square Fills: Page of Swords

Fandom & Character/s: PegoBan | Akira Kurusu x Yu Narukami (Persona)

Rating: General Audiences

alcohol and broken dreams

Square Fills: Strength 

Fandom & Character/s: HaseMaru | Takuto Maruki x Zenkichi Hasegawa (Persona 5)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences (Angst and Hurt/Comfort; Implied Whump)

Warnings: Alcoholism; Drinking to Cope; Implied Sleep Deprivation

to give up everything (CH1)

Square Fills: Death 

Fandom & Character/s: Takuto Maruki-centric (Persona 5 Royal)

Rating: General Audiences (Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

to give up everything (CH2)

Square Fills: Two of Swords

Fandom & Character/s: Takuto Maruki-centric (Persona 5 Royal)

Rating: General Audiences (Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

and strangers again

Square Fills: Free Space

Fandom & Character/s: Takuto Maruki and Persona 5 Protagonist (platonic; Persona 5)

Rating: General Audiences

blossom

Square Fills: Three of Pentacles

Fandom & Character/s: Rengoku Kyoujurou & Rengoku Senjurou (Mugen Train Arc // Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Implied dream manipulation

[nightace12]

Summary Of The Fics: Emperor Belos X OC - Just two terrible people being terrible together. The ending might be Belos dying and OC surviving or ending differently than in canon. Mostly follows canon with Belos' past explored a bit more. The Overlord X OC - Overlord falls in love with OC, who is working with Thunder and Shiny. He calls off the attack, but his second-in-command attacks him and takes over. OC rescues Overlord. This one is pretty dark. Tamaki X OC - OC is a former student at U.A. who joined The League of Villains after a person took over their identity and hurt Tamaki. Lots of lore between the Big Three and OC, and lots of angst. Galand X OC - OC is a member of the Ten Commandments and one of their more powerful members. Galand is turned to stone like in canon, and OC goes down a path of bloodshed after Estarossa almost shatters Galand. Galand gets his Commandment reversed and is concerned. Musashi X OC - OC and Musashi grew up together. Musashi always wanted to be a swordsman, but OC didn't. Canon events happen; Musashi is chased out of town and OC tries and follows him. OC gets hurt in the process and found by a ninja. Ninja trains him and then gets murdered by a group of criminals. OC is traumatised and hunts them down. They wear a mask, change their name... Then they bump into Musashi again, who wants OC to train him. He doesn't recognise OC. They hesitantly agree because Musashi is so persistent. This one is a lot of angst, that turns into fluff. Slightly canon divergent because Musashi wants to marry OC instead of the girl. Walter X OC - Another case of childhood friends. Walter and OC were friends, and OC started living with Walter after their family died. Walter slowly becomes obsessed with getting Power Gems, and OC tries to help him. Everything goes as canon, other than Walter not returning Sharanla's feelings ever. Walter becomes a space pirate, but OC thinks he's dead. OC is angry at everyone and becomes a criminal, discovering their own Brave. Now it's up to Walter and the kids to fix this. Topjoy X OC - OC is a secret project made by an evil group of robot makers. They're basically made to silence any problematic people. People question it so the company panics and makes a sports team. It implodes on itself and OC is the only Leaguer left, and a rogue one at them. Silver Castle takes OC in. OC is... off and kinda scares everyone. OC just wants friends. Ryugu X OC - OC is a Battle Robot made by Professor Big Bang. Big Bang loses them in .5 seconds. He doesn't really dwell on it for too long, but OC is found by Akira's father and given to Akira. Akira likes his new friend. Ryugu is with him at this time and gets a bit jealous of Akira trying to get to know OC better. Mostly because OC is really worried about losing their friends again. Because they were friends with Rougamaru and Tigamaru. Kinda enemies to lovers. Metabee X OC - OC is a Medabot owned by the Select Corps. OC's handler dies horribly so OC is taken in by Ikki's dad. Ikki is impressed by the cool Medabot, Metabee not so much. Metabee doesn't really think much of OC since he refuses to battle in front of Metabee. OC eventually absolutely destroys the Rubberobo Gang and now Metabee is desperate to fight them. OC just wants a break. Leozack X OC - Spiteful Ex-Autobot joins the Decepticons after getting trapped in a cave-in and befriending Hellbat. Leozack doesn't trust them at all. He even refuses to get medical help from them, despite them being a medic. Then Deszarus really hurts him. This is pretty dark too. Leozack is an idiot throughout the entire fic.

[akirafanarts]

Theo x MC Short Angsty Comic

I really should think of a better name 😂 Any suggestions are most welcome 💕

This chapter takes place before the first Chapter. Spoilers from Theo’s route!! Proceed at your own risk 👀👻

Chapter 0.1 - The Night Before

Chapter 1 - We Were Always Meant To Say Goodbye

Chapter 2 is not So Far Away 😉

Tagging: @mikotomizuki

If anyone wants to be tagged in any of my posts lemme know. I’ll be more than happy to tag people ☺️💕 

Throw buy me a coffee if you like my art and I’ll draw a chibi head for you 🥰

[orcelito]

I have been infected with The Thoughts. I have come up with yet another scene for discacc. Adding it to the pile.