This was not the first time Akira and Akechi had fought, Akechi's feelings of self-hatred and guilt manifesting in biting words and frustration until Akira eventually took it as his sign to leave. He would try to argue back, of course, depending on whatever Akechi was declaring in the moment. Sometimes Akira was annoying and pathetic for continuing to interact with Akechi, sometimes Akechiwasn't there to be pitied. Sometimes Akechididn't need his handheld, as if Akira was his caretaker and not his friend. He would leave when it was clear Akechi had no intent of listening to him, both to give Akechi a chance to calm down from his spiral and for Akira to let his own tensions out. He cared for his friends, deeply, and Akechi's predicament was... unique, stressful, and not something Akira would fault him, but even Akira had his moments of stress. He left Akechi that day, though not before claiming he'd still be there. At Lablanc, at his room. He'd be around, whenever Akechi needed him.
He never wanted Akechi to believe he was ever left behind even when left alone.
Akira didn't make the first step, it hadn't yet hit a week, and he was giving Akechi the chance to deal with his own issues for awhile. Besides, it wasn't as if Sojiro hadn't continued to put him to work and it wasn't as if Akira minded it. Working at the cafe was easy, Sojiro liked the help, and it was fun to learn the 'family secrets' to good coffee and good curry. The customer's compliments and Sojiro's sense of pride in him didn't hurt either, of course. Sojiro trusted him now, hence why when the last few customers had left and Sojiro expected no one else for the night ( and, sometimes, even if he only expected one or two more ) he'd leave a bit early to head home to Futaba, leaving Akira to clean and lock up for the night.
He was busy with making the counter was clean and clear when he heard the door chime, his head turning to greet the new customer and inform them they're in the middle of closing when he gives a brief pause. He blinks, not expecting Akechi to visit him. A text, maybe. Just a sign he was alive and wasn't completely against talking, letting Akira find his way back to his apartment before they continued on until the next inevitable breakdown. He gives Akechi a small nod, a quiet acknowledgement, though he lets him first get settled in a seat while Akira finishes up what he was in the middle of doing. He didn't exactly want to sit down and have a serious conversation still in his apron. He hangs it before heads over to the door, flipping the sign to 'closed' and locking it for the night before he slides into the booth across from Akechi.
Akechi only seemed to notice him then, caught up in his own world, and it gives Akira more than enough chance to look him over. He looked tired, he often did, though the irritated look around his nails was new. They don't look up at Akechi's face when he first begins to speak, quietly taking Akechi's hand and holding it, loose. He rubs him thumb across the back of his hand in slow, circular motions, a nonverbal sign of worry and concerning. A sign of telling him, it's okay. It's all right.
I'm still here for you.
They only look up towards Akechi when he speaks again and he gives his hand and quick, gentle squeeze in reply. They still hold his hand loosely after, always allowing Akechi to pull away whenever it seemed to be too much.
" I missed you too, " He finally speaks, their thumb returning to trace circles across his hand. They give Akechi a small, brief smile. He's not angry. He's not leaving.
" Do you want to talk... or do you just want me to get you some curry? There's still some ingredients left. "
turnnoffyourmind
romaincrisis
dailybridgerton
