It may look like freedom, but for Akihito it's a dead end. He doesn't know how to navigate the ship, and considering that he knows for sure that Asami in on the ship, jumping off and swimming for a bit simply isn't an option. Once more he's essentially helpless and at a loss
This isn't a tactical move--this is an act of desperation and frustration; hopelessness begins to overcome him again and he trembles with trying to contain the feeling
Miraculously, Asami heard him. It shouldn't really be possible, but the timing was right enough that they can see each other. Akihito doesn't seem like he really believes that Asami is there, and given how brutally his hope was taken away before, his disbelief is fairly valid. It's been so long and here they finally are, just a couple stories away might've touched on this before, but he seems to call "Takaba" in public and "Akihito" in private/when they're close
the distraction costs Akihito, though, and watching him get shot and fall down bloody sends Asami into a whiteout BSOD --that's raw emotion there, the kind we rarely (never?) get from Asami that can't accurately be put into words. Luckily, he retains enough sense that he doesn't leap over the edge to get down there faster, cause he looks about ready to jump down there and tear Yuri apart limb from limb with his bare hands
the last time we saw double pages like this was back when Akihito told Asami he'd told Feilong his location, and instead of striking out at him, Asami pulled him close and kissed him. I really like that these are full pages again, because can see how it looks up close and also how Asami sees it, and with his reaction right next to the blood splatter it's more him reacting to the worst possible scenario (death) instead of just the injury itself
