#akechi x reader

The tray settles onto the nightstand with a soft clink. You sit up on the bed with a scowl, turning your head away from the food.

“Really…” He murmurs, smoothing a wrinkle from his glove. “I don’t understand what you’re hoping to accomplish.”

The first three days after he locked you in this room, you threw the food he brought. At him. At the walls. At anything within reach while you screamed that he was crazy.

Akechi never screamed back. He would simply clean the mess and leave you alone with your decaying thoughts.

On the fourth day, you stopped throwing things. Not because you accepted your situation, but because hunger made even anger exhausting.

“Are you trying to punish me? Or yourself?”

You don’t answer. His sigh is full of disappointment.

“Neither seems particularly productive. Do I need to spoon-feed you again?” He asks calmly.

On the fifth day, he held your jaw open and forced the food down your throat while you begged him to stop. Begged him to let you go home. Afterward, he dabbed a napkin across your face to clean away the tears. As though he did you a kindness.

Today is the sixth day. On the sixth day, you begrudgingly pick up the sandwich and take a small bite.

Then another and another. Before you realize it, you’re scarfing it down. You’re so hungry. There's no energy left to defy basic human needs, even if your kidnapper is the one providing them.

“Was that so difficult?” He scoffs, bringing a chair by the bed to sit. “You’ve spent nearly a week making yourself miserable for no sound reason.”

He reaches for the nightstand and offers you a cup.

“Drink.”

You bite back an insult and snatch the cup from his hand. The aggressive motion is pathetic, really. Childish. Somehow it feels like resistance, even if you’re doing exactly what he told you to do.

The water is pleasantly cold as it slides down your throat. Sweet, too.

You feel sick. It’s only been a handful of days since Akechi turned you into his caged pet, and you’re already finding yourself thinking something as bland as water is sweet.

“Fuck you.” You spit.

Akechi merely blinks, used to your verbal onslaughts by now, and it angers you further. You throw the cup. As hard as you can. It whistles by his head and slams into the door, shattering on impact.

The door remains closed. It’s always closed. Locked. No matter how many times you’ve hurled yourself against it. No matter how many bruises you’ve painted across your arms and shoulders trying to force it open.

“Again with the theatrics?” Akechi sighs, narrowing his eyes at you as if you’re being dramatic.

Rage detonates inside you and your fist goes flying toward his jaw before you can think better of it.

The chair crashes to the floor. One hand catches your wrist, while the other closes around your throat. The mattress sinks beneath his weight as he forces you back against it.

Oh fuck, it hurts.

“I already told you that you can scream and break whatever you wish, but hitting me won’t be tolerated.” He says in a tone that suggests he’s lecturing a stubborn child rather than restraining someone against their will.

You choke and gasp for air. His gaze drifts to the bruises around your neck. To the fading fingerprints he left there the last time you tried to attack him.

“I have to punish you or you’ll refuse to learn.”

His grip loosens enough to let air into your lungs. Not enough to let you escape.

“I don’t enjoy this, you know.”

Your wrist screams when you try to wrench it free and the pain draws tears to your eyes. His thumb brushes against your skin.

“Do you want me to hurt you? Is that it?” He asks quietly.

You can’t read his expression. The crease between his brows suggests irritation. The downturn of his mouth suggests disappointment. His eyes look almost hurt.

“I want to go home.” The hatred in your voice is impossible to hide.

The hand holding your wrist releases, only to seize your throat along with his other hand. Pain explodes through your neck and you let out a dry sob.

“Home?” Akechi repeats. “You still insist on thinking you have one outside me?”

His fingers tighten and your vision blurs around the edges. Instinctively, your hands claw at his wrist, but to no avail as Akechi drags you upright onto your knees.

“I’m your home. I’m all you have.” His tone is one with absolute certainty.

You suck in short, strained breaths. Trying to take in any air you can. Desperate pants fill the room. It’s not enough.

“You lost your job trying to please that vagrant boyfriend of yours and he still cheated on you. Is he your home? Or are you referring to the apartment you were evicted from?” His voice shakes, with fury.

Akechi’s eyes lock onto yours as if they were demanding an answer, but all you can do is gasp.

“You came to me for help. Me. I took you in and this is how you repay me? By trying to leave me? I saved you.”

His face moves dangerously close to yours. Close enough that you should feel his breath, but you don’t. The lack of oxygen makes everything feel distant and your arms fall limply to your sides.

His shoulders shakes, a bitter laugh slipping out.

“Would you rather I treated you the way he did? Should I disappear for days at a time? Sleep with other women and spend your money on them? You didn’t leave him. Is that how I get you to stay with me?”

The pressure around your throat increases and darkness creeps into the edges of your vision. For a moment, you don't know which is worse; His sick delusions or his hands around your throat.

“Do you hate yourself so much that you don't want to be with me because I love you?” For the first time, something wounded bleeds into his voice.

“You have no one besides me, but you’re so determined to destroy yourself that you refuse to accept it. I won’t allow this. I have to protect you against yourself.”

His words make memories resurface, reminding you of how you ended up in this situation.

Your boyfriend asking for a loan. You handing over the money without hesitation. Learning what it had actually been used for. A girl who wasn’t you.

You stayed with him because he begged for forgiveness. That doesn’t mean you’re attracted to mistreatment. It doesn’t mean you need protecting from yourself. It just means you didn’t want to be alone.

You remember missing work because he needed your car. Losing your job because of it. Giving him rent money to pay the landlord, only to find out he spent every cent at a strip club as you were getting evicted.

He didn’t answer your calls. You were on the street, phone about to die, so you called your friend.

Akechi was supposed to be your friend. You didn’t know how he felt about you. How deluded he is.

Akechi releases you. Immediately, you collapse against the bed. Your arms shake as you catch yourself before you can crumple entirely. A violent coughing fit tears through you. You drag in breath after breath to make up for the burning in your lungs.

Air. You’re so grateful for air.

“I do not want to hurt you, even if you desire it. I'm a good guy.” His voice sounds reasonable, despite the irony of what he’s saying. All he’s done these past six days is hurt you.

He reaches out and tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear. The gesture is sickeningly gentle, but you don’t dare to stop him. His gaze softens into something affectionate each time he steals these little touches.

“I love you. I have always loved you.” His thumb brushes against your damp cheek. “It pains me to see you like this. If you acknowledge that you need me, I can make you happy.”

The way he can shift so effortlessly from one extreme to the other terrifies you most. One moment, you're afraid he's going to kill you. The next, you're afraid he's so hopelessly obsessed with the fantasy he's built around you that he'll never kill you.

That you'll spend years trapped here instead. Years in this awful fucking room.

He must not want to be alone either. He has a sick fucking way of showing it.

“Y-you're psychotic. I never should of a-asked to stay with you.” You spit, voice strained.

You’re so dizzy. No matter how much oxygen you take in, it’s as if your breaths can’t settle. He did strangle you longer than the other times, so perhaps you need more time to recover.

“I-I’ll never need you… nor want you.” You choke out.

But you’re hot too. Heat surges through your veins in waves. It can’t be from the struggle or crying, it was coming from deep in your stomach. Your pulse hammers against your ribs, refusing to calm.

Is the room tilting or are you crying again? You want to say more, it’s your only sense of control here, but your throat is suddenly dry.

“Disappointing, but expected.” He sighs, low and disappointed. “It’s still early. You’ll get over this little tantrum soon enough. It’s difficult for someone like you to see that this is for your own good.”

His fingers slip from your hair as he turns to retrieve the chair he knocked over earlier. The sight of his back sparked a half-formed impulse to attack, but the thought melts into your burning body.

He turns to face you again. His expression calm, but his eyes narrowed into something dangerous.

“You’re a slow learner. It’s cute… but I really should stop enabling it. It’s not good for either of us.”

You try to scramble back as he takes a single step forward, but your body is suddenly working against you. Sluggish and unresponsive. He catches your wrist with terrifying ease and yanks you back down onto the mattress.

Cold metal clicks around both wrists before you can even scream. You jerk violently against the cuffs, the chain rattling against the bedframe, but the struggle doesn’t feel real.

Did… did you pass out from the strangulation? Is this a dream?

God. You’re floating. Your nerves are live wires. A horrified sob tears from your throat and a bead of sweat slides down your temple, mixing with your tears.

If you’re not sleeping there’s something wrong with you.

Your body burns from the inside out. A deep, aching throb pulses in your core… No. That isn’t happening. You wouldn’t be feeling this sick, humiliating need here. Not with him.

You blink several times, trying to snap out of it. Something happened to you.

Akechi hovers beside you, studying your flushed face with quiet fascination. “There you go… I was starting to wonder when the dose takes effect.”

…He did something to you.

“What did y-you do?” The words came out heavy on your tongue like rocks.

Akechi’s smile eeriely.

“I simply put something in your water. Something to help showcase how much you need me in a way you’ll certainly learn from.”

Blood pounds in your temples. A spike of pure fear cut through you only to be instantly swallowed by the molten heat flooding downward, pooling between your legs. Your cunt throbs violently, aching with a need so intense it makes your stomach twist.

You squeeze your eyes shut, desperately trying to will yourself back to before this nightmare began. Before you called Akechi, sobbing about losing your apartment and having nowhere else to go.

No. Before that. Before you ever met him.

Back when he was just another customer whose lunch you delivered to his office. Before his orders became a regular occurrence. Before seeing him nearly every day, exchanging numbers, becoming friends.

It fails. You’re still here, nerves sizzling, so you press your thighs together hard. Your thighs twitch as you chase even the slightest relief from the fiery waves melting you from the inside.

You want to scream at him. Psychotic. Delusional. Monster. But all that escapes is a pathetic whine. It’s starting to hurt.

“Ah… You must be in so much pain.” His voice drips with mock sympathy. One hand clamps down over your cuffed wrists, stilling your frantic tugging.

Only then did you notice the raw skin where you’d been rubbing them bloody against the metal.

“T-take it off…” You beg.

“Why? So you can touch yourself?” Akechi tilts his head, eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “I can’t do that. I’m trying to teach you.”

Go die you sick fuck, you think over and over again.

“You stayed with a cheating bastard. You let a dead-end job bleed you dry, only to lose it for such a stupid reason. You always chain yourself to bad situations because it’s familiar… even when it’s hurting you. These cuffs? They’re just the truth I made visible for you.”

“You l-locked me up and dr-drugged me.” You hiss, as if describing reality to your delusional captor will somehow convince him to stop this.

Akechi shrugs.

“Society already accepts involuntary hospitalization when someone poses a danger to themselves. I'm simply applying the same principle. You tried to leave me. You continue to reject a good life with me.”

He tilts his head with a curious look.

“What could be more dangerous than repeatedly choosing misery over happiness? I just want to protect you.”

His fingers trail the raw skin almost tenderly. The heat inside you pulses harder, almost cruel. Pleasure hovers just out of reach, but no matter how much you rub your thighs together or hump the bed, it’s not enough.

Akechi’s fingers drag lightly down your arm, sending more devastating need to where it aches painfully.

“So if you finally stop struggling… if you let me keep you and take care… I’ll give you everything you need. I’ll make the pain go away. I’ll make you feel so good. Forever. That’s not something you can manage on your own, understand?”

In one rough motion, Akechi hooks his fingers under the hem of your pants and underwear, yanking them down your legs in a single swift pull. You barely have the strength to even twitch in protest.

He grips your knees and forces them apart with terrifying ease. A sharp gasp tears from your throat as cool air hits your pussy. Tears continue to spill down your flushed cheeks. Part of you hates how exposed you are to this psychopath. Another part is to focused on mourning the tiny scrap of relief you lost, the pressure of your own thighs rubbing together.

“You’re as beautiful down here as I remember.” Akechi murmurs, his voice almost reverent.

The memory slams into you like a semi-truck.

That night. The worst night of your life. One that now hurts far more than anything your cheating ex had ever done to you.

Akechi had come the moment you called, picking you up without hesitation. He was so kind. He told you to stay as long as you needed, insisting you relax after so much stress. He listened for hours while you poured out every ugly detail of your pain. He wiped your tears. He held your hand through the worst of it.

That lonely night when the emptiness in your chest felt unbearable, you had gone to his room. You had crawled into his bed and used him to try and fill the hollow ache inside you. It hadn’t even made you feel better. It only left you feeling dirty and guilty.

That single selfish moment had sealed your fate. Maybe if you had never slept with him, he never would have locked you up. Maybe you would still be free.

No. You can’t think about it. You can’t blame yourself.

Not now.

Not while your cunt clenches painfully around nothing, aching for the very person destroying you to touch you like he did back then.

“...Akechi….” His name slips out breathless. The sound of it softens his gaze instantly, flooding his eyes with dark adoration.

You met his eyes with your own pitiful, tear-stained ones. You can’t hold on much longer. Liquid fire courses through your bloodstream, burning away every trace of resistance.

Your pussy throbs painfully, dripping and empty.

“Please… T-take it off. Please.” The begging tastes like ash, but you can’t stop it. Your body won’t let you.

“So you can touch yourself?” Akechi repeats the question from earlier.

The coil of need in your gut twists viciously, snapping any remaining pride

“God, yes. Yes, okay? It hurts. I n-need to t-touch myself.”

“It can’t do that. The cuffs represent your truth. Taking them away defeats the point of the lesson.” He says softly.

His gloved hand slides up your inner thigh, stopping just short of your pussy, pulsing desperately for anything to extinguish the fire in your core.

“Don’t… don’t do this t-to me… make it stop.” You whine shamelessly, shaking your head.

“I can take care of you, if you ask nicely. Isn't that what I’ve been saying this whole time?” Akechi murmurs, cocking his head.

His thumb starts to rub slow circles against your oversensitive thigh. You shiver, the implication crystal clear.He didn’t want you to beg for the cuffs to come off. He doesn’t even want you to beg for him to make you cum around his cock.

This isn’t about sex.

He wants you to admit you needed him. To hand over complete control so he can justify keeping you like this forever. And once he fucks you like this, desperate and needy for him, the possession would only sink its teeth in deeper.

This won’t end with tonight.

But there's nothing you can do to stop it.

“...P-please t-take care o-of me.” You whimper.

Because the line between the drug and your own broken desires have melted into one.

“Ah.” Akechi’s smile sharpens with triumph as he presses his thumb firmly against your swollen clit. “Are you saying you need me to take care of you?”

You howl, waves of euphoric pleasure crashing through your body. Your mind fractures. Every rational thought shatters into shards, leaving only one raw, overwhelming need. End this burning ache devouring you from the inside.

“I… I need you. I need you, okay? Make it stop. Please m-make it stop.”

Akechi lets out a low, dry laugh and slowly peels off his gloves. “Of course, my darling.”

Two long fingers push inside you without warning. Your velvet walls clench around them desperately, almost painfully tight. The sudden friction tears a sob from your throat as hot tears spill down your cheeks.

Finally.

“This is what happens when you listen to me.” He hums. “I make you feel good.”

His thumb circles your clit with merciless precision. You howl, hips jerking violently, holding nothing back.

“You just aren’t capable on your own.” His tongue traces his bottom lip as he watches his fingers disappear into your dripping cunt, slick sounds filling the room with every deep thrust.

“You have such poor judgment. You aren’t financially responsible. You always choose what hurts you.”

You hate every word. You hate how true they are. But your body doesn’t care. You roll your hips shamelessly, fucking yourself on his fingers, chasing the pleasure like a lifeline.

He adds a third finger with a pleased groan. You take it greedily, riding his hand harder. The cuffs rattle against the bed frame and there’s a slight sting in your wrist.

It’s not your fault. It’s the drug. It’s just the drug.

“You agree now, right? You need me to be happy. Now that I’ve made it obvious through… physical means.” His voice is almost conversational, even though he’s admitting he’s forced you into this.

His fingers suddenly still deep inside you. You groan in frustration, hips twitching. No. You can’t lose the sensation. Not after you threw away every shred of dignity just for his touch.

“Don’t– don’t stop.”

Cheeks burn with fresh tears, you try to wiggle against him, seeking any friction. He holds perfectly still, watching you with dark eyes.

“Tell me you agree.” He orders, voice dangerously low.

You swallow hard, but no words come. Your body trembles. Shame burns hotter than the drug itself as you find yourself giving a weak, frantic nod. Akechi’s fingers curl sharply inside you, pressing against that spongy spot deep within. White-hot pleasure punches through your naval.

You need more. You need more. It’s not your fault.

“Say it.”

The words tear out of you in a broken, sobbing rush.

“Fuck!! Okay, okay! I need you to take care of me! I’ll say whatever you want, just…! Please let me cum!”

The moment the words leave your mouth, something inside you shatters forever. An overwhelming amount of hate for yourself builds within. You can’t stand how pathetic you sound, how easily you folded for him. Tears keep pouring down your face as your hips keep rolling against his hand, chasing the pleasure like a whore.

“Your moans are so beautiful. I’ve wanted to hear them since the moment I first met you.” Akechi murmurs, slowly pulling his fingers out of your dripping pussy.

You gasp as the thick head of his cock presses against your glistening folds. He drags his shaft up and down your slit with agonizing slowness, coating himself in your slick, teasing your swollen clit with every pass.

“I had to keep my distance back then.” He continues, even though you aren’t sure you’re listening. “You weren’t mine yet. But the second you asked to stay with me… I knew. I knew you’d end up with me. Mine.”

A burst of fireworks explodes inside you as he begins pushing into your tight walls. He enters you slowly, inch by inch, letting out a shaky hiss of pleasure while he watches your walls stretch and grip his thickness greedily.

The deeper he sinks, the more your mind blurs at the edges. When he finally buries himself to the hilt, your eyes roll back, high-pitched whines and cries filling the room.

“Oh…” Akechi groans. He leans down until his chest presses flush against yours.

“This is heaven. You’re my heaven.” He whispers, voice dripping with dark adoration.

He rocks his hip forward in a rough, steady pace, sending your body into overdrive. Your pussy clenches welcomingly around him and he hisses, savoring your wet walls.

Your skin is feverishly hot. Heart pounding like caught prey, but your cunt sparkles with pleasure. Maybe if you focus on the sensation and ignore who's inflicting it, you won’t feel so disgusting right now.

But Akechi makes it impossible to ignore.

“Remember how sweetly you came onto me? So lonely, so needy… You kissed me like you’d die without me and I was the happiest I’ve ever been.” He murmurs into your skin.

Your mind screams at you. This is wrong. You don’t want to hear this. It’s humiliating how much you’re moaning right now. How good it feels to be stretched by his thickness. The pain in your wrist is long forgotten, replaced by electricity frying your nerves.

“We made love so romantically, didn’t we? You were more modest then. Shy even. Stifling moans, trying to cover your chest with the blanket.” He continues speaking over your involuntary whines.

Akechi drags his tongue slowly up the side of your neck, savoring the way you tremble beneath him. A low, mocking chuckle vibrates against your skin. He snaps his hips forward sharply, burying himself with a wet smack against your ass. His cock presses deep, dragging perfectly against that syrupy spot inside you.

“Everything was perfect.” He says. “Until you let those self-destructive impulses take over.”

Another brutal thrust and you’re seeing stars.

His voice lowers with venom. “All that nonsense the next morning… How sorry you were for ‘using’ me to fill an emotional hole. How you never should have come into my bed. How you’d simply find other arrangements.”

Heat floods your veins like liquid fire. Your toes curl as another devastating moan rips from your chest.

“P-please…” You sob, shaking your head.

You don’t want to remember. You don’t want to remember the moment you tried to leave. It’s why he locked you in here. It’s why you ended up drugged, drooling and desperate for him to keep pounding you.

Akechi’s fingers dig into your hips, pulling you back onto his cock with every thrust.

“Look at you now… so messy. Nothing like the shy, modest girl from our first time. I much prefer you like this, darling. So honest. Practically sobbing around my cock because it feels too good to deny.” He groans softly, clearly enjoying the way your walls flutter around him

No. It’s not you. It’s the drug. Just the drug. That’s why you’re about to cum.

The fire in your veins. The overwhelming stretch of his cock splitting you open. It drowns everything rational out. You’re disappearing. You’re breaking. This was his goal. He’s breaking you.

A vicious coil tightens deep in your stomach, winding tighter and tighter until it snaps. You scream as your orgasm crashes through you. Your walls vibrate hard around his cock, throbbing wildly as the release overtakes you. Your back arches off the mattress, wrists straining uselessly against the cuffs, body convulsing in waves of ecstasy.

But Akechi doesn’t stop.

He keeps fucking you straight through your orgasm, relentless, dragging out every brutal aftershock just so he could keep hearing your broken cries. Every deep thrust pushes you further under.

Akechi’s cock pulses hard inside you. His rhythm slows and a guttural groan fills the air. Hot ropes of cum flood your pussy, pulse after pulse. His release pushes you deeper into the haze than your own.

You feel so full.

“I can make you feel this good every single day. Not just physically. Emotionally. Financially. I’ll give you everything you’ve ever wanted… and in return, you’ll give me everything.” Akechi growls against your ear, hips still twitching as he empties himself.

Only with that promise, did he pull out. Akechi sits above you, cock still glistening with your combined fluids. His eyes drop to your ruined pussy, watching his cum leak out of you in pearly strands.

You can’t focus. You don’t even notice the cuffs are off until you feel your arms fall above your head. Your mind has gone blank, completely empty except for one humiliating truth.

You needed this. He forced you to need this and he’ll do it again. Anything to convince you of his delusion; that you’re incapable and can only depend on him. That trying to leave him is the same as committing suicide.

That wasn’t sex. It was a showcase of his power over you. You lost everything you had left. Your pride, your autonomy, your future.

Soft lips press a deceptively gentle kiss against your forehead. You blink slowly, trying to clear the cloud in your mind. Akechi’s eyes locked onto yours. Hungry, and utterly possessive as a smile curves his lips.

“You’re awfully sweaty and I doubt letting my cum sit inside you like that is good either.” He tilts his head, waiting.

You’re too exhausted to move, let alone drag yourself to the shower. He knows that. You both know that. The silence thickens with the weight of an expectation he has held for six long days.

He has finally shattered your will to resist those expectations. He took everything from you, so isn’t it okay to take what he will give you?

You swallow, throat raw. Your voice comes out like a whisper.“…Can you take care of it?”

Akechi’s entire face lights up with a radiance, brighter than anything you had ever seen from him before. Without hesitation, he scoops you into his arms, cradling you flush against his chest like a precious doll.

“Of course, darling. I’ll bathe you. You won’t have to lift a finger.”

He carries you across the room toward the en-suite bathroom, his hold gentle yet inescapable.

“Afterward, why don’t we watch a film? Your pick. I’ll order some sweets to go with it. Whatever you want. I’ll prepare a proper dinner too. A sandwich isn’t nearly enough to replenish your energy.”

You aren’t listening. You don’t care anymore. Closing your eyes, you let your head rest against his shoulder.

Goro Akechi always believed that he was never meant for love.

Everyone that he's ever held close to his heart ends up hurting him one way or another--- his father's a deadbeat that left him without a second glance. His mother left him so suddenly, as if it was easy.

He always thought of himself as someone who needs to earn someone's heart. Who needs to try. Do everything that he can.

Akechi stopped trying after a while. After he realised that his mother was never coming back. Long before he met the father that didn't even recognise him.

He thought he was over it. Over his pathetic pleas of someone to care for him as much as he cares for others. Every four leaf clover, every candle on the birthday cake, every wishbone, every shooting star. Would be used to wish for someone that would embrace him with open arms.

Someone with undying love that it was suffocating.

Someone that would rather cut off their own arm than even thinking about leaving him.

Perhaps, someone like you.

Someone so willing to fulfil his most biggest guilty pleasure.

He didn't even bother batting an eye at you the very first time you met. But in your eyes, he became everything you've ever wanted. You could see the imaginary glitter flying across his fae and all around him.

A funny thing you were, having such strong feelings for someone and not bothering to do anything about it.

You spend your days looking at him from a far. Staring at his brown hair from the desk right beside him. Seething at the sight of other girls fawning over him.

It's even worse when you see him entertain his fangirls. When they'd let out shrill giggles when he even spares a glance at them, or when he'd unintentionally say something funny. You glared at your classmates, your seniors, and your juniors. You watch as they all form a pile around him.

You rolled your eyes. Shoving your face into the depths of your long forgotten textbook.

When had you started to feel this way towards him. It's a bit weird if you were to say so yourself. It's quite obvious, yes. He's smart, he's very ridiculously handsome, and he's famous.

It was just another stupid crush. A stupid crush that'll go away soon enough. Maybe a bit longer, but no matter. If you stayed away from him, then you won't need to deal with any of the troubles that'll come with the behaviour that you'll exhibit.

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It wasn't just a stupid crush. It's never a stupid crush. It's always something much more than that. Much deeper. A lot more obsessive than you'd ever want it to be.

But that was Akechi. The Ace Detective. He'd never care about you, he doesn't even know your name. You were just another one of those girls to him.

Still, that didn't stop you from being so utterly obsessed with him. With his demeanour. With the amount of confidence he carried himself with.

He was already ridiculously beautiful on TV, and he's much more gorgeous when you see him up close in real life.

'A crush is just a lack of information.' Was what your mother would repeat to yourself when he heard the stories of the many boys you fancied. And that couldn't have been more true. You knew nothing about Akechi and what goes on in his personal life.

What's making you so attracted to him were the stories that you made up for him in your head.

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It was way past midnight. Probably the first time you've been out late in a while.

You left the convenience store. Grabbing what you bought and stuffing it into your bag, not wanting the crinkling of the plastic to call you out.

You lurked around the corner. Finding that familiar shadow of your favourite boy.

No, you haven't been following him around ever sine school ended. And no, you didn't wait three hours in front of his tutoring place for him. What kind of lunatic would do that...

You werent't sure what your goal was when you started to trace his footsteps. It wasn't like his schedule would follow this exact one every single day. Why did you want to know his schedule anyway. Seems a bit pathetic.

You hid perfectly in the corner, deep in the darkness when you saw how shifty he was acting. Pressing your back against the well as you tried your best to hold your breath. Make yourself as invisible as you could possibly be. One wrong move, and you were done for. Wondering if he knew if you were following him.

Your suspicions were further intensified when you thought you were in the clear. Hearing footsteps come from behind the wall you were hiding in. Moving your head to the side, you peeked. Both eyes inching towards the edge of the wall.

Though, you were met with nothing. No sight of him, at all. No brown hair, not even a glimpse of his perfectly ironed uniform. You started to feel nauseous. Cursing yourself for screwing it up, like you always did. You just had to follow him, didn't you.

You were lost deep in your thoughts. Way too deep. You probably stood there glued to the floor for a while. There wasn't really anywhere for him to go. He was at an open freeway, with no corner to hide in. And you would've known if he ran away, unless he somehow had very quiet footsteps.

You sighed, gripping the straps of you bag, and began walking away.

As you turned your back, you heard something. A whoosh. Much like a strong gust of wind. You flipped your head back after realising the lack of actual wind.

You squinted your eyes. Trying to focus on what was in front of you.

Red dots. Flying around right where you were looking at. Neon and extremely visible. You weren't sure if you were hallucinating, or if those dots were getting bigger. It seemed as if it was forming a portal. You had slap your face once you saw it form a spiral.

Am I just sleep deprived? I knew I shouldn't've stayed up so late.

Your hands slammed against your mouth as you ran back to where you were hiding prior. Eyes widening and closing in on what you saw.

Goro Akechi. Who just appeared out of nowhere. From thin air. He stood there. His back facing you.

You went back to holding your breath. It felt like you were paralysed. You trembled as he looked around, holding your hand to your chest in fear that your heartbeat was so loud he could hear it.

He walked a few feet to the side, before gaining up on his feet and sprinting away.

You stayed there, eyes as wide as it could be, it was nearly bulging out of your skull.

What was he? A ghost? A phantom? A superhero of sorts?

It took you hours before you snapped out of your shocked state. Making your way back home. Even then, you walked in complete dissociation.

You sat you bag on your chair. Sitting on the edge of your bed and placing your hand on your chin.

Do you tell somebody. Do you confront him?

No, no. That's stupid.

You'll just keep quiet for now.

This can be your little secret.

═══════

Your feelings grew stronger as days went by.

For some reason. You felt entitled. Entitled to his secret. At least, you assumed it was a secret. You saw it as something that only the both of you would know about. A dirty little secret.

You watched as he went on and on to his interviewer that he had a humble beginning and he tries his best to stay humble. That he only got lucky and that he was really just an ordinary guy.

You'd stare at that TV screen, at his beautiful face with that soft smile plastered on it. You knew that he was different. You had no idea what that made him, but you knew. You were special.

You'll be different with him.

You felt yourself staring at him with what you could only imagine as heart eyes. Deep stares and perverted thoughts seemed to flood your mind.

He's starting to haunt your dreams, to occupy most of your schedule.

And yet, he still has no idea who you are.

═══════

He's been sensing something.

A strong palace. Much stronger that he's ever sensed before.

Ever since that night he killed the last train conductor.

He returned from the MetaVerse with this intense feeling. He wasn't quite sure how to describe it, he likened it to the colour red; intense, intimate, passionate.

It was behind him, around him. It followed him to school. It stalked him when he'd walk to do chores.

He went to Mementos, trying to find any clues and coming back up empty handed.

He couldn't enter anything into the MetaNav app on his phone because he had no idea who to put in.

It was just something he couldn't place his finger on. It didn't feel like anything malicious, however, he's been killing people who weren't malicious in the first place, so who was he to say. It's just been following him. Only him.

You didn't know how to approach him. You weren't sure what his supernatural powers meant, what he could do to people. Hell, you weren't even sure if what you saw was real or not. Perhaps it was just you mind playing tricks on you.

It's just that.. ever since that day, you felt like you had a duty to take care of him. To protect his secret from the outside world.

═══════

He felt himself get pulled into that other realm much too quickly. Red splotches flooding his vision while he tries not to double over from the nausea. The floor beneath his feet were already shifting.

He noticed the air first. The way there was a scent that he couldn't quite put a finger on. Flooding all the way to his nostrils.

Whose palace was this.

He wasn't in his Loki suit. Which meant that whoever this palace belonged to, they didn't see him as a threat.. yet.

The castle stood tall in front of him. It was made completely out of stone. Polished stone, despite the darkness around him, the walls shined iridescently, catching every glint of his eye. There were golden accents, with giant gates covering the entire perimeter.

He approached it with caution. Hand in front of him in case something were to pop out of the door and attack him.

The gate opened almost instantly when he touched it. It seemed harmless. He should be safe if it were that accepting.

Red banner hung from the top of the giant front doors. Made of oak wood, with the dark, metal handles attached.

Akechi reached for it, holding the handle in his hands and pushing with all his might. It was heavy against his weight. Much like how a real castle would have.

Would the palace ruler see themselves as some sort of emperor? Or perhaps would their ego be so high that it manifested into a place where everyone had to bow down to them. He was still racking his head up on whose head exactly he was in.

The red didn't stop at the front door. It continued along the floor. Extending so far down into a barely-lit hallway that he couldn't see the end of it.

He steadied himself. If he were in danger, then he'd simply take out the ruler, just like how he's been doing for years.

He's a weapon, and a simple selfish person would have nothing against him.

He walked along the hallway. Careful as to not let the heels of his boots land too hard on the carpet. His eyes wandered around. Though, there wasn't much that he could see, given how dark it was.

He could make out paintings. Frames upon frames covering nearly every inch of the walls. He couldn't see what was on them, though. He could only make out a figure. Barely visible.

Akechi reached the end, another big door in front of him. He scoffed. This is ridiculous.

He didn't hesitate to open it, only ajar. Peeking his eye through the gap.

Just as he suspected, there was a throne. And someone sitting lazily on it. So he was right. Another person who sees themselves as royalty. As someone who thinks that they deserve all of the riches in the entire world. Right on their fingertips.

He snarled. Those people disgusted him. Human filth, was what he called them.

It was only when his gaze drifted higher, did he stumble back in surprise.

Because right there, on the golden throne much too big for anyone in the world. Was a splitting image of himself. He was.. the palace ruler?

That can't be right. Quite the opposite, in fact. Akechi was more in touch with what he was feeling more than he'd like to be. He knows that he comes across as extremely condescending. And while that might be on purpose. He also knows that it's to hide the fact that he doesn't believe that he should be condescending in the first place. Not with how little he thought of himself.

How could the depths of his heart view himself as a king.

The false brunette in front of him made his stomach churn. It had a snarl on his face. Looking down on shadows disguising themselves as servants. With their heads grey and their face obstructed. Seeing himself like this reminded him so much of the people that he was working for.

He pulled back, hiding himself by pressing his back against the door. What the fuck.

That... thing couldn't possibly be him. It was for sure just a warped amalgamation created by some twisted idiot.

But then, the light shining through the gap hit one of the pictures on the wall. And he could see it much clearer than ever. A picture of him.

Not a professional one, where he's wearing some sort of formal attire. It was as if it was taken during his daily, mundane routine of life. As if it were taken when he was oblivious, when he was just existing.

That was when he was fully in panic mode. Somebody was following him. Were they seeking to blackmail him? Or rather, was Shido sending somebody to keep eyes on him?

Just as quick, he regained his composure. If Shido did set somebody up for this, or even if he didn't. He needs to think of a strategy fast.

It was obvious that whoever owned this palace didn't see him as a threat. In fact, they view him as somebody of higher power. And factoring in how the palace looks. A castle, to symbolise how influential Akechi was.

He went back to eye whatever was happening inside the other room. And he saw somebody. Somebody at the foot of his shadow self. They were on their knees, holding out a basket of what he could only guess as an assortment of fruits. Offerings, perhaps.

He narrowed his eyes, Their face was blocked by a pillar, made of gold, of course, he was trying to focus on who that person was. He saw how his false self grabbed a handful of grapes from the basket, before it moved to cradle the other person's head in it's palms.

What in the hell was going on.

He had no choice but to sneak inside. As stealthily as he could. He was lucky that there weren't any guards keeping watch. Akechi hid behind said pillar. To which he peeked from behind it.

Finally getting a good view of their face. Realisation dawned before him. It was Y/n... of course..

He blinked right at them, their eyes impossibly larger than a human's normally should be. Glossy and dazed. Who's Y/n?

The thought slowly shoved to the back of his head when he saw how you handed him a strawberry. The widest, and most hopeful smile plastered across your face. Even more so when it reached down to caress the top of your head. This was.. a sick fantasy, nothing more than that.

He's almost flattered, that you think so highly of him to the point of.. this. It was definitely a first.

That euphoric, almost egotistical feeling that this was giving him went away just as quick.

Thi could very well be a ploy.

Planted by god knows who. Maybe Shido, or maybe to the gods that granted him his powers in the first place. Nevertheless, besides your name, he had no idea who you were. And he could only assume that you didn't know anything about him either. How could you be this deeply obsessed over somebody who has never even spared a glance your way? The only reason he knows your name anyways was because he knows everyone's name. He has to, if he wants to build a good social rapport.

He could enjoy this, yes. He could use your devotion to him as leverage to make you the ragdoll to place all the blame on if he gets caught. But some small part of him is convinced that this isn't exactly real. And that perhaps, you were sent.

He decided to leave for the time being. Come up with a plan on how to deal with you and come back some other time. He needed as much information as he could get.

And he knew just what to do.

═══════

"Ah, Y/n."

You knew that voice. Staying up late until past midnight wasn't for nothing if not watching each and every one of his interviews.

You spun around, "uh-- hi- hey, hi." You mentally slapped yourself in the face. Well-- you couldn't really be blamed. Not when Akechi was standing right in front of you, the softest, beautiful smile on his face.

"I was looking for you." He states plainly. As if he were unaware with how insane that sentence made you.

He was looking for you? What for? Did he need your help, or was he just seeking you out, specifically. You, only you. Specifically. You.

He did know what he was doing to you. Not conclusively, but he had a plan. He observed how you presented yourself. So far, your nervousness and pink complexion definitely looks like you have more than an interest in him. But he couldn't confirm anything for sure yet.

"Real- really?" You pointed at yourself, "me?" You swallowed thickly.

"Yes." He nodded. "I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to lunch today?"

Oh dear, you might as well just pass out on the spot. You thanked whichever god to have blessed you with this handsome man to ask you out on a date-- despite it not really being a date, he just asked if you wanted to have lunch with him--- no. It was definitely a date. For sure. He's so in love with you.

"Yes! I'd-- I uh, I would love to." You smiled sheepishly. You felt your face heat up, breaths coming out a lot heavier now.

His head tilted ever so slightly to the side. It was either you were amazing at acting, or you actually decided to be obsessed over a man like him. Ridiculous, this was utterly ridiculous.

"Great, follow me, then." He turned on his heel. Hastily making his way to the stairs, his longer legs made him a lot faster.

You placed a hand over your chest. Pressing hard, as if it was going to slow down your heartbeat, which was, beating impossibly hard it could burst out of your chest.

You followed him to the roof. A very romantic place for a lunch, if you were to say for yourself.

He pointed to the abandoned bleacher seat by the corner. "Please,"

You followed suit mindlessly.

It was only when everything settled did you begin to feel aware about everything around you. Now that the man you were so infatuated with was right in front of you, you had no idea how long you'd last before you'd starts spilling your feelings out to him.

"I would love to get to know you more, Y/n."

And at that moment, you don't know why you didn't ask for more information. To question him, ask why it was you specifically he wanted to get to know more. Or where this even came from in the first place. But this was the first romantic obsession you've had that felt like it was going somewhere.

And the high. Oh god the high.

The feeling when he said that, when he began talking to you in general. It made you giddy. You could compare to if you were to drink a whole bottle of sake and chainsmoke. The high was amazing.

So you nodded. You nodded because if you were to do anything else, you might scare him away. Or if you moved even an inch, you'd wake up from this dream.

You said yes because his approval meant everything to you.

═══════

To you, it was a miracle. The boy you've been eyeing approached you first, and now you're dating (maybe).

To him, it was a very meticulously formulated plan for him to figure out what exactly that palace was.

Neither of you knew each other's true intentions. And you couldn't care less if you did.

Because right now, with you in his apartment, laying down on his bed, with him right next to you. You wonder if this was all a dream.

He didn't know why he let it go this far.

After that first interaction up at the roof. He made it a schedule to bring you along to any chores he had. That didn't include his work, of course.

But he'd invite you to the jazz club. He'd ask if you were free to grab dinner. His treat.

He even let himself invite you over to his house. Claiming that he needed help on his school work. Hiding behind the excuse that he needed you because you were good at the subject (you weren't, but you didn't want to say that, not in the slightest).

Not to mention how overjoyed you were, going to his house. Waiting for an opening for him to leave his room so you could go through his stuff. Opening his drawers once or twice. Having to seriously stop yourself from rummaging in his closet and taking whatever article of clothing you could find back home.

He was trying to get closer to you. And you were somehow none the wiser. Assuming that it was all a coincidence, rather than a heavily orchestrated plan.

And right after you'd have an outing. Akechi would periodically check your palace. Seeing if it would intensify with every interaction he had with you.

And sure enough, it did.

His hypothesis was proven wrong. And you were undoubtedly.. in love with him. It wasn't a set up with any malicious intent. You just.. loved him.

... why?

It wasn't like he didn't get any fans. And he definitely did get some para-social ones. But it was like you were the first one that was.. that loves him. Was this even love? He wonders if you'll get bored after you find out who he truly is.

He also wonders how long he'll be dragging this out. Now that he has his answer. He should just discard you. Maybe kill your shadow self as to erase any prior interactions. He can't bring himself to do that though.

If he kills that part of you that loves him, then he won't have you ogling at him as if he were a god.

Oh, of course. He brings a hand up to his face. It doesn't take him much to realise.

He wants your affection just as much as you're willing to give it.

He scoffs. Since when did he get this weak. Since when did he become so pathetic that someone as simple as you made him crave your touch.

He should kill you. He really should. Or he should spare you and make you forget that you've ever felt this way. But how could he? How could he when you're staring at him like that?

Like you see him as a hero. He's never had that before. Someone looking at him like a miracle, rather than a problem.

He'll keep you around for now.

═══════

He knew it was over when he started to seethe when he saw speaking with that useless loser from the other class. The one that he won't even bother remembering his name.

He knew it was useless to deny his feelings when he wanted you all to himself.

He tried to ignore it, he really did. Realistically speaking, you were a nobody compared to him. In fact, maybe you did belong to that random guy.

But by god, he hated seeing you give your smile so willingly to somebody that wasn't him.

Before he could even think, his legs were already moving to your side. His eyes stern. "Our teacher's calling for you." Akechi glares down at the guy in front of him. Growing much more annoyed when he hesitated to move.

Akechi raised his eyebrows, as if telling him to move along. And of course, he did. Who would dare to defy the prodigy ace detective anyway.

He turned to you, who was trying your best to avoid his eyes. Your heart threatening to lurch out of your chest from how possessive he sounded.

"Is he your friend?" He asked. Trying to bite back how pissed off he felt.

You shook your head almost too quickly. You didn't want him to think that you were being unfaithful to him, would you? "He's a new student, he was asking me where the computer room was."

Akechi's eyes narrowed. "And he didn't think to ask.." his head drifted to right behind him, where a teacher was sitting idly on the hallway's bench. "That teacher? The teacher that's very much right by his view."

You paused, now worried. Maybe you weren't doing a good job in being devoted to him. "I'll stop talking to him." You hastily say. You knew you should've kept your mouth shut when he stumbled back.

"Why." It came out a lot hopeful than he wanted it to be. Happy on how willing you were.

"Because you want me to." You shrugged.

"I never said that." He laughed nervously, though he definitely meant it. Face now incredibly red. "Are you perhaps mocking me, Y/n?" Breaking the awkwardness he was feeling to the best of his abilities.

"I would never." You were dead serious, but you laughed along with him. Sighing out, "I'll kill him if you want me to." You said under your breath, smile still plastered on your face.

"Pardon?" He definitely heard that.

"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it." You waved him off, beginning to walk to the vending machine by the hallway. "Want anything? My treat."

He shook his head, "no thank you."

He wonders if you truly do want him, if you love him just as bad as he thought you did. And he wonders if he's only entertaining you because he likes that feeling. He likes the attention you give him. He likes it when you look at him with so much adoration (what he can assume to be adoration).

And what if you would kill someone for him. Would it be bad for him to say that he wouldn't mind that. Love it even.

═══════

When was he going to ask you out?

Or rather, when were you going to take him.

Because you decided long ago, that he was going to be yours, whether he wanted to or not.

You would rather drop dead than make the first move. That wasn't really your thing. But.. it's been months now, and it didn't look like he was going to go any further than a few flirtatious quips here and there.

Perhaps you were too over you head. That your mind played tricks on you and repackaged your interactions to emphasise it even further, like it always does.

No matter, you were going to take your chances. You knew what to do if things don't go your way.

You got ready with precision that morning. Not like you didn't every other day, but this was particularly special. If you were going to show your feelings, you'd have to wear the most pride on your face.

"Akechi." You called out, he was waiting for you by the most romantic place you could think of; the botanical garden by the seaside.

He greeted you a good morning. Tone of voice the same as it always was. "What's the occasion?" He pointed to the beautiful scenery that was right in front of the both of you. Rows upon rows of trees with vibrant leaves and pastel flowers. "It's not everyday you go to some place as wonderful as this." He chuckled.

You smiled with him. Hearing your chest pound even louder by your eardrums. You were ridiculously nervous. No, you didn't care if this would change your friendship down the line, or if he'd see you as deranged when you inevitably kidnap-- take him for yourself when he rejects you.

You were worried that the chances of him rejecting you were higher than the opposite. You'd hate it if that were the case. Truly.

"Unless." He gasped in faux surprise. "Don't tell me.. that you invited me out on a date." His hand flies up to hover over his mouth, a chuckle escaping from his throat.

You swallowed thickly, and then took a deep breath. "Well.. yes." You admitted, albeit a little more sheepish than you wanted it to come off.

You carefully observed how he looked at you, the mock expression morphing into a genuine shock.

"I have feelings for you, Akechi." And that was it. The cat was out of the bag, and you just did something irreversible.

He slowly closed his jaw, staring at you only for a split second. Before his lips twitched into a smile-- a grin, nearly.

"Well, I'm flattered." He was a lot more than that. Ecstatic doesn't even begin to describe how he feels. His body was basically buzzing in excitement. "I accept your confession." He gave you a smile, close-lipped and sweet.

Your heart stuttered. Possibly even skipped a beat. “O-oh..” Well, that would probably be thefirst time someone accepted you. “I’m glad.” You nodded. Still partly recovering from how take a back you were.

“Thank you.” You whispered out, barely audible, but he smiled even wider nonetheless.

Now, all you needed to do was make sure that he wouldn’t leave you.

═══════

You’ve been acting strange.

Ever since he told you how he felt, you seemed to be more.. gentle. And hr didn’t know what to do with that.

To be completely honest, it made him a tad bit uncomfortable. Again, he's not used to somebody so gentle. He needs.. aggression. He can't handle nor can he match that pace.

You toned it down. Finding it to be such a miracle that you didn't scare him off, if you could keep him, then you'll keep things at bay.

This wasn't really what he expected ever since he saw his pictures all over the walls of your heart. He expected something a lot more intense, because well.. obviously you should've been.

═══════

You brought your hands up to his face, moving his bangs away from his eyes. Admiring how perfect it matched with the rest of his features. His nose was just so beautiful that you had to fight yourself from biting on it.

He caught you staring, eyebrows raised up expectedly. You held your gaze, still admiring, despite feeling you face heat up once again.

He lets out a noise; something that of a hum and a chuckle. "You picked up quite a habit, have you noticed?" Head tilting, now moving closer to you.

You froze, embarrassed now that he's actually pointing it out. "Uhm, maybe." You laughed awkwardly. Subconsciously pulling yourself further away from him, part of you scared he'd see past your facade.

"I'm curious.." the bottom lids of his eyes curved, as if it were smiling at you, the smugness ever so present. "Do you stare at just anyone like that?" He was teasing, you know he was teasing. But the way he said it felt like there was a right and wrong answer. And if you answered incorrectly, then he wouldn't take it very lightly.

"Absolutely not!" You said defesnively, your soul nearly jumping out of your skin with how offended you felt. Even assuming that is such an insult. Even the mere thought of looking at another man that way, in a way that was only reserved for him, made you feel sick.

Again, he laughed. "Relax, I was kidding." He definitely wasn't.

"Well.." your face was probably melting with how humiliated you were, now he knew how into him you were, amazing. "You were the one talking weirdly." You mumbled. As if you would ever entertain that idea anyway.

"Then I apologise." He brings a hand to his chest, bowing his head down. You settled back into his lap. Scoffing irritatedly. "Though I would like to ask, why do you enjoy staring at me so much."

Was he trying to kill you. You wouldn't mind if he did, but really-- was he trying to kill you?

"You're--" you cut yourself off, sighing. Not believing what you were about to say next. "You're just pretty is all."

Pretty, huh? He's never been called that before. Well, he has, just.. never like that. Never like someone actually meant it. "Thank you."

You only nodded, trying your best to avoid meeting his eyes.

He's really pretty. If you could, you'd spend the remainder of your days looking at him from afar. You just want to tie him up so that you could look at him whenever you can.

Akechi wouldn't want that though. Being tied up. It strips away all his power. If he were to do it to you, on the other hand, then he'd be more than happy.

And you'd love to be bound by him, wouldn't you?

═══════

"Who was that?" It came out a lot more pissed than you wanted it to be. You initially planned to ask oh so unbotheredly. But it seems that your mouth had different plans.

"Ah, that was Nijima-san. I work with her for Tokyo Police." His answer was sweet. Simple and easy enough to understand. And yet you felt something uncomfortable down in your stomach. The familiar jealousy bubbling up.

"Woah, she's like, really hot." That wasn't a lie, she for sure carried herself with confidence, that it was making yours go down, just a bit. You wanted to see if he would agree with you. Looking at him intently, trying to study his face, seeing if he would look back at her and catch a second glimpse.

"Is she, now?" He found it amusing.

"A hundred per cent." You nodded, trying to play it off. "What-- do you not think so?" You might need to do something about her if he did think so.

You were already wondering if you'd have to do something about her. Maybe cause an accident, or a few words of warning that won't be able to be passed on as a threat.

"I think you beat her in terms of appearance." He says casually, thinking that maybe he knew what was going on in your very warped mind of yours. "You're really the only one in my eyes." It was sappy, but it was true.

"Oh, you're just saying that." You say playfully, hands covering your mouth while you blush. A part of you probably did think that he wasn't serious.

"I'm not." He insisted. "Believe me, you're all I need to look at."

"Okay.." unable to fight the smile forming on your face. Nearly turning into a giggly child.

═══════

"Have you ever been like this for anyone else?" Now it was him that was playing with your hair. Running his hands from the front all the way to the back. And then down your shoulders, rubbing soothing lines up and down your arms.

"You mean in love?" You grinned.

"No." He chuckles, "have you ever been this obsessive for anyone else before?"

Obsessive.

Was he only just using that word as emphasis or was he catching on. The both of you were at your own home right now, and you could very easily tamper with the front doors to make it unable to open. You hadn't had time to properly set up your basement because you didn't think you needed to, but if the shoe fits, then you'd have no choice.

"Okay now," you shoved your hand in front of his face to stop him, "I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with you." Exaggerated air quotations on each sides of your head.

"Really?" There was a sly look in his face, like he caught you lying, and is seeing how far this lie could go. Or just how adamant you were to keep on pretending in front of him. "I would."

You only stared at him. The ghost of your smile was what was left on your lips. "How so?" You leaned back on the couch. "Because I like to make you dinner, or because I dream about you?" Trying to play it off like it's a joke.

He looks at you, face inching closer to yours. "It's because you follow me home and keep tabs on me." Said almost too calmly with how severe that sounded.

Your eyes widened. You need to knock him out, fast.

"It's because.." your palace has gotten bigger. Much too big. And every single room was just full of him.

He reached out to grab you wrist, tight. "Because you'd stare at me like I was the only person in the world."

Not knowing what to do, how to respond. You just let your body come up with a nervous laugh. "Is.. is that so." You mumbled weakly.

"Don't think I haven't noticed the daggers you'd glare at any and every person who would come up to me and invite me to converse."

Well, you didn't think you were that obvious.

"Or when you slipped something into my drink so that I wouldn't need to go to work and leave you." Saying those last words like it personally offended him. Scoffing at the mere idea.

You didn't even noticed when you started to hold your breath. Just utterly and completely breaking down now that you were caught. Your jaw was basically open agape.

"That-- that's just...-- that's ridiculous wha--" before you could blink, you felt yourself land back on the couch. Two hands pinning your shoulders down, giving yourself intense whiplash from the sudden movement.

"You're crazy for me, aren't you?" He still had that fucking smile on his face. The one he always has.

With what you knew about his supernatural shit, you wondered what he could really do to you. Now that you (maybe) pissed him off.

"It--" your heart was pounding so loud you were worried he could hear it. Breaths coming out ragged and shaky.

"Just so crazy.. and yet." His face dropped, to something much more amused. Seeing you squirm in fear beneath him. He might be reading too much into this. He might be misunderstanding, and he might be ruining his relationship by how intense he was acting. But he was an ace detective. One of the best detective prince. His judgement's rarely ever wrong.

"Yet how come I still see you with that lowlife from your previous school? Hm?"

That lowlife.. was he talking about..

"I don't-- there's nothing going on with me and him!" You struggled to explain yourself, shrinking down under his gaze.

"And nothing happened when you had to write an apology letter to the girl he liked because you were so enraged with jealousy?" His tone sent a shiver down your spine.

Wait-- "how do you.."

"You're not the only deranged one in this relationship." He laughed, one hand that was previously on your shoulder, now travelled along the junction of your neck. The back of his fingers barely ghosting over the skin.

"If you're so obsessed with me as you try to present yourself as." His grip tightened only a bit. "Then why." His hand's now on your left cheek. His thumb rubbing circles on top of your cheekbone. "Were you with him last week?"

He didn't even let you answer him, immediately cutting you off the moment you tried to open your mouth. Instead, he used his thumb to pry it further open apart. Sliding his finger inside and pressing down on the base of your tongue.

His eyes were glossy and half lidded. And you weren't any better either. You were enjoying the ever living shit out of this. Heat creeping down to in between your legs. Steam could probably be forming on the windows of your home with how deep you were exhaling.

He shushed you, clicking his tongue irritatedly. "Maybe you should stop talking for now." He was so close you could feel his breath on your open mouth. He admires you for a bit. Seeing how torn apart you already were with just his finger. Your hands brought themselves up to grasp his forearm.

In a brief second, he removes his thumb out from your mouth. Now replaced with his own.

He quickly took your tongue in between his lips. Sucking and biting lightly on the wet muscle. The sounds that were let out were obscene. The smacking of both of your saliva circling around the both of you.

The tip of his tongue met yours. Your jaw hinged wide open, moans escaping from the back of your throat. Your thigh squeezing impossibly hard against the other.

Spit escaped your lips, dribbling down from your chin to your chest.

Your lips closed down to meet his, wanting to have the taste of him that you've been craving for so long. Tongues swirling around in a passionate dance, exploring every inch of your mouth in a way to send you a statement. Telling you that he could just do this whenever he wanted to. And that you were going to enjoy it.

You were desperate, incredibly hungry. You wanted as much as you could get with what he decided to give you.

It went on for mere minutes, yet it felt like hours. You didn't pull back, not even when you couldn't breath, you'd be more than happy to pass out via making out with him. It was him that had to break it. A wet string of saliva forming a bridge between the both of you. To which he leaned down and licked it off of your lips.

Biting the bottom of his own in satisfaction.

You wanted more, much, much more.

Yet he was looking at you like you wanted the opposite. That you were about to be disgusted with him.

"Was that what you needed?" His voice came out guttural. "A sloppy makeout that he couldn't give you?"

You tried to gather your thoughts. A wheel was basically forming in your brain with how badly he was affecting you. And how badly he was affected by that guy.

"Have you ever been as dazed as you were just now? He will never make you feel as wanted as I do. He's just a nobody compared to you." His eyebrows twitched in frustration the more he thought about him.

"I.." you started.

"No. Why were you there? Why were you speaking to him when you have me? Or maybe you wanted me to see, maybe you knew that I was coming to see you soon, was it just a funny little game you were playing? Huh?"

"I'll kill him." You said breathlessly. "If.. if you want me to."

He stopped. Staring at you, "pardon?"

"I'll.. kill him, if that would make you feel better."

"You.. and you would do that?"

You nodded. "Without a second thought."

And for some reason. Some stupid, dumb reason, he felt like something was clawing against his chest. Weighing it down.

"No." He shook his head. "You shouldn't have any blood on your hands. I'll deal with him." He landed the bottom half of his body down on yours. Hands now grasping the cushion beneath you.

"I have had more blood on them than you'd think." You whispered. Doe eyes looking up at him desperately. "I don't want you to feel so unwanted again. I'll kill him. I was planning to anyway."

Oh, he felt like he was about to cry. All his life, unwanted was the only thing that he felt. It's incredibly new now that someone wanted the opposite for him. Even willing to go so far for it.

"You're the only person I'll ever want," you brought a shaky hand to the nape of his neck. Bringing him down for another kiss. "And I'll do whatever you want me to, if it means you'll stay."

taaaaagliiiiist

@Orphicarchive @theempuzzlement @pinkwafflesxd @theempuzzlement

// April.

Akechi checks his reflection in the mirror, straightening his tie. He ensures that not only is he a model student by grades, but also by looks. Ever since getting his power and gaining a reputation of being the second coming of the detective prince, he has been carefully curating this image of him to the public. He decides to leave the restroom while checking his phone, 7:04 AM. Still a bit early, but he figures he could look around the school for private spots in case he needs to make a quick getaway. 

He felt a light tap on his shoulder and he turned around, seeing an unfamiliar face. “Hi, I’m sorry. I am a new student, and I don’t know where my classroom is.” You give him a peek into the piece of paper containing your information, and he musters the fakest smile he could bring out at the moment.

“That’s also my classroom. Follow me.” Akechi quickly turns around, mentally shelving his plans on finding his hideout.

“My name is Y/N,” you offer the information without being asked. Akechi mentally scoffs, he has no use for your name but decides to indulge in the idle conversation anyway.

“I am Akechi.”

He continues walking, but then feels your hand tugging at his sleeve. He lightly recoiled but quickly tried to gather his composure, hoping that it was not noticeable. 

“Like, the second detective prince?”

He lightly chuckles, wishing that you were not one of his fangirls. He cannot handle one of their antics this early in the morning. He nodded anyway.

“Cool!” You exclaimed while smiling at him. He was half expecting you to do something else, but other than that loud statement, you didn’t try to make a move on him. Huh. He can’t tell if he was a bit disappointed, because granted, he did think you were a bit pretty. He wouldn’t mind if you fawned over him a bit. He was quickly taken out of his thoughts by his phone vibrating in his pocket, his work phone.

He fake-coughed and pointed down the hallway, “Well, just go straight down that hallway, and it should be the last door on the right. If you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Okay, see you later Akechi-san!”

As you walk past him, he feels an unfamiliar feeling in his chest, a nauseating feeling that makes him a bit nervous and warm. He takes a few deep breaths while mentally putting on his mask for his work, and finding a solitary corner to have a private conversation in.

// May.

Akechi had half a mind to just get up and leave. However, in the back of his mind he hears a voice lightly scolding him to be nice. And he also mentally slaps that part of him that is questioning why?

Akechi looks up at you, giving the fakest smile he could muster, while asking "What is it, Y/N?"

"Do you want to eat at this new place? I hear they have nice milkshakes."

Akechi wondered why you decided to go to him of all people. You should be aware that he is very busy, yes? He is a celebrity, a detective, and a student. On top of that, he manages to exceed everyone's expectations by not only being a top student, but also being a detective with a good track record while climbing the popularity polls. Where do you think you fit?

"I just thought you could use a break," you followed your previous statement. As if you answered the thoughts in his head, and Akechi almost thought you could hear him.

"I see, that's thoughtful." Akechi brought out his phone, as if to check his calendar, "...however, I don't have any free time today." He lied. The truth is, he feels this unfamiliar emotion brewing in his chest and stomach when he talks to you. He had a hunch what that was about, but he did not want to acknowledge it. At all.

"Ah, maybe next time then."

One of the students came running into the room, shouting that the professor is on their way to the classroom. You quickly returned to your seat, and Akechi thought to himself that this was the right choice. You do not need to be close to him, he is way too busy. He has grand dreams that need fulfilling.

He looks over to where you are, and he sees you doodling away in your notebook.

He feels a weight on his chest, as if he is longing for something he isn’t worthy of.

// June.

“Hello, Akechi-san.” He hears a voice greet him, and he quickly sits up. Shit. He got to school early, and was supposed to have a power nap for 10 minutes before the students came. Why the hell were you early as well?

“Woah. Calm down. It’s fine. Go take your nap.”

“Good morning, Y/N-san. Apologies. I had a long night.” Akechi started straightening his tie and adjusting his gloves. He usually did this on his own, and he mentally cursed himself because it seems his mask is slowly slipping around you. He stopped his fidgeting and decided to turn his charm on. “How are you this morning?”

He realized the segue may be too awkward, and whether you noticed his unease or not, you decided not to comment on it. “I am fine. Didn’t want to be at home so I went to school right away.”

“Ah, I see,” He realized how awkward this exchange was. He was debating whether or not to ask you about your home life, thinking that if you did not want to be there, you probably do not want it to be a topic of the conversation as well. 

“My dad just came by our house this morning,” you started. You brought out a notebook from your bag. “We haven’t really talked in years.”

Akechi nodded, unable to say anything else. Fortunately, you continued. “He sucks. I kinda don’t like him.”

“I understand that feeling,” He says, a bit surprised that he is engaging actively in this conversation at all. 

You gave him a smirk, “Dads kinda suck, don’t they?”

He gave you a light chuckle, “Yeah.” His dad was the devil.

“Oh, by the way, here.” You handed him an energy drink. “I don’t know if you’ll like it, but the vending machine gave me two and I do not want to have extreme palpitations right now.”

“I see, thank you.” Akechi gave you a smile, for real this time.

// July.

“Would you like to go to this new bakery that opened up?” A classmate of yours approached you, and Akechi gave a subtle side glance at him while pretending to be engrossed in the mathematical formula in front of him. 

“No, not really,” you say coolly, and Akechi smirks at your response.

“Aww, come on. It could be a date.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“Tch, you’re not even all that.” Your dejected classmate seemed to take the rejection personally.

“That’s harsh.” Akechi commented, returning your notes. The past few weeks, Akechi had been borrowing your notes when he had a hard time catching up in class due to the recent demand for him at work. Some sort of rapport has been built between the two of you at this point. Akechi was a quick learner, and you had complete notes. He could tutor you and you could tell him what he missed out on.

“I don’t really care for them. Don’t like bread.” You replied dismissively.

“And here I thought you would want to go with me, since I received a few vouchers for that same bakery.” Akechi dangled the mentioned papers in front of you.

“Oh.” You cleared your throat. “Well, bread can be fine sometimes.”

// August.

“What are you watching?” You asked as you plop down next to him. The both of you were staying over at Akechi’s apartment, planning to start on your project. Akechi told you that if there was ever a pair or group work and he was absent, you can tell the professor to put him in the same group as you. This made some of the Akechi fans in class jealous. However if you asked Akechi, it was to make things easier because the both of you are already talking anyway; you weren’t half-bad to talk to. But if you asked his subconscious, the inner him that manifested Robin Hood and Loki, they would tell you that he has an inkling of a soft spot for you.

But he would never say that out loud. Robin Hood and Loki were constantly on him, playing the angel and devil’s advocate when it came to his feelings for you. 

“Featherman,” he answered briefly, as he brought out the textbooks.

“Woah, I never really got into them.” You started opening your notes, but wanted to hear more from him anyway, “Tell me about them.”

The both of you weren’t able to finish your project that afternoon, but you did end up getting a long-winded lecture on the Featherman series.

// September.

Ever since Akechi and you had that bakery hangout in July, he has been bringing you to places to sample their food. “I have to stay updated with the latest food trends,” he says. You never really understood why, but if he was paying every time, who were you to complain?

Also, it kind of feels like the both of you were on a date. Whether Akechi is aware or not, he doesn’t let it show.

// October.

“Hey, I think I love you.” You say to Akechi, one day as the both of you were checking out this new food stall that opened up near the school. Akechi almost spit out his drink.

“I’m sorry?” What do you even say to that?

“It’s okay. I don’t expect you to say anything back. I just wanted to get it out of the way because it has been keeping me awake at night. I keep imagining the both of us getting married. But don’t worry, it will probably fade away, but I hope we can still be friends.” You avoided meeting his eyes, as you received your food order. 

Akechi held your wrist, a silent plea to look at him. You faced him, but quickly averted your eyes. Akechi leaned in to whisper, “Can you wait for me?” 

“What?”

“I… have some things to do first. I will tell you my answer in December.”

“That’s oddly specific… But don’t feel like you have to reciprocate.”

Akechi stayed quiet. He could hear Robin Hood and Loki fighting.

“But sure,” Your voice cut through the noise, “I’ll wait.”

// November.

You feel Akechi staring at you. The both of you were hanging out at this new café, where the both of you became a regular. There was a paper due tomorrow, and the both of you decided to do it together. Akechi had been busy with work so he couldn’t exactly do it, while you were busy with… procrastinating.

“I know I’m cute, but maybe you’d like to get started on your paper.”

Akechi playfully rolled his eyes, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Why were you looking at me then?”

“Just wondering.”

“About?”

“Your type.”

“My… what?”

“What do you look for in a relationship?”

That was surprising. But at the same time, not really? Ever since you confessed your feelings, the question of where you stand was all up in the air. However, Akechi did not avoid you, in fact he became even clingier, making you and everyone else confused about the nature of your relationship. He did not exactly reject you, but he was treating you like… you were something more?

Although he did say he would say his answer in December, and if he was waiting this long, then it should be good news, right?

“I guess… I like someone I can be comfortable with.”

“...Isn’t that a given in a relationship?”

“Yeah… But like, someone who can be a safe space for me? Like I don’t feel like I have to hide from. I could bare the ugliest parts about myself and they wouldn’t run away. Someone who’s fine with my silence, when there are times I just want to… exist.”

Akechi nodded. His face was unreadable at the moment, and it made you question if you answered correctly.

“I want that, too.”

// December 11.

“Hey, I am going to need to cancel tomorrow.” Akechi asked you, and you raised your eyebrows at him.

“Why?”

“I have important business to do, so I can’t go to the café tomorrow.” 

“More important than me?” You joke.

Akechi felt himself frowning at that. You notice, and were about to say something but he cut you off, “After this… We can do whatever you want. I promise.”

“Oh, I was just kidding…”

“I’m not. After this, you can…” have me, he was about to say but he was cut off by the ping from his laptop and the room suddenly felt a few degrees hotter so he decided to go check on the email he received instead.

Unbeknownst to him, he left his work phone on the couch cushion, where you see the ominous notification, “Finish them, or else.”

You felt a ringing in your ears that had your heart rate speeding up. Goro… what’s going on?

// December 12.

As Akechi approaches the Diet Building, he searches for a secluded area where he can enter the palace from. A few meters behind, you were following him, trying to remain hidden. You were half thankful that he seemed to not notice, but at the same time you were nervous. Did he really not notice you? If he wasn’t able to discern you from the crowd of people, he might be so lost in his thoughts. 

He needed you to save him.

You saw him whispering a few words you couldn’t make out, and all of a sudden, your environment changed. Feeling extreme dizziness, you reached your hand out to hold on to something. You almost fell upon realizing the electric pole that was next to you suddenly turned into a railing, and…

Holy shit, is the ocean? How?! You were in front of the Diet Building!

You were frantically looking around, and realized that instead of Akechi, a white figure was seen entering the building.

Was that him?

You once again try to trail him, covering your tracks.

/./

“The real fools… are you guys. You should have just abandoned me here a long time ago.”

You heard Akechi’s voice while you were crawling through the vents. It means you are nearing his location. You accidentally lost him when you saw another group of people in weird getups. You also tried avoiding the menacing figures that seemed to transform when approached. The idea of monsters being real and people in costumes fighting them… It reminded you of the Featherman series that Akechi loved so much.

“You would have all perished… if you had tried to face these with me weighing you down…”

As you zero in on his location, you carefully open the vent to avoid beeing seen. You were faced with multiple monsters surrounding… Akechi and a black figure?! There was also a giant wall effectively cutting off one side of the room. You bring out the bat that you stole from the sports club. It was a bit worn-out, but it should help you against these people, right?

“Akechi!”

The black-masked figure’s head whipped towards the direction of your voice. You saw the surprise in his body movement, suddenly standing upright, but quickly clutching his stomach, clearly in pain.

“Y/N?! What are you doing here?! Leave!”

The uncanny Akechi also faces you, sporting a creepy grin on his face that does not represent your Akechi at all.

“So this is the toy you were messing around with. The captain was concerned that you were too distracted to finish the mission. Turns out they have been keeping you busy.” 

Black-mask Akechi tried to summon his Persona with what little strength he had to eradicate the Shadows surrounding him. Uncanny Akechi managed to dodge out of the way in time, and suddenly it’s just the three of you. With all the strength you could muster, you dashed straight to your mask-wearing Akechi while shakily wielding your bat. “Stay away from him!”

“Y/N, you idiot! I told you to wait at home!”

“How cute.” Uncanny Akechi raises his gun at the both of you. “Too bad you’re about to die.”

With the adrenaline you have in your blood, you tackled uncanny Akechi, knocking the gun out of his hands. He chuckled, and with the snap of his fingers, a Shadow appeared behind you and you suddenly felt a piercing pain in your chest. As you looked down, the blood was already pooling around your figure.

“You-!?” Black-mask Akechi once again tries summoning his Persona, but when he feels the embers of his power fading away due to his weakened state, he sees the gun that was three inches away from his feet. He quickly grabbed it and used it three times on his clone, and two shots to the Shadow’s weak spot, it was gone. 

“Y/N, here drink this.” Akechi sees the last two energy drinks he has in his inventory, and brings it closer to your lips.

“Akechi, as much as energy drinks can help you go through the day with no sleep, I don’t think it can heal this.” You chuckled weakly, Akechi shook his head.

“Just listen to me, you fucking idiot. Drink it. It won’t heal you completely, but it should be just enough to get us out of here and contact a private doctor.”

“Akechi, I am so glad I won’t be dying alone.” You say as Akechi brings the drink to your lips, you drank a little bit.

“You’re not dying. I won’t let it happen. You said you were going to marry me right?” Akechi started ripping out some of his clothes to sloppily bandage up your wounds.

“Aww… I knew you secretly found me cute.” You once again tried to lighten the mood, but it seemed to make Akechi more glum.

“Hold on to my neck, I will carry you out of here.”

“I am tired, Akechi.”

“It’s just a few minutes, and then we can go home and watch whatever you want.”

“That sounds nice.”

“Right? Listen to me then.”

“I am cold, Akechi.”

“You will feel warmer once I hold you.” As Akechi places a hand to support your head and legs, you shove him off. Akechi was confused, why are you resisting?

“Akechi, do you love me?”

“Are you seriously asking that right now?! We need to get out.”

“Do you love me?”

“Just listen to me and I will answer that question.”

“It’s December. Do you love me, Akechi?”

“YES! I love you, now please let me carry you out of here.”

“I’m so happy.”

“You…” Akechi once again tried to carry you, and luckily you did not try to resist this time. You nuzzled your face into his neck, and Akechi can’t help but lean into your touch. After leaving the palace, Akechi had contacted the private doctor. You were getting treatment while he got patched up for his injuries. After his bandages, he stood outside the room, praying, talking to whatever god or higher being is out there. 

I never asked for much. I just hope they’re okay.

“Is that what you want?” A deep voice asked him, and he opened his eyes that he unknowingly closed. Suddenly, a blurry figure stood in front of him, and everything was bright white, even brighter than the incandescent lighting in the small clinic he was in.

“Who are you?” 

“Let’s just say… I am the god who will be answering your prayers. I can grant you this chance. Three tries.”

“Three tries? For what?”

“To redo it. You get to choose where you go back to.”

// December 11 again.

“Hey. Can you go to the café a little earlier tomorrow?” Akechi brought it up, while having dinner with you. He was back to the past, like what that god said. So this is his chance to change whatever bleak future was coming up.

Knowing what’s going to happen in the palace, he knew what to do, and what not to do, to avoid you getting hurt. He just needed you to wait for him at the café, and not follow him.

“Oh, why?” You asked, your doe eyes staring up at him. He had to fight the blush he felt creeping up his cheeks.

“I just need to finish up a few things at the office, and I was thinking you could order in advance for the both of us.”

“I mean, we can cancel if you want?”

No, that was what happened the first time. He was not making that same mistake again.

“No, no. Just get there by 6 pm and I will follow.” You tried not to comment on the slight panic in his voice and just nodded. You hear a ping from his laptop, and the sound made it felt like you were experiencing déjà vu. You felt the vibration of the phone he left in between the couch cushions, and you had the inclination to check on it. 

Seeing the ominous notification, you decided to ignore his suggestion on getting to the café earlier and instead follow him.

Akechi once again had to experience the pain of carrying your limp body out of the palace.

// December 11 once again.

Akechi was thinking of ways to get you to stop following him. You were on your way to his apartment, to have dinner with him as the both of you planned before all this craziness. As you knocked on his door, he quickly opened it, no longer needing to check the camera as he has been over this scenario multiple times.

“Oh, hey!” You greeted happily, with Akechi stepping aside to let you in. 

He thought that maybe you should initiate the conversation about the supposed café date you will have tomorrow, maybe that will change the fates.

“How are you today?” You asked sweetly, shedding yourself of the coat and hat you were wearing.

“Fine,” Akechi answered simply, calculating his next steps. What will convince you to stay away?

You didn’t comment on his short reply, as he has a tendency to be precise with his answer when he has a lot on his mind. Maybe work was taking a toll on him.

“Oh, by the way, about the café tomorrow…” You started. 

“We should stop this.”

“Stop what?”

Akechi steels himself. If asking you to distance yourself won’t work, then maybe he should distance himself. 

You furrowed your eyebrows. 

“I have a bright future ahead of me. I am a celebrity detective with straight A’s, who knows where that will take me. Whatever this is, we will just end up getting hurt.” Akechi felt the words coming out of his mouth, secretly spouting out some long-buried insecurities and fears he has had ever since the two of you started getting closer.

“Well, when there’s a will, there’s a way, right?”

“And if I don’t want to?”

“You’re lying to yourself.”

“How can you be certain? If only you knew the real me-”

“I already know the real you. You put on an act, this charming celebrity act, but the truth is all you want is someone who can see past it and be acknowledged for everything you have done. I accept you, Akechi, and I love you. If you would just stop pushing me awa-”

“Enough. I don’t care for this.”

“You-”

“Just leave.”

“You are so afraid of anything real, that when you are faced with it, your first reaction is to turn away. I am telling you-”

“Oh please. Once you learn about the real me, you would run away screaming.”

“What is this ‘real me’ even? Why don’t you tell me about it so I can judge for myself?!”

“I-” He hears the familiar ping of his laptop once again. “I’m busy. Just leave.”

“Fine. Be that way.” You were about to turn about to leave, but faced him once again: “If we see eachother next time, I hope you don’t look my way. Please leave me alone, I never want to see you again.”

You slam the door behind you.

Akechi fell to his knees, clutching his chest. He feels something wet touch his cheek and fall onto the floor.

Behind the door, you know that there is something wrong. You made a plan to follow him tomorrow. He was being irrational, and that meant he was worried about something. 

And as you ended up bleeding once again on the floor of the engine room, Akechi was once again brought to the bright room with the unknown god.

“Why isn’t anything changing!?” He was about to punch the smug god in his face, but he missed, falling face-first instead.

The god chuckled. “There is never a Y/N who stays at home because there is never a Y/N that does not love Akechi in this lifetime.”

// April.

Akechi checks his reflection in the mirror, straightening his tie. He ensures that not only is he a model student by grades, but also by looks. Ever since getting his power and gaining a reputation of being the second coming of the detective prince, he has been carefully curating this image of him to the public. He decides to leave the restroom while checking his phone, 7:04 AM. Still a bit early, but he figures he could look around the school for private spots in case he needs to make a quick getaway. 

He felt a light tap on his shoulder and he turned around, seeing an unfamiliar face. “Hi, I’m sorry. I am a new student, and I don’t know where my classroom is.” You give him a peek into the piece of paper containing your information, and he musters the fakest smile he could bring out at the moment.

“Sorry, I can’t help you.”

// May.

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// June.

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// July.

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// August.

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// September.

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// October.

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// November.

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// December 12, for the last time.

As Akechi lays down on the cold, hard ground of the engine room, he mentally curses himself. They say that when you are dying, the last minutes of your life play a fast-paced montage of your memories. He scoffed at the idea then, but now as he is left drowning in his own blood, all he could think about was you.

He curses at the gods above, that one who gave him the power to play with the threads of fate. What was the point of allowing him to pursue different timelines, if he ended up without you at all?

He met you, too little, too late. Maybe that was their plan, to dangle a what if in his face just to end up taking it from him. A cruel joke, and all he could do was laugh bitterly.

Spring started with a refreshing breeze, your first year of high school has started. You wanted to make the best out of your high school days, as many claimed that high school was the peak of life. School was fine, you met different kinds of people and made new friends. You were surprised when your new friend has told you about a student who's a detective.

However there was one thing you couldn't shake off, which is the fact that the detective is your neighbour. Goro Akechi, a first year like you, the next door neighbour at your apartment complex. At first, you didn't pay an ounce of attention to it. Just a normal guy who goes to the same school as you, who turned out to be your classmate and neighbour! Talk about triple coincidence!

Not only that, he was a celebrity! The second detective prince after Naoto Shirogane.

Every morning you see him walking towards the elevator while you locked your door. Sometimes when you two were going down the elevator, he engaged in small talks. Such as, the weather or how busy the city has been lately. Which, you're not complaining. You know a celebrity which is rare in most cases, but you felt like he wasn't authentic.

The way he smiles at you, sure his grin reaches his eyes, but it seems fake. The way he jokes around is corny, but the crowds love it. His princely act looks rehearsed and is masked as natural. He speaks gently with an alluring tone whenever words come out of his mouth.

Your suspicion was proven true when you returned home and saw Akechi walking his way towards his apartment door. You could see he was trying to hide his limp.

You couldn't just ignore it. You had to do something.

"Are you all right?" You asked, slowly approaching him from behind. It was already evening and the sun was setting down. The gleam of a distant lamp shone above him.

"It's you…" He said softly, straightening his posture. "I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me."

You looked down at his ankles, where one of them looks red and swollen. "Your ankle is swollen." You pointed it out, looking directly at his eyes.

"And I'm not seeing things." You added, knowing what he would say.

Akechi sighed, "I can take care of it. I have a first aid kit inside."

"Okay… Just let me know if you need anything." You decided not to pry much. It wasn't your business to butt in, but you couldn't let it be. You unlocked the door and went into your apartment. You hoped Akechi is well.

To your surprise, he didn't show up to school. The homeroom teacher announced that he called in sick. Your classmates whispered amongst themselves;

"What happened?"

"No clue."

"Maybe it was his detective work."

"Damn, he's so diligent!"

You looked over at the empty seat, knowing what happened to him. You decided to check on him soon after visiting the nearest pharmacy.

"Uhm, Akechi, are you in there?" You knocked softly against the door.

Maybe you were intruding. You should've mind your own business. What if he doesn't like it when someone else sees his injuries? He probably thinks you're a pushover and nosy.

The door clicked, revealing Akechi standing by the door frame. He flashed a warm smile. "What beings you here?" He asked politely.

"I just want to make sure you're okay. Your ankle was really swollen. I brought you compression socks." You explained, showing him the plastic bag you got from the pharmacy.

"I appreciate the thought but I am doing fine. I just need to rest for the day." He took a glance at the bag before declining it.

You quickly took a peek at his ankle. It seems fine, the swelling reduced and his skin wasn't as red as it was last night. "Compression socks are effective for swollen ankles. You should wear them." You shoved the bag at him before rushing towards your door.

Akechi held the bag, slightly stunned by your actions. He closed the door gently, limping his way towards the living room to look into the bag. A pack of compression socks, some anti-inflammatory drink, and a band-aid pack. He sighs, feeling obligated to use the item. Though, he felt grateful for the kind gesture.

Whereas on the other side, you were shocked. Standing still at the entryway, your heartbeat throbbed loudly against your chest. Your fists clenched tightly, making your knuckles pale. You shook your head, took off your shoes and went straight to your bedroom. You could not believe you did that. More so to someone you barely knew!

"It's fine, at least I could lend a hand." You mumbled, putting your bag away to start making dinner.

Silence was your peace, until the next morning when you locked your apartment door. Akechi greeted you with a polite smile, this time it was genuine.

"I want to thank you for the help yesterday," He spoke softly. His voice was sweet like honey, calm like a warm of soup, though the intention felt sour, yet you savoured the taste.

You hummed, "You're welcome, Akechi. I suggest you get it check, just in case."

Akechi let out a small laugh, "Note taken."

Whispers flooded the hallways, students discussing about a foreign case that started in the city. This morning, the news outlets has announced that the police is investigating a new case about people having a mental breakdown.

"Isn't this scary?"

"We need to be careful now."

"I hope this doesn't happen to me."

You listened to your classmates talking about the morning news. A case of a man went through a breakdown last night and his family reported it to the police. Unfortunately, he had passed away this morning.

Your homeroom teacher came in, telling everyone to be careful since the new arrival of the mental breakdown before taking attendance of everyone present.

You glimpsed over at Akechi, who was a few tables away from you. He was a detective, he has to know what the case was about. It made sense if he has any involvement, he could be solving the issue.

Another teacher came in and began the lesson, giving you no time to capture his stare at you afterwards.

When the bell rang for lunchtime, a couple of students approached Akechi. Bombarding him with questions regarding about the news. Asking him about the mental breakdown.

"Is it a virus?"

"Are you in charge of the case?"

Akechi chuckled, telling everyone to calm down. "I'm just helping out with the case currently. The details are confidential."

"Aw man, not even one?"

"Sorry, I can't." Akechi smiled.

Days passed in a wink. You hasn't seen Akechi returning to his apartment. Though you do see him at school, but never at the apartment. Sometimes he does return but at odd hours when you go out for a midnight snack.

You kept your mouth shut. It wasn't your business to pry.

You begun your homework, groaning in frustration when you couldn't find an answer. It was mathematics, a subject you have a love hate relationship with. You tried every possible method to solve the issue but the answer is different every time.

You took another sheet of paper, sighing that you have to redo the working. You stopped when you heard the doorbell rang. It was unusual for any visit at this hour.

Dropping your pen, you quickly checked your doorbell camera. The doorbell camera showed a partial view of a hazelnut brown hair just outside the frame. Tiny groans and breaths muffled through the speaker.

You gasped, immediately opening the door and a body fell into your arms. "Akechi? What happened to you?" Your voice shook as panic sets in.

"Abdomen…" Akechi coughed.

You gentle pulled him into your living room, ignoring the weight and the blood dripping on the floor. He laid on your sofa, his hand clutching on his abdomen as you rushed to get your first air kit.

You unbuttoned his shirt, wiping the blood around the wound. The wound wasn't big, but it made a cut on his skin. You applied soft pressure on the wound, earning a soft groan from him.

"Sorry," you muttered.

Luckily the bleeding has stopped, you applied some antibiotic ointment on his wound and wrapped a bandage around it. As he was about to get up, you pushed him down the sofa.

"Stay, you'll start bleeding again." You warned.

After cleaning your entryway and the living room, you sighed and sat next to Akechi where he was resting. You looked at him, baffled at the sudden injury.

"What happened?" You asked, demanding an answer from him.

He opened an eye, looking at your concerned expression. He lets put an amused hum. "Investigation gone wrong."

"That's ridiculous!" You riposted scornfully, crossing your arms as your eyebrows furrowed. "What kind of investigation requires you to end up this badly? Where are your supervisors or the police?"

Akechi could only stayed silent during your scolding. "I'm leading my own investigation." He says, quietly after you stopped.

You looked down at him, your eyes meeting his for the first time. "You're still 15!"

His mouth opened slightly, his eyes widen in response. "I…"

His eyes darted away, avoiding yours.

"I know we're not friends, but I just need to let you know that I care." You started, leaning back into your sofa as you stared at the wall. Hugging your knees into your chest.

"You've been busy lately, which is not a big deal considering you're a detective… But you rarely come home."

"You can stay here until you're better." You paused, taking another look at him. "I'll call a doctor to come by tomorrow."

"Wait!" Akechi said, grabbing your wrist. "Please, don't." He pleaded.

"I'll explain."

He released your wrist. He was still laying on your sofa comfortably. He took a deep breath before coming out clean.

"I ran after a suspect, he has wounded me before getting caught by the police." Akechi said, lying through his teeth.

"That's…" You sighed. "Just be careful next time."

Akechi nodded. It wasn't like you would believe him if he got injured because of his Metaverse mission.

It was already June, two months flew by and Akechi has been staying over at your apartment often. Usually for you to treat his injuries. His wounds has healed, fortunately no scars were formed and his health has gotten better.

Akechi still acts princely and nice to everyone— engaging in small talks, remembering when fans asked him about something, or when he puts on his model student facade in front of everyone. To you, he dropped the princely act. He was still nice towards you, thanking you for helping him and returning favours whenever you needed help, such as studying during the weekends or when you had a cockroach in your bathroom.

"You can rest up, I can take care of this." Sae says to Akechi. Her fingers typing on her laptop and her eyes are glued to the screen.

"No buts, you may go." She added sternly, leaving Akechi stunned as he quietly left the office.

It was a Saturday, school finished hence why he went to the Special Investigation Department just for him to be dismissed by Sae. There were no tasks given by Shido. He has no homework to do.

He wandered around the busy streets in Shibuya, going to the underground mall nearby the station. He stopped his tracks when a familiar silhouette appeared in a distant.

There you were, looking at your phone while idling by the green frog train. Relief washed over him as he come closer.

"Fancy to see you here." He says as you put your phone away.

"Oh hey, Akechi."

He looks around, to see whether you were out with your friends or waiting for someone. "Waiting for someone?" He asked.

You gave him a small smile. "No, I was looking for a place to eat."

"I know a place. If you don't mind I follow." Akechi suggested.

"Sure," you agreed immediately.

He brought you to Akihabara, another busy and packed area. He brought you to a cafe, known for their Italian food. Jazz music plays in the background as you entered the calm, warm atmosphere.

"This is amazing. I didn't know you were a cafe type." You awed, admiring the aesthetics of the cafe.

"I discovered this place when I wanted a quick grab of coffee." He replied.

You ordered some pasta and a refreshing drink. Akechi ordered some Bolognese pasta and a La Via del Tè Notturno black tea with no sugar.

"Do you have time after this?" You asked, using your fork to pick onto your pasta.

"No, why?" He titled his head, asking back at you.

"I have a place to show you."

The sun was settled and darkness occupies the sky. You brought him over at Kichijoji, a trendy area with a bustling nightlife. You giggled as you dragged him all the way to Jazz Jin, a club where you can enjoy jazz and drinks. A calm and relaxing atmosphere to enjoy.

"What's this?" Akechi asks, looking at the fluorescent sign.

"A jazz club, don't worry we can go in." You smiled, pushing the door open.

"This place is lively," He commented, sitting at a table where it faces a grand piano. He looked at you.

You were lively, interactive even. You made it look so easy, talking to the staff and chatting with the bartenders like they were your long time friends. Akechi watched you joked around with the performers.

It was the turning point of his life. It was when he realised he actually wanted to be with you.

He yearned to be loved, to be desired, to be relied on, and cared for by others. He was particular with his personality, devoted himself with his studies, becoming an honour student, and even become a detective so it looks good on him.

All that just to shatter when you're here.

You cared for him when he pushed you away. You talked to him when you had no obligation to. You hung out with him not for his reputation. He showed you his vulnerable side, where he was injured. A side of him no one else sees except for you.

He has come to a realisation that he may fallen for you.

"Akechi? Are you okay?" Your voice echoed in his mind. You forehead was in his vision as you placed the back of your hand on his forehead.

Akechi smiled warmly, "I'm fine."

You noticed his smile was different, in which you returned a smile back at him. "Glad to know."

You fell asleep on the subway. Your head resting on Akechi's shoulder as the train speed towards your stop. It was a long night at Jazz Jin.

He carried you towards your door, unlocked it swiftly as you told him your password weeks ago in case he was hurt. He gently placed you on your bed, making sure you're comfortable.

"Akechi?" You mumbled as you opened your eyes.

"Yes?" He answers.

"Stay." Your voice was languid. Your hand clinging onto his arm.

"I will," Akechi said softly as he sat by your side.

You sat up on your bed, looking at the boy in front of you. A glimpse of your lamp shone dimly beside him. Your eyes met him, deep at his brown ones.

"Thank you," you said, taking his hand to yours.

"What for?" He gave a startled look when you thanked him.

"Showing me a side you don't want others to see." You continued.

"I need to tell you something," his chest was heavy. Like a weight needed to be released.

You leaned closer, indicating you were all ears. Your thumb caressed his gloves.

"My father was a bastard, he left my mother after learning she got pregnant. I was undesirable. She committed when I was young."

It took your minutes to process the information. You whispered, "I'm sorry."

"You don't have be—" You hugged him.

"I'm with you," your voice was muffled as you hid your face into the crook of his neck.

Akechi slowly wrapped his arms around you, bringing you close, breathing in your scent as you pat his back. You loosen your grip, wiping the tears on his face.

"I see you," you smiled, holding his face as you wiped another tear.

Akechi lets out a breath, his eyes glimmered from his tears. "Thanks," he says, voice slightly shaken.

His gaze soften as he leans closer. You didn't pull away. He tilts his head and leans in.

The kiss was brief, warm, and soft.

"Ah, sorry. I wasn't on—" Akechi spoke but you grabbed his face and crashed your lips on his.

He groans as your hand slips into his hair. His lips gently danced with yours. Breathless, you pulled away. Your face being extremely red and warm.

"I like you," he finally admitted, lifting the weight off his chest.

But it also wasn’t the most surprising. Nearly two years after his resurrection Akechi was still searching for answers— why was he back? What was he supposed to do now? What was left for him? Some days were worse than others. (Name) guessed today was one of those worse days.

With the food safely on their dining table, (Name) gave Akechi their full attention. “I don’t understand either,” they sighed. “About what you’re talking about, that is. Care to enlighten me?”

That response brought a cold ferocity to his voice. “Are you really content with playing house? This isn’t the life you would be living if I wasn’t here. All you’re doing is entertaining a ghost.”

His words stung, but not because they were mean to (Name), because they were instead a harsh condemnation of his own existence. 

Maybe there was a hint of truth to Akechi’s despair. When they returned from Akira’s “Phantom Thief’s Last hurrah send-off road trip extraordinaire” (title coined by Ryuji), the last thing (Name) expected to see was Akechi at their doorstep. A living, breathing, real Akechi that was more than just a wish in a false reality. they thought they had made her peace with his final goodbye, only to burst into tears and trap him into a hug for the next ten minutes.

Akechi didn’t want to go to their. With the Phantom Thieves out of Tokyo and his existence a distant memory to the general public, he wanted to escape. Whether that was motivated by a disgust for society or some self-imposed atonement for all he did didn’t matter in the end, because he couldn’t go through with it. Because he thought about (Name) while at the city limits and couldn’t bring himself to go.

He loved them. He wasn’t stupid enough to deny that but he hated himself enough to feel shame over it. (Name) had a bright future ahead of them, free of the burdens he added to their life with bloody hands, but Akechi selfishly derailed it. In between desperate kisses he asked them to leave Tokyo with him. To go somewhere so they could start fresh. Somewhere Akechi Goro didn’t exist and he was nothing more than the regular person (Name) always treated him as.

It was pathetic and made even worse because (Name) agreed without hesitation. They threw away their chance at excelling at the University of Tokyo because a boy who had caused them nothing but heartache begged them not to. Sometimes Akechi had nightmares about this reunion. People were supposed to improve with second chances, yet he used his to drag his partner into his own despair.

(Name) took time to consider what to say. Akechi was nothing if not stubborn and rigid in his beliefs. This was not the first time he lashed out about their circumstances, but (Name) always hoped they’d find the magic words to make it the last. “Sure. I guess I didn’t expect to be living in Sendai. But, I don’t consider this playing house. If it were playing house, we wouldn’t be paying rent.”

Akechi grabbed (Name) by their shoulders and leaned in closer. “Stop turning this into a joke,” he growled. “You had a life you were happy with. Why did you throw that away?

The wrong person would balk under Akechi’s intensity. But there was a reason he fell in love with (Name) despite all odds— they weren’t afraid to challenge him. They leaned forward as well, until their foreheads touched. 

“I’d love it if you stopped referring to my choice as ‘throwing my life away.’ I am living a perfectly happy life, with you, Goro.” 

It hurt because it was unbelievably saccharine and because Akechi didn’t think he deserved that statement being true. There had to be some sick twist on why his life was given back to him in the end. Perhaps another God wanted to use him as a pawn, or he was expected to find some way to atone for his crimes. Nothing in his life had ever been simple. 

(Name) continued in Akechi’s silence. “Wanna know something? Back in Dr. Maruki’s false reality, I used to hate myself for wishing you back to life. You didn’t want to live because someone else dictated it, and my wish forced you into it anyway.”

With that, Akechi softened. He loosened his grip on their shoulders and backed up to create space between them. “As I told you back then, I never blamed you for that. It was Maruki’s doing, not yours.”

“I know. But even though you said that, I still felt guilty. I thought about how selfish it was of me. You were so angry, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was my fault.” (Name) took a deep breath, looking up at Akechi. “So, I understand why you feel the way you do. And why you don’t want to believe me. But whether or not you believe me doesn’t change how I feel.”

(Name) knew how to take the lead with Akechi. He was dominating and wanted control, and (Name) learned over the years that the best way to retaliate was to simply be straightforward and honest. They reached forward and held Akechi’s face in their hands. He tensed under the brush of their fingers against his skin, but he made no move to remove them.

“I wake up next to you. We eat breakfast together. We share some of the same classes. We have an organized chore list. Sometimes we make dinner, and sometimes we get takeout. You know my reading pace and wait to turn the page when you know I’m paying attention to your book while we cuddle on the couch. Then I fall asleep in your arms and wake up to do it all over again.”

They described the most mundane aspects of their life like it was something special. For most of Akechi’s life, he cared very little for the small details; his life had one purpose and it was to seize power from the man who took it all away from him. Even when he and (Name) had begun their relationship, Akechi would be lying if he said he cared about things like sharing a meal, walking home together, and other small moments of intimacy. 

But (Name) changed everything for him. Their relationship was supposed to be nothing more than a little slice of paradise under Akechi’s control, but (Name) made it mean something. they loved him in a way that made him feel whole.

Akechi was a weapon. But he felt small in their gaze and fragile in their arms. Not in the sense that he felt pathetic, though he did consider that sometimes, but in the sense that (Name) let him be vulnerable in a way he didn’t let himself feel even while alone.

“I knew, after meeting you, that all I wanted was to be by your side.” (Name) beamed with pride and Akechi swallowed his disbelief that this expression was for him. “I don’t care if we’re in Tokyo or Sendai. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.”

He wished he could put to words why accepting the peace in his life made him so uncomfortable. Akechi wasn’t oblivious to the fact that the biggest obstacle to his happiness had become himself. It wasn’t Shido or the God of Control anymore but his own inability let go of the past. The what could have beens and the what ifs. In some sick way, he was more self assured about his future when it involved being Shido’s lapdog. 

Akechi leaned into (Name)’s touch, turning his head slightly and brushing his lips against their palm. “… It’s real this time? I am living this life for myself?”

“Your life is yours,” (Name) reassured him. “And I’m glad to be part of it.”

They closed the distance between them to kiss Akechi on the cheek with a disgustingly loud MWUAH sound that they knew that he hated. Akechi winced but (Name) didn’t give him a chance to retaliate, holding him close and pressing more kisses across his face— his forehead, eyelid, jaw, before a kiss to the corner of his lips that was the final straw for Akechi.

“Ugh,” Akechi groaned. He grabbed (Name)’s jaw and stopped them from moving. “I get it. You can stop being gross now.”

It was nice to have Akechi back to his normal, cheerful self. Maybe (Name) had finally found the magic words he was looking for. Even if they weren’t, they didn’t mind comforting him.

That was their life, after all. Remaining at each other’s sides throughout all the unexpected twists and turns.