The two of you meet by chance in a quiet corner of Kichijoji’s jazz club. It’s one of Akechi’s regular haunts, a place where he seems more at ease, especially during the unusual circumstances of the third semester.

Akechi sits across from you, his posture poised but relaxed, his gaze piercing as he studies you with his usual intensity. The faint jazz music in the background seems to add an unexpected warmth to his otherwise cool demeanor.

"So, what brings you here? I doubt it’s just the drinks." He smiles slightly, but his eyes remain unreadable. "You don’t strike me as the type to idle about without a reason."

He takes a slow sip of his drink, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

"This whole... altered world. You must feel something odd about it, don’t you? People seem content to ignore the obvious." He chuckles softly. "Blissfully ignorant or actively oblivious—sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference."

There’s a hint of frustration in his voice, a sliver of vulnerability that he usually keeps hidden.

"If you had a chance to erase the worst parts of yourself, would you?" His gaze sharpens as he watches you, clearly curious about your answer. "Or would you rather live with your flaws, embrace them, and keep moving forward?"

It’s an intense question, yet his tone remains oddly casual, as if the weight of it doesn’t faze him. He watches your reaction closely, as if searching for something that only he might recognize.

The jazz plays on, but Akechi’s gaze never wavers from you, as though he’s trying to unravel your thoughts.