Akechi could see it.

See his hesitation when their true reality dawns upon him. Maruki’s words don’t help either, only adding fuel to the thoughts that are racing through Ren’s mind. He gets it, he really believes he does.

“Are you so spineless that you’d fold over some bullshit, trivial threat on my life?” But in their reality, the one where it all began, Akechi is dead.

He watches as Ren’s eyes look at him, then to Maruki when he’s put on the spot. Such a horrible question to ask a high schooler, such a shame that Akechi’s life is being used as leverage to get Ren to accept this fake reality. He would’ve shot Maruki a long time ago if he knew of what he was planning— he would’ve shot him now if it weren’t for Ren, sitting in the booth and facing the reality that if he doesn’t accept then Akechi will stay dead, forevermore.

“What do you intend to do?” Akechi asks the very moment Morgana’s out of sight. He takes in Ren’s appearance with a scrutinizing glance, finding how the Phantom Thieves leader is missing his usual confidence when it comes to such decisions.

It seems his only weakness is Goro Akechi himself. The very weakness that Maruki intentionally brought back to life.

Akechi allows the silence to go on for just a second— allows Ren to take in the features of his face before the final choice is announced— before he’s speaking up again.

“I won’t wait a moment longer. Answer me.”