Chapter Text
Dying is scary to people, and at first, it was also scary to Akira, but eventually, the leader of Phantom Thieves simply couldn't care about it. He died so many times that he stopped caring, what was the point? He would simply reset the loop earlier or later, and he would never get to send the dumb calling card.
He felt so lost, and so empty from everything that was happening over and over.
He could close his eyes and at this point exactly predict what his friends would say. He knew Minako was worried about his charming self - each time he appeared in the void, she had the same sad look in her eyes.
"Fuck this." He said to himself as he pushed Morgana off of him. It was 17th November. He was tired. He could end this run here before his stupid crush tried to shoot him and he could completely dodge all the bruises from the interrogation.
He grabbed his outside clothes and sneaked off from his room. He dressed up in the cafe and opened the doors to Leblanc. He hesitated for a second before stepping outside. It was late, so had to watch out for cops.
He started to walk around, not so many people were outside. It's not like he wanted to end everything here and now, but the idea was extremely interesting and downright seducing to him.
How would Akechi react if he found out he committed suicide? Would the detective even care?
What was even the point of his loops? He could simply ignore Akechi and let him die, that would break whatever the fuck was keeping him chained to the never-ending year. It couldn't be THAT hard to give up on your crush right? He could just... move on.
Even if he had his blood on his hands.
It's not like Akechi ever cared about having Akira's blood on his fucking hands.
Frustration and desperation were an awful emotional combination. Akira slapped himself. He was doing this for Haru as well. He wanted to save her from the pain of losing her dad. He could do it.
Maybe in another time lin-
"Kurusu-kun? What are you doing in here so late?" He heard a familiar voice. Shivers went down his spine. Should he pretend? Should just be honest?
"Couldn't sleep, and needed some fresh air."
"Ah, I see." Akechi's face was neutral, but he could see the sadness behind his eyes.
"Wanna hang out, you know since tomorrow is..." 'the day you shoot me and betray me for your daddy.' He mentally added.
"Won't you be ti-"
"Couldn't care less about being tired. I'm already tired from so much shit you have no idea about" he openly said. It was funny to see Akechi's eyes widen as he heard him swear. Akira was a good boy, never swearing, after all.
"Very well. Where would you like to go?"
"Not picky. Who cares? Just wanna spend last day with you..."
"What about Cafe?"
"I think Mona's asleep, so why not, just don't try any funny business" he winked at the detective, whose cheeks quickly turned red.
The two walked back to the Le Blanc. It was the first time he was having Akechi so late at his place.
Wait.
"Wait, o great detective, my blessing to this world, do tell me, what were you doing out at this hour?" He tried to crack the sad atmosphere between the two of them.
Akechi rolled his eyes. "I was thinking about tomorrow."
"Oh? You gonna miss my amazing self?"
"Perhaps. One house blend."
"You won't sleep if you drink it."
"Perhaps I wish to savor this night." There was sorrow behind Akechi's eyes. Akira has never seen this before.
"How come? We can still be friends after this ends, can't we, my prince?"
"Are you always this flirty?" Akechi said with a frown, but his pink cheeks were betraying him. Man, he was so cute.
"Only with you." He winked at the detective and served him the coffee he wanted.
"Your behavior might get you killed one day." Akechi's tone dropped down. And sipped a bit from his coffee.
"Who knows, maybe if I die, I will transfer my consciousness into another me from different universes and flirt with my cute detective friend even more."
"Interesting," Akechi replied while looking at his coffee. He was so cute with that red face. "I don't remember you being this..."
"Magnificent? Perfect? Sexy? Charming? I can help you with more synonyms."
"Irritating would be the proper word." The detective glared at him.
"Ouch, my feelings. That's just mean. I have to embrace my flirty side, I'm a barista with a cutie in front of me, what am I supposed to do. I would ask you for a number, but I have it or ask you to hang out with me, but we already doing that" Akira shamelessly winked. He loved seeing the detective's cheeks red. Deep inside he hoped it was because of his flirting and not because he was mad.
He waited for Akechi to say anything, but he didn't say anything, he just glared at him and drank his coffee. The silence between the boys allowed the demons inside Akira's head to remind him of their existence.
Akechi's eyes stopped glaring for a split second, replaced by confusion. It was so quick that if Akira wasn't good at paying attention to people, he would miss it.
'He has that with himself.'
'You can stop it here.'
'Why not let yourself be free?'
'It takes one click to deny tomorrow.'
'You already know how it will feel.'
Akira's thoughts were overtaken by his 'friendly' demons. With barely any hesitation he made his way toward Akechi.
"What are you doing," Akechi asked, his tone slightly shaking.
Akira didn't bother responding, he just leaned toward the detective. Gently pressing his hand against his chest. Akechi closed his eyes, face completely red. He seemed like he was expecting a kiss from Akira, which caused the black-haired boy's heart to jump.
But he didn't do it.
His goal was simple - steal his crush's gun. It was easy and as well-completed. He truly lived up to being a Phantom Thief. Akechi was not only surprised, but the blush was vanishing, turning his face extremely pale.
"Nice gun you got," Akira said, as his fingers trailed on the slightly warm metal. He had seen this same gun so many times. He felt it pressed against his forehead probably the same amount of times.
"Apologies, I tend to have it with myself in need of self-defense. The bullets are fake." Liar.
"So, if I shot myself with it, I would live?" He asked as he played with the safety switch. He knew the gun was loaded with real bullets.
"Perhaps. I suggest putting it down before-"
"I steal your chance to do it?"
Silence. Akira scoffed at the reaction. He did have the gun, so maybe letting Akechi know the truth wouldn't be so bad. He wouldn't remember, plus he could just shoot himself to seal his fate.
"Let's be honest here Akechi. I know the gun has actual bullets. I know about tomorrow."
More silence.
"I bet you are thinking something along the lines of 'how does he know?!' or 'I need to get rid of him now or I will never get a chance for my revenge against my dad!" Akira played with the safety switch. His eyes were glued on the detective, who seemed to be stressed.
Minutes went by in silence. Akechi finally broke and placed his head into his hand.
"How?" He asked.
"I told you, sort of. Every time I die simply... come back to life."
"That's not possible."
"How else would I know that you are gonna betray us, bring the police into Sae's palace? Get me captured and shoot my brain out like it's nothing?"
"You could have bugged my ph--"
"Yeah, anyway, don't worry I will shoot my own brain, I ain't letting you do it this time."
Akechi looked confused.
"I think this is gonna be my... 99th death? 100? I lost track of how many times I died to fix everything."
"Why are you always trying to be a hero?!" Akechi was mad.
"I'm not trying to be some fairy tale hero, I just want to save your stupid ass! You have no idea how many times I've seen you die ."
"Then let me be dead."
"I can't."
"Why?! You know everything, you probably know I cause mental shutdowns, what's the point in letting me live?!"
"Because I love you!" Akira yelled in frustration. Yup, he was shooting himself for sure. "Trust me, I hated your guts a long time ago. I don't even know when my emotions started to change. No matter what I do can't save you from your death."
Akechi stared at him utterly shocked. His cheeks had a soft tint of pink on his face.
"I don't know how my loops work on after I died... But please, be careful. In Shido's palace is a cognitive version of you. Expect Shido believes you are a dog that will obey his every order. If you ever feel tired, don't stay there too long."
Click
"Akira."
It felt so right to hear Akechi say his name. Under other circumstances, he would swoon. There was a bit of hesitation, but in the end, the leader of Phantom Thieves pulled the trigger himself.
"AKIRA!"
The world was getting blurry, it was nice seeing Akechi's face as the last thing. No blood, no anger, just pure shock. That was a new expression he got to see before he died.
Minako was humming a random melody when she felt the good old familiar feeling in her guts.
"Someone's back."
"It's me, everyone's favorite Trickster!" He bowed dramatically. She stared at him.
"More like an emotional mess. By the looks of your face, I can say that your detective boyfriend has something to do with it."
"Oh, yeah, I ended the run in November. The stupid demons that live in my head rent-free ended up winning over me."
Minako didn't say anything in response she walked in front of him and opened her arms, inviting him to a hug. Akira gladly accepted it and hugged her.
"You are doing a great job, I'm sure next time it will go right."
"Maybe you are right... But I'm still not looking forward to... being alive, again... just to die..."
Minako gently patted his head, which made Akira smile a bit.
"Cheer up, I believe in you."
"That makes one of--"
Both Minako and Akira clutched their heads in pain. It was sudden and weird. In the Void, they never felt... random pain like that. The two of them closed their eyes, as they got devoured by light.
Akira snapped and opened his eyes, he was standing on the train, and next to him was... Minako?! She was looking around, just as confused as he was. They were only two in the wagon, which was suspicious but sometimes it's better not to overthink.
"What happened, where am I, why am I not in--"
Akira couldn't help himself but hug his best girl in crime. She was shocked, tears were forming in her eyes but she hugged him back.
"Let's not bother with the details, and enjoy the fact you are alive! I can let you meet everyone now!" He felt alive, it was so long ago since he felt excited like this.
"But... What am I going to do? Unlike you, I was never-"
"Listen, if I learned anything from my past resets, is that what you choose somehow influences the world. Try to think of an acceptable background story and it might come true."
"Alright... My parents died in a car crash with my twin brother. I lived with my grandma but now she sent me to live... with my aunt?"
"Perfect, now who's the aunt?"
"Uhm... Your doctor?"
"Tae Takemi."
"Tae Takemi...?"
Both of them shivered at the suspicious feeling they experienced. As if something accepted Minako's background story.
"But I'm still Minako Arisato! I'm proud of my name and who I am."
Akira smiled at her, and it didn't take long for both of them to shiver once more.
"Let's hope you are also a student of Shujin. I would love to have some company while the rumors spread"
"Imagine if rumors ever came true, and everything people say about you became real."
"Whoever is controlling the world, please don't listen to Minako's ideas, thank you."
Minako chuckled and the two of them enjoyed the train ride to Tokyo. Neither of them knew why Minako was alive, but for the greater good, they weren't going to overthink it.
The two friends failed to notice the golden butterfly that was resting on one of the seats. It didn't take long for it to fly away.
'Good luck.'