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The thing was- Goro Akechi was remarkably adept at positively blindsiding Akira.
From the moment they met, Akechi never did what Akira expected. Outing himself as a fellow Persona user- or at least someone who had visited the Metaverse- shortly after they first met. Inviting Akira out to a jazz club. Baring his soul and hanging his dirty laundry in the middle of the bathhouse. Having a power similar to that of the Wild Card, maybe- Lavenza wasn't any help in that regard. And then, of course, revealing he had known he was Maruki's bargaining chip the whole time. Followed almost immediately by Goro opening the door to LeBlanc on February 4th, quite alive. Few things caught Akira off-guard, but Akechi ranked in the top two.
So of course, the confession- if it could even be called that- was yet another curveball.
It was White Day. Akira had gotten a few treats for the female members of the Phantom Thieves, but simple things that wouldn't be read as romantic. He wasn't expecting anything for himself, naturally. So when Akechi came in at his usual time, he didn't think anything of it. Until a box of chocolates was being shoved into his hands.
"This... is difficult to admit, but I... shit, I've never been good at these things," Akechi mumbled to himself. "Look. You've made your emotions towards me quite clear, particularly after the whole... ordeal last month," he explained, waving his hand vaguely. "That's not to say I'm expecting a reciprocation, but I would be really pissed off if you decided to reject my feelings. Because they're- they're mutual," he finished, crossing his arms. His cheeks were painted with the same red as his Crow mask.
Akira looked at the chocolates. Not homemade- probably a good thing, considering Akechi's skills in the kitchen- but store-bought. Not from a major brand, either. From a smaller, independent place. Affordable, but still over-priced. The label indicated they were dark chocolate with coffee-flavored filling. Akira's favorite.
"Guh," Akira said intelligently.
“Oh, just say you agree and accept,” Akechi snapped. “I don’t want to be-” He exhaled sharply through his nose. “I… sincerely do want to try dating. If you’ll have me.” His posture was rigid, perfectly trained, but his face betrayed the bashfulness it was hiding.
Akira swallowed. There were a lot of responses he could offer. The most obvious- and, by a landslide, best- would be to say he accepted. Maybe layer on the snark with “trying to kill me isn’t the usual flirting technique.” Embrace the Joker persona (heh) in full and swoop Akechi back for a dramatic kiss.
Instead, he said “I leave for Inaba tomorrow.”
Akechi looked down, suddenly interested in his spotless shoes. “I am aware.”
“Awfully poor planning on your part.”
“Perhaps it was intentional,” Akechi muttered into his scarf. The blush was practically luminescent at this point. Akira might’ve found it awkward, but it was pretty amusing seeing Akechi this flustered and out of his element. Perhaps a bit cute, even.
Akira sighed, setting the chocolates on the counter. So Akechi managed to surprise him yet again. But their time spent together taught him a great deal. For example- how to surprise him back.
He looked up at Akechi and smiled sadly. “It’s gonna be a rough month without my boyfriend, then.”
The expression on Akechi’s face was worth it alone. First, visible and understandable confusion- forehead creased and eyebrows furrowed. Then, embarrassment as he mouthed the word ‘boyfriend’ to himself. And finally, a mix of realization and more confusion. “A mont- Kurusu, explain.”
Akira chuckled. “I guess you hadn’t heard… Boss was kind enough to extend his hospitality for another school year, if I wanted it. I’m only returning to Inaba to get the rest of my stuff and finish some paperwork at my old school.”
Akechi’s shoulders were hunched enough to reach his ears. “This isn’t funny, Akira. We both know how hard it was for you to be accepted at Shujin in the first place.”
“The brass are a lot more sociable when people like Sae and the head of Okumara Foods put in good words,” Akira explained.
He could see Akechi’s brain whir, trying to find some kind of rebuttal out of sheer denial and disbelief. “What about your family?” was the feeble argument.
“...my family is here in Tokyo. Just because they’re my parents doesn’t mean- you, of all people, should understand,” Akira replied softly. He took a step closer to Akechi. “Besides, people in Inaba like to talk. Even with my record cleared… it took them so long to stop harassing the Junes owner’s kid, and he didn’t even do anything.”
Outside, the wind blew through the street, rolling a can along. Distantly, there were the sounds of the subway, of the bustle and beauty of Shibuya. Akechi inched closer to Akira. “So?” he said, looking him in the eyes. His face was void of emotion… except his eyes. Those betrayed the faintest specks of hope, curled around each eyelash.
Akira laughed. He grabbed Akechi’s wrist, pulling him flush against his chest. “I accept your confession, Goro.”
The way Goro stiffened against him, before quickly melting like foam was endearing, if a bit sad. Akira didn’t dare mention it; Goro was likely insecure about being touch-starved. But it was nice, the way Goro wrapped his arms around his waist. As if he belonged there.
And he did. He really did.
“This… thank you, Akira. You’re right, it’ll be a difficult month without you.”
Then he looked up, grinning exactly as he would under the Black Mask guise. “…is what I would say, if I wasn’t coming to Inaba with you.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Goro hummed. “I admit I’m not due for another week and a half, but Shirogane-San wanted to discuss some things with me. I believe I still have our email exchange, if you’re that unconvinced.” He dug out his phone, raising one perfect eyebrow.
That bastard was far, far too good at surprising Akira. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.