Work Text:
Ticking away at her keyboard was beginning to become boring, Futaba felt like she’s seen the entire internet already. That is of course impossible but anything she found felt stale. She let out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair, she could clean up her room as Sojiro asked, or she could snoop on people.
The choice was easily made, you could say it was morally wrong to read up on private info of the people she knew and it probably was but it was fun to do- what were they gonna do? Arrest her? she dared them. If her friends cared they should've taken better care of their cyber security.
She had been at it for a while, digging up slightly scandalous secrets like people’s ao3 histories only to then be met with something that caught her off guard. Staring at Futaba from her screen was Akechi’s last saved fic, dating only a few days ago. She could only look at it, completely baffled by it. Beyond her amusement of finding out Akechi still reads fanfic- she couldn’t ignore the fact he was supposed to be dead.
After a minute or so of stagnantly sitting there, her hands moved across her led green keyboard again. Looking into everything she knew of the detective, his food blog had still been inactive just like all of his other social media. As far as the world knew he was dead just like Ren had explained to her and the team.
Annoyingly enough Akechi did care about cyber security and probably made an effort to stay hidden if he was Indeed alive. It was hard to pin down any other online activity, which meant he just overlooked the idea someone would be able to find his ao3 account or that this had just been someone else. However, his phone still seemed to receive messages, since no one had cared to delete him from their group chat.
So without any other options, Futaba did the most logical thing she could think of, annoy him until he responds to her. As a joke; she started using his Dm’s as a notes app. Making notes of things she wanted to buy, like a shopping list.
---
He didn't respond, which was probably expected, Futaba hadn’t even really thought through what she would've done if he did. Logically she should tell Ren, but it had made her sick to the stomach imagining that scenario. Telling him over the phone that the person he’d been grieving was alive this whole time and just didn't care to reach out, yeah that would be a conversation she wasn't equipped for.
She lay on her bed phone up in the air, staring at the unread messages. Maybe he was truly dead and she was trying to annoy a spirit long gone. Despite that grim thought, she added another Anime Figure to the list of things she could buy, it was an expensive one too.
---
Wednesday 8/2
3:00 Futaba: Risete Figure (26.010 Yen)
15:40 Futaba: Get Sojiro new coffee cups before he gets home (1.734 yen)
Friday 8/4
1:30 Futaba: Hatsune Miku acrylic stand (3.611)
Sunday 8/62
2:50 Futaba: reminder to go training with Sumire
17:00 Futaba: reminder to never go training with Sumire, everything in my body hurts.
Monday 8/7
13:30 Futaba: Don't forget groceries
- apples
- Curry spices
- Rice
- Beef
- And get myself some candy (Sojiro won't notice)
5:00 Futaba: would be funny if you send this to Ren
Thursday 8/10
2:35 Futaba: white swan figure (11.553 yen)
2:40 Futaba: also reminder to clean up moldy cups of coffee still in my room
2:41 Akechi: I wasn't planning on responding however someone should really discuss your horrible sleep and spending habits.
2:41 Akechi: Additionally, the picture you send would be a horrible way of bringing the news to Amamiya.
Okay breathe in, don't stress out. Futaba saw the first message Akechi send come in and she immediately went into panic mode- using comedy as her first defense.
2:42 Futaba: I think he would appreciate the joke ya know
2:42 Futaba: also you can't tell me what to do, you're also awake
2:43 Akechi: I'm an adult.
2:43 Futaba: L + Ratio + you're dead
---
Seeing as her technique of Annoying the man to reply worked, she just kept up the habit. Having someone to casually talk to without feeling bad about it was nice. If he didn't want her to be annoying, he shouldn't have abandoned Ren like that.
Friday 8/11
18:00 Futaba: here's a Red/gray fanfics you'd might like ;) [insert ao3 link]
18:20 Akechi: Why would you assume I would like this?
18:21 Futaba: I've seen your ao3 account
18:28 Akechi: You what?
18:28 Futaba: it's how I found out you were still alive
Akechi didn't respond after that, Futaba assumed this probably infuriated him. She was measuring in her head what was worse on the scale of stupidity, being caught as a traitor through pancakes, or having your fake death be outed by your ao3 history.
Saturday 8/12
3:22 Akechi: Did you tell him?
3:23 Futaba: hey now you're the one keeping ME awake, I have school ya know
3:23 Akechi: It’s Saturday, you don't have school.
3:24 Futaba: 0-0
3:25 Futaba: time and days are weird man
3:25: Akechi: You’re derailing the conversation.
3:26 Futaba: right, if I told Ren
3:26 Futaba: no I didn't, I think you should do that yourself
3:27 Akechi: I'm not going to do that.
3:27 Futaba: why not?
3:40 Futaba: you better contact him or I'll find your location
3:50: Futaba: no more fanfic recommendations for you!
Monday 8/14
13:00 Futaba: homework for English, memorize pages 13 and 14
13:30 Akechi: Stop using me as your notes app.
14:01 Futaba: you'll be stuck with me until you send Ren a message >:o
---
Really, Futaba should be doing more about this situation but she didn't have the confidence to talk about it. Adding onto that, if she told Ren it would just be an easy escape for Akechi. He had to face those consequences himself.
So to take charge she went on her computer to reveal the detective's location- either to scare him a little or to actually confront him in person. The latter was a big step, Futaba had been going to school this past year and her anxiety had lessened but that was mostly cus she had someone familiar around. Having Sumire be in the same class as she helped a lot when the world around her got too overwhelming. Going to Akechi was a mission she needed higher stats for.
While focused on her computer and tracking the networks Akechi’s phone was connected to as a way to narrow down his location- she got a notification on her phone.
18:34 Akechi: Forgot to say this, good job on going to school again.
Her mouth was left open a bit, not being able to fully believe it. Is Akechi saying something nice? This must be some imposter, she hasn't been talking to the real Akechi these past days, and that was the only explanation. Okay, maybe she was jumping to absurd conclusions but it just seemed a bit out of character for him.
Her eyes darted from her desktop to her phone, a mischievous smile replacing her previous surprise.
18:35 Futaba: aww thanks
18:35 Futaba: also is your address Karasu-dōri 5b?
18:37 Akechi: How did you?
18:37 Futaba: :)
Wednesday 8/16
14:22 Futaba: thoughts on the latest featherman episode?
14:22 Akechi: Pay attention to class.
14:23 Futaba: what do you do on the daily btw? You don’t seem to have a problem replying to me
14:24 Akechi: does it matter to you?
Futaba was on her walk to the station with Sumire after school when she got another notification.
15:30 Akechi: Why do you feel the need to message me?
15:31 Futaba: am with Sumire talk later
15:31 Akechi: I can call if you want.
That was a scary thought, Futaba hated calling people. She only ever called Ren and that was because he lived in a whole different town. Those calls were nice, they’d just talk about nothing really but the company of each other was enough. It made her miss Ren.
She looked back at her phone, “hey Sumire can I ask you something?”
Sumire glanced at her with a slightly confused looked behind her dorky glasses. “Well of course.”
“Let's just say, you have a secret that you can't talk about with other people but you also don't know how to handle that situation. What do you do?” her word came out rather quickly and muddled together because of that.
Despite the unclear and weird question, Sumire put her finger to her chin and thought on it- similar to how Akechi always did on tv. “I mean, I think communication is really important. So try finding someone you can trust to talk with.”
Futaba let her upper body hang defeated in the air. “I just told you I can't tell someone,” she whined dramatically.
“That seems like quite the predicament, that you're in.” Sumire provided bluntly but without malice. “But you're technically telling me now.”
“Guess so.” With a sigh, Futaba took out her phone. There was a short moment of silence right before she opened to floodgates of rambling. “So uh- Akechi is sort of still alive and I don't really know how to tell anyone or if I should and he just asked me if we could call and I'm terrified of calling and I need someone to help.”
“Oh,” Sumire said quietly, letting the words process in her mind. “Well, I’d be willing to call if you need help with that.”
Futaba handed the phone to Sumire, “you sure?” Sumire responded by nodding and taking the phone to her ear. Futaba watched with a beating heart, only now realizing how nervous this was all making her.
Sumire put the phone on speaker so Futaba could listen along. “Hey, Akechi-san this is Sumire.”
“Why are you the one calling from Sakura’s phone?” Akechi’s voice rang raspy like he hadn't talked in a while, There was a twinge of annoyance accompanying his words.
“Because you asked a girl with autism and social anxiety to call you, so she asked me to do it for her,” Sumire said sweetly, then moved over the phone a little to Futaba. “Want to say hi?”
“Uhm hello,” Futaba said quickly, being incredibly confused by how casual Sumire was treating all this.
Sumire continued, “so what did you want to ask Akechi-san?”
A loud groan was heard from the other side of the phone, “look this is-” he sighed, “Sakura keeps messaging me and it's getting annoying.”
“So explain why this is making you feel annoyed?”
“A 16 year old girl is trying to be my therapist right now-” Akechi complained.
In reply, Sumire just giggled. “Okay okay, Futaba are you willing to stop messaging Akechi-san?”
“No,” Futaba said with a smug smile.
“For visual, Futaba is currently smiling like a supervillain out for world domination.”
“That's relevant how?” Akechi asked.
“Anyway, Akechi I’ve given my ultimatum on what it'll cost for me to stop messaging you. I won't negotiate the terms, argue with a wall.” it came slightly meaner than Futaba intended, but she genuinely wants Ren and Akechi to make up so if he had to play mean, she would.
“This is stupid,” and with those words, Akechi hung up.
“Hm, I didn't get to ask him how his day was,” Sumire said with a frown.
“I mean, you have his number don't you?”
16:30 Akechi: why did Yoshizawa just send me a message asking me how my day way?
Thursday 8/17
2:00 Futaba: According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. [expand message]
2:01 Akechi: I hate you.
2:01 Akechi: And go to bed you have school.
2:01 Futaba: your whole tsundere stick isn't very hidden
2:02 Akechi: I only understand half the words you say sometimes.
Friday 8/18
18:00 Akechi: Can I be honest with you for a second?
18:00 Futaba: I mean yeah?
18:05 Akechi: So the reason I haven't contacted Ren is that I'm scared.
18:05 Futaba: scared of what?
18:10 Akechi: Sometimes there isn't a reason why people are scared I think, but part of it for me is that I’m scared I’ll just hurt him.
18:11 Futaba: I don't think he sees it that way
18:12 Akechi: We both know Amamiya, he tends to ignore his own needs before others. He's an idiot like that, so I wanted to be better when I saw him. That way he wouldn't have to worry for me.
18:14 Akechi: Similarly I think part of that was me avoiding the problem.
18:15 Futaba: I can relate to that
18:16 Futaba: I mean I avoided going outside for an incredibly long time.
18:16 Futaba: even now I'm shoving telling Ren about all this onto you because I'm personally too scared to do it myself
18:18 Akechi: Maybe there's a balance between waiting until you're ready or throwing yourself into the deep end.
18:19 Futaba: you're scared you'll hurt Ren by seeing him again, but the longer you wait the more it'll hurt.
18:20 Futaba: You don't have to be friends again, but at least talk it out.
18:22 Akechi: You know, Yoshizawa was right. Talking about this does help clear out my thoughts.
18:22 Futaba: SUMIRE PUT YOU UP TO THIS?
18:22 Futaba: and here I thought you finally learned how to communicate
18:23 Akechi: I'm trying.
18:30 Futaba: sooo
18:31 Futaba: we're both procrastinating telling Ren? Why not tell him together
18:32 Akechi: How would we do that?
18:33 Futaba: ya know, go to his house
18:33 Akechi: ...
18:34 Akechi: That’s a horrible idea.
---
“I don’t understand how you two put me up to this” Akechi said grumpily. He sat on a train seat opposite to Sumire and Futaba, both of them sitting together. “And why is she with us” he pointed to Sumire.
“I'm excited to see Ren-senpai’s hometown” Sumire replied cheerfully.
“And she's kind of like my social beacon, almost like a support animal- but a human,” Futaba added jokingly.
The train kart was completely empty beside them, which made sense since the town they were heading to was rather small. After a long drive of Akechi brooding and staring out the window, they arrived.
“So you did notify Amamiya we were coming?” Akechi asked.
Both the girls stayed silent.
“You notified Amamiya, right?”
They got to what Futaba knew was supposed to be his address and rang the doorbell, anxiety already building up. It was just Ren, it shouldn't be as scary as it was but considering the circumstances- well his reaction could go in many ways.
After a second of waiting, a familiar boy with black hair opened the door. Ren looked slightly tired eyes only fully opening when seeing the group of people in front of him. “Hello?” she stumbled out of his mouth.
“Wel hello Joker” Akechi said in a calm tone unfitting to his previous anxiety Futaba saw on the train.
Ren examined Akechi for a second, his eyes only focusing on the detective like at any moment he could vaporize into thin air. His words still stuttered in surprise “- do you guys wanna get inside, my parents aren't home so it isn't a problem.” it was clear that despite him trying to hide it, he was holding back tears.
Inside they sat around a coffee table on a couch, the living room was big enough to keep all four of them but it wasn't a spacious house by any means.
Ren stood in the opening between the kitchen and living room, “does anyone want coffee?”
“We're fine,” Akechi said curtly.
With that Ren sat down in a chair positioned around the same coffee table, he took in a deep breath. “Okay explain.”
Futaba fiddled with her hands, “so basically I found out Akechi was still alive through his ao3 account. I messaged him and eventually, we came to the conclusion it was the best we’d tell you together.”
“Akechi has an ao3?“ Ren said not hiding his surprise.
“Thats all you got from that?” Akechi said dumbfounded.
Sumire quietly spoke up, “I’d actually like a cup of coffee.”
Ren chucked a bit, “I'll make coffee later, first I’ll say I'm happy to see you again. Sumire don't you have training?”
“I have a day off, and I wouldn't miss an opportunity to see you.”
Futaba found the conversation comfortable, a lot less dramatic than expected. Then she realized a question she hadn't even thought of asking in the past weeks. “Wait Akechi, how are you actually alive?”
“I’m going to be entirely honest with you, I don't know.” he sighed solemnly, “I just woke up after the fight with Maruki like nothing happened.”
“And then you never told us you were alive.” this was the first moment there was something more bitter or hurt in Ren’s voice. He avoided eye contact with Akechi.
“I'm telling you now.”
Ren didn't reply, his eyes fixated on the table in front of him.
Futaba's eyes darted between Akechi and Ren “look, you're allowed to be angry with him but at least hear him out. Even if he's bad with communicating his emotions- so am I- heck it took Sumire to help for us to come to a decision and I'm rambling. Anyway my point is that he's trying to be better.” From the corner of her eye, Futaba swore she could see Akechi smile for a moment.
“Thats good to hear”, Ren said quietly. “You all did come all the way here, so try and tell me Akechi, why did you hide?”.
Akechi pondered his words for a moment and opened his mouth before closing it again. It was hard for him to come to the right way of putting it all. “I personally believe I don't deserve to be your friend and I thought I'd be helping you by not being around you. At least until I was a better version of myself.”
“Hm, I get that” Ren tried to choose his words carefully aswel. “If it's worth anything, I don't think you're a bad person but you also hurt me.”
“I know.”
“So then what do we say Akechi” Futaba bumped into his side with her elbow.
Akechi sighed, “I'm- I’m sorry”
“Wow I never thought I would hear you say that,” Ren said with amazement. “Well now, who wants coffee?” Ren stood up like everything was normal and went to the kitchen to make everyone a cup of coffee.
Akechi stared at him, “You will never not confuse me.”
Sunday 8/20
1:30 Futaba: just found out you did one of those BuzzFeed puppy interviews???
1:35 Futaba: this is hilarious
1:35 Akechi: I thought you said You would stop if we talked to Ren.
1:35 Futaba: nah you're too fun to annoy<3