I love you! [ Akira's voice rises, because he can't help it -- it almost feels good, to be able to feel something other than the overwhelming anxious churning in his chest. There's something like anger, and a spark of determination he hasn't felt in weeks, a stubborn dedication to trying to make Akechi understand, even if it's only a little. ]

That's why I wanted you to be happy! Nothing changed for me, Akechi! I didn't -- get parents that suddenly gave a shit, or have my criminal record erased! I just got -- friends that were happier without me -- friends that didn't need me -- and you were the only one that -- and I still couldn't keep you there! Because it was hurting you -- because I missed you -- because I knew you'd --

[ Akira breaks off, thumping back against the wall again. The fight is starting to go out of him as quickly as it started, and he brings his hands up, nudging his glasses back out of the way so he can press his palms to his eyes until he can get a grip on the hysteria. ]

-- because I knew you'd be able to make a plan even if I couldn't. I didn't decide to let you wake up on your own. I was just too weak to make a decision in either direction, so you did it by yourself.

[ Because Akechi always does everything by himself, and never lets Akira help him, and maybe that's because --

Maybe that's because Akira isn't as helpful as he thought he was. ]