[It may well be the squeeze to his hand that makes him withdraw, pulling his hand free of Akira's and moving past him to exit the kitchen.]

Then you must not really need saving-- unless you mean the me Maruki dreamed up for you was saving you. In which case, by all means, it seems my interest in dying aligns with your interest in being needed, and it's not like I'd know any better after a while, if you let him fully take over. It's hardly even my choice to make, at this point.