Oh, that look is priceless. Just the reaction Ren was hoping for.

“Probably.” He shrugs, back to grinning with utter delight. “But it sounds special when you say it.”

Special, like Akechi himself, even if he doesn’t believe it. He is special to Ren. Why else would he still want Akechi on his team, as his friend, alive, after everything he’d done? It wasn’t out of pity, wasn’t about ego - that desire was born of genuine interest. Even Maruki, misguided as he was, seemed to understand the unique space Akechi held in Ren’s heart.

Maybe someday Ren would acquire the skills needed to convince Akechi of that, too.

Ah, well, that’s probably enough slacking off for now. The conversation is about to make a dangerous turn and swing back toward a too-serious place again. Ren drops his gaze and allows it to wander to another part of the garage than where Akechi stands. Oh look, a pile of tools scattered across a board propped up as a makeshift desk. Maybe if he pokes around a bit, he’ll learn how to use them by osmosis. Stranger things have happened.

“So … what else do I need to know about this place?”