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... Oh.

[To both things, really, and he waits a quiet minute as he puts the heat down to just keep everything warm, taking Gold off his shoulders and putting him down beside Belle. Good kitties. Good Potato.

Then he goes over to Akira, kneeling down beside him to play with his hair. The pets follow, part curious and part because that's just what pets do.]

You're forgiven. For both things. I'm not mad about them, you know, the latter's actually quite funny when I tell those curious. [... Which is a number growing by the day. Should he not talk about it, then..?] What didn't you want to think about?

[Like, he should probably properly finish the meal first, but. Akira's more important.]

[ AKira's is awkwardly smiling, but he doesn't want Goro coming over here. It doesn't show on his face. Instead, his body is just stiff, but he enjoys the pets. It's still soothing in their own right. ]

I know, but still. [ There's a nervous chuckle as he closes his eyes now, worried that the tension can be seem in them. ] We can talk about it when you're done cooking.

[ He wants to stall, but shows signs of being cooperative. There's only person he has told the memory to, but he knows he should talk about it. It doesn't hold anything over him anymore—at least not as much as before. ]

I'll be fine.

[Goro stares down at him, frown growing as he tugs Akira's hair a little firmly.]

There's no way I can believe that when you're so stiff, you know. [But his edges soften, as does his tone, and he looks more concerned than anything.] Rely on me. I have to wait for the rice to go off anyway.

[So he's got a minute, essentially.]

[ He groans before lightly swatting Goro's hand away. Stop!! ]

I'm not that stiff. [ He just would rather not talk about it. ] I think it'll take longer to explain than a minute, but you asked for this.

[ Mentally crossing his fingers that the rice cooker will play its little tune in the middle of this conversation. A sigh escapes him before he starts. ]

Have you visited my nightmares last month? It's probably familiar if you have, but I received a memory that month where reality fused with Mementos... Since the Phantom Thieves failed to stop the process, we started to fade out of existence. It was scary, but I think the worst part is seeing fear in their eyes before they vanish.

[ Quiet, he twiddles his thumbs as he keeps his gaze at the ceiling again. ]

There was more after that, but it was hard to piece together at the time. For a while, I thought it was... [ "my fault." ] The end.

[Mementos... the weird subway? Goro's quiet as he listens, regaining nothing from this and knowing, or at least suspecting, exactly why. He pulls his knees to his chest and rests his chin on them, feeling oddly unsatisfied with pulling it out of Akira.]

You thought it was your fault.

[He vaguely recalls the shadow thing blaming Akira for something or other too, though he doesn't remember what. Only that it was kind of upsetting.

He reaches out to pet Akira's head again, fingers curling into themselves as he hesitates and then retracts it with a soft hum. The rice cooker will absolutely go off while he's getting his thoughts together? And he's going to pin a glare in its direction before putting Potato back on Akira's chest.]

That's terrifying. [It's a lame response, but it'll do as he goes to finish up their meal.] Sorry.

[About pressing it. That he had those memories in the first place. That... he can't quite understand how bad it is, that he never experienced it, that the month after must have felt exactly the same. But Goro's never been good at comforting others -- the words just don't come -- so they remain quiet in his mind.]

I suppose August must've been rough on you.

There's no reason to be sorry.

[ Goro did nothing wrong. Akira could have easily glossed over it, even asked if he could keep quiet instead. He's sure Goro would understand... Whatever feeling of heaviness is conjured on his own. At least the weight and happiness of a little furball lightens it up. He smiles fondly before petting Potato.

When he thought he could bounce back, he's just hit with August. Carefully, he turns onto his side and settles Potato on the floor. ]

Yeah... It was similar. People forgot those that once existed and everything.

[ He remembers being so desperate to bring the missing people back even if it meant they had to ally with Retrospec, their perceived "enemy." His muscles ached the whole time. He didn't get enough sleep— ]

But most returned safely, so I'm glad for that.

Now I feel a little guilty for having so much fun... next time I go traveling, I'll take you with me. I think it'd be nice. Um, thank you for telling me.

[Even if it wasn't his choice at the time to go travelling or not?? He still feels bad about it, especially now that he knows that he (and others) inadvertedly worried and scared Akira. Even if he has no reason to be sorry, he still wants to make it up to him some how.......

Beginning with dinner, the clatter of plates alerting to such.]

Where would you like to go? If you could go anywhere.

[To move onto a better topic while he gives Akira extra stir fry on his plate.]

[ His nose wrinkles as the aroma finally settles in the air, practically wafting to wherever he is. It's hard to focus on the comforts of a soft puppy when he can hear the rumbling of his stomach. It's time to head back into the kitchen, though there is a rather pensive look at he first washes his hands at the kitchen sink.

Traveling. He has moved to so many places, but a trip to relax and remember there's a place to come home to is very foreign to him. It sounds nice. ]

Thailand.

[ It would be fun, the sights would be amazing, and the cuisine is amazing. When he dries his hand with a paper towel, he slides onto a seat!! Eyeing his plate. ]

What did you have in mind?

[ His guess is somewhere in Europe. ]

[Thailand...... Interesting. Have your plate, he'll sit across.]

You're thinking I'd choose someplace European, aren't you. [Slightly accusatory. But he laughs a little, playing with his fork.] You're not wrong, I would like to sometime, but I think I'd like to return home to Japan first. I remember the sights around Tokyo quite vividly, and I've always wanted to see the rest of the country too.

[Recolle has a nice part that feels similar to it, but it's very distinctly not it too. Doesn't have the thousands of shrines or just as many years of history.]

Other than that... Belgium or Switzerland, maybe. Though once you're in Europe, it isn't hard to take a tour of the whole continent, pressed together as they are.

You're getting better at reading my mind, Mister Akechi. [ Golf claps. ] Returning home to tour would be nice.

[ He'll start eating once Goro is situated at the table. After one bite, he's silent as he listens so he can enjoy the rest of his meal. Bless dinner. Food is the ultimate comfort. ]

It would be cool to check out a whole continent.

[ Obviously not against it. ]

[It really is. Bless dinner. And... he doesn't mind it?? Oh, good, plans are best made in advance anyway.]

If we went to Australia, we could explore an island, a continent, and a country all in one go. Maybe we can see the Great Barrier Reef before it dies out completely too... oh, but most of Australia is brush besides the shore cities, it's quite dangerous out there.

[So maybe not... On the other hand, going to New Zealand and seeing where a lot of fantasy movies take place would be fun? He's starting to daydream about mountain climbing.]

Isn't the most venomous marine animal also in Australia?

[ He thinks he saw it on animal planet one time, but he's not at all discouraged. He's about 80% sure that the little jellyfish are in waters with labels on them already. If anything, he seems interested by the sound of it. They can go to such a dangerous land, but also have a grand time.

Maybe even fight kangaroos. Idly, he starts spinning his eating utensils. ]

I'd like to see the Sydney Opera House at least once.

[ Dream Big. Dream Dangerous. ]

[... akira really is good with his hands--]

Keep the beginning of April open and maybe you will.

[ Not wrong, but he sometimes drops stuff. Sorry. Not to day, fortunately. ]

You're optimistic. What will we do if we end up being trapped here?

[ It's just a random thought since he couldn't get a hold of his father again. ]

I've been afraid of that, honestly. That we'll be stuck here.

[And disappear forever, reset in a new Retrospec city, but he doesn't want to say that to the guy who had a memory of everyone fading away.]

If that becomes apparent by the time your birthday rolls around, I have a back up plan.

[Or, well, he will. By that time.]

That the rest of the world just disappears? Eaten by unreality... But that won't stop you and your evil plan set on my birthday.

[ He chuckles a bit at the thought since he doesn't seriously think it would happen. It would be such a steep change from what they've dealt with so far being concentrated in the city of Recolle.

Eating a bit more, he finishes his plate entirely. ]

Thanks for the meal.

[... Oh, right, eating. He should've been doing that instead of playing/picking at it. Goro smiles.]

Of course, Akira. It's truly my pleasure to see you enjoy the things I cook.

[HE. HE WILL EAT PROPERLY NOW.]

It's a bonus that I like doing it.

[... besides, it's one of the things he's always thought as a way to show someone you care about them.]

I should start cooking for you, too. You probably remember I said I've been practicing.

[ At this point, he has tried other things aside from Finnish food for Tuuri's fake movie. Likewise, he has exchanged food with a friend of his so they can learn together. Since he's done, he deposits the plate into the sink and searches for a water bottle or get himself a glass. ]

So how's your food? Now that it's cold from neglect.

[ He slides back into his seat as he takes a sip of his water. ]

[He does, and that sounds really nice. Being cooked for... his smile's becoming more genuine, and he chuckles lightly at the question.]

Please do. I'd love to try them. And... it's fine, thank you. More like lukewarm than cold. Absolutely disgusting, actually, but I made it so I'll eat it.

[you cannot waste food.]

[ He's quiet, merely smiling as he looks at Goro. It continues and it doesn't even seem like Akira is blinking (because he isn't). It's almost an unnerving stare as he props his head on a hand, elbow digging onto the table. ]

You could reheat it.

[ dumbo ]

[................ Excuse him, he'll. Do that. God.]

I'm glad you're seeing the most useless sides of me now, once we're together. I can't imagine it's very charming or reassuring to a potential dater.

I do remember this one time that you were so immersed in talking about your cases that you forgot to eat your pancakes.

[ Are you ready for this, Goro? Sorry. He's going to count down the list. ]

Cold pancakes must have been tasty.

Oh, spare me.

[You'll torture your own boyfriend like this... Terrible.]

I get the same way about studying or reading a good book... I'm no good at taking care of myself, I suppose. Lucky I have you.

I can play mother hen once in a while, but I can't always be there to nag you to eat, all right? I already have trouble getting Yusuke to remember meals exist.

[ But he will go the distance to make Goro food and make sure his boyfriend is well taken care of. ]

Any plans with your actual mother for Thanksgiving?

I'll be fine, I promise. Worry about your roommate.

[Though he appreciates it, really. Because he is bad at remembering to eat when he focuses on something. Goro returns to the table with his reheat food and pushes it around briefly as he hums, thinking of the plans.]

We usually have it with my aunt and uncle, as well as a separate for ourselves, but since I'm planning to do something for Miss Velveteen and Silver this year... I think I'll see if she won't just keep to one this year. [An amused, if slightly strained smile.] It might cut down on some costs too. Any plans with yours?

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