[ Those words have his expression flickering with something, and then he... goes still, his eyes just a tad bit widened. He doesn't even realize he's diving into a flashback, because it's happening so quickly.
And, really, it's strange... Should he already be forgetting what Kurama's voice sounded like on a normal day? During the trial, it... hadn't sounded quite the same as the voice he'd grown to love...
"Yes, I killed Sanzashi-san. I swapped his cigarettes when I helped him set up the party. And gave myself that one last night to be your friend.
"Akira, don't do this. Not for me."
... The Akira, in that place, had been so much more determined... So much stronger...
"Shut up!
"We're not only doing this because we care, but because enough is enough. No more people being backed into corners. No more watching each other die.
"You don't want me to do it for you? Fine... I'm doing it for all of us. The sooner we find a way to stop one of these things, the sooner we can get everyone home."
And in those final moments... Kurama's voice had sounded... even more different...
"I knew I might die again here today. I also knew I would never make poor Nyaf-ya do it."
...
"Kurama, don't-!!!"
He knew who he was, back then. Even in the face of all that loss, even after watching Kurama die, he'd had... so much more within him.
... Who is he, now...?
Akira doesn't know how long he was trapped in thought, but he's a tad bit paler than normal as he looks back to the tea. Thanks to having lost track of time, he's actually not even sure if it's ready... but... he quietly slides it over to Jonathan. ]
tw: implied suicide, clear signs of trauma
And, really, it's strange... Should he already be forgetting what Kurama's voice sounded like on a normal day? During the trial, it... hadn't sounded quite the same as the voice he'd grown to love...
"Yes, I killed Sanzashi-san. I swapped his cigarettes when I helped him set up the party. And gave myself that one last night to be your friend.
"Akira, don't do this. Not for me."
... The Akira, in that place, had been so much more determined... So much stronger...
"Shut up!
"We're not only doing this because we care, but because enough is enough. No more people being backed into corners. No more watching each other die.
"You don't want me to do it for you? Fine... I'm doing it for all of us. The sooner we find a way to stop one of these things, the sooner we can get everyone home."
And in those final moments... Kurama's voice had sounded... even more different...
"I knew I might die again here today. I also knew I would never make poor Nyaf-ya do it."
...
"Kurama, don't-!!!"
He knew who he was, back then. Even in the face of all that loss, even after watching Kurama die, he'd had... so much more within him.
... Who is he, now...?
Akira doesn't know how long he was trapped in thought, but he's a tad bit paler than normal as he looks back to the tea. Thanks to having lost track of time, he's actually not even sure if it's ready... but... he quietly slides it over to Jonathan. ]
Not as much as some people...