[Akira's skill of observation aren't perfect. There are holes and patches in it, seeing the forest before the trees, the mass of wood and bark that blocked his eyes from the cracks in his best friend's heart. Sometimes he doesn't choose the right words, sometimes he doesn't understand as well as he should, and sometimes he misses things.

He doesn't miss the shake in Maruki's hands, and he's almost certain of what it means. He still remembers the shake of Futaba's hands the first time she saw one of them badly injured.

Akira drops the shirt and gently but firmly tugs Maruki's hands out of the water.]

Let me. [He says it soft, a sorry unspoken as he gets to work. Not everyone is equipped to deal with this; perhaps that's something he's forgotten a little, too.] If he's hard to take down, that poses a problem no matter where he's from. But I agree. I think we should count that towards him being summoned, too.

[Even as his mind is churning, trying to think of how to neutralize this new threat, he's observing the skin formerly hidden under blood. Not even a break left. Azathoth's healing might even be as strong as a Diarahan.

He wishes he had the innate skill to know the depths of someone's wounds like Futaba. He wishes he had any Persona that wasn't Raoul so he could do it again to be sure. And more than anything, he wishes he trusted any of the medical facilities here enough to tell Maruki to get treatment rather than relying on his own emergency healing or Akira's unequipped hands.]

If it happens again but we could attack him together... it might be enough. Between the two of us, we have a lot of firepower between us.

[It clogs in his throat: even if I'm at half-strength. He can't say that. Not yet. Not until he's absolutely sure.]