[Akira looks

and he knows

that they have always been two sides of the same coin.

Akira looks

and he knows

that this is the way they have always been meant to be.

He's seen this happen before. He knows what it looks like, when that look is in Akechi's eyes.

It's what he looked like in the belly of a ship that had its course charted to hell, full of life before he had none left.

Akira doesn't run this time. Won't. Can't. He charges straight forward, into the rampage heading his way.

Because I've already decided...]

If you're going to rip me apart, til there are no masks left- then so be it.

[He forces his body to roll one last time, past Loki, Arséne hot on his heels-

Weaponsn are parried. It hurts. It burns. It bleeds, even through that makeshift bandage. But Akira doesn't back down, and neither does Arséne.]

You're the only one I can let do that.

[They can't hold this forever, not against the might of both Akechi and Loki, but if Akira can buy just enough time...]

But there's still one thing I can't allow.

[I've already decided the reason I was able to wake up here, and nothing anyone in this reality says will ever change it.]

I can't afford to be killed by you yet. [A smile dropped, a voice as serious as a blade.] And I won't let you be killed, either.

[Akira still has the most important thing left to do. He will not die here.]

...Arséne.

[It's a risk - but nothing that Akira does in a fight is without it. He'll only have mere moments.

Arséne shoves away from Loki, even though it leaves Akira's back exposed. It would only take seconds for Akechi or Persona to tear Akira apart.

But that's the bait he's counting on.]

You won't get away from this, Akechi.

[At Arséne's hands, Riot Gun will form, and hit everything in a cone before him.

The recoil of a Gun attack will incapacitate Akira almost completely.

And unless he thinks of something... Akechi should finally fall.]