I'll stay at least til dinner, then. If Akechi doesn't feel like I'm intruding, we can decide what else will come after. [If I can still think straight. If we don't beat each other unconscious. He'd like to at least taste Maruki's cooking. He'd offer to help, but... He did for Zenkichi, but that was different. This might be too forward. He can't be sure what's proper in this sort of situation.] If there's anything else you'd like to ask me, now or after, you're welcome to that, too. But...

[He takes a breath. Stops walking entirely, in fact.

It was important to say this before. It feels even more important now, when he doesn't know what will come after this.]

Before, when I said I couldn't lose... You said that you hoped so. [His hands grip the satchel that he's never owned before, and Akira remembers to breathe.] I just wanted to say that... it isn't something you have to hope for.

[He feels firm. Now... he feels like Joker.

He's the Kurusu Akira that faced Yaldabaoth and won.]

All you have to do is believe in me. If you knew me well enough to see the blood in the sky... believe in me. [His voice is strong, just a touch deeper. If it's the last thing he'll have a chance to say before whatever happens with Akechi, Akira is going to make it count.] If I won in a world without you in it, I'll never lose in one that has you.

[Another breath, and this one is a release. The conviction in his voice doesn't lessen, but his tone returns to something softer.]

That was all I wanted to say. Well- [A half-shrug and something that's almost a smile.] Not the only thing. But it was what I needed you to know.