Real & the Ideal: A Persona 5R Dark Sun Sequel (Goro Akechi x Amamiya Ren)

6: Do I Have the Right?

(?????? P.O.V, flashback)

"Welcome. Thank you for coming to see me."

I looked down briefly, then back up at the counselor. I nodded quietly.

"Yes. Thank you as well."

He smiled softly and tilted his head to me.

"Don't worry. I'll make it worth the trouble. Please, have a seat."

He held his hand out before me, gesturing to the seat just a few steps away. I sauntered over and sat down. A silence fell between us. I didn't know how to begin.

"Well, now is as good time as ever to start. Why don't we just chat a little?"

I habitually straightened my glasses.

"You can take your time, and discuss anything you're comfortable with. I'd love to get a grasp on your situation, from your perspective." The counselor then nodded to the bowl of sweets on the table.

"I've also got some snacks here. Please, feel free to take as many as you like."

I looked down towards the bowl, then back up again.

"Thanks..."

"You don't have to feel pressured to speak, either. I've already gotten a brief rundown, if its too uncomfortable to talk about. "

I felt a slight pang hit me in the chest. So he already knew...

"What I did want to ask, though..." The man leant back against his chair, placing his hand to his chin in thought.

"Did you have to force yourself to accept everything that happened? Or were you able to slowly come to terms? That is, if you've accepted it yet."

My eyes met his. An anxious wave hit me, and I looked down without speaking a word.

A moment of silence loomed between us, before he spoke again.

"No...I'm wrong. That doesn't seem to be it."

I kept my eyes averted. The man's tone changed, allowing for a bit lighter of a conversation.

"Sorry. Let's start somewhere else. What did you have for lunch?"

I looked back up at him.

"Hahah. Let me go first, okay? I was just telling this to another student recently. The other day, a friend of mine gave me some apples."

I wasn't sure if I was interested enough to butt in. I merely nodded.

"I grew tired of eating them by themselves, so yesterday, I thought I'd try them in a meal, and see how it tasted."

Sighing lightly, I ran a hand through my hair.

"I ended up making spicy shrimp - with apples. I hoped it would have the same kind of harmony that sweet and sour pork with pineapple did..." The counselor laughed sheepishly at himself.

"No such luck, though. I forced myself to eat the rest of that meal today, just so I could get rid of it without wasting it."

He was trying his best to open me up, but I didn't want to speak much. I looked away quietly.

"What about you? What did you have?"

I bit my lip.

"Leftover curry." I muttered lightly.