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

7: I Refuse to Go in Blind

This reality..it's cruel, and unfair..

(Akechi P.O.V)

I won't make promises without knowing all the facts.

Rushing into a Palace to demolish this somehow fabricated reality was rooted in every fibre of my being. The Palace ruler had taken away my free will to experience my life, so ofcourse the first thing I wanted to do was infiltrate and rip him apart.

The very fact that I didn't readily have the power over my own life disgusted me, to say the least.

Ren was fully aware of that.

...but it wasn't just about me anymore.

The brash strategy of destruction by assumption alone wasn't the solution. If I was rushing into this by myself, it wouldn't matter. I'd die in battle if it meant securing my freedom.

But I wasn't about to bring Ren down with me, if it meant that my destiny was woven too deeply into the fibres of this Palace. Yeah, maybe he could be a little annoying sometimes with his showoff attitude, but I loved him.

I wouldn't risk his safety for my own selfish morals. Much less in a Palace that was powerful enough to change our everyday life.

And most likely a Palace that could down both Ren and I easily, if not properly prepared.

After all, based on the fact that Ren and I both held the wild card, yet I was the only one affected by this odd distortion..

There was a strong possibility that I was connected somehow.

"You're going back on your word!?"

Ren didn't often yell, so I knew by his loud reply that he wasn't happy.

I stopped walking, my back to him as I listened. It was clear how confused he was.

"You can't be serious. You don't want this to change? Everything you suffered for...you're okay with it being for nothing!?"

I still didn't reply. He didn't understand, and I wasn't yet willing to explain. I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment to try and will my patience to last longer. If I walked away now, it would surely do more damage than good.

"Akechi!" Ren stomped over to me and grabbed my shoulder as he growled my name furiously. I spun around at the same time, shoving him roughly in the chest to gain some space between us.

"Get off." I hissed. Joker was gritting his teeth as he panted through his anger.

I know this isn't what you want...

But I can't just follow your justice blindly, Ren...

I took another deep breath, before meeting my eyes with his. For only a moment, I held his gaze, then turned away dismissively.

I'll never tell you this, but it's for your own good. Going in alone, just the two of us, is stupid.

Under my breath, I muttered as I walked away. I didn't care if he heard.

"I'll fix this bullshit myself..."

---------------

(Hours later)

The remaining hours of our Bathouse visit went by without a hitch. The rest of the group woke up, had breakfast, and we sat and relaxed in the hotspring one more time before all stuffing ourselves into the large blue minivan and driving home.

I sat in a seat away from Ren. We hadn't spoken since our argument.

It wasn't too much of a burden on my heart though. Misunderstandings between couples happen, and my reasons were right, even if Ren didn't understand them yet.