#I’M A SHAPESHIFTER AT POE’S MASQUERADE‚ HIDING BOTH FACE AND MIND. (AKIRA)

[brdcge]

oh btw heres my biggest akira hc

[lovelypersona]

Sunday (Akira Kurusu x You)

A/N: holy shit im writing for persona again who saw that coming!!! 

Word Count: 3,400+

Summary: You used to be friends with all of the Phantom Thieves. But now? You aren’t sure where you stand in their life as you sit in the diner, stood up once again. 

Commission Me

Where have you been?

Been searching all along

Came facing twilight, on and on,

Without a clue

Without a sign…

The rain comes down in thick sheets outside, the water smacking down on the roof and windows of the diner you sat in, undisturbed and dry. You had luckily made it in on time before the downpour started… but the seat across from you remained empty. 

Truthfully, as sure as the weather, you had expected just as much that he wouldn’t show. Akira, though only a high schooler, same as you, seemed unusually busy. Plans always seemed to fall through… but it seemed he always had time for the other friends he met along the way. Friends that you met, too, and you felt like you belonged with. Friends that were all dear to you- but maybe you weren’t as dear to them. 

You sigh as you run the tips of your fingers against the rim of the coffee mug in front of you. It’s been empty for quite a while, and the coffee tastes nowhere near as good as Boss’s. You were upset that your friend had decided to be a no show again, but you can't bring yourself to be disappointed. As stated before, you weren’t expecting anything different. 

Maybe it was silly to keep this charade going, you think. Maybe it was time to finally face the facts. 

Without grasping yet, 

The real question to be asked…

Where have I been?

You were beginning to feel like a porcelain doll. Fake smile, pretty hair… fragile and right about to break if shoved to the side.

Which, unfortunately for you, this was exactly the case since you met Akira. You could feel you weren’t ever a priority for him. Always shoved to the side… to be dealt with later at a more convenient time. It begs the question- what on earth was Akira’s priority anyway?

You had accepted since that rainy Sunday spent alone in a booth that you would never get an answer and your friendship with the entire group of misplaced misfits would never get better. If they wanted to brush you off… you figured you would do the same. Smile, say the right things, do what’s expected of you at the moment… but not a lick more than that. It was only fair. Why give and give when you are never given back? 

You felt hollow like a porcelain doll, too.

I’m a shapeshifter at Poe’s masquerade, 

Hiding both face and mind, 

All free for you to draw.

I’m a shapeshifter, 

What else should I be?

Please don’t take off my mask, 

Revealing dark…

“Has anyone noticed something off about ___ lately?” Makoto is the one to bring it up during their meeting in Le’Blanc. Everyone exchanges glances and nods and the student council president sighs. 

“They’ve seemed… I don’t know? Less spunky?” Ryuji scrunches up his face in confusion. 

“I’d say less energetic,” Ann butts in, “less… like ___. Like they’re trying to be someone else.”

“Withdrawn,” Akira says simply, the one word like the final puzzle piece everyone needed. Ryuji lights up. 

“Yeah, that’s it!” And then he dims down again. “But why?” 

“You don’t think something happened, do you?” Futaba fidgets in her spot, frowning and Makoto softly rubs her back. 

“It’s possible,” she sighs. “But I don’t know what it could be.”

Yusuke hums, a contemplative look on his face as he cups his cheek. “They don’t have family troubles, do they?”

“I don’t know a lot about their home life…” Akira says, and everyone else seems to feel the same. 

“Well, what do you guys know?” Morgana looks skeptically across the room, stretching his back lazily on the table. By now, he’s expected an answer, but as he looks at the group, he sees the lost expression everyone wears. Morgana’s ears droop back. “...I think that’s the issue.” 

Indeed. 

Moments of calm

Nothing left to be found 

A mirror right in front of me; 

That’s where I find an empty glass

Reflecting the sad truth,

It’s telling words not to be told...

Your grades were never the best, but they haven’t been getting better. They’ve taken a long steep dive into No Coming Back- This is Bad territory, but you can’t bring yourself to care. You never really cared about school what with their corrupt system and unfair teachers anyway- you only came for your friends. 

But you don’t really have friends anymore, so… 

You don’t know why you keep going to school if it’s only to look out the window and fail tests and wish you were anywhere else but there- seeing the people you love, being in their reach, and yet never being spared a glance. 

Home isn’t much better either. Your father basically hates you, always has, and he hates your grades- he thinks you’re a failure and he makes sure you know it every time you come home. 

You know you’re a failure.

For a second, you thought you weren’t. You thought, hey, I can do this. I can be someone- something-- if I can be with them.

But they’re gone, and they took a sacred part of you with them, so now you’re stumbling and trying to piece yourself back together. 

But you have no idea how.

I need the mask.

You don’t really care for Sundays. School isn’t in, which means you can stay home with your unhappy father or you can go outside and be all by your lonesome. Of course, the answer is always to go outside- you can’t stand the stiff and horrid energy your father gives, making anxiety swirl in your stomach all day. 

You’re wondering where you could possibly spend your day when an unexpected ting comes from your phone. 

Even more unexpectedly, it’s from Akira.

Akira: Are you busy today? 

You purse your lips and wonder what he could possibly want. 

You: Why?

---

Akira and Morgana sigh at your response. “That’s not really a good sign, is it?” The cat looks worriedly at the phone and Akira frowns. No, it’s not, but at least you replied, right?

“Just keep trying,” he huffs and types on the keyboard, trying again.

Akira: I wanted to hang out, all of us. Morgana misses you.

Said cat smacks at his hand, claws out and all and Akira yelps. “What?!”

“You can’t even give them the simple knowledge that you miss them, too?!” 

“Well-”

The phone buzzes, taking his attention away from his angry partner. 

You: Oh. I don’t know, don’t you guys hang out a lot? I don’t want to intrude.

You: If you wanted to hang out with someone, you should ask the people you really want to see.

Needless to say, his heart sinks. 

---

Akira: I asked you because I want to see you. I’m sorry I haven’t lately. 

You: Do you even remember last Sunday?

Akira: Why?

You: Then you don’t. You wanted to ‘hang out’ then too, but not with me. You had time for everyone else, but couldn’t even give me a message to stop waiting for you in the diner. 

You: Stop acting like you care when you don’t.

Sent at 9:33am.

---

There’s a hot, sizzling, awful feeling inside your stomach that reminds you of anger as you shove your phone in your pocket and continue to walk aimlessly around Shibuya- but with a lot more power in your steps than before. There’s another feeling besides that, just beneath the anger- a watery, upset and guilty feeling. You know you shouldn’t have snapped. 

How unlike you, right? 

You have to remember to play the part, don’t you? Act like you don’t care, act as a friend, act like you’re okay, act, act, act act act act- 

Your phone is buzzing but you can’t bring yourself to look at it as you- unknowingly- make your path to the diner and inside. You aren’t even aware that you’ve ordered a coffee until the kind waitress with sympathetic eyes places it down in front of you. 

A watery, broken sigh escapes you as you hide your face in your hands, trying to quell down your crying, but you can’t. Silently you weep alone in the corner of the diner, shoulders shaking and composure breaking. 

I’m a shapeshifter, 

Chained down to my core. 

Please don’t take off my mask, 

My place to hide…

“Why’d you call a meeting so early?” Ryuji yawns from his place on Akira’s couch. Futaba doesn’t look much better, more or less falling asleep as she leans against the blonde. Makoto rolls her eyes. 

“It’s 10.”

“Way too early,” Futaba groans, her eyes drooping before Akira smacks the table. The sound is enough to wake everyone up, standing alert and ready as they look to their leader. He drops his phone on the table, free for everyone to see as he frowns deeply. 

“We have a problem,” is all he says. 

It doesn’t take long for everyone to read it and for the facts to sink in. “Last Sunday…” Haru speaks. “It was raining, wasn’t it?” 

“Which means we probably went to Mementos…” Makoto raises a hand to her forehead, a guilty look on her face. 

“What do we do?” Ann questions, nervously tugging on her pigtails. “I… don’t think this is going to be easy.”

“The fact we barely know anything real about them and we still managed to let them down isn’t very encouraging,” Yusuke says. 

“I hate to be the one who says it,” Ryuji stiffens up, “but what can we do? Mementos, palaces… it’s bigger than them. We have to do this. We can’t help that they aren’t a part of it.” 

Everyone glares at him, but only because they know that he’s right. Except for one.

“You’re all hypocrites,” Akira hisses through his teeth, his expression furious as he gestures to his messages on the phone. “You all make time for someone! Makoto, you still talk to Eiko, and Ann still makes time to visit Shiho!” The leader angrily pockets his phone. “We all have somebody outside of this- this thing we’re trying to do. I thought you all cared for ___. Are they really so easy to push aside?” 

And yet, something curls unsteady in his stomach. Whispers in his ear, are you free of blame? Didn’t you do the same? Wasn’t it so easy to forget they were ever around?

Akira feels sick. With himself and with his friends. He knows it’s probably just the stress of school and the deadline- but their implications toward their friendship with ____ just--- he couldn’t believe it. 

“I’m going to go see them. I’m going to fix this. They deserve more than what we’ve been giving them.” 

What he has been giving them.

——

Alone in the diner, you begin to dwell on the past. It’s something you do a lot because it’s easy- the present is so sad and hard, so you’d rather think about another time when things were better. You still remember how you met Akira- and by meeting him, you eventually met everyone else. 

He had been studying in the library. Makoto was there too, she always was, but she had a fine way of tuning everyone out as she absorbed herself in her studies. She didn’t hear the relentless whispering from all around the room- all targeted at the new boy. But you did. 

How can anyone focus with all this noise? You watch him carefully- it’s a little hard since he’s hidden behind a cubby, and you feel a little creepy for trying so hard- but you want to know if he’s bothered. Does he notice how people talk to him? How can he stand it?

Do you think he’s studying, or do you think he’s planning his next crime?

The voice reaches out a little more than the rest- when you glare at the person it came from, they don’t seem to notice or care. And then you look back at Akira- you notice how his pen has stopped moving and his shoulders are stiff. 

So he noticed it, then. 

You knew what it was like to be rumored about and bullied. It’s not hard to become the butt of the joke in school- kids are judgemental and mean, it’s just what they do. But this seems too unfair… can’t you do something?

Without realizing it, you’ve walked up to Akira’s cubby and tapped on his shoulder. He merely looks up at you, a concerned look in his eye that you don’t blame him for.

“Hey, if you want to study without any noise…” You slowly start, “I know that the club room on this floor is empty right now.” 

There’s a nervous beat in your chest as you offer this to him. You hope he doesn’t take it the wrong way- you don’t want to get rid of him, you just want to help. You readjust your school bag on your shoulder as he refuses to respond. “Anyway, that’s where I’m going. You’re free to use it, too, if you need to.” 

Surprisingly, he stands up immediately, gathering the loose books in the cubby and putting them in his own bag. You wonder for a second if he’s about to dash off before he turns to you, a sincere look on his face. 

“Thank you. I’d like to go somewhere quiet.”

And that’s how it all started- simple as that. An act of kindness for your schoolmate turned into frequent study sessions in the empty club room, which gradually filled up with more people as the months went by. That’s how your friendship with them all started. It wasn’t the most exciting story, but you look back on that day and the ones it followed with a sad smile. 

The club room is no longer filled with the rowdy group after school. Eventually, it was just you- and then you couldn’t bear to be there alone anymore, and the club room became abandoned and cold. 

Thinking about it makes you want to cry again- but you think you’ve worried the poor waitress serving you enough today. It’s already a little past noon, hours flying by without you noticing it, and you should probably head home for the day. Nothing is waiting for you here. 

As you call the waitress and fumble for your wallet, the door of the diner slams open- hard- catching everyone’s attention as a dark-haired boy rushes through. Your eyes are wide as you realize who it is.

It’s Akira, and rather abruptly, he heads right for you and sits in the booth seat across from you. His cheeks are flushed and hair is unusually wild as if he’d been running, but he grins at the waitress even as he’s out of breath. “I’ll have a coffee, please,” he says. 

“O-okay,” she’s about as confused as everyone else, including you, but she hurriedly walks away with Akira’s order and the people in the diner collectively begin to mind their own business. 

Now it’s you and him- in the diner sat in a booth, on a Sunday- exactly what you were supposed to be doing before. But this time, it’s not raining. 

“You look like you ran a marathon,” for some reason this is the first thing you can think to say. Akira laughs, subtly fixing his glasses and smoothing out his hair as he does. You didn’t mean it in a bad way- he looks handsome either way. 

“You weren’t answering your phone, so I just ran everywhere I thought you might be until I found you.” 

Right. You had put your phone on silent. Wiggling it out of your pocket, as soon as the screen turns on you see dozens of messages, all from Akira. You instantly feel bad, but before you can say anything, Akira’s hand reaches across the table and covers your phone, forcing you to put it down. 

“I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. I get it. I, uh,” he stutters, “I wouldn’t want to answer me either if I were you.”

“What are you doing here, Kurusu?” You ask him before you don’t have the guts anymore. Being here with him… It makes you anxious. You forgot what it was like to talk to him. 

Your choice in name visibly upsets him, but he doesn’t say anything about it. You feel it’s appropriate- you hadn’t talked in such a long time, you no longer felt that you should use his given name. It doesn’t feel right. 

“I wanted to see you,” Akira says. The waitress suddenly appears with his order, not saying anything as she quickly leaves after his quiet ‘thank you’, and then he continues. “I wanted to apologize for not being around lately… We’ve all noticed that you’ve been acting differently- but- we didn’t do anything. And I’m sorry.”

“Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better,” you frown, your eyes stinging as you look at the table. 

“I know it doesn’t… but I needed to say it. And I wanted… to spend today with you, if you’d let me. I want to fix it.”

You know he’s sincere- Akira doesn’t lie, not often anyway. He doesn’t lie to you- to his friends. Immediately, you want to say yes- please be my friend again, please make it feel better. 

But you can’t. 

“I can’t,” you say. “I… it doesn’t work like that. I can’t be your friend again while knowing I might not be your friend tomorrow, the next day, or next week… You just disappear, Kurusu, you all do. You all disappear and I don’t know why, but I can’t stand it.” Your hands wring together on top of the table nervously, your heart beating a bit too fast. You hate admitting it to him, but you can’t deny it anymore- whatever they’re doing, you’re not a part of it. It’s so painfully obvious that they don’t trust you, and it makes you feel like shit. 

Akira seems to be at a loss for words. The two of you sit in an upsetting silence- you want to apologize and make him feel better, but you can’t do that anymore, so you stay quiet. 

“Every… every Sunday,” Akira starts. You look up at him slowly. “Every Sunday, I’ll be here. And I can’t promise I can always bring everyone with me, but I’ll… I’ll be here. All day.” 

“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it,” you sigh and he quickly shakes his head. 

“I do mean it. I told you- I want to fix it.” 

His hand reaches out again, softly grasping one of your own clammy hands. “I can’t tell you exactly what we’re doing… But I can tell you that the group and I… we’re doing something, and it’s dangerous. It’s exhausting. And I don’t want you to be a part of it because I don’t want you to get hurt.”

What… on earth does that mean? Your chest feels heavy as you hold his hand back, worry in your eyes. What are they doing that would make him say that- make him look so upset and tense?

“But I still want to be friends with you- you’re dear to me. I don’t want to lose you because I made the mistake of getting caught up in other things.”

You’re dear to me. 

Those words seem to break you apart. You promised yourself you wouldn’t cry again today, but the tears fall before you can even catch them. You sniffle pathetically, holding Akira’s hand tighter as you cry. “I’m sorry,” you whisper. Before you realize what’s happening, Akira is standing up, moving around the table so he can sit beside you, still holding your hand. 

“Don’t be.” He whispers, his other arm wrapping around you and holding you against him. 

And it’s been so, so long since you felt this wanted- it breaks you all over again and you continue to cry, basked in the warmth that is Akira as he refuses to let you go. “Every Sunday?” You ask him, quiet and meek. A part of you is embarrassed to have him see you cry like this, but most of you is too overwhelmed to care. 

“Every Sunday,” he promises. And even though maybe you shouldn’t… you believe him.

[zangothedino-blog-blog]

Where have you been? Been searching all along Came facing twilight on and on Without a clue Without a sign Without grasping yet The real question to be asked Where have I been?

In this stanza, Akira is referring to his sense of purpose in life or his general listlessness and identity. "Without a clue", "without a sign" not grasping who he is or what he's supposed to do, or be with his life. the question posed "where have you been" is probably referring to his persona Arcene which is symbolic of his purpose and identity as a person. 

I'm a shapeshifter At Poe's masquerade Hiding both face and mind All free for you to draw I'm a shapeshifter What else should I be? Please don't take off my mask Revealing dark

Akira embodied being nobody, something that only exists to emulate or become a facsimile of a real person a "shapeshifter." Changing to fit what is needed in a social situation. His identity is only ever determined by the people around him "all free for you to draw" to come to your own conclusion to act in a way designed, drawn, created.

"What else should i be?" Akira asks if theres anything else he should be. inferring that this is the best thing he can be. He doesn't want people to see past his "mask" his illusion because underneath, like darkness, theres nothing. "revealing dark"

Poes masquerade is a reference to poes poem "the masque of the red death" this probably ties into the concept of mementos and palaces and adult society as a whole. in The masque of the red death, a party filled with rich affluent people who see themselves above the rest of the world throw an opulent party as a plague ravages the world around them but they too as the party strikes midnight (a time that also has meaning in persona as its the best time in which one can enter the cognitive world) all fall prey to this death, personified as a guest of the party. Akira may be likened to this guest in some manner. 

"And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped the revelers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall."

Mementos also strike a strong visual similarity to that of the description of the seventh chamber of the palace in the story:

"The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue. But in this chamber only, the color of the windows failed to correspond with the decorations. The panes were scarlet -- a deep blood color."

 "But in the western or back chamber, the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all."

Moments of calm Nothing left to be found A mirror right in front of me That's where I find An empty glass Reflecting the sad truth It's telling words not to be told I need the mask

Akira in moments of self-reflection and isolation "moments of calm" finds that he sees himself as a husk of sorts devoid of something that makes him an individual "a mirror, and empty glass, nothing to be found" 

Theres a feeling of isolation "sad truth" a sentiment that cant be shared with others. "words not to be told"

He needs this false identity to exist as someone or exist for people around him. "I need the mask"

I'm a shapeshifter At Poe's masquerade Hiding both face and mind All free for you to draw I'm a shapeshifter Chained down to my core Please don't take off my mask My place to hide

Akira is imprisoned by his own being unable to fully express any element he may find to be a genuine part of himself. He's Hiding himself from those around him. 

I can't tell you How to see me Just a cage of bones There's nothing inside Will it unleash me? Burning down the walls Is there a way For me to break?

He doesn't have control over how people see him, only how he shapes himself to be seen. he's just a body that inhabits an inside he perceives as being empty. this might tie further into the prison motif throughout the game. "cage of bones" 

Akira questions whether opening himself up to people would accomplish anything, "Will it unleash me? burning down the walls",  that if he stopped trying to hide hed finally feel that he was someone. Or whether it would break him emotionally? Physically? 

I'm a shapeshifter At Poe's masquerade Hiding both face and mind All free for you to draw I'm a shapeshifter Have no face to show Please don't take off my mask My disguise

Akira still feels he has no face,no true being, no person behind the disguise. 

[brdcge]

akira liked halloween. he never fully celebrated it back when where he grew up, but nowadays he finds himself enjoying it quite a bit. there was something fun about dressing up in a costume and getting candy. and even more fun about carving pumpkins. akira hadn't cut into his yet, thinking hard. it isn't until ryuji comes up with an idea that akira's eyes sparkling.

he leans close to him now, smile on his face. " could be. " he whispers back. " would be more fun than a smiley face. "

it was a bit on the nose, but ... " let's do it. "

@brdcge sent - [ JACK O’ LANTERN ]  for  the  sender  and  receiver  to  carve  pumpkins  together./ ouhhh from akira .... ( Shippy Autumn Prompts - Accepting! )

"Wouldn't it be sort of funny if we carved our Phantom Thief masks into these...?" He keeps his voice lowered in a conspiratorial tone, a knife at his side, but not having carved into his pumpkin just yet. Leaning in closer, he continues.

"Could be fun, don't you think?"

[phantomled-blog]

002.

Now it has often been discussed that Beneath the Mask is from the protagonist’s point of view. And I wholly support that. Considering it plays when Akira is alone at night ( and a few other times; I’ve just only noticed it at night ) , it has to be. In this headcanon post, I will be going line by line, or verse by verse to determine the meaning behind the lyrics, what it means for Akira, and how it ties into his character. Personally, I think it confirms quite a few things for how I portray him.

Where have you been? Been searching all along Came facing twilight on and on Without a clue Without a sign Without grasping yet The real question to be asked Where have I been?

Forced into this way of life, Akira temporarily lost a sense of self. He was in a new place, and the idea he had of the world---that heroes never fail---had been turned on its head. He lost who he truly was, not that he ever knew what that was in the first place until Arsene awakened within him. It felt to him as if he were wandering through the darkness without a way to know where he was. He thought he was searching for someone when he should’ve realized that he should’ve been trying to figure out where he was. He shouldn’t have been suppressing part of himself, he should’ve been allowing it to flourish just as it does in Kamoshida’s Palace when he becomes Joker.

I'm a shapeshifter At Poe's masquerade Hiding both face and mind All free for you to draw

Akira Kurusu has never shown who he was. He has always reflected whatever others need him to be. He is a shapeshifter in every sense of the word. He started off as shy, innocent, and kind, before becoming the rebellious boy who wanted to get his parents’ attention, and lastly he became a leader for the Phantom Thieves. With his wildcard ability, metaphorically, he changes Personas often. He is always what he needs to be in any given situation.

Now on the topic of “Poe’s masquerade”---this line likely refers to The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe. To summarize the story quickly, a disease known as the Red Death sweeps through the land. Prince Prospero ( like prosperous, referring to life---ironic ) attempts to avoid this plague by hiding within his abbey. He later holds a masquerade within its seven rooms ( each being a different color: blue, purple, green, orange, white, violet, and lastly a black room illuminated with scarlet light making it seem as if the walls are dripping with blood ) and invites nobles from throughout the land. 

In addition to them, a mysterious figure clothed in a funeral shroud enters the abbey and goes from room to room. It, for it is not truly a person, eventually reaches Prince Prospero whom it’s challenged by. One look at the creature causes him to die from the Red Death. When the other nobles rip off its clothes, they find nothing there. They soon realize that it was the disease personified and that they cannot escape it---they even die from it just like Poe described ( sharp pains, dizziness, sweating blood ) within half an hour.

He hides his face and mind just as this Red Death did. He wears a mask and navigates palaces, demolishing Shadows in his wake. When he reaches the end of them, he “meets with the prince” who challenges him. He defeats them in the refuge they created with their desires. But another thing that can be said is this: beneath his “funeral shroud” he must believe there to be nothing, or at least emptiness---which I will get back to later when we reach another few lines in the song.

The short story ends with this phrase: And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all. Meaning---you can’t run from death or the end. Considering the context of Persona 5, no one can escape the Phantom Thieves.

The final line of that group can easily be misinterpreted. All free for you to draw but what sort of draw could they possibly mean? We’re not physically drawing Akira, nor are we drawing him to a close. In this context, I think it would be safe to say that they’re referring to draw in the sense of using. This sort of draw means to use someone’s experience, talents, or skills, and is most definitely synonymous with exploit. If this is from Akira’s point of view as we’ve believed up until now, he is saying that he is free for people to use.

I'm a shape shifter What else should I be? Please don't take off my mask Revealing dark

This one is simple. He’s a shapeshifter and believes that there’s nothing else he should be. He doesn’t want people to take off the mask that he’s so carefully crafted for people to see. He doesn’t want people to take it off and realize the darkness and emptiness within him.

Moments of calm Nothing left to be found A mirror right in front of me That's where I find An empty glass Reflecting the sad truth It's telling words not to be told I need the mask

When the fighting has died down, Akira sometimes looks into the mirror. Of course, he does see his reflection. It’s impossible to not have one. When he the fighting is done and he doesn’t need to keep up appearances, he takes off his mask. And so when looking into the mirror, he doesn’t “see” the person beneath the mask---or perhaps...understand them. Another way to use the word see is in the phrase “I see”, as in you understand. He doesn’t understand who he is beneath the mask. He finds an empty glass---an empty mirror. The mirror “reflects” the truth which is the fact that he’s nothing---or believes the person to be worth that much---beneath his mask. He needs his mask.

I'm a shape shifter Chained down to my core Please don't take off my mask My place to hide

Akira feels like a prisoner within himself. So he wears a mask to pretend that that is not so. He is a prisoner in every sense of the word. He’s a prisoner of fate, a prisoner to adults in society, and a prisoner to his own nature. He has these chains that he cannot escape. And so he hides. Don’t take away his mask, the only way that he can hide himself.

I can't tell you How to see me Just a cage of bones There's nothing inside Will it unleash me? Burning down the walls Is there a way For me to break?

He can’t tell anyone who he is because he’s just a person who’s an empty shell. Or so he believes. He doesn’t know who he is, so he can’t tell you how to see him. He can only become what you need to see. There is “nothing inside” of him. He wonders if there is a way for him to be unleashed. The prisoner within him to be released and realize who it is he truly is.

I'm a shape shifter Have no face to show Please don't take off my mask My disguise

Similarly to other lines in the song, please don’t take off his mask. It’s his disguise. This mask of his is his way of protecting himself from the world, as well as making him seem normal. He is not normal. And it is likely that he never will be. He doesn’t need people to believe that either---he just needs them to see what they want to see so he doesn’t get hurt.

All in all, Akira Kurusu has worn so many masks that he is unsure of who he really is anymore.

[brdcge]

@starshinc said: ❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜ morgana for akira bc of course im not letting this joke go

blinking tiredly, akira glances from his desk to his feline (not-feline) companion. when had been the last time he slept? he couldn't remember. it takes a solid minute or two for akira to sit up in his chair, turning it slightly, to face morgana.

and it takes another minute for him to get his hands to sign. ' seven. ' a pause. ' no, eight. ' and then he doesn't elaborate.

I FORGOT WHAT MEME THIS WAS MY BAD / no longer accepting!

[brdcge]

my akira is selectively mute, something that mostly occurred after the arrest. meaning he doesn't talk to a lot of people verbally, he relies on sign language to communicate. however, when he does speak, it is a bit scratchy and weak -- due to the lack of use from his vocal chords.

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@chaoskalo said: ❛ I watch you. Just as closely as you watch everyone else. ❜ for akira <3

akira was always the type to watch -- he has to watch. it's a defense, seeing how people act and how people appear. everyone wears a mask, even if they don't mean too. akira would know that best, he is wearing many masks. goro is similar, akira became aware of that very quickly. there is layers to the detective prince that akira is determined to peel back one by one, to understand better than anyone ever could. ever has. ever will.

he smiles at the statement, real and genuine. hands shift now to sign at goro;

' like what you see? '

A.GATHA ALL ALONG SENTENCE STARTERS. / accepting!

[brdcge]

there's a smile on akira's face as the other approaches. he reaches out, slowly, to rest a hand on her shoulder. the smile is genuine, real -- only reserved for his phantom thieves. " we make one hell of a team. "

@phntmhnt / lyrical starter call.

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@chaoskalo said: "Stop saying things that make me want to kiss the hell out of you." sighs deeply. gives this dumbass to akira.

did.

did he just-

oh he definitely did.

akira can't help the quirk of his lips, a soft raspy giggle escaping him. he doesn't even think goro realizes just what he's said. akira leans his head against goro's shoulder, eyes glimmering. he was about to get really annoying, really fast.

" but goro, " scratchy voice begins to speak in a false sadness, a pout coming onto the phantom thief's lips. " that's what i'm best at! i'm good at stealing hearts, being funny, " and a boop to the young detectives nose. " and, apparently, making you wanna kiss me so bad. " another thing he was good at: annoying goro akechi.

DUDE STRAIGHT UP I FORGOT WHAT MEME THIS WAS. / not accepting!

[brdcge]

@electricea said: i hate watching you deal with that. (For Akira?)

there's a glance over at ryuji, watching as his foot gently stomped the ground. akira's head tilts to the side ever so slightly. now, akira wasn't the best at reading emotions -- but even he could tell there was some .. animosity. some vague jealousy from ryuji that's unlike the care free blonde he knows him as. akira shifts closer, resting his head on ryuji's shoulder -- a slight smile.

' you worry too much, ' he signs, humming softly. ' you have no reason to be jealous, y'know. i like you. ' just you, he doesn't add (but it should be obvious, at this point.)

and, to make sure ryuji knows, he gives him one kiss on the cheek. then, he whispers; " quit being grumpy. "

A LITTLE JEALOUS. / accepting!

[brdcge]

taggiiesss

[brdcge]

akira had never had partners before. a crush here and there, but nothing that ever went anywhere. and after being arrested, most people wanted nothing to do with him. true love seemed to be a venture akira wouldn't gain, and that was fine for him. ryuji, though ... he did what he was good at; changing lives. akira can still feel the way his heart jumps when the others hand wraps around his own, and the way a blush spreads through his skin.

" that wouldn't happen. " it's so rare for him to speak as much, but with ryuji speaking comes naturally. even if his voice is cracking and a little quiet from lack of use. " i don't want anyone but you. "

a truth, a promise as well. " no one else ... gets me like you do. you're the perfect puzzle piece that fits with me. " another kiss to ryuji's cheek. " you're my treasure. i just like you. and i'll be right here when you're worrying to soothe you. "

@brdcge continued from here.

He had never been one to play the role of the 'jealous, overbearing boyfriend' and in most situations he was happy to just grit and teeth and say nothing. He wasn't an insecure or jealous sort of guy and when he did get jealous or down on himself, he wasn't one to try and make it everyone else's problem - least of all, Akira's. Still, he'd be lying if he'd said he hadn't exactly been as subtle today - gritted teeth, the occasional light stomp and arms folded across his chest, even a scowl or two - the whole time that detective had been around, his posture had been stiff and on high alert.

"I..." He blinks, his posture slowly relaxing as Akira's head rests on his shoulder, the jealousy and tension doesn't quite evaporate in one go, but it does start to feel less and less by the minute as he tries to focus solely on the feeling of Akira's head on his shoulder. "I like you too..."

He manages as much, his cheek flushing where Akira had kissed him. Instinctively, he reaches to envelop Akira's hand in his as he whispers.

"I just...worry you'll find someone better, sometimes, someone...smarter."