I feel like I shouldn't even be surprised there's a kid version of me running around. Shapeshifter, though? That's a new one.

[Then again, he has his own... idiosyncrasies. He takes in what Akechi's saying about the younger version of him in the beanie.

He hates that he can't say "Yeah, you're right" like he wants to without being obvious. Why would the Leader of the Phantom Thieves have gone down a dark path? It wouldn't make sense. His life doesn't make sense.]

You know. It's only after the Akechi I know started making connections [first himself, but then in the new timeline the others, too] that he started seeing things differently. Friends would be good. Even if you do have to drag him into it.

[There, that works.]