"I hadn't seen it either, until I came here. But I'm assured it exists in my world. Or something similar, at any rate." Either that, or his younger self was sent on a wild goose-chase, which would surprise Akechi not one whit.

That laugh is so strange. It sends a prickle down his spine as it always did, and yet... "You make it sound like this isn't your first run-in with the power of friendship."

Please appreciate the ennui he infuses those words with, new-not-Ren. A couple of months ago he would have wanted to smash the furniture.