"Whose idea? Whose hope? I didn't want him to be like this. I miss who he used to be every goddamn day. Don't tell me it's my fault, I know it's my fault, that's not the point. The point is he was brought back for me, and I didn't want this. So he's fucking real. It doesn't matter whether you think he's creepy or he shouldn't have happened, he's here now."

His voice cracks on the last words. He sucks in a breath. What's the point in yelling at some other Ren's Futaba in the middle of a fake Shibuya? She's not going to decide Akechi is a person if he shouts loud enough.

"That's easy to say. About letting your brother die. But it's just words. I'd have said the same thing. I hope you never have to find out if you're right. What does your brother have to do with anything, anyway?"

He's not aware that his own Futaba has a brother. And he would be aware, surely, in Maruki's reality. One big happy family, or something.