He leans against Akechi in turn and lets out a long breath. If he closes his eyes, for a moment it's almost like nothing is horribly wrong.

But that's just for a moment, before the whispers start again. "You think I'll change," he says. "Like, in a way that matters. You stopped talking to me about stuff because you want to do my Palace instead, so that afterwards, when I'm different, you can... save me or whatever then. I see how you look at me every fucking day."

He doesn't want to believe Akechi's right, but he's more than a little afraid that he is.