"Mockingbird?" He quirks a brow at the mention of the codename. "The bird that mimics others, right? Like… a mirror?” His tone carries a mix of curiosity and intrigue, but he doesn’t press further. Maybe it’s just a random choice, like his own alias—a nickname that stuck because of circumstance. But still… it does have a ring to it. “I like the sound of it,” he says after a moment, though his voice dips slightly into playful deliberation. “...It’s a bit long, though. You sure about that one?”

He grips his own chin and offers him an indignant smile. It's always nice to render another Akechi speechless here but for once- this wasn't actual teasing. He meant those words. Words he would scream to the rest of the world if he could.

His grin falters, however, as the conversation turns to Futaba. Akechi’s fond comment about her loyalty brings a flicker of something heavier into Akira’s expression. His thoughts drift, unbidden, to Glitch and then back to the Futaba in his own world—the uphill battle she faced, the betrayal she had to uncover, the pain of losing Wakaba. Akira had witnessed it all, had been there when she pieced herself back together and found her own strength while facing the other dilemmas in her life.
Mockingbird had witnessed the first instance of it in his tape.

A wistful smile tugs at his lips, faint and fleeting. “She’s… always been like that, hasn’t she?” His voice is softer now, carrying a weight of nostalgia that he doesn’t elaborate on. When she cares about someone, she’ll go through hell and high water for them. And she’ll drag you through it too—kicking and screaming, if she has to.

He grows quiet again, his gaze lingering on the dartboard as if the triple 20s still hold some unspoken answer. After a moment, he steps back, turning to Akechi with a sly smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Without a word, he extends a hand for another high-five, his other hand holding out the darts.
“Your turn,” Akira says lightly, the weight in his tone now tucked away behind his usual ease.