Akira had thought he had gotten used to the concept of multiple timelines.
After all, he had been wrapped up in his own little cobwebs of grief and lies; circulating into themselves as the boy felt like he was trapped under the very sands of an hourglass- breathless for another chance. Another photo. Not like it mattered after some point where he moved from-
-preventing that gunshot to go off at the interrogation table
-killing the corrupt politician when he crossed paths with him the third time-
-watching his bright eyed detective smile at him as he pulls the trigger of the barrel resting on his head-

Stop.

He shouldn't think about all of that right now. There's a reason why he did all of this. From the lies, the torture, the grief and the murders attached to it. "The ends would justify the means" was his mantra like it was that very detective's mantra as he dragged him to a rabbit hole he couldn't escape from. Tch, who was he kidding- he couldn't blame him for his problems. He chose to do this and now his foot was already halfway and out of the fucking door.

His own grave.

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Option 1: Say Cheese!

One would think with how the very aspect of photographs acted like metaphorical chains for the young man, he would learn his ways and attempt to stay away from them if only to allay his own anxiety but for him- photography was one of his many hobbies when he was a kid. The little blue butterflies fluttering in the parks to the grassy paddy fields that stretched for acres- in those little innocent moments Akira didn't have this accursed power and even now, as he briefly clings to the camera- those memories kept him grounded. The weight of his camera with its polished dark red strap around his neck remained ever so obvious as he walked down the streets of Shibuya, unsure of what to do now that the long-nosed man had told him he was stuck here. He was convinced it had something to do with...everything he did but really adding him into a place like this is asking for trouble. Not that he would listen to him.

Don't worry. You will come to realize that bonds and happiness can be accomplished without breaking your timeline.

Whatever that meant, Igor.

He rolls his eyes and adjusts the lens of his camera before holding it up and aiming it at the busy streets of Shibuya Square, watching the crowd pass by.

CLICK!

Oh, he wasn't expecting the sudden turn back from the stranger while he still has his camera aimed at them, assuming they would just ignore him as the rest of the other...cognitions here. Whatever that means. With everything he's done he's a bit glad he can just do what he wants without consequence. "Oh um," he lowers his camera. "...Did you see me do that?"

He had asked that question at another cognition before when they turned to look at him as he took a picture of their outfit. They just tilted their head at him then denied him with a laugh before continuing forward. He was expecting this interaction to go like that.

---

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Option 2: How does all of this work?

Akira finds himself at the backalleys of Central Street this time, more specifically leaving a specific shop with a bright green neon sign and the words Untouchable etched on it. There's a gun in his hands as he flips it over- staring down at its model. Surprisingly enough, the usual owner who was very upset with him in multiple timelines isn't present here but if he learned enough about cognitions from the supposed future forseer of his world- he could probably make cognition percieve it to be a real gun, right?

He aims the gun at one of the policemen standing on the other side of the street rather callously, chin tilting as he regards the recoil he might endure if he actually fired a shot. The good thing was if he pushed his limits too much, he could just go back in time to the square again where he took the photo. As long as no real person is involved, it should be fine, right?

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