[His breath comes hard through his nose as he restrains himself from biting back, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. It used to be so easy to hold back his true feelings, to laugh and smile and hide it all behind the Detective Prince. But he doesn't do that around Ren. He still hides from him, just in different ways. For all their talk about the true self, it's Akechi's true self that has always been the problem, because who is he, really? Who is he if not trying to either be the most likable version of himself, or intentionally reversing it to be hated?

So he doesn't look at Ren as he approaches, his eyes meeting the other boy's for just a moment before sliding away, glaring at the opposite wall. Each word Ren says is like a physical blow, and he flinches when Ren says he wants to make him happy. He almost laughs, though it isn't funny.]

Forgive me for not wanting the contents of my brain spilled out in front of you and your friends yet again, [he manages, and though there's still a bite to his voice, he's able to hold back the snarl.] I intended to handle it myself.

[As for the rest, he doesn't answer it, because he simply, genuinely, doesn't have an answer for it, can't even begin to bullshit one immediately. Ren deserves better than that kind of half-hearted answer.]