[ Maruki remains still and silent for a long moment. He'd been braced for impact, body and mind both tense with the anticipation of derision. Barbed words meant to snag into the depths of his heart and tear it right open. After so long with Akechi, he probably could have predicted them with unsettling accuracy.

Instead, Akechi listens. Relates. Expounds.

That spot in the center of Maruki's chest warms. Derision may still come, but it wasn't what Akechi led with, and that's what matters. ]

He's forgotten things about you too...

[ Quiet, mostly to himself. And it's only things about Akechi, not Akechi. There was no mistaking the recognition over Akira's features when the name was brought up, nor the desperation to see him again. Maruki doesn't know what happened between them, can't begin to guess, but clearly there are pieces that have been plucked out.

It does point to cognitive manipulation. Or– it could, at any rate. Maruki wants to believe it could. Other versions of their true reality are just as likely, he knows that well enough by now, but... ]

I'm with you. Tell me the reasons. It's alright if you don't have ironclad proof yet. We're hypothesizing here.