I wanted them to be your friends, too.

[It's a quiet mutter, tired and almost sullen. A little pained.

Akira scrubs his hands over his face and tugs at his bangs as he listens to the rest.]

We might have the same face, but it sounds like the Akira you knew is still untouched by her, at least. ...he doesn't sound like he'd be much use here, anyway. Nobody needs to fight back, to make a difference in that kind of fairy tale.

I'll fight with you, and maybe he'll never have to.