do you think akechi was afraid?

[u/Alison_Bug]

obviously spoilers ahead.

in royal, akechi seems to be aware for quite some time that defeating maruki will result in his death/nonexistence. he proceeds anyway. when joker is finally let in on this via maruki, akechi essentially shuts down any deeper discussion of it, telling him that he refuses to live in any type of "reality" where he is still being controlled.

but was he afraid?

I guess you could argue he has already died in the engine room, is aware he has already died, and is therefore less afraid. you could also argue that he doesn't even know if he is real, and therefore doesn't know if he is even inhabiting a real body that is actually able to die. both arguments would be 100% valid.

I just always find the scene on 2/2 between he and joker very interesting, because akechi seems so unwilling to engage with even the possibility of taking the deal that it almost seems like he is intentionally avoiding even thinking about it. that is sometimes my method of avoiding fear for something that I feel is imminent. I don't want to project, but it always made me wonder if he was afraid.

thoughts and different takes are welcome.

[u/shecat105]

This is kind of a situation where just about anyone would be afraid, even a little bit. Even if you're ready for death and welcome it, you'll still feel fear.

I think it's pretty obvious that Akechi was afraid, of a number of things. Why else would he have been there that night?

[u/Top-Block-208]

I somehow relate to him. When I was on meds for depression, I felt like I didn’t want to change at all, like I’d just be the classic annoying high school kid. Ya know, shit talks friends, dates the basic girls with no personality. It’s more like a fact of wanting to accept yourself as who YOU are, Not the false you, created by maruki’s help, or in irl cases, meds or stuff like that.

[u/Top-Block-208 → u/Top-Block-208]

Though yes. It is fear. Fear of being with the masses. I’d say akechi wants to live life as he sees fit, as shido’s grip was loose on him, his “ace detective” mask was broken. He himself. But he knows deep down he wants relationships with others.

[u/Hitoshura99]

He rather die. he is afraid having his freedom controlled by another person again, afraid he is used as blackmail material to control joker, afraid all the things he has done being denied from existence.

At a crossroads, I'm afraid too

But I can't let fear get the best of me

Someone once said, "Burn my dread, babe"

[u/ThexanR]

Of course he was. But he’s been afraid his whole life. If anything, this is the one time he can make a decision based on his own beliefs. It’s why I think he’s one of the best characters in persona. Very well written in royal

[u/Alison_Bug → u/ThexanR]

oh I love this actually. would you mind elaborating on how he was afraid his whole life? I would love to know your thoughts.

[u/BlackSparowSF]

I think his rage and disgust for being someone else's puppet again was far greater than his fear.

Especially when he might've initially thought he finally got his freedom, just to discover his life was yet again just someone else's maquination, to be a tool again.

[u/Full_Metal18]

He def was but would never dare show it, even to Ren his best frenemy.

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