[ Yusuke wants to argue, immediately. The sizzling sounds and feeling of heat from Akechi's blade alone feel far too real for him to believe this is truly a dream, but the movement and noise around him, and the way the weight of any impact he makes - blade to blade - rattles through his arms speaks otherwise.

It isn't real. But it's too real to be a dream. Is this the form a memory takes when made whole, and physical?

As the memory continues, passing by like some sort of movie he's watching rather than something so deeply personal and something he - or rather the other him? - must have also experienced at some point, things slot into place more and more, and, well...

He understands. He doesn't agree, not really. But he gets it. He's shaken by what he sees, and he is not in love with the star of the show. In a way though, that makes it worse that he's only just finding this out now. How long has Ren known about this--? ]

I... [ How to even phrase this? He steps back a little, putting the other Phantom Thieves slightly between himself and Akechi - acting out their scene with no acknowledgement for the fact a couple of their ranks aren't paying as much attention anymore. ]

I wouldn't know how to bring it up either. [ ... ] I wish you had though. At some point. This -- [ everything ] -- isn't something to face alone.