The belt of laughter that slipped out certainly didn't help Akechi's mood. "I'm not a child. I eat a very balanced diet of food that absolutely requires nothing more complicated than being heated up, on account of having burned water."

"Well, then. Maybe I'll just have to cook for you more often, so we can all be sure. But... that just seems like a lot of back and forth. Maybe I should just move in? You practically lived at Leblanc for a while, if I remember."

And like that, he was pulling back, glancing furtively at both Blitz and Dante, confusion crossing his face. What? "Amamiya, I had a concussion earlier today, I'm really not up for this kind of joking around right now."

There it was again. Another stare that lanced right through him, and he felt tightness in his chest, a rising panic that threatened, for a moment, to drown out everything as confusion gave way to denial-

And then Akechi's expression faltered, his brow furrowed, his breath calmed, his expression smoothing over. "You're- being serious."

"Yeah. Sorry to put you on the spot in front of your..." Ren quirked an eyebrow at the other two. "Weird demon and half-demon adopted uncles? Is that the vibe you're going for, here? But you know, I kind of put off the asking for months, and then I woke up. So."