"You don't—" of course Akechi didn't tell him everything. How many mistrials and steps could they have avoided, with just a little more honesty between them? "And you don't need to..." All the same, thanks to their bond, Joker had felt there was a deeper connection between them. One that went beyond words...

His glance fell downwards at the true Goro's words. That simple, irrefutable truth was more than just some simple thorn in his side, spurring him to avert his gaze, too. He knew that when the former detective had come back into their lives that it was unlikely to be a happy ending, but... still—

"Almost as sad... as never getting to say goodbye, in the first place."