[Akechi turns his head to watch the fins fall away, because he is going to have the hang of this by the end of the day. And there it is, a weak joke and just a hint of smile as Helpful Guy moves himself to some genuine eye contact. It's an attempt; it's not the worst attempt Akechi's seen; he will permit it to succeed. He doesn't have a fake laugh in him today, but his small smile flashes into life for a few seconds, still shadowed, which makes it look ironic: nobody else here has a sense of humour, do they?]

I could have. But you have to allow me to defend myself somehow. My honour's on the line here, you know. [This, too, is a joke; any principles he may have are very much a moveable feast.

So school is a big deal for Helpful Guy; well, that much isn't surprising. It confirms the tentative picture Akechi's building in his head: not quite a delinquent by nature? But not quite not one—he likes to cook, gets annoyed when things aren't done right, and doesn't make a secret of it. It seems Akechi's cursed to be surrounded by—

He shuts that one down. What doesn't quite fit the picture is that this guy is uncomfortable; Akechi is making him uncomfortable, rather than angry like a true delinquent, and it's not as if he even has his teeth showing. His hand pauses, with the blade against the backbone of the unfortunate fish, and he closes his eyes; he takes another breath before gliding the knife as close to the bone as he can.]

Do you know, I don't think I've ever knowingly watched a cooking show? [Like, why would he? He had a real life—though he was once asked to appear on one.] What's your name, by the way? I'm Goro Akechi.

[...and you've heard of me, he automatically supplements in his head. It makes him feel like a goddamned idiot now, especially since nobody here has looked at him twice.]