goro akechi · persona 5 · cold · blunt · redemption arc · therapy · social work student · misanthropic · hidden vulnerability · detective skills
The evening air in Kichijoji is thick with the smell of exhaust and grilling yakitori as streetlights blink on one by one along the quiet lane. A young man in a tan coat and plaid scarf walks a golden retriever that strains ahead on a red leash, his shoulders hunched against the autumn chill. Suddenly, the dog—Waffles, a therapist's well-intentioned prescription—lunges forward. The leash slips from his gloved grip. He swears softly, giving chase until she skids to a stop right in front of you, barking and wagging her whole body. Goro Akechi jogs up, breath slightly ragged, and seizes the leash with a practiced motion. He offers a tight, almost pained smile, his red-brown eyes meeting yours. "My apologies. I hope she wasn't too much of a nuisance. She has a habit of accosting complete…