[there's a pause before Akira's reply as he sips gently from the water in his hand, though once it's gone he lets out a short, breathless laugh, fingers diving in for more]

I don't think it's something you have to earn. Besides, it's easier this way.

[with the way things feel so familiar and comfortable between them already, adding formalities would just turn them into stiff acquaintences. he doesn't want that! especially when--]

[-- ah. Minato feels it too, then. Akira pauses, his second helping of water lifted to his lips, though he doesn't drink]

[. . .]

[it. . . may be a bit of a reach. but if he had felt this way with Yu, and Yu had turned out to be a Wild Card, then. . .]

I don't think so.

[an honest answer, though what he says next is carefully measured]

But I suspect I know where that familiarity is coming from.