[ Oh he tried bottling it up, man. Ren Amamiya, a savant at getting people to open up about their troubled lives by simply existing as a nonjudgmental sounding board, found himself incapable of sitting in the other chair in the therapist's office (so to speak). It was a problem before the music started, and when under siege a kingdom doesn't simply let the drawbridge down and let all comers in. Nope. You reinforce the walls, fight battles when driven into a corner and dodge confrontation otherwise. The Ren that comes into Akira's presence here is the crumbling foundation. It was less a choice to open up as to decide whether he'd let the remains be picked over.

And if that helped gain an ally in the process then good, he guess. Welcome in, scavenger. Find what shelter you can. ]

And before that it makes you want it. Ruining a good thing's gotta be at least seventh or eighth circle of hell, right?

[ He was just thinking that he missed music before the event started. How young he was.

Just, there's a few moments after Akira asks that pained silence befalls Ren, frowning tensely at his arms crossed tightly atop his knees, like if he didn't stop to swallow a large lump that suddenly rose in his throat he may dissolve back into an ungainly puddle and remain there.

He glances at Akira, conflicted. What would it matter if he knew? they're mutual acquaintances, and if one thing's for sure Ryuji's never been able to keep his mouth shut about most things in his life.

But Ren also finds... that maybe he doesn't care if Akira knows? Asuka? He wouldn't give a shit. Akira might still think he's a heartless bastard who maybe deserved this, and Ren wouldn't say no to hearing it so he doesn't have to self-flagellate. And if Akira is sympathetic, there's all the chance that Ren wants to feel sorry for himself too for all the other times he's simply had to swallow his problems and move on. Tough shit. ]

Ah, you know. Just casually getting my heart broken, y'know how it goes.