[there's no an ounce of offense to be found in Akira's reaction. he laughs, actually. . . wry and kind of humorless, but a laugh nonetheless]

I sure wish it was that easy, Ryuji. But it's not like I can stay in Tokyo without a place to live, and I don't think Boss's attic is open indefinitely.

[well. truthfully? he's never asked. that's just an assumption]

[but the fact that that's his reason for not being able to stay in Tokyo, and the fact that he says nothing about wanting to have returned home to the countryside, sure says a lot]