And when he was Kirihara-kun's starter, no less.

[He almost regrets saying Akaya's name as it leaves its mouth, cringing inwardly at the way it feels so wrong and seems to hang ominously in the air long after the sound and syllables have faded away. Saying it makes it more real. But someone had to do it.

Yagyuu's used to being the one charged with doing the things no one else wants to.]

I doubt that. In this case, I think it's simply that he's had more time to grow familiar with me.