[They might be terrible words but he understands. The things he thinks about himself aren't pretty, either.]

Ah, well, for whatever it is worth, you are neither a dummy to me nor are you a waste of time, either. [Akechi knows how hard it is to logic these feelings away, though. He happens to know for a fact that he is talented. It has done very little to mitigate the negative feelings he has for himself. If anything, it has only made it worse.] You've made me smile. Sincerely, I mean. I know I smile all the time. But being with you has been fun. You didn't laugh at me over my stupid fear or when I've been awkward or silly. I know that presenting evidence doesn't make the feeling stop, of course, but I am compelled to nonetheless.

I can't counter the rest since I wasn't with you at the time. But you had no combat experience prior to this, right?