Akira's sudden appearance on the stage reminds me of [url=http://youtu.be/u-KILqk1Bvk?t=2m44s]this little scene from KLK[/url]

As for the odds he knows of her, it seems that the two are listed as being in the same class. Add this to how he's the RP's Gamagoori, and he'll probably have a bone or two to pick because of Akira's attendance. So yeah, I can imagine he's at least heard of her.