tell me where our time went

Well. The last couple weeks

certainly happened.

I'm so sorry about that.

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You have nothing to apologize for, it wasn't your fault, Haru.

But I missed you, and I'm glad you're back.

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Still, I think you ended up taking the brunt of that. You and Mona-chan.

...I should probably not tell him that as far as Rose was concerned, she and her Akechi are dating, should I. (Or, well, not not dating? Between my father and his public profile they see no need to formalise anything.)

'I like girls' was a brilliant sidestep on her part.

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You were no worse than Sae ever is.

Do NOT tell him that. He would hate it. d

She was very impressive, I'll tell you that. But I like you as you the best.

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That isn't necessarily a comforting statement, given that I know she can be quite vicious. In any case, it's over and will hopefully not happen again.

I do owe Mona-chan an apology regardless. He comes to my dorm room a lot, but I... wasn't staying there. And kind of trashed the place before I left.

I very much prefer being myself, it's true. That was

disconcerting.

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I was hoping it would be. I'm sorry.

I'm sure his loyalty can be re-bought with some good fish.

What was it like? Do you remember it at all?

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You have nothing to apologise for. As for Mona-chan, I doubt I need to re-buy anything, but I'll figure out how to make it up to him.

I do remember it, which is somewhat surprising given that she knew nothing about this place before she was slotted into mine. It's...

She did allow Father to make a monster of her, and learned he would never love her for it.

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I would never judge someone for their desire to be wanted and loved.
You're safe with me, Haru.

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And I do appreciate it.

It meant a lot to her that you tried, even as standoffish as she was.

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No one deserves to be lonely.

Hot springs soon?

[Hot springs. Not pool.]

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That sounds lovely!

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I think we can both use the break.

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We really could. Especially you, if you were stuck being the voice of reason that whole time. [It's not that Rose doesn't have a brain cell, but it is assuredly not in the Phantom Thieves' communal pool.]

Since you proposed the hot springs, I assume you mean informal?

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So few people understand me like you do.

Yes, that was what I meant. I think that will also help.

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Well, I try to, anyway.

I agree.

Though if you bring a book this time, I may take it as a challenge to distract you from it as much as I can.

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I'm trying not to take that as a challenge.

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Whether you do or not is up to you.

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Either way. I'm looking forward to this.

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As am I. Let me know when you'd like to go.

[It's not as though this place really keeps to strict schedules, but still.]

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I will. Absolutely.

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My roommate seems to have vanished.

If you wanted to stay over at some point in the next few weeks, we wouldn't have to worry about imposing on anyone else's time.

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I would really like that.

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Excellent! As far as I'm concerned, it's an open invitation until the new room assignments happen, but that shouldn't be until the end of the month.

[And she's only calling it there because the odds she'll end up with a new roommate are pretty high. If she doesn't... well. Invitation extended.]

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So noted. I'll be there.

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Haru spends most of her time waiting for Makoto to arrive cleaning up the room.

Not that it really needs it. She's fairly tidy, and Teddy wasn't exactly messy - and all of his things are gone regardless. But it's something to do with her nervous energy.

Part of her feels like this is moving too fast. The rest of her says they saw each other naked, then died, then kissed for the first time, so they're already doing all of this out of order. What does it matter, as long as they're both happy with it?

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Are they moving too fast? Part of her says yes, but another part of Makoto knows that she and Haru have already been through some difficult things together, and already have a basis for their relationship. There's no need for a getting-to-know-you phase when you already know each other.

Regardless, she arrives with a duffle bag, a satchel full of books, and a large smile.

No need to be nervous- this was just like any sleepover.

rolling her shoulders, Makoto knocks on Haru's door.

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They don't even have to share a bed if they don't want to. (But Haru doesn't think that'll end up being a difficulty.)

"Come in!"

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With the invitation, Makoto's quick to enter, remove her shoes, and wave happily at her... oh. Yeah. They should. probably discuss that. At some point. Not now, they didn't need to now.

Makoto pulls off her coat, and sets it by her shoes, and her duffle bag.

"I like your room," she says, looking around. "Y'know, I've never seen any of your living spaces."

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They should, but gods know there's plenty of time. (But equally, after the way the last few weeks have been, they'll probably discuss it sooner than later.)

"I've done my best to liven up my side of the space, at least." And indeed, there are a few plants on the windowsill. "As for at home... I wouldn't say the house is really mine yet, as such. There's been so much else happening that I haven't had time to really think about it, other than not wanting to keep it so sparse. My bedroom does have more of my tastes reflected in it, but I also haven't really had it redecorated since middle school."

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"I haven't really changed mine, either," she confesses. It wasn't like she'd been inviting people over all the time or anything. And there were more important things to focus on, instead of a curling-edged Sailor Moon poster that was bleached from the sun. Like the piles of books and homework and other papers.

"When we get home, I'll help you make your house your home, if you'd like. I bet you could have some incredible gardens going all year round with the right set-up." She looks over at the plants on the windowsill.

"These aren't doing half so bad, without the sun."

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"I'd appreciate it, for sure. There's so much wasted space in that yard that I'd love to put to better use. I'm also considering setting Yusuke loose on the living room - there's a giant, blank white wall that's crying out for some color."

And then she'll pay him for his work and accept no arguments.

"They're hanging in there! I'll still be glad when we get proper sunlight back, but I'm doing what I can for them." Which now includes providing little balls of sunlight every now and then.

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She sighs dreamily, imagining it.

"I'd love to help somehow, though I'm afraid I'd really only just be a body." Maybe she could organize a library or something. "But I think Yusuke would love to paint you something."

Makoto looks at the plants and does something that probably makes her look a little weird, but there is apparently a science behind what she's doing, so she leans in and addresses the plants. "You're little troopers, aren't you? Yeah, you're real strong."

Oh god she's talking to a plant. Haru what have you done to her???

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Haru can't help beaming in delight when Makoto talks to her plants. It means a lot that she's trying, no matter how silly it makes her feel.

"You would not just be a body, Makoto. Even if your only physical contribution were moving things around, I'd still be delighted to have you there. Even if you couldn't do that, your company is the most important thing."

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It's the least she can do, try to offer some encouraging words to plants.

She blushes. "Then count me in, when we get back home." As close as they are growing here, and she's going to use that language because it is safe language to use, they are growing close, she wonders if any part of it will carry over to their home.

"And here, too."

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"I'm so glad. I used to think I'd never have any close friends, let alone... someone I was allowed to care for the way I wanted to."

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"Really?" Makoto pauses and turns to look at her... love interest. Carefully, she walks over to take a seat next to Haru, reaching for her hand. "That's awful, Haru."

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"Well. Just about everyone my age was intimidated, and everyone else thought they could get some kind of favor with Father out of playing nice with me. I haven't talked to the people who could have been true friends in my ballet lessons since Father pulled me out of those."

And she hasn't bothered trying to reach out, because the people they were at eight got along, but they people they are now? Maybe they wouldn't. Besides, the Phantom Thieves gave her those true friends.

"But I have you all now."

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She loves the idea of Haru as a dancer. She's always been graceful, possessing the quiet strength needed to swing her axe. Yes, she could see her dancing.

"You do." She laces her fingers with Haru. "and we're so lucky to have you."

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Haru's not sure if she would have wanted to stick with the lessons much longer than she was in them. But, like many other things in her life, the choice was made for her.

But now, she's making her own choices.

"I'm lucky to have you, too."

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Busy? I wanted your opinion on something.

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No. What's wrong?

[OBVIOUSLY something is wrong if Akechi is contacting her directly.]

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Don't be so dramatic.

[says goro fucking akechi]

I simply wanted to run something by you. Of all the thieves, you and I are the most logical. If I ask you this, you won't dissolve it into meaningless emotion.

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[Akechi, we all know you only wore gloves for so long JUST IN CASE you had the opportunity to slap someone across the face with one.]

Fine. Go ahead. Ask away.

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[WELL it worked, didn’t it?]

I experienced something odd during the Hunt that I’ve been unable to fully explain. I manifested another Persona.

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Oh. This is strange.
What happened that lead to this development?

And can I ask who they are?

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Ren was dying.

[Akechi goes quiet for a long while after that, finding that his usual way with words seems to have slipped from him entirely.]

We were hidden from the fae in a way that left us cornered, but it meant there was no going for help. He was bleeding out, unable to heal himself and losing consciousness. I-

I was ready to give myself over to them if it mean he might be saved, but I didn't.

[It's a decision he's still struggling to understand, not choosing himself to play sacrifice for once in his life.]

Cinder, is what she is called. It's very strange but...

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[This is big. And Makoto knows it intrinsically. From Akechi reaching out to her, to the way he is telling her. It seeps out through the screen. This conversation has her full attention, and Akechi her support.]

You chose yourself.

[The Akechi she knew back home... She'd wanted to call him selfish. But everything she'd learned about him since had her realizing how truly selfless he had been, sacrificing himself for the world, breaking himself, if it meant taking down Shido in the end. But now, he'd... no. It wasn't selfish. Not at all. But it was a decision that put his focus on himself, what he needed.

And he'd awoken a new Persona.

Here was solid proof that Akechi was changing.]

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[Though the very thought has been swirling in his head since everything went down, seeing the words typed out across his screen is exactly the kick to the gut he needs. It feels like Akechi's breath gets stuck in his throat, burdened with the selfishness of wanting to survive.]

I did.

[And in that moment, it had felt like the very worst thing he could possibly do, to put his own safety on the same level of Ren's. And yet-]

I did and I still managed to save him.

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