thephantomthief | IC INBOX

[Yusuke looks ready to float out of his seat and enter Curry Nirvana, but sadly Ren's question brings him crashing back down to the mortal plane. Right, he did come here for a reason besides food, didn't he?]

Well... It's about Ryuji and Ann, and me. I recently learned something very difficult. But I have no wish for a rift to form between us, so I thought I would seek your advice.

[He never thought to ask Ryuji how much Ren knows, so he'll skirt around it to test the waters first.]

[Fortunately, Ren already knew some of it from Ann and Ryuji so while he does frown, he has an idea of what this might be about.]

I know a little of what they told me from that other world. That I was there as well...and what they were forcing them to do.

[Admittedly, this place also had its fair share of curses and being forced to do things, but it never felt, at least so far, that they were being strong-armed into it. Unless the moons were also being controlled somehow, Ren had doubt that they were responsible for the changes they underwent each month.]

What did they tell you?

Ryuji told me about that as well. But he also told me about something terrible-- something that happened to myself and him.

[If Ren doesn't know about it, Yusuke won't recount it here. He doesn't even remember it and it makes him feel physically ill.]

Beyond that, he said that I had... relations with Ann. Aragaki-san also said that I-- we-- did the same thing, but I don't remember that at all, with either of them. [His voice trembles, and he has to set down his coffee.] What am I supposed to say? What if there are others like them who have those intimate memories with me, but I have none at all?

[Ahh whatever it was, he wasn't told about it yet, if Ren's concerned look is any indication. But he doesn't pry - it's up to Yusuke to give him out that information. The rest is...

...well. Ren won't even ask who Aragaki-san is. It's not important right now. He stops eating and briefly puts a hand on Yusuke's' shoulder.]

That you're you . You're not the Yusuke that they know. Just like I'm not the same Ren that they ran into.

[It's weird to be calm about the situation like this, but Ren has come to weirdly understand and accept it.]

Circumstances shape who we are, right? Maybe the Yusuke there had his hand forced or something happened. But you shouldn't feel any pressure to be like that one. You're you.

I think Ryuji would like it if I were the same person. We endured so much together that he felt he had to tell me everything... I suppose he must have depended on that other me a great deal.

[And of course he wants to help Ryuji and be a good friend, but... It's difficult to even come to terms with.]

It unsettles me that I don't truly know where I stand with some dear friends, nor even with some complete strangers.

He would...but you're not. He's going to learn to live with that.

[He says those words with a degree of gentleness. As much as Ryuji is his friend, he does have his Ryuji-isms and he could understand having to deal with two different Yusukes would be difficult for him, but Ren has hope that he'll be able to come to terms with it eventually. Yusuke's distress is more important right now, at least.]

Take it a day at a time. Don't put yourself in the other Yusuke's shoes just like I'm not trying to be the Ren that they know. And if they can't see you for who you are...then they are missing out.

You're right... I understand. I'll continue to simply be myself. It's all I can do.

[He takes another sip of coffee. The taste of something familiar is comforting, in its own way, and just being around someone who understands his predicament is enough to calm his rattled nerves.]

Thank you once again for your advice, Ren. You're always there for me when I need it.

Sometimes the solution is the simplest, right?

[Besides it's not like they can magically turn themselves into the people they knew. He takes a sip of his own coffee.]

Yeah. My place is always open, as I mentioned before. It's nice to be able to talk to everyone like this. We never had as much chances back in Tokyo.

[The entire year almost went by like a flash, really.]

That's true. [He smiles a little, then.]

We were always planning our next move as the Phantom Thieves, or else preoccupied with our own responsibilities... Now, we have far more time together than before. The circumstances aren't ideal, but we shouldn't squander this opportunity.

Exactly...although I'm sure there's still plenty of time and need for the Phantom Thieves to be around...

[With more of the team being around, Ren might start getting a little more bold in the future...]

Do you think we can make a difference here? We have our Personas, but what about the Metaverse?

[It would be difficult to do much more than brute force their way through things with Personas, if they didn't have a way to change hearts, he figures.]

This place must have its share of injustice. And that's what we're here for, right? Metaverse or no Metaverse. We'll figure out what happened here, I'm sure of it.

[True its a lot more brute forcing, but Ren is positive about those sort of things.]

Maybe we can change hearts without the metaverse too by swaying people's opinions...

You think we can still hold that much influence over people? [Yusuke smiles, impressed. That's his leader, all right. They reformed society back home, and there's no reason not to stop their efforts here.]

I still have much to learn about this place. But if we uncover any wrongdoing, of course I'll stand with you in whatever course of action we choose to take.

It's worth a try! The biggest problem is our lack of the Metaverse app but I'm positive we'll figure something out.

[Ren's positivy in dire circomstances is what keeps him going.]

As long as we all agree on a plan, yeah. I'm not about to go off and just do my own thing.

Naturally, we'll discuss it as a group, just like always. What I mean to say is that I stand by your judgement as our leader, and I am here to support you.

[He finishes off the last of the curry, and washes it down with coffee. The nostalgic taste reminds him...]

We should come up with a new hideout spot, if you all haven't decided one already. What do you think?

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[He grins at the suggestion, practically bouncing in excitement.]

Actually I was thinking of getting a license to run a coffee and curry shop...maybe if I can find a place that has an attic or a basement we can use...

Ah, you're thinking of truly following in Boss's footsteps?

[Yusuke chuckles.] He'd be proud. You'd need to think of a name more creative than 'Leblanc 2', however.

He taught me everything he knew over the year. I've been honing my skills with the coffees they have here to create a blend that reminds me of his signature one. It's not quite there yet but...I think people would like it.

[A pause.]

Arsene or Maurice is too on the nose, right?

Try and avoid Arsene, given that it could compromise your identity. Maurice, on the other hand, will probably make customers assume that is your given name...

[He chuckles a bit. Definitely not a name that suits him, but Lunatians and certain other moonblessed wouldn't realise that.]

That's true...I guess in Japan Leblanc wouldn't have been seen as Boss' name...

[He snaps his fingers as a new idea enters his mind. Maybe he should go with puns instead.]

Mug Shots? Curryless whisper? Keep Calm and Curry On?

[Yusuke chuckles, amused. He does love a good pun, although Futaba would be groaning if she heard them.]

'The Daily Grind'?

[Futaba will learn to love them - Ren probably.]

I like that...although you realize that some people might not think it's a coffee shop? Especially in this world...

Oh? [Yusuke blinks, and thinks about it... but still doesn't get it.]

What else would it refer to?

[In response, Ren takes both of his hands, slams them together, turns them on the side and begins to move them against each other back and forth for a few seconds before saying something.]

Rubbing against each other. Like that.

[Yusuke watches the demonstration, and now looks even more flummoxed than before. Is this charades now?]

Oh, they have itchy skin? No-- they're washing their hands!

[Please help him, Ren.]

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