wipingallout

"I do! Maybe because he comes from a world where another 'me' was his leader, so the scent is probably the same. We go on walks all the time," Hamuko laughed fondly, resting her cheek on her palm.

"You know, maybe dolphins and orcas do have Personas... maybe they're having deep-sea world-saving adventures that none of us have any idea about!"

"Hmmmm, you might not be too far off with that theory. Only 20% of the ocean has been explored so far and seeing the extent to which a cognitive location can exist- maybe the reason why we can't explore beyond could be more...supernatural rather than the scientific answer that you are being crushed by of the pressure." He grinned teasingly, entertaining her thought.

"It sounds more fun anyway. I haven't looked that deeply into animal cognition- mostly because a lot of animals fail to pass the mirror self-recognition test, which basically pinpoints recognizing your own identity-"

"You think Igor would let us deep dive into the Pacific? That is- if we end up avoiding me not becoming a sea snack."

"Do you think Igor has a secret contract with some humpback whales? Do they know the tarot and use fusion to unlock new Personas, too? Is there a dolphin Wild Card?"

MAN... it was getting funnier and more fantastical to think about by the minute.

"But maybe he wouldn't tell us because he's respecting utmost secrecy for his dear aquatic guests...!"

"Maybe the reason we can't meet them here is because they are all underwater-!" Maruki tagged along with being more silly- logic out of the window.

Sometimes, it was fun to indulge in flights of fancy - and even this flight didn't seem THAT unattainable, to Hamuko, who was so deeply familiar with Koromaru.

"Heck, with Koromaru proving Personas, there might be wild animals out there all over the place that are fighting against the shadows from their 'world' of thought. Or maybe because humans have taken over pretty much everywhere, they're fighting all of our shadows!"

Maruki couldn't help but shake his head at the sheer ridiculousness of their conversation, eyes crinkled as he focused on more of the ramen. His skin almost feels like...its glowing? Interesting.

"I can't imagine lasting before a bear in a 10 metre radius...and you are telling me I need to worry about a bear having a persona? No thanks," he shook his head. "Sign me out of that."

"Still, that point aside- I am glad you and Koromaru are getting along. I was worried that the dog would be in that...boy's team. I am not sure how the alternative universes work just yet- I believe there is a Makoto and a Minato, yeah?"

"Yup! I bet even if Koromaru's 'Leader' was Makoto or Minato, he'd still get along with me. Koromaru is extremely friendly with people."

She'd been saving one of her eggs until partway through the soup... now was the time to strike. Ah hah, delicious egg...!

"I've been keeping an eye out for them. Because I think, well... in some universes, he might be my brother. Maybe in some universes, in that car fire, I'm not the one that makes it out of there and he does instead. So... I wonder if I might get to see what my brother might've grown up to be like."

Idly, she stirred at the broth and noodles still in her bowl, staring into it in thought.

The doctor feels an unusual tug in his heart as he regards her and her body language after she struck upon that egg. He remains quiet, reaching for his soda and taking a quick sip of it but never allowing his eyes to leave her.

Maybe in some universes, in that car fire, I'm not the one that makes it out of there and he does instead.

"Ah...the incident," Maruki recalled from the first day when Hamuko admitted about her family's death before Thanatos and now the mention of it again. Her brother...the thought of it made his expression become sombre.

"That's only natural after all," he nods- letting her stay with her thoughts but offering ripples of direction. "Were you two close? Back in your world?"

"As close as seven year olds can be, I think. We didn't really fight, we were both quiet kids... I remember our parents praising us for being so well-behaved."

It's an old loss, over a decade now, and... while it does still have its ache, it's not as fresh. The nightmares would sometimes make it feel raw again, but she bounced back faster from them more and more.

After a beat, she lifted her bowl and sipped down more broth. It was warm... comforting.

"I was quiet for a long, long time after that, too. It really only was once I moved to this area that I thought... this time, I'm going to actually talk to people. I'm not going to be the gloomy girl disappearing in the back of the class - I want to be the kind of girl my parents would've wanted to see me grow up to be. So... I want to see how different that my brother would've grown, too."

Seven...how young. Maruki's attends to his ramen so that their interaction remains informal. This isn't counselling, he's just hearing her out. As a friend. He's careful about this and he wants to help her in every way he can to get her out of the crisis but they are still eating out. He needs to remember that.

I'm not going to be the gloomy girl disappearing in the back of the class-

Her need to push herself past her hurting. To reach out to others even when her heart ached, surely it did now, didn't it? Now that all was said and done and she was brought here amongst ghosts, scientists, criminals and the ordinary. "What you went through, Hamuko-san...I understand all too well. Loss has its tendency of seeping into the very cracks of your psyche and sometimes, getting up from it can cause those cracks to dig deeper."

"I hope you get to see your brother here some day...I believe he will be proud of how far you've come. Now for what you've done for the whole world but the steps you have taken to take care of yourself as well."

"I just hope you aren't being burdened by your own expectations. It's okay to process that gloom and move past it at your own pace."

Edited 2025-05-30 14:39 (UTC)

"Yeah. There's gloom, but at least it's not just gloom, you know? There's... hmm. I'm really excited to see him, I'm excited this place is giving me the chance."

That was definitely true, definitely genuine. Oh, it was probably going to be SO awkward, but that's okay... she was curious anyway. What does he look like? What music does he listen to? What's his favorite food, these days?

"Even if getting up might mean deepening the cracks, it also means finding a warm hand to hold. Maybe two, maybe three... I hope my brother in other lives got to feel that, too."

Even if it isn't just gloom, does it even matter in the long run? The pain will always be there, its roots latched onto you until your being is enslaved by the horrors of your own past. He won't try to bring up any of those points like that just yet- there is no reason to dwell on it just yet.

Not when Hamuko is hopeful. And excited in a different way than he's usually seen her- mellow. Genuine.

"A battle feels easier when you are not fighting it alone, isn't it?"

"The bonds that you forge... the deepest, most meaningful ones... they make life worth living."

With the last of her ramen eaten, Hamuko sighed in some satisfaction, pulling her glass of water close to sip at it and refresh.

"What does he think of everyone in SEES? Did he date any of them, too? Is he also a complete sucker for Mitsuru, or is he the kind of boyfriend that Yukari would've wanted? Maybe he liked boys like how I also like girls, and he also dated Aki. Stuff like that."

Edited 2025-05-30 20:18 (UTC)

Maruki went back to pick off the last of the ramen left in the bowl- watching the conversation sober up to a more relaxing topic. While he slurped at the last set of noodles, the things that Arisato mentioned was well..

How can he say it?

"...do you have multiple partners, Hamuko-san?"

"Ehehe, well, not here I don't..." Hamuko giggled, cupping her cheeks in her hands. If there was more leg room, she'd be silly and kick her feet a little. "Just one girl here. But back home, I was dating Shinjiro-senpai, Akihiko-senpai, Mitsuru-senpai, Aigis, Ryoji..."

A little sheepish giggle.

"I have always gotten crushes on people super SUPER easily... boys are so cute and funny... girls are so pretty and dignified... I kind of stumbled into confessing to all three of my senpai at the same time. I've never felt like I liked any one of them 'more' than the other or anything, I love all of them so much..." she sighed a little wistfully, sipping her drink.

Maruki's eyes widened by a fraction at each mention of a name. Not two, nor three...but five!! "You're kidding!"

He hummed in deep thought as he clasped his chin and considered her point of view. The idea of multiple partners and her affinity to have a crush on others- sure enough, he supposes. ~~He can't even begin to imagine loving anyone beyond Rumi, not with his research that needed his undivided attention.~~

"Hahah-! That's really intriguing!" he can't help but chuckle, smile sincere. "I remember back in Shujin Academy where I spoke with a few students about relationship problems. I wouldn't say names but man...high school life. There's so much cheer and brilliance in those years..."

"They're the most meaningful first dates, and the most painful first breakups!! It's something special," Hamuko giggled in delight.

"The girls around here are so cute, too... I got to flirt with a cute girl at the cherry blossom party, and I've been going on dates with Sumi... oh, the one that goes by 'Violet', I mean! She's so pretty, and so quietly clever..." she practically swooned, delighted. "And she even lives in the dorm with us, too, so it's easy to catch her and tag along for a walk or go exercise or get ingredients to cook together!"

Once he was done with his bowl, Maruki set it aside and rested his chin on the knuckles of his palm- staring at her all too carefully while he listened to her gushing about her memories. How sweet...and reminscent of his time in Shujin. He missed the students there who consulted with him about their problems despite everything he's ever done to prevent that pain from affecting them ever again.

As he goes for his glass one last time to finish the soda, what Hamuko starts gushing about next catches him off guard.

So much so he ends up choking on his drink, hacking up heavy noises as he puts the glass down to cover for his coughing which only seems to come down in successive waves-!

Sumi... Sumire Yoshizawa? That's who she's dating here?! And she's here, having lunch with him- what's her play here? Does she even know about the treatment?

"Maybe I'm a sucker for girls with long red hair... or maybe it's that she's quiet and SO smart... it feels amazing to see her face light up in a bright smile."

Wistful sigh...!!! Hamuko's off in her own world completely, far too giddy and completely oblivious to Maruki's whole history with Sumire.

"I'm lucky she puts up with my antics. And that she doesn't mind the whole... me being dead thing."

Maruki heaves a deep breath and clears his throat, getting rid of the fizz before he ends up embarassing himself anymore than usual.

It's alright. This is not the Yoshizawa-san of his world. If she rejected his treatment or never got involved in it the first place...more power to him. Hamuko is distracted with talking about her anyway so he should just take the opportunity to learn more without getting too much attention on himself.

Not to mention his treatment on Yoshizawa-san was supposed to be strictly confidential...even if this place is buzzing and spilling sensitive information left and rght. "I am glad that you communicated that to her ahead of time...then again, you've been pretty vocal about your condition either ways. I am curious however- how did she take that info?"

"Well... she was a little scared to have a conversation, I think, but she wanted to ask me some questions and get a perspective. She explained that her sister passed away, and we had a little bit of a heavy conversation about keeping on living after something like that, or going when someone's died for you."

Heavy stuff, to start up... but even so, they had the conversation, and following that, things felt really light between the two of them.

"She's figuring out who she is and what she likes, and it's been a lot of fun to encourage her and to try out new things. It really seems like she lived in her sister's shadow, a little? So I'm excited that she feels like she's figuring out what she likes. I think it helps that I never knew her sister, so I can't be comparing them - all I know is Sumi, and I think she's fantastic."

"I see."

Maruki’s gaze sharpened behind his glasses as he adjusted them on his nose, making clear note of how this Yoshizawa-san was processing death. In some ways...doesn't Hamuko look just as bright, cheery and similar to Kasumi Yoshizawa. Given their red hair to their nature. If that Yoshizawa-san had recovered from his treatment and picked herself up back again or by some instance, rejected it then somehow managed to pick herself back up again.

"Seems like she has a lot on her plate," he offers with a small smile. "I am happy for her. I hope she gets the closure she can get despite her unfortunate circumstances." As if.

He's worried about a relapse...its very much possible in their current case despite what others might be saying. To cope with that survivor's guilt- damn it all. Maybe he should have altered the order of those events entirely- however that would have still went against her wishes, wouldn't it?

She wished to be Kasumi Yoshizawa- what could be the harm in that? Other than the world simply not giving her a choice in the matter.

"I don't want to be too privy into your personal matters but if you ever need relationship advice- well as a counsellor in Shujin Academy, I could help you out there."

"No counseling! I'm not looking for a closed off professional dynamic! Buuuut I wouldn't mind a friend to come to for advice - as long as he's comfortable doing the same with me," Hamuko offered with a slightly mischievous grin, offering an extended pinkie for a pinkie promise.

"You can talk to me about friends and crushes and missing people you like too. I'll listen. It'll all be between us - I'm not a nark. Deal?"

"Wha-?" He's completed caught off guard by the clear dismissal. What's so wrong with counselling now? He has tried to improve over the past month, despite what the others think and while he's given up trying to help someone traditionally- Hamuko was an exception.

He stares at the pinkie like a cat pointedly following the end of a thread.
What...is she doing? Why can't he get a read on her? Why does she do things that leave him desperately attempting to grasp at things that do make sense. He's doing fine. He hasn't caught up with friends at all and for good reason- his goal can't be biased. Even to himself.

"I am afraid I am a bit of a loner in those regards, Hamuko-san," he chuckles as he brings his arm forward- pinkie out and about. "But if nothing else, I will keep you updated on my endless supply of snacks-! I won't disappoint you there."

She pinched his pinkie between her forefinger and thumb, 'capturing' it whilst tutting. "Come on, no cheating! I know you've made friends with Ichinose-san, and I hope you and Wolf-pop are on track to make up. And we already work together to look out for Morning!"

She'll offer her pinkie again, with her terms restated.

"We're in this together."

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