wipingallout

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."

"Ow..." He practically whined like a puppy getting kicked, eyebrows sinking in tandem as he rubbed his pinkie. The small remnants of green had nearlu faded out, except for this distant greying at the side.

"...I don’t think I am going to make up with Zenkichi-san any time soon," he sighed. "Morning is-"

He lowers his hand, unsure what Hamuko really wanted out of him. He is being honest here and he knows better than to force camaraderie with others here.

"...are you going to pinch my finger again?"

"I promise you can gush about or complain about trying to make friends. No dodging with 'I'm a loner' talk! Equal footing, right? Fair's fair?"

She giggled a bit, wiggling her pinky.

"I don't mind counselors, but I want to be your friend. I want to be there for you as one."

It's strange enough as is that Maruki has to take into account that most of the inhabitants here are either teenagers or young children. There's no compliance or an ordeal of friendship for someone like him who was soon going to push to his 40s.

"That's incredibly kind of you, Hamuko-san," he answers honestly with a small smile. It's just...associating with him can cause others to be alienated from her. Like the way they have treated Yoshizawa-san or others who may have had a positive view of him. He holds his hand up, gazing forward with an expectant look. "Does this mean you will be honest as well? Because...I have questions about you. I have questions about your life here- if we are really going to shake on this I truly would like to get to know you more."

"Exactly! Fair's fair," she repeated, content with the exchange and understanding. Getting Maruki not to be so distant... it's fine if it costs her opening up about some things. She can trust it won't hurt the people she's hiding that pain from.

Age doesn't seem to register with her much - she'd befriended Tanaka, Mutatsu, Bunkichi, Mitsuko... she'd opened up a little to them and them to her in turn.

"We both need a friend we can talk to about this stuff."

"Do we?" Maruki can't help but question somberly at the mention of we. He remembers how it was like when he used to include others like his friends back in college or when Rumi used to pull him into activities. She was the igniter, he was the wood- parallely growing and expanding along to her whims. He liked that a lot but he had never been the one to initiate.

And for Hamuko to just..."You remind me of my friend- Shibusawa. He's much more of an extrovert than I was and well- you are out here, picking friends up. Picking me up like I am some stray," he chuckles as he scratches the side of his cheek. This side of him feels less...pushy. Less out of place. It's somber and quiet like the gentle sigh of a breeze. "...it's a refreshing change."

"...oh, right! The pinky, pfft," he waves his hand and finally finally reconnects with Hamuko- one pinky looped with the other. "You are welcome to share whatever troubles you and...I will communicate my grievances. To the best of what I can share. Pinkie promise?"

Pinky promised!!! Hamuko gives it a shake, happy as a clam. And Maruki was already talking about other friends he's had... exactly right.

"Some people are more comfortable going along with someone decisive! Nothing wrong with that. And so what if you're like a stray? Me too - we'll be the neighborhood wild dogs!"

So bright and full of innocence she was-! It livened him up a little, infectious as he grinned at her while she shook on their silly little shake.

"Interesting! I think I may have the perfect face to pull it off-"

And then he scrunches his face in concentration, eyebrows pulled down.

Edited 2025-06-10 23:20 (UTC)

"My impression. "

"Wha-- pffhahah!! A surly stray spaniel!!" What with Maruki's fluffy curly hair and compellingly sad puppy dog eyes...!

After enjoying some more friendly chatter, gossip and snagging a few sweets at the sweet shop one floor down, Hamuko led Maruki through town. They passed the dorms and, the bad history between Maruki and Yoshizawas not connecting in her mind, reminded him that that's where she's staying so he can come look for her there if need be. None the wiser.

The walk to the shrine from there is a pleasant one otherwise, the warm evening accompanied by a breeze from the sea. And eventually, the entrance of the shrine was just ahead - a small, cozy little one with a children's playground and a massive, ancient tree the only company for the old temple.

"Here we are. Funny enough, this is where I met my last Hanged Man arcana," Hamuko chuckled a little, climbing the steps and stopping by the boxes first to fish out what little change she'd accrued and offering a little prayer.

Thank you for sharing this place with me.

After a moment she then led him to where the benches were, just by the jungle gym, and sat under the leafy branches of the tree whispering from the wind.

The conversation had lightened up in a way he hadn’t expected. To go out for no reason aside from simply spending time, no reason to owe someone or speak to them about the prospects of his research...it felt a bit unnerving honestly. How easily he just walked around her, visited shops- weaved through sweets that would otherwise cause him to go on a non-voluntary diet for a whole week. From the gossip, idle chapter to even the subtle silence cracking from the ting clink of coins clattering against the coin booth's floor.

Takuto had joined her side too, depositing some of his change in since it's not like he's running out of it anytime soon. Her mentioning the hanged man arcana wasn't lost on him yet but he hadn't gone into full detail about it yet. Stayed quiet while he allowed her to reminscence since it was obvious she needed it too- given her usual disposition.

That said...

"Ah...brain-freeze," he chuckled weakly as he stopped his pacing around the park to finally settle next to Hamuko- clutching to his forehead. He ended up practically inhaling the whole ice cream stick in one go when they were preparing to pray at the shrine. He leans forward, one elbow resting on his knee as he rubbed his forehead before putting that hand down as well. "Note to self, don't eat a full ice cream in one go."

"That said," he started as he crossed one leg over the other and looked ahead. "Have to say- this place feels...how do you say it? Nostalgic? It's so cozy here, I could probably doze off on this bench."

"It's so peaceful... I've totally dozed off on this very bench a few times when out walking Koromaru at night. It was nice to know he'd always make sure we got home before it got too late - and keep the animals around here from sneaking into my bag, too," she reminisced fondly, nibbling on her daifuku as she leaned back against the wooden slats.

"It's so cozy here we even showed up when it was freezing cold and snowy. Aaah, and celebrating New Year's here too - we all dressed up in kimono and came to pray and eat food at the stalls. ...That was a great time... all of us decided that we were going to plan ahead for our future. That we were going to keep fighting like we would win and get to live."

Maruki chuckled lightly at Hamuko reiterating his words. Cozy sure was the only way you could describe this place. The blazing sun. The perpetual shade coming from the trees or the breeze that whistled casually.

"A dog is man's best friend, after all," he nods at how she talks about Koromaru, devolving to talking about herself and then...her life. For how short it was and how they made it all count.

Or so they told themselves.

"I am happy you had a group like that who supported each other even in times of peril. Even if...the situation felt hopeless."

"What were all of you planning? For the future?" he asks thoughtfully.

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