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[ Her cheeks glow a soft hue of red at that compliment and she unconsciously reaches to touch her curls. ]

I'm just trying to train some parts of my hair. [ She has a lot of maintenance to do already with the amount of volume it has, but sometimes some strands do their own thing which can be annoying to style in the daytime. ] But thank you! That's kind of you to say.

[ She joins him in helping him unload the food, putting aside two cups for themselves so they can enjoy some ramen. ]

[ Haru is always cute, really! Just like all the Phantom Thieves are attractive in their own ways. It takes a certain charisma, he'd assumed - or maybe he was just lucky, to have been surrounded by beauty in so many forms. Yusuke is merely stating the obvious, not intending to flirt. ]

So, what have you been up to? I'm sorry I haven't checked in for a few days, but I was finally able to get my inspiration back, amid all this chaos.

[ She sighs quietly as reality comes hurtling back in. Nine days out to a potential end of the world scenario and it appears no one has figured out the meaning behind the solved cipher or what to do.

It's easy to read on Haru's face she's just as fraught as most on the Network are. ]

It's been hectic, hasn't it? Did the gallery return finally?

[ Yusuke had been particularly upset by it, not that she can blame him. ]

Mostly, I've been trying to keep up with the Network, figure out what the next course of action should be. But... I am not sure what to do in order to stop Atropos.

[ He sighs. ] No, not exactly. But the time off has been productive.

[ If he can just focus on his art, he doesn't have to feel afraid about the impending doom creeping up on them all. If they could make it through Yaldabaoth, through the nukes, through that haunted house of death - they can make it through this.

That's what he's telling himself, as he fills their cups with hot water and sets Haru's in front of her. ]

Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose we can't just ignore it?

[ It would be easy to, wouldn't it? They've been force to behave normally when the stakes were high and all eyes were on them back home.

This feels more on par with Yaldabaoth, however, with everything they know potentially about to change and reality about to slip from the little control they already have. ]

I don't think we can this time. Do you remember the ciphers we received a month ago? That alone drew our attention... poor Goro-kun was up all night working on it.

[ Goro was supposed to to helping him get his art gallery back. You know, important stuff. ]

I feel ill-equipped for it. Our numbers have dwindled, and my place in this world is in question, now. [ His eyes turn downcast, as he sits at the table. ] Perhaps it would be better left to Aegis, and the like.

Did he ever find anything useful?

Have you been settling back in alright? It must be difficult returning after such a long time.

[ So much has stayed the same, but so much has changed, too. ]

He was close to cracking the cipher. Someone else on the network beat him to it, but perhaps it was for the best.

It is difficult.

[ So, no. His home isn't his anymore, his first big heartbreak was chosen by the porter instead of anything he or Yuri had done, and his gallery disappeared. But he didn't come here to talk about that. Being whipped back and forth like he was has Yusuke regressing into his old ways. Deal with it quietly and hope it doesn't boil over.

At least he doesn't lie and say he's dealing well. Instead, he segues. ]

It might be easier if I were back in Heropa. I should come here officially, instead of sleeping on the couch every weekend.

Yusuke-kun...

[ She can't fathom how tedious and heartbreaking it all is for him. Yuri's never been ported back in since Yusuke's own port out, so Haru can't even deliver any sort of news regarding Yusuke's boyfriend (or one of his boyfriends).

But she does reach for his hand, her small fingers squeezing his hand gently in a reassuring gesture. ]

You know you always have a place with the rest of us. You're our dear friend and teammate, after all. Futaba-chan would probably love it if you finally moved in, too.

[ Futaba's also experienced a Porter enforced break-up a long time back. They could commiserate together. ]

She may leave her room more if she has me to poke fun at. [ That gets a small smile out of him, at least, as he pokes at his noodles and stirs them around with some chopsticks. ] I will start bringing some things over, then. That's assuming Goro wouldn't mind?

[ She holds her chopsticks very daintily, waiting for her cup of noodles to simmer down a little more before she puts something too hot against her tongue. In the meantime, she begins to poke at her noodles, making sure the noodles soak into the broth and soak up that flavour. ]

Let us know if you need any help. With so many strange happenings, some of my classes have been canceled so I have some free time.

[ She pulls a strand of noodle upwards, blowing lightly on it. ]

I don't think he would. Some of Akira-kun's things are here, but we can find a place to properly store it.

I see.

[ Another person who means the world to him, gone, possibly never to be seen again. Ya boi's got the jamjar blues, Haru. Save him. ]

I wouldn't mind keeping at much as is practical. It would be a shame to lock our memories of him in a storage unit.

[ When he puts it like that, Haru has to pause to consider putting away Akira's things. She's left the entire room as is since his port-out, unable to touch anything on her own until she saw "reason" to.

But maybe there's no reason after all.

She nods. ]

You don't mind sharing the space? Um, I think there are some weapons of his stashed somewhere in there, too. Or Goro-kun's room.

I don't need space for much other than my art supplies.

[ Which take up...a lot of space, actually, but! ]

Perhaps some of his clothes will fit me. Please advise Goro not to fall in love with me if they do.

[ Oh! Yusuke's art in the house... Haru's been yearning for some culture in here for a while. She has exactly one painting in her own room. Please fix this.

As she swallows a noodle she hiccups quietly, rubbing her sternum to suppress the urge to cough suddenly. Her face is slightly red at Yusuke's joke. ]

T-that won't be an issue! Besides, you're taller than Akira-kun so his shirts might be an awkward fit...

[ Wow, rude. He could attract him if he wanted to. Thankfully, he doesn't, and has no idea why Haru is choking. He's just a funny guy, apparently! ]

It would be worth seeing if some pieces fit, at least.

[ Anyway. Onto these noodles. ]

Do you need to go shopping?

[ She perks up slightly at that: Haru doesn't get to go shopping with others very often, but she thinks she could have a lot of fun if they both go together. Even with the apocalypse hanging over their heads, they should still try to enjoy the peace and quiet for now until it's time to fight. ]

Akira-kun's closet was rather plain, but we could find you some striking pieces.

[ Sorry, Akira. ]

Not particularly...

[ Jaime had saved his things, from before. It's just that he hates the idea of letting things go to waste. ]

Though I wouldn't be opposed.

Edited 2019-11-05 05:54 (UTC)

We should go sometime before the twelfth.

[ The deadline for Atropos coming. Maybe they'll prevent it. She has to hope they will.

She idly chows down on her noodles, glancing at Yusuke briefly before her gaze falls upon the plastic cup. ]

Hey... are you happy to be back here?

[ He noticeably tenses at the question. It would be wonderful if he had an answer for her, something true, or at least rehearsed, but it catches him off guard. Instead of answering, he shoves some noodles into his mouth, giving him a moment to think. ]

I don't know. But if I don't know whether or not I'm happy, I suppose I must not be. [ He scratches at the side of his noodle cup, fingernail scraping over the logo's lettering. ] Is anyone happy, with all that's going on?

[ Her heart sinks a little to hear it, but it's not an answer she wasn't expecting. Yusuke's return was right around the turning point for this ordeal with the Fates and it's grown drastic in the past week.

She shifts uncomfortably in her seat as well, lowering her chopsticks as if she's momentarily lost her appetite. ]

Everyone is trying to be brave. [ Haru's gaze lifts, meeting Yusuke's. ] And with you coming back, it was starting to feel like it used to, but now with Atropos...

I just don't want to give up that happiness so soon.

If only happiness were so simple as choosing it.

[ He takes a deep breath, and fills his mouth with more noodles before he's any more of a bummer. ]

I would like not to dwell on it. Perhaps if this world is gone, we will be thrown back to our own. [ He doesn't want to forget, but maybe that would be better than whatever he's doing here. ] In any case, we should celebrate my homecoming.

[ For once in the time she's been here, Haru is dismayed at the idea of going home. It's too soon after she's finally been able to kind of sort of feelings out for Goro.

It shows in her face as she eats more of her noodles, her uncertainty. ]

We should! We could have a dinner and invite all our friends. Moving the furniture for space won't be issue, so we do it right here.

[ For the first time in a long while, Yusuke isn't disturbed by the idea of going home. He had a home here, for the longest time, but that was before. He can only hope that permanently moving closer to the remaining Thieves can help. ]

That would be nice. Perhaps some music and party games.

We should have a darts board to play with!

[ Throwing sharp objects at a target? Please. ]

Will you invite Jaime? Every time I see him he's working so hard at the Memorial Centre... he should take the night off and join us.

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