inbox.

[girlybruiser]

❝ You have reached Haru Okumura. I apologize if I was unable to answer your call.
Please leave a message with your name and number after the beep and I will respond at the earliest convenience. Thank you very much! ❞

Comments

[lempereur]

Yes, he did.

That painting was what inspired me to become an artist myself. Learning that it was her who was both artist, and subject, only pushed me further. I think she would be glad to know her work made you feel that way.

Are you planning to honor him, in any way?

1/2

[girlybruiser]

I never knew my own mother. I heard very little about her growing up, but from what I did, she was a gentle and beautiful person as well.

2/2

[girlybruiser]

Originally, no.
But...
I couldn't stop thinking about him instead and I think now I've made a mistake.

[ The "him" she refers to isn't Kunikazu Okumura. ]

[lempereur]

Mistake? What kind of mistake?

[girlybruiser]

I spoke to Goro-kun earlier.

[lempereur]

that sounds
uncomfortable

how did it go?

[girlybruiser]

Not well, unfortunately.
I'm quite ashamed of myself.

[lempereur]

What happened?

[girlybruiser]

I asked him about Father's last words... and if he suffered in the cognitive world, too.

[lempereur]

That seems like a question unlikely to get a satisfying answer.



I apologize if that sounded insensitive.

[girlybruiser]

Not at all. You are correct.
I'm not sure why I confronted him, but after all this time I felt... almost I had to.
It was dumb in the end.

[lempereur]

What are you doing now?

[girlybruiser]

I was harvesting some beetroot I planted. They were a little late, but just in time before the weather grew too harsh.

[lempereur]

Would you like any help?
Or just general company.

[girlybruiser]

Some company would be nice.

[lempereur]

Are you at home still?

[girlybruiser]

Yes, I am.

[lempereur]

I will be over soon, then. Have you eaten?

[girlybruiser]

Not yet. Do you want me to prepare something?

[lempereur]

No need. I will pick something up for you.

[ Except he doesn't know what to pick up, exactly. So he picks up everything, some Japanese style curry from the only Japanese place he knows in Nonah, a variety of pints of ice cream because he isn't sure what she likes (green tea, raspberry and lemon, triple fudge, smores), and a skill card to duplicate Reggie's magic alcohol powers. Just in case.

It's all very capital-E Extra, and likely more than he's spent on himself for the past several days, but you wouldn't know it, as casual as he is about it, knocking on the door with both hands full. ]

⟶ ACTION

[girlybruiser]

[ And Haru does not expect to be greeted with that much food, evident by how high her brows rise when she opens the door for Yusuke. There's even a tiny gasp, a hand covering her mouth in an attempt to be polite. ]

Yusuke-kun! You really went all out... is that okay?

[lempereur]

Okay? Of course it's okay.

[ Why wouldn't it be? He has been carrying these for a while, though, so he'll come right in and set his bags on the floor before he removes his shoes. ]

I brought curry, and dessert.

[girlybruiser]

[ Haru pushes the door shut once he's in, glancing at all the food and desserts he's brought. Initially, she feels guilty he's probably spent so much on her, but it's replaced with gratitude quickly. He could have bought a pint of ice cream, but he went out of his way for her.

Really, she's a lucky person to have friends like this. ]

You're too kind. Still... thank you for this, Yusuke-kun.

[lempereur]

You are welcome.

[ Once his shoes are off, he picks the bags up to set on the nearest table, and turns toward Haru, looking her over. ]

Are you feeling alright?

[girlybruiser]

[ She meets his gaze, needing to crane her head just a little to do so. Whenever they are next to each other Haru feels incredibly small. ]

I am... okay.

[ Just okay, however. Much of her anger has subsided, replaced with fatigue and shame. ]

I'm embarrassed that I lost my temper... lashing out at Goro-kun the way I did.

[ And hitting him. She never thought she had that in her. ]