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[ She doesn't like that at all.

Haru might not be afraid of getting into a little scuffle (or full-blown battle where her life is presumably on the line), Martin doesn't exactly know that side of her. He might have seen her Phantom Thief getup in his dream, but he must have presumed it was just that: a costume.

Should she tell him? She ruminates quietly over it, idly playing with her fingers. ]

It's not as bad as it looks, I promise.

[he nods vaguely. she's not a liar, and...it is good that she's awake, talking. safe, here.

but he feels rotten in his guts nonetheless.

while dragging a hand through his bangs:] Um, I can...bring different food. If you want. I just--just picked what I remembered... [said hand gestures at the nightstand before falling to his side.]

That's alright, I think. I don't feel hungry right now.

[ She can't stop thinking about Futaba, which in turn leads her stomach to churn anxiously and stir some nausea up that makes it difficult to want food. ]

Have you been here this whole time?

[he shakes his head.]

I, I went out. To get the food, and... [flowers. but somehow the word doesn't even make it to his tongue.

the hand moves back to his elbow.]

Sorry.

I, I can go--go downstairs.

Eh? Wait! Oh...

[ Haru shifts suddenly in the bed, her voice cracking slightly as she's forced to imagine sitting in a room that isn't her own, alone and body aching all over, without a familiar and comforting presence.

She's embarrassed by how nervous that seems to make her, so she quiets down quickly. ]

Um, if you don't mind... please stay.

[the anxious notes in her voice gives him pause and a new weight in his heart. there's an echo of Regina in her voice that he doesn't like.

after a waver, he nods.]

I'll stay, then. I can sit down...here. [he already moves to sit back on the floor.]

[ Her body feels weighted with exhaustion, the temptation to lay down on the bed strong, but Haru does her best to resist. She's been asleep far too long, she thinks. ]

You don't have to sit on the floor.

[ It's his house, after all. Haru should probably be the one getting out of the bed... ]

Are Rex and Cassandra okay? Cassandra was already out when I saw her on the ship.

[the implication there is that he ought to sit beside her, but without it being made clear, Martin can't make himself move there. so instead, he remains standing.]

...She's resting, too. She's safe. Rex said so.

[there won't be a repeat of May, though part of Martin feared it, seeing Cass like that.

still, the waver in his voice is not one fearing dreadful ends. it's weighted with a resignation reminiscent to the tone his sister had back in that dream -- one that knows a grim end is inevitable.]

[ She pats the soft mattress top, indicating he should come sit next to her and gives him a small smile, though it quickly fades as she observes his expression and mannerisms. She begins to jump to her own conclusions, mistaking the awkwardness for tension between them and bites down on her lip nervously.

Looking away, she quietly asks: ]

... are you upset with us, Martin?

Huh?

[he lifts his head, some of that weight in his voice lifted out of sheer confusion.]

...Why? I... [he grimaces.] I don't even know...what happened, or why, so how could I?

[any resentment in him? he turns it back on himself. it's his own fault for not knowing things, for not being part of things, for not protecting anyone.]

No one told you?

[ Haru is somewhat baffled by this revelation. ]

We went to that ship in the sky... the one that took the moon's place.

Yeah, but-- [his expression scrunches.] Why? I don't... [he exhales through his nose -- a slight tell of frustration he's got a lid on.] I don't know why anyone went. What it's for. I don't know anything, except that people came back hurt.

Come sit.

[ She scoots over to make room for him, wincing a bit as she has to drag her body with some effort to do so. Even her elbows still feel weak, like she banged them against something solid. ]

I don't know what that ship was, but the moon disappeared. We wanted to know what was up there and where it came from.

[ She furrows her brows in that moment; she didn't learn anything while up there.

Did the others? ]

[only after she's stopped showing signs of strain does he move to sit, hunching forward as to make himself smaller and less intrusive. his eyes fix on the floor as he listens.]

...And it hurt everyone.

[is that the conclusion? that no one should've bothered at all?]

Not everyone... and I'm fine, see?

[ Bruised and banged up, but she gestures to herself: still in one piece! ]

[he doesn't see, because he doesn't look over. he folds his hands, pressing his palms tightly against each other for a breath before relaxing them.]

Then as long as...no one else goes there, then no one else gets hurt from it.

Right?

Yes, but... we need to find out what it's here for. More people might get hurt.

[ She's bothered by that idea. ]

I thought...there were people who did things like that. The heroes, that is. That's their job...right?

[he peers sidelong her way, frowning.

why her? why Cass? why his family?]

[ It's also her job, she tells herself. With the power of a Persona, Haru feels it's her moral obligation to step in where others can't, or even if they can, to assist them in order to protect everyone else. ]

It wouldn't be right if I stayed back and watched others risk their lives for me or my friends. Not when I have the power to do something about it.

...

[she's saying the kinds of things he says to himself when the others go out. everyone tells him to stay behind, stay safe...and off they go, coming back bruised, broken...if at all.

so it really isn't right. if someone as good as Haru has to go and get hurt, but he's at home, doing nothing.]

Someone who...can help. But doesn't. Then they're...

[just a waste, right?]

[ She isn't following Martin's train of thought, so she looks over at him puzzled. ]

What do you mean? [ Still, she tries to decipher it. ] Well, um, everyone has their reasons for staying behind.

It was best there were people back on Earth in case something dangerous appeared here.

[he doesn't look her way, but his face gets redder, ashamed of himself and the way he thinks. it's not her fault he's this way or that, and...maybe it's good of her to go and help? if it's her job.

is it?

he doesn't know.

what's fair and unfair in this world...he doesn't wholly know that, either. just the small offenses in his small life here and the lives of ones he cares about. Haru, too.

he doesn't want to think about this anymore.]

If you're...glad you went, then... [then what? does that make it fine? fine for her, maybe.]

Then...?

[ She's not following anymore, but she notes the blood has risen to his face and he seems... uncomfortable.

More so than he usually is. ]

Do you think I made a mistake going?

[his head dips down, shoulder shrugging up.]

I don't know.

I don't believe I did.

[ Haru doesn't interject, but her response comes swiftly and firmly after Martin's uncertain one. What he says isn't an affront to her, not when a long time ago she decided what she would do with her power. ]

I've been able to help people with my power before. I don't think I would be able to stop that, even in this world.

I suppose it's simply my sense of justice that keeps me going.

[ A sheepish smile. ]

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