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Ever since she joined the Phantom Thieves, Haru has often hoped that she would be able to get to know her friends better.
There are some friends she knows better than others. Morgana was the one who kickstarted her journey as a Persona user, and was the one who taught her about the Metaverse and being a Phantom Thief. Makoto was the closest to her age, thus Haru quickly found comfort in her company. And of course, there was Akira, the one who supported her throughout her troubles with Okumura Foods and her personal grievances. Haru considers them to be irreplaceable in her life, and she always wished to learn about the rest as well.
There were many events that happened in their adventures that she's heard about from them, but as Haru herself has never experienced it firsthand, there was always a lack of true understanding of the significance of those events, and she hated that. She could never truly know what Akira, Ryuji and Ann experienced when they were facing Kamoshida, nor would she know about Yusuke's troubles with Madarame, Makoto’s brush with Kaneshiro, or the struggle of Futaba's mental state and her eventual triumph. Though it was something that couldn't be helped considering when she joined the Phantom Thieves, it still pained Haru that she was the one who knew everyone the least. That was part of the reason why she wanted to support everyone as best as she could now, as they were all her precious friends.
Now in Sendai, the latest stop in their new adventure, Haru was privy to a more personal moment for one of her friends: Yusuke. Since she knew that Ango Natsume had a Jail, she was not surprised that there was an underlying shadiness to his sudden rise to fame in the form of plagiarism. And the man himself was so… arrogant and self-entitled when he attempted to gain her favor when they arrived in Sendai. Haru's opinion of him was hardly favorable to begin with. When everyone overheard him badmouthing the 'Sayuri', the painting that Yusuke held in such high regard, during that party… Haru's opinion of the man lowered, appalled by his ignorant and insensitive comment.
But after he skillfully got the password to Ango's Jail, Yusuke's true response towards Ango's comments about the 'Sayuri' were known, and Haru was surprised to feel the fury and sadness behind his words. When he mentioned that his mother gave her life to complete that painting, Haru felt a lump forming in her throat. She was aware of the connection between Yusuke, Madarame, and the 'Sayuri' because of what she was told, but yet again… Haru is faced with knowledge that she didn't actually experience. The pain and anger she sensed in Yusuke… that is something that cannot be simply told.
After it was decided that they would infiltrate Natsume's Jail in the morning, everyone broke away for the night. Haru took the time to take a stroll down the streets of Sendai to help clear her mind… But, whether it was due to the people singing Natsume's praises around her or her own worries plaguing her, Haru eventually stopped walking, her clenched hand placed against her chest.
She quietly sighed to herself as she replayed Yusuke's confrontation in her mind, recalling the pain behind Yusuke's words. Her mind kept wandering towards Yusuke and his well-being, and she lightly frowned to herself.
"Perhaps I should check to see if Yusuke-kun's okay…" she murmured to herself out of concern.
With that thought in mind, she turned and walked towards the direction where the camper was parked.
As Haru made her way to the parking lot in Mt. Aoba Park, she took a careful look around the area for Yusuke. Her first stop was to the camper itself, but she hasn't ruled out the possibility that Yusuke was somewhere in the vicinity in general, not just in the camper. So as she walked, Haru kept an eye out for Yusuke, but to no avail. He wasn't anywhere in sight.
She approached the camper and opened the door, but to her surprise, she saw no one inside. Everyone else must still be out and about, walking the streets of Sendai until their curiosities are satisfied. After looking around, Haru closed the door and stepped away, still intending to look for Yusuke. Where could he be?
"Oh…! If I remember correctly, he was very excited upon seeing the statue of Masamune Date that's nearby…" Haru realized. "Perhaps he is there?"
It was worth a shot.
With that idea in mind, Haru headed north of the park, her way towards the parking lot that was closest to the statue of Masamune Date. There, she found Yusuke, quietly sitting on one of the nearby benches by himself as he gazed at the statue.
"Oh, Yusuke-kun! I'm so glad I found you…" Haru expressed with a relieved smile.
Yusuke raised his head and blinked once, noticing that someone was calling his name. He calmly turned his head towards Haru, and gave her an inquiring look.
"Haru… You were searching for me? Is there something that you require?" he asked.
"No, no. Nothing like that," Haru answered, shaking her head. "I just wanted to check up on you, to see if you were okay."
"Ah, I see…" he murmured. "I am alright. Thank you for your concern, Haru."
"...Are you sure?" Haru asked.
"Indeed." Yusuke affirmed.
"Thank goodness…" Haru breathed, heaving a sigh of relief. "I was worried that after that encounter with Ango Natsume and the things he had said, that you would be…"
"Ah, so that is why you sought me out," Yusuke observed, nodding slowly. "It is true that I was vexed over his statements about the Sayuri. Holding my tongue until I completed my objective in obtaining his password was rather… difficult."
"I would imagine so…" Haru agreed. "How you took control over your conversation with him was very skillful, but even so… the Sayuri was a memento of your mother's, wasn't it? That painting was so precious to you… I could hear the fury in your voice when you were putting Natsume in his place."
"Even that was but a mere fraction of how I truly felt," Yusuke said bluntly, narrowing his eyes. "But I must admit, as much as I would love to put that man out of my mind for the night, something else about him weighs on me."
"In what way?" Haru asked.
"...I cannot say for certain," Yusuke said, shaking his head. "I suppose that is something that I will discover upon investigating his jail tomorrow… who he is, and what drives him to be so proud of such soulless drivel he calls 'art'. That is, if there is anything at all."
"...."
Haru was at a loss for words. She had no idea that Yusuke was harboring such thoughts about someone like Natsume. She was initially worried that Yusuke's issues with him were solely personal. It would be understandable for her to think so, given their last encounter with him just now, but she's learning that his issues go further than that.
As someone who deals in the creative field himself, Yusuke was wondering what drives Natsume as another creator. Their chosen mediums in their creative process may be different… but the principles were similar. At least, that's what Yusuke seemed to allude to in his words.
How… profound.
"Yusuke-kun, may I sit next to you?" Haru asked.
"I don't see the harm. Please, go ahead." Yusuke answered.
"Thank you." Haru thanked. She approached the bench that Yusuke was sitting on and smoothed down her skirt before taking her seat next to him. She was a little worried that such a thing was too forward among friends, but Yusuke didn't seem to take issue with it at all.
Good… she was glad about that. Now seemed like a good opportunity to learn a little more about him. To provide him better support as his friend.
"Yusuke-kun, would you tell me what inspires you as an artist?" Haru asked.
"Hm…?" Yusuke raised a brow, giving Haru an inquisitive look. "This is unexpected… I didn't know that you have an interest in the arts, Haru."
"I don't know too much about the arts myself, but I do know that it is important to you," Haru responded. "And as your friend, I would be more than happy to learn even a little about what's important to you."
Slowly, but surely, Yusuke's lips curved into a satisfied smile. He chuckled to himself lowly and closed his eyes, completely at ease.
"If that is the case, I would be more than happy to tell you." he said. Haru smiled warmly in response and nodded, waiting on his story with an open mind.
"Once, I was driven purely by creating art," he began. "Through my Sensei's guidance, I was able to paint whatever I pleased. Despite what had transpired around me, the simple act of painting brought me joy. I needed nothing else."
"...."
"Then, upon entering a new chapter in my life, I had fallen into a slump. I thought my mind clouded… the well in my creativity dried. I had strived to recapture my passion to paint, but I found myself being driven by my own worldly desires. I had to support my livelihood, whether it'd be for keeping my scholarship at Kosei, or for the sake of basic living like buying food. Above all, I wished to prove myself as a true artist in my own right. I wished to prove myself to the world…"
Yusuke chuckled to himself then, shaking his head before he looked up at the statue once more.
"And in my ignorance, I saw these desires as a bad thing," he then laughed. "I thought myself tainted."
"Oh, Yusuke-kun… surely having desire itself isn't a bad thing?" Haru inquired. "There's nothing wrong with wanting or feeling something. Everyone has something like that in their hearts. What really counts is how you go about it."
"That is precisely right, Haru," Yusuke confirmed, nodding firmly. "Hm… Reflecting on my mindset at the time, I feared that, in part, having such worldly desires within myself made me like Madarame. He was ruled by his garish desires, and it drove him to do despicable things. I refused to become something even remotely similar to that. I believed that I was above such things… that I was driven by purely creating art. That was true, and yet that was not all there was to it. That was what I had to understand."
"Yusuke-kun…"
"Through the help of our friends, I had learned that I wished to create art that speaks to others. Art can give way to a myriad of emotions for the beholder. Joy, love, sadness, anger, regret, pain… and hope. Much like a person, there is no one aspect to what an artist can feel when creating their work. There is both ugliness and beauty within. What truly inspires me to create art… is to give hope to others. To let my paintings stir pure emotion within one's heart, just as the Sayuri did for me so many times."
"Yusuke-kun… that's such a beautiful sentiment," Haru breathed, holding a hand to her chest. "Though I haven't been there to witness your epiphany for myself, I do feel like I understand you better than I did before."
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that, Haru." Yusuke said, sounding pleased.
Haru nodded at him enthusiastically. Hearing what truly inspired Yusuke had genuinely touched her heart. It was truly profound, to create things that would leave a person with something hopeful.
"May I ask you something, Haru?" Yusuke then asked.
"Of course," Haru answered easily. "What is it?"
"What do you see when you gaze upon the Sayuri?"
"Hm, well…" Haru began, humming softly to herself in thought. "It’s true that it's a beautiful work of art. Your mother was very skilled. But whenever I catch a glimpse of it when I visit LeBlanc, I feel… warmth radiating from it."
"Warmth, hm?" Yusuke hummed with a smile. "Ann said something similar once while we were talking about it. She said something along the lines of 'being in her mother's arms again'."
"That sounds so wonderful for Ann-chan," Haru mused, yet her smile turned a tad wistful. "However, I believe the warmth I feel from it is a little different. My own mother died when I was very young, so I can't remember the warmth of her arms, you see…"
"...I see."
"The warmth that I feel when I look at the Sayuri… it takes me back to when I was a child. When my father was a kind man… when my grandfather was alive… and when his café was still running. It feels like home to me."
She couldn't help but think of something else that warmed her heart… her grandfather's coffee. The feelings he stirred within others through the taste of his coffee and the environment of his café… such warmth had lived in the back of Haru's mind. And it was something that she would want to make for others.
That feeling of warmth and belonging… that was also a type of hope.
"Yet another pure emotion stirred within one's heart… The Sayuri is unmatched," Yusuke hummed with satisfaction. "Truly, that is something I wish to bestow through my own work. I thank you for sharing your thoughts, Haru."
"It’s no problem at all." Haru assured, flashing him a kind smile.
She couldn't help but notice this… but Yusuke looked so proud just then as he voiced his approval. And why wouldn't he be proud? The Sayuri is the art piece that inspired Yusuke the most. It helped lead him to his epiphany, and what he wished to convey through his own work. That feeling was just so… pure.
"I have to say, the pure feelings behind what inspires you, Yusuke-kun… it deserves respect," Haru then commented. "I somehow can't imagine Ango Natsume having such an effect through his book. What he's doing doesn't give people hope. Not truly. It's just –"
"-- Forced fanaticism for an empty work." Yusuke finished, shaking his head. "Every artist has their own identity woven in their work. That man has none in his."
"...Yes."
"And yet, as an artist myself… I’m plagued by a desire to know what truly drives him," Yusuke admitted. He then leaned forward in his seat once more, tapping the side of his head with his fingers as he mulled in his thoughts.
"Is it that he simply indulges in his own vanity that he would revel in such depravity?" he mused to himself, thinking out loud. "Or… is there something else that I can't see at the moment? For some reason, I'm drawn to the idea that it is the latter."
"Whichever it may be, we'll be sure to figure it out once we enter his Jail tomorrow," Haru said. "For now, perhaps you should get some rest, Yusuke-kun. I would be happy to walk with you back to the car if you'd like."
"I will be fine, though I appreciate your kind offer, Haru," Yusuke replied. He then looked up at the statue of Masamune Date once more, completely enthralled with a shine to his eyes as he held his hands up in a frame. "I am most content to familiarize myself further with Lord Masamune through this angle. Truly, the craftsmanship is immaculate…"
Haru smiled at him faintly. She supposed that for Yusuke, admiring true art is one way of clearing his mind of whatever troubles are in his head. That was, of course, only her guess.
"Worry not, I will return to the camper momentarily. I would be remiss if I exhausted myself before an infiltration," Yusuke assured, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "I wish you a good night, Haru."
"O-Oh, yes. Good night, Yusuke-kun." Haru said. She rose up from her seat and smoothed out her skirt before walking away, heading for the parking lot where the bunker was parked. This conversation with Yusuke was an enlightening one for Haru. Not only because he appreciated her concern, but she was able to learn something new about him. Something truly important to him as both an artist and a person.
It's no wonder that Ango Natsume got under his skin. As it stands, he was the antithesis of what Yusuke stood for.
Haru had to admit… she was still a little worried about him, but no matter. The best thing she could do now was to be ready to support everyone tomorrow.
Yusuke especially, if need be.
-----
It's finally over.
The change of heart was successful and they had freed everyone's Desires. Not long ago, Ango Natsume just finished his press conference, confessing both his wrongdoings and that of the editors that had used him. Learning about what had truly led Natsume to that path was… difficult to see. He truly did have pure intentions towards his work once. So much effort put in, only to be twisted in the wind by the people around him. And eventually, he allowed himself to be twisted as well.
Haru recalled how Yusuke was the one to break through to Natsume in the end. Both in and out of the Metaverse. At first, Haru thought that she had to watch his back in particular because of how much Natsume occupied his mind. But she quickly learned that her worries were unfounded. Yusuke was exceptional during this mission. He was a major factor in turning the tides against Natsume's Shadow in battle, and he was the one to reach out to him in the aftermath. What's more, he reaffirmed his belief to Natsume in the real world, going into the heart of the press conference with Akira in tow.
Haru was grateful to have witnessed such a thing for herself instead of simply hearing about it secondhand. Yusuke was an incredible person in his own right.
Seeing as the only thing left to do was to wait for Zenkichi to come back with his findings, Haru decided to return to the camper ahead of time. As she walked through the streets of Sendai once more, the air was filled with sounds of chatter about various things. Some things were related to Natsume and his intentions going forward, but most of the chatter were more about everyday things. It truly was a sign that everything here was back to normal.
Haru finally made her way back to the parking lot, heading towards the camper. As she approached it, she opened the door and closed it behind her. She thought that she was the first one to make it back, seeing as she briefly caught a glimpse of everyone else going about in the streets before they had to go back. But to her surprise, Yusuke was sitting inside the booth, munching on some Jagariko snacks without a care in the world.
"Oh, Yusuke-kun! I didn't know you were here already." Haru commented.
"Ah, Haru," Yusuke acknowledged. "I haven't been here long. I simply had a great urge to eat while I wait for the others to return."
"I see. Well, I was about to make myself some tea while we wait," Haru said. "Would you like to join me?"
"That would be delightful. Thank you." Yusuke thanked.
Haru smiled and stepped into the kitchen part of the camper. She took great care in preparing both the water and the flavoring. Once she was finished with the two cups, Haru carefully brought them over to the booth and placed one in front of Yusuke. As Haru took her seat across from him, Yusuke was already taking his first sip.
"Mm… I must thank you again for your kindness, Haru. This tea is quite delicious." Yusuke thanked once more, humming with satisfaction.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all! I'm just glad that you're enjoying it." Haru assured.
"I also would like to thank you again for the other night," Yusuke continued, before taking another sip of his tea. "Your concern was greatly appreciated, and I enjoyed our conversation."
"Of course, Yusuke-kun… You are one of my precious friends. Checking up on you was the least I could do for you, especially when it was so personal." Haru said easily. "Trust me when I say that it's no trouble at all. I would gladly do so again."
"...You're too kind." Yusuke replied lowly, closing his eyes for a moment.
"And might I just add that I'm glad to see you looking better," Haru continued. "Not just that, but you even solved what has bothered you so much about Natsume in the process."
"I wouldn't say that I've solved it, per se…" Yusuke interjected, shaking his head. "More so that when one question is answered, another appears in its place."
"Oh?" Haru questioned, before finally taking the first sip of her tea. "What else is on your mind, if you don't mind me asking? Of course, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"I don't mind it at all, Haru," Yusuke eased. "In fact, perhaps I could use a third perspective on this matter. I mentioned my thoughts on this matter to Akira not too long ago."
"To Akira-kun?" Haru repeated in surprise. Now she was really curious about what Yusuke is currently thinking about.
"During our last conversation, I was plagued by the desire to see what truly drove Natsume as an artist. Eventually, I saw the truth of what circumstances brought Natsume to that point," Yusuke began. As he spoke, his fingers subtly drum against the side of the teacup in a steady rhythm.
"His actions were unforgivable. That will never change. But… Knowing what I know about Jails thus far, can I truly call Natsume evil much like the Palace rulers we've fought in the past? Perhaps this answer is primarily influenced by my sympathies for him as a fellow artist, but the answer that comes to me is… no."
"Yusuke-kun…" Haru trailed off
"Akira mentioned a similar sentiment. That he wasn't completely a bad guy at his core," Yusuke continued. "What do you think, Haru?"
"W-What do I think?" Haru parroted in surprise. She took a moment to carefully sip her tea and gather her thoughts about what Yusuke just said. After a pause, she finally came up with her answer.
"I believe… that you should trust your instincts, Yusuke-kun." she said.
"Oh?" Yusuke inquired, looking at her inquisitively.
"I think everyone can agree that Ango Natsume's actions were horrible," Haru continued. "However, I don't think he's too far gone. I think that he could pick himself back up and stay true, but that all depends on him."
"Of course." Yusuke agreed readily.
"I believe… we should be happy that we were able to grant him a second chance to atone," Haru stated. Her lips thinned for a moment as her eyes fell to her teacup, her expression faltering for a moment. "...Not many people will get that chance."
"...."
Yusuke didn't say anything then, but Haru noticed his features softening as he gazed at her. Yes… he must know exactly who Haru was alluding to at that last moment. Haru didn't want to say that it still haunts her to this day, but perhaps she didn't need to. Besides, she really was happy that Natsume will get a chance to atone for his actions and prove himself anew, as the writer he really wanted to be.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ruin the mood." Haru then said hurriedly.
"No need to apologize, Haru. I did ask for your thoughts, after all." Yusuke assured her.
"Oh, yes. You did," Haru sighed in relief. She took a moment to sip her tea before continuing, with a pleasant smile on her lips.
"I feel like I've learned a lot about you over the past few days, Yusuke-kun," she said. "Your passion and devotion to the arts, and what inspires you to make art… it's all so admirable. And as an artist, you were able to reach out to one of your own and convince him to start over. It makes me happy to understand you a lot better than before."
Yusuke formed a grateful smile as he hummed in satisfaction. "Again, you're too kind. Thank you, Haru." he said.
"Perhaps we can have more talks like this one if you're willing," Haru offered. "I could brew some tea, and perhaps even bring some food as well."
"Both very generous offers," Yusuke commented. "Even so, I would be happy to speak with you even if we didn't have food at all. Your perspective is unique to you alone, and I would be very pleased to be privy to it in conversation."
Haru nodded at him enthusiastically, before raising up her cup to Yusuke. "Wonderful…! I'm already looking forward to the next talk we have!" she cheered, before taking another sip.
"As am I, Haru," Yusuke agreed easily. "As am I."