[Week 5, Saturday: Yusuke]

[purrtagonist]

[a lot of what needed to be said had already been said at the trial, but. . . of course things aren't perfectly okay anymore. and that hurts-- although it hurts even more to know that whatever it is that broke happened to do so on the day after they lost Makoto]

[but it was Akira who broke it. who violated so many codes, and lied to the people he cared about most, even if he didn't want to. and so, when the trial is done, Akira seeks Yusuke out so they can continue their. . . talk]

[just in case either of them have anything else to say]

Comments

[purrtagonist]

No. Don't apologize. It's okay, Yusuke.

[the assumptions had hurt, of course. especially coming from Yusuke, of all people]

I don't blame you for doubting me.

[and then, firmly]

But I promise I won't give you another reason to, ever again.

[wantsnudes]

All those years I spent with Madarame, only to learn the Sensei I had loved was not that man at all, and he had lied to me so extensively. With you, I should have known better, but I... wondered if the same would happen again. I panicked.

[trust issues are the worst. he sighs deeply, shifting, bumping shoulders with Akira ever so slightly]

I know better now. And I believe in you, no matter what.

[purrtagonist]

[he leans over and bumps his shoulder against Yusuke's gently]

That-- [god] That means a lot to me.

[a lot more than he feels he can express in words]

You know. . . you and Makoto, and everyone else, have always inspired me to be the kind of person people could believe in.

[they are, after all, a huge part of the reason he is who he is now]

[wantsnudes]

And you've always inspired us to be ourselves. I couldn't have answered Goemon's call without you... I certainly couldn't have overcome my struggles with my art, or my societal discomfort, without you.

[and so it's not hard to see why even those without a persona are drawn to that, too, he thinks. Akira is the kind of person who gives consideration to, and brings out the best, in anyone.]

If there's anything I can do here to keep inspiring you in return, you only need name it, Akira.

[purrtagonist]

[he doesn't feel like he's been very considerate, or that he's drawn out the best in everyone, while being here. but others have told him otherwise. what else can he do but make use of the extra chance the Players have given him, even knowing his crimes and his faults?]

Just be yourself.

[that's all he has ever needed. for Yusuke to be himself, and to always be there to lean on when he needs it. even if he hadn't really been making good use of that over the past few weeks]

That's enough.

[wantsnudes]

How can I be anyone else?

[Yusuke smiles wryly. If there's anyone good at being themselves, it's him.]

... I understand. I hope now you finally have the freedom to be yourself once again, too. We can't change what happened in the past, but we can still keep fighting for the future.

[purrtagonist]

Yeah.

[and that's exactly what he had tried to tell Yusuke during the trial]

I do feel more-- free, so to speak.

[not completely, because he's still somewhat bound by the role given to him in the Game. but he doesn't have to hide it so much. he doesn't have to lie. and he has people who will help him break through the chains that bind him to the messy job he's been given]

[and that is liberating, isn't it?]