Reverse Tarot - nozomi-nakahara

hey nozomi-chan... im sorry about all that

9:36 PM

im trying to throw... everyone else off

I don't know if it worked

i think i at least confused them?

9:36 PM

lol

9:37 PM

but can i ask something first...? i hope i dont... bring something bad up

What is it?

do you remember the love meets bonds festival, where we first met?

Um, vaguely. It was kind of a blur.

9:39 PM

Why?

well... if you remember anything about... another world... or us using something like... Personas... or monsters.... That was... all real

...

9:40 PM

What are you talking about?

That "gang" Yu was referring to-- all of us, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Rise, Teddie, Naoto... We were trained to go into that other world and deal with those monsters, shadows, by using Personas. The Shadow Ops-- Shadow Operatives-- they are kinda like Shadow hunters. They have a wealth of information about people, places and other stuff, but they mostly focus on saving the world and stuff. They hired us.

9:42 PM

Um... so all these secrets and stuff... that's why

9:42 PM

I'm sorry, this must sound so stupid

You're joking with me, right?

... no?

9:45 PM

I wish I was because I sound like an idiot that I'm not

9:45 PM

Like this always sounds like such fairy tale bullshit to people not involved

I don't even know what these things are. Shadows? Personas? Shadow Operatives?

9:46 PM

I don't understand

Sorry uh

9:47 PM

let me back up

9:47 PM

Do you remember back in the other world?

9:48 PM

There was a stage... and monsters surrounding it

...

9:49 PM

Who told you about that?

I was THERE, don't you remember?

9:51 PM

I mean, no, Rise, Kanji, Teddie and Naoto were there.

9:52 PM

But I was in a similar situation with your teammates.

No, that was a nightmare I had

9:54 PM

Was it Tamami? Did she tell you about that?

Tamami had the same nightmare, right?

9:57 PM

And the rest of Kanamin Kitchen

9:58 PM

Listen... at the end you guys helped Rise to summon her Persona. You remember that, right?

9:58 PM

I was there to see it, on that stage

No no, that wasn't real, I know that

9:59 PM

People have similar nightmares sometimes right?

9:59 PM

But I could have sworn I never mentioned it to anyone

Then that makes it even weirder that I know the details, right?

10:00 PM

I don't want to make it worse for you, but I can prove to you it wasn't a dream.

10:01 PM

But I don't WANT to. I don't want to upset you or make you cry, Nozomi-chan.

I'm already upset

I know

10:02 PM

I'll just leave you alone then, I'm sorry

Why is this relevant? What do you mean you have proof?

Just... nevermind

10:02 PM

Don't worry about it

10:02 PM

But I wanted to explain to you what the shadow operatives were, and I did

10:02 PM

So... I'm sorry I pushed

10:02 PM

Um... do you still want me to bring you some food, or anything? You ok?

No I'm not. But for better or for worse, we're here now, and I want to know what you mean

What part? About me having proof?

All of it, but that's a start

Ok... um... I just don't want to scare you, but I hope you can trust me after this.

10:09 PM

((hold on I gotta... read Nozomi's wiki)) (edited)

10:11 PM

((Ok this has nothing I gotta find the scene on youtube))

This is what Rise told me, so it might not be like... 100%, but it's pretty close to what happened to Tomoe-chan and Tamami-chan. They were the two my team saved. Um... so, there was this voice. You remember it? It was talking to you, kinda sounded like it was coming from everywhere. A woman's voice. She said your stage was like... a golden castle with lots of roses and vines... Sorry, I'm just trying to remember. But it talked about the same thing with Tomoe-chan and Tamami-chan. About bonds and being the person everyone ELSE wanted you to be. How making bonds is more important than disappointing people with your true personality. It was better to just hide yourself... to play up a persona. I think for you, your fans really expected a princely, confident person, but in reality you were shy and timid. You didn't want to be denied, so... You gave in. Right, Nozomi-chan? (edited)

How

Because it really happened

No I mean

10:31 PM

I'm sorry I'll have to talk to you later

Alright... get some rest. I'm sorry

Um, Hanamura-san, I'm sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to check on you. You seemed fairly upset. Are you feeling alright? @Kayla, male thot enemy of state

I mean... It's been a bad day, but I'll get over it lol. Sorry to worry you.

I uh, noticed Narukami-san mention that you were away. Did something happen? I don't mean to pry, but if there's a way I can help, I want to be there for you.

I'm just visiting Inaba is all. ... Thank you for being... So nice Nozomi-chan. I do appreciate it. But nothing happened, I promise. I'm ok. I mean, I will be. I'm gonna be cranky but that's normal for me lol.

Based on what I saw, cranky's a bit of an understatement. If you really don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I won't press you for it. But I know hurt when I see it. If you ever feel like you just need to get anything off your chest, I'm always willing to lend an ear.

... thanks Nozomi-chan. Sorry to be such a bother for everyone. I didn't mean to... bring down the air of the chat. I guess I was just shocked to see Katsu there, and felt the need to say something... But... if I need to talk about it, I'll... I'll know who to turn to.

It's not your fault. It's easy to let your emotions get the better of you and that's fine. I'm sure it was a shock to see someone you've been away from for so long. You can't blame yourself for that.

10:47 PM

I can also promise you that there's nothing you can tell me that I'll judge you for. I'm here for you whenever.

Thanks... I appreciate you messaging me, I really do. Sorry I'm not... willing to say much.

It's okay. Take as much time as you need. I'm not going anywhere any time soon.

Thanks, Nozomi-chan...

Any time.

[TEXT] nozomi? akria told me to text you

Um, yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. He said you got sick last night?

lol kinda of a understantemtn

8:13 PM

but yeah i got sick

Oh god, what happened?

stuff im alive its k

That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence

its fine im in the hospital

8:17 PM

im being taken care of

Which hospital

i dunno

8:17 PM

id have to ask akira

Please do

8:18 PM

Are they keeping you overnight?

ive been here overnight i think?

8:18 PM

i think it was last night

8:18 PM

i dont remember

8:18 PM

he says its [INSERT NAME OF HOSPITAL HERE]

Thanks. I’ll be there soon.

you dont gotta im fine

You can’t stop me. I’m coming.

well ok

8:20 PM

ill let akira kno lol

Hospitals always freaked her out. The white, sterile halls felt too perfect, like if she touched anything, she'd ruin it. It was cold and clinical, and impersonal. It always just felt wrong to be in one. Nozomi didn't have much of a choice at the moment however, and it was also the last thing on her mind as she made her way to the room. She opened the door, gently, so as to not make too much of a noise, and stepped inside. Akira was asleep on the couch, which didn't surprise her. What did throw her a bit was exactly how attractive he was, even while sleeping. It seemed he never took a break from that. Focus, that wasn't why she was here. She looked over at Yosuke on the hospital bed and forced herself to smile, meekly. God, he looked terrible. Hopefully everything was okay. She offered a little wave before announcing her presence. "Hey," she said softly in an attempt to not wake Akira. "How are you feeling?"

10:01 PM

@Kayla, male thot enemy of state

Shy, the Galactic Base Baller

Hospitals always freaked her out. The white, sterile halls felt too perfect, like if she touched anything, she'd ruin it. It was cold and clinical, and impersonal. It always just felt wrong to be in one. Nozomi didn't have much of a choice at the moment however, and it was also the last thing on her mind as she made her way to the room. She opened the door, gently, so as to not make too much of a noise, and stepped inside. Akira was asleep on the couch, which didn't surprise her. What did throw her a bit was exactly how attractive he was, even while sleeping. It seemed he never took a break from that. Focus, that wasn't why she was here. She looked over at Yosuke on the hospital bed and forced herself to smile, meekly. God, he looked terrible. Hopefully everything was okay. She offered a little wave before announcing her presence. "Hey," she said softly in an attempt to not wake Akira. "How are you feeling?"

Yosuke was sleeping, again. It was hard not to, ever since Futaba suggested they move to a hospital outside of Tokyo. Poor Nozomi probably had to go quite far, but... It was worth it for Yosuke to finally get some rest. At the same time, it's not like the doctors fought the idea. They weren't sure why being outside of Tokyo would help, but Yosuke's full blown episodes at the idea of being put to sleep caused deep concern in the personnel. He had acted like a trapped animal, screaming and thrashing and crying, if only to stay awake. Everytime he was awake he swore he was still in a waking nightmare, but his warm (if not weird) dreams reminded him that he was... Safe. For now, that is. He hears the soft call, eyes opening gently. He was a light sleeper as it is. Despite his recent rest, he was still exhausted looking, eyes deep set and dark. He was pale-- painfully so. He never looked so washed out and washed up before, like a shirt that had been out to sea for months and finally came to shore. His palor was a little sweaty, as well. Whatever happened to him, it was an immense physical (and emotional) toll. He smiled at her, regardless. He was good at smiling when he didn't feel well. "Hey, Nozomi," he says, voice raspy. "I'm glad you could come... Sorry I'm... Like this."

God, it hurt to see him like this. But better to see for herself than to sit at home worrying. Not knowing was the real killer to her. She invited herself in further, making her way to the side of the bed. "What are you apologizing for? It's not your fault." It was hard for her to keep her smile up right now, but she was doing the best she could. "I'm just glad you're still in one piece, you know?" She couldn't help the sigh that slipped by her lips. The past couple of months had been such a whirlwind, she'd barely had the chance to check up on anyone at all. "If you don't mind me asking, what even happened?"

10:40 PM

@Kayla, male thot enemy of state

Shy, the Galactic Base Baller

God, it hurt to see him like this. But better to see for herself than to sit at home worrying. Not knowing was the real killer to her. She invited herself in further, making her way to the side of the bed. "What are you apologizing for? It's not your fault." It was hard for her to keep her smile up right now, but she was doing the best she could. "I'm just glad you're still in one piece, you know?" She couldn't help the sigh that slipped by her lips. The past couple of months had been such a whirlwind, she'd barely had the chance to check up on anyone at all. "If you don't mind me asking, what even happened?"

CW; mentions of horror and blood Yosuke took a long, deep breath. Of course she wanted to know... How did he explain...? He swallows thickly, looking up to the ceiling and going over his words. Nozomi knows everything already-- why not start there...? "Remember... That other world, I told you about?" He looks to her, expression blank, serious. "Well... You know about my nightmares. I guess... When I came back from Inaba, whatever was torturing me decided to 'punish me,' like you said..." He gets a pained smile, closing his eyes. They water from the memory-- he was still upset. "It tried to kill me, I think? Everything was a horrible, waking nightmare... And then... I threw up a bunch of blood." He motions to his chest. "So far, doctors haven't figured it out, but it felt like I was being ripped up from the inside. Like my own bones were tearing me apart." A shiver runs through him. "I... I don't... I don't know what happened, but... I'm... Alive, somehow. It might happen again... I don't know..." He looks away, distantly, staring at Akira's sleeping form. He was trembling, too sickly to really stop his emotions from affecting his body. One thing was obvious, however: he was terrified. (edited)

Kayla, male thot enemy of state

CW; mentions of horror and blood Yosuke took a long, deep breath. Of course she wanted to know... How did he explain...? He swallows thickly, looking up to the ceiling and going over his words. Nozomi knows everything already-- why not start there...? "Remember... That other world, I told you about?" He looks to her, expression blank, serious. "Well... You know about my nightmares. I guess... When I came back from Inaba, whatever was torturing me decided to 'punish me,' like you said..." He gets a pained smile, closing his eyes. They water from the memory-- he was still upset. "It tried to kill me, I think? Everything was a horrible, waking nightmare... And then... I threw up a bunch of blood." He motions to his chest. "So far, doctors haven't figured it out, but it felt like I was being ripped up from the inside. Like my own bones were tearing me apart." A shiver runs through him. "I... I don't... I don't know what happened, but... I'm... Alive, somehow. It might happen again... I don't know..." He looks away, distantly, staring at Akira's sleeping form. He was trembling, too sickly to really stop his emotions from affecting his body. One thing was obvious, however: he was terrified. (edited)

With each sentence she heard, her smile drooped more and more, and her heart sank further into her stomach. This was getting overwhelmingly out of hand in so many ways. It seemed like even being in Tokyo was a hazard to your health nowadays. She let out a deep sigh and sat gently on the edge of the bed. "I-... I'm so sorry." The words weren't coming to her the way she wanted them to right now. Why couldn't she be more comforting? "I'm so, so sorry you had to go through that. I can't imagine how that must have felt...." He must need rest, a lot of rest. Even after that though, could he even come back to Tokyo safely? There were so many things wrong with this whole situation. "So something from that other world is causing the nightmares then... and they're getting so bad that they can hurt us when we're awake. This sounds like a bad horror movie."

Shy, the Galactic Base Baller

With each sentence she heard, her smile drooped more and more, and her heart sank further into her stomach. This was getting overwhelmingly out of hand in so many ways. It seemed like even being in Tokyo was a hazard to your health nowadays. She let out a deep sigh and sat gently on the edge of the bed. "I-... I'm so sorry." The words weren't coming to her the way she wanted them to right now. Why couldn't she be more comforting? "I'm so, so sorry you had to go through that. I can't imagine how that must have felt...." He must need rest, a lot of rest. Even after that though, could he even come back to Tokyo safely? There were so many things wrong with this whole situation. "So something from that other world is causing the nightmares then... and they're getting so bad that they can hurt us when we're awake. This sounds like a bad horror movie."

Yosuke let's out a noise of agreement, squeezing his hands into fists to stop his shaking. He had to stop falling apart-- he had to stay strong... But... How do you stay strong after all that? It was one thing to be in danger in the other world... He could go home and safely sleep the horrors away. But... Now... He had to leave his home behind. He's thankful that Akira had followed, and that the others cared, but it was still... A lot. "It's ok," Yosuke tries for a smile, trying to give her a mock flex. "I'm made of stronger stuff. Some stupid nightmare monster won't get me." He didn't mention how he sobbed and screamed like a child, ofc. "I dunno, that sounds like a horror movie I'd watch," he was trying for another joke, but his expression sobers, not staring at anything in particular. "I think it's related to... The app... But how? Did it put nanobites into us through the phones...?" He touches his chest, annoyed at the idea. Even he thought it sounded dumb. "If it was just... People with powers in that other world, I'd get it... But Naru..." He thoughtfully looks aside, trying desperately to piece things together. If only he was smarter...

Yosuke pulls off his helmet, shaking his hair free and waiting for Yu to dismount first. His movements were hurried, from the speed he drove to get here, to the way he packed the ingredients into his travel cooler. It was as though Yosuke had found something positive to cling to, and dove right into it without pause. That may as well be what he's thinking-- running as far away from his problems as he could, so to speak. He chatted with Yu on their way up: "are you excited to see the new place, are you happy to see Nozomi again, are you sure you're ok with all this," the sorts of things that were reminders that he's still himself, despite everything. He pauses to knock on Nozomi's door, already smiling at the thought of surprising her with a group cooking session. (edited)

Given the circumstances, Yu couldn't deny an impromptu visit to an old friend's house. It certainly beat scanning through and investigating clients' case files. That, and it was difficult to say no to Yosuke when he seemed so… Invigorated, for the first time in what felt like months, possibly years. Not to say there weren't glimpses of that since then, but seeing his best friend truly joyful, especially after what he'd been through, wasn't something that Yu had come to see very often. The speeding wasn't entirely appreciated, but, miraculously, there weren't any cops on their route. Yu was sure of it, anxiety already spiking at the lecture Dojima-san would have given him in regards to it, both in regards to breaking the law and being on a vehicle going that fast with their shared family history on the matter. If Yu hadn't been so scared of potentially ruining Yosuke's good mood, he would have made a cold comment regarding the matter. Instead he simply pulled his arms away from Yosuke's waist as they reached their destination and push himself off the back seat, smoothly slipping his helmet off and patting down his hair. Once he was satisfied with his brush down, he grabbed for the travel cooler and lifted it up with relative ease despite the barrage of ingredients his partner had thrown into it at hyperspeed. Even he wasn't completely aware of what was in there, aside from occasional glances across the room. They could work with whatever Yosuke put in there, but there was still a small part of him that worried they might just create the sequel to Mystery Food X… It had been a while since either one of them seriously went grocery shopping, and Yu wasn't sure if some of the stuff in the fridge was still good or not… (edited)

11:19 PM

Distracting himself from the potential impending disaster that was to befall them in due time, his eyes fell back onto his partner with a soft fondness in eyes. His movements and words may have been frantic, but they didn't seem to be of a negative anxiousness that had seemingly plagued him for so long. Sure, he did still seem a little nervous, but the positivity surrounding him seemed to far outweigh what had seemingly become a norm. …Though, to be entirely honest, the barrage of questions was a little overwhelming. Responding to it as his instincts told him to—telling Yosuke to 'calm down'—didn't seem like it would be suitable here. Instead, he had to hold back his blunt nature, instead looking for something more honest and positive. "I'm happy to be here." His assurance was accompanied by a light, airy smile as his eyes lingered on Yosuke for a few moments longer than initially anticipated. How could they not, with how bright that smile felt as it cut through the angsty shell that had been cocooned him for so long. It was as if a butterfly had finally developed from that dense hibernation, though part of Yu feared that Yosuke's glee would once again fade soon enough, as fleeting as the flap of a monarch's wings. If only he could understand how to help Yosuke… Then again, his partner would barely tell him what was going on, let alone let him offer the help the brunette desperately needed. …There was no reason to let that weigh his thoughts down. For now, he simply had to admire the beauty of the moment, while he still could. After all, a butterfly, for how vibrant and gorgeous as they could be, never lasted long. "It's been a while since we've gone out like this." His free hand fiddled slightly with the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, being courteous enough to avoid lighting one up on impulse while they waited. "We should do it more often."

11:20 PM

Not that he was entirely sure if friendly visits could completely replicate the emotions Yosuke had been displaying now, but, if there was even a chance, Yu would take it. After all, working with others was always better than trying to take it on by yourself, right? He should have realized sooner that sort of motto would work here, as well… Better late than never, he supposed.

Nozomi had been frantically rushing around her apartment to clean. Not that she was a particularly filthy person, but there were still fairly obvious signs that she had moved in not too long ago, namely the boxes of things in the main living area that were yet to be unpacked. She slid them into a corner so they were out of the way, ran around to dust everything real quick, vacuumed the whole place with her little travel machine, then she heard the knock at the door. Oh god, they were here earlier than expected. She gave a full once-over of the place, eyes darting around to look for any egregious offence to cleanliness. Partway through, she shouted, "Coming!" though it still took her another second to decide that she was done enough to be satisfied. Nozomi pulled off the rubber gloves and tossed them in the trash, then tried her best to straighten out the creases in her standard cyan hoodie to give the illusion that she hadn't been sprinting around the place just moments ago. Then, with a smile on her face, this one warm and genuine, she opened up the door to greet her friends. "Hey guys!" she started off, trying to keep the energy high. "I-I'm so glad you could make it! Please, come on in." Nozomi stepped back into the apartment, gesturing for them to come in as well. The apartment itself wasn't the biggest thing in the world, but it could more than comfortably accommodate several people, which was more than most places could offer in Tokyo. The main living area had enough room for a small sofa and a coffee table, as well as all of her editing equipment along the wall. Her editing computer with its two monitors, sound deck, keyboard, and her bass propped up on the side made it very clear what that area was for. Beyond that was a small kitchenette, complete with a fridge, stove, oven, and microwave. From there, one door led to the tiny bathroom, and another to the bedroom. "It feels like it's been so long since I've seen you two, how have you been?"

Yosuke was, for lack of a better word, trying. He was desperately trying to swallow down the air of anxiousness and depression that working for Kagutsuchi brought him daily. He knew that he was lethargic and simply moving like a ghost from room to room, not missing the glances of concern Yu gave him. The initial burn of deceiving his best friend was still fresh. Yu knew he was hiding something. Of course he took this opportunity to do something jovial and with friends. He needed this, needed to get out of the house and hang out with people he loved, people that loved him. He needed to remind himself why he was even doing all of this for Kagutsuchi, why he had thrown away his good morals in favor of working for a villain. He did it to protect everyone else-- something only he could do. He was close enough to drive in the knife, he simply had to bide his time... "Yeah, definitely!" Yosuke responded, chipper as Yu remarked they should get out more often. "I think I need to be seeing my friends more, you know?" He let a small crack show to Yu exactly what he needed, but it was miniscule-- he needed many things. The only thing he could do right now is try to make sure he didn't completely break down under the weight of what horrors he was going to wrought. When the doors opened and he saw Nozomi, he kept up the high energy, lifting his cooler with a grin, "Surprise! Thought we'd try to help you learn to cook, so we brought some ingredients over." He paused to shuck off his boots as she asked about them. The last time Nozomi saw him, he was in the hospital. "I'm doing well, um, just working! Oh, I've been meaning to show you my stuff," his "stuff" referring to his music.

The last thing Yu expected was to get a downright enthusiastic response to his suggestion. Not that he didn't think Yosuke was avoiding their friends—at least, not on purpose—but it almost felt like Yosuke was finally grabbing for his hand after barely treading water for so long. Like there was still something there that had made him want to hold on… The thought made Yu feel a little more at ease, hand moving away from his cigarettes and weight on his shoulders lifting slightly. “It’d be good for both of us." That much was for certain. Getting with friends and being able to feel the strength of their bonds was something that had no parallel, and, after everything else, Yu could have used the social recharge beyond just their visit tonight. “Maybe we could even take a trip to see some of them in Inaba when you have a couple days off.” Working largely freelance had its benefits, especially in the fact that he could easily fit his schedule around Yosuke’s, with the added positive of not having to worry about finances due to the hefty pay of Mitsuru-san’s offerings. Not that he often took advantage of the leisure time afforded to him—Helping people had always been a major driving factor in his life, and that more often that not contributed to some less than ideal workaholic tendencies, especially with the ability to easily bring all of those cases home with him. Even when he was out, he'd still more often than not find himself taking on something resembling a case, trying to solve a problem for anyone he could, whether or not there was pay involved.

10:42 PM

Love wasn't a strong enough word for his work—there wasn't anything else he'd rather be doing with his life, in all honesty. Though, that didn't mean he couldn't use a vacation every once and a while, and he knew that applied even more so to Yosuke, considering his job and… Whatever else had been going on. Even looking to the former, as much as Yu adored children, working at a daycare could be a pretty draining experience. He'd certainly had his own war stories regarding the subject, and even then, it was only a part-time job. The horrors that Yosuke had gone through must have been endless, at this point… That all could be sorted out later, as they hadn't had much more time to speak before Nozomi-chan had come to answer the door and ushered them in, shining as ever. It was no wonder that she'd been an idol back in the day—Though, she did seem pretty out of breath… Maybe she had just gotten out of a workout? It was impressive how put together she looked. Hopefully she wouldn't be too worked up for a lesson, seeing Yosuke's excitement over the idea he had cooked up. "Your place is nice." As he spoke, his eyes caught on the recording set-up, attempting to interpret the use of everything around the area. His music knowledge was… Slightly lacking, when it came to the more technical side of things. He knew bass and his way around a school ensemble pretty well, but when it came to the side of the industry Nozomi-chan and Yosuke were in, he'd more often than not simply smile and nod, appreciating the art while acknowledging it wasn't very likely he'd ever completely understand what they were talking about whenever they really got into it.

10:42 PM

Luckily, that wasn't the immediately focus on the conversation, but the lie that had come out of Yosuke's mouth make Yu have to hold back some sort of gut reaction. 'Well' was the last thing to describe their situation, but… Now wasn't the time to contradict his partner's statement. They both needed at least one nice night out where everything was normal. At least, as normal as things could be, given the situation. Maybe he would mention the contradiction of Yosuke’s words versus his recent behavior if he and Nozomi-chan had a moment alone, but, for the time being, he kept up a similarly cheerful demeanor, not wishing to upset the delicate balance of the situation. “I’ve been good, too.” He was never one to talk as much as Yosuke. In most social situations, his partner took the lead, with Yu only chiming in occasionally unless there was need for a triumphant motivational speech. The latter may or may not have been necessary, considering what they were about to unleash onto Nozomi-chan with their impromptu cooking lesson. “How about you?” The words were accompanied with an airy smile directed towards the youngest, finding himself relaxing more in her presence. Between the two of them, he was sure they could keep up Yosuke’s spirits and give him an enjoyable time together. It was the least they could do for him right now, and he'd make sure that his partner got that nice time out no matter what it took.

She blinked a few times as she tried to register Yosuke's statement. Learn? Uh oh, this could turn very bad very quickly. It was at that moment that her smile became a bit more strained as she struggled to hold it in place. Not that she wasn't happy to see them, or that she didn't appreciate the sentiment, but there were clear signs of the anxious tendencies that had plagued her life etched into the creases of her expression. Hopefully it wasn't too obvious. "O-Oh, a lesson? You really didn't have to." They really, really didn't have to. She knew she had to learn eventually, and that perhaps this would be a nice change of pace. That didn't mean she was prepared to launch straight into things today. Though, she did her best to shake off the nerves and regain the more natural charm to her smile. It worked. Sort of. Well enough for the time being. Instead of focusing on the food though, she responded more to the rest of their statements. "Thanks," she smiled at Yu. "I like it too. I tried to pick something that would be worth visiting, not some claustrophobic box that barely gives room to move." God knows she had the budget for it, though being in control of her own finances was certainly a new experience. More than anything however, what she wanted out of the apartment was enough space for her equipment, and maybe for some supplemental dance practice if necessary. "Oh, that's great to hear," in response to their status. "You know, I was really worried after everything that happened. Sorry I didn't check in sooner, but I'm glad that you're doing better Hanamura." It was honestly a terrifying experience, and that whole month was a whirlwind as a result. To see him come out on the other side was a nice comfort, though there was something in the way he spoke that still set her heart ill at ease.

4:23 AM

"I've been doing pretty good on my own. It was tough to adjust at first, and I guess I'm still adjusting a bit." She gestured to the stack of boxes in the corner of the room. "But I'm feeling a lot better here." Anywhere would have felt better than sharing a place with her mother at this point. "And thanks for reminding me Hanamura, I actually was meaning to ask about your stuff as well. I'm interested to hear what you've been working on." Music was one of the few true passions she had, so to have a friend who was just as passionate as she was a nice coincidence. She always loved talking shop so-to-speak. "I hope you haven't been working yourself too hard either Narukami. I know things have been kind of hectic lately." It was an understatement, but at this point she knew he was involved in these shadow affairs more than some others. The silver haired boy always was a man of few words however, so that could make it difficult to get a read on him. Some things never changed it seemed.

Yosuke absolutely glowed with excitement as Nozomi mentioned wanting to listen to his music. He almost wanted to toss dinner aside and skip to that, suddenly eager to hear her thoughts, especially after the lukewarm reception he got in the chatroom. "Really!? You wanna hear my stuff!? I-I mean," he looks away, his cheeks colored pink, trying to regain his composure, "We should make dinner first. It might take a while, and we don't want you to go hungry." Yosuke smiles at them both before moving into the compact kitchen, setting down his cooler and opening it up. He had some easy ingredients to work with-- steak, udon noodles, broth mix, a handful of vegetables. A nice udon soup is fairly easy to start. Any soup is fairly easy to start. "Just remember, you can always ask questions, so no need to feel like you gotta do everything," he starts pulling out the vegetables. "But first, we should wash and cut these." He looks up to Yu, motioning, "Partner, do you wanna do the washing while I teach Nozomi-chan how to chop?" It was easier, like this. He was always a natural at leading, at planning, at pulling people together. Around others is where he really shined-- not holed up in his room with a cigarette, wondering when he may have to commit an atrocity, and thinking over and over in his head whether it was worth it to keep his friends safe and happy... He didn't have to think about that right now. Right now, he just had to think about his friends, and music, and udon. (edited)

When the idea had been presented about Yosuke’s impromptu cooking lesson, Yu couldn’t have possibly expected the reaction that came out of Nozomi-chan. He had never really been in her shoes, at least when it came to cooking—Spending so much time on his own, it was necessary for him to learn how to cook for himself and his parents, so working around the kitchen had been something he had picked up at a somewhat worryingly young age. That didn’t mean he couldn’t sympathize entirely, though, as Yosuke had quite the habit of pushing people beyond their boundaries, for better or worse. Even if the man meant well, Yu knew it couldn’t have been the best experience for Nozomi-chan, shooting her a light apologetic smile. They would make it through this together, and, hopefully, have something pretty tasty to come out of it. Things were already seemingly turning for the better with the girl calming herself down a little at the idea, Yu nodding quietly along to her elaborating on the place. That had stopped at the discussion of Nozomi-chan’s relief at Yosuke being ‘fine’. Even if just for a moment, being brought back to reality like that stung slightly. Then again, if Yosuke hadn’t given it much of a reaction, then he wouldn’t stress himself over it, only letting his voice slip out when her concerns were directed towards him. “Don’t worry about me.” Quick to take the attention off of his well-being, per the usual. Not that he hadn’t appreciated the thought, but the last thing he needed Nozomi-chan to be thinking about was how he was doing, especially when Yosuke had been right beside him. As if to emphasize that claim, he tacked on a quick follow-up. “I’m used to it.”

4:31 AM

It was a little sad, when he put it like that, but it wasn’t like shadow happenings were particularly uncommon. They just hadn’t directly involved their group of friends very often, especially not to the extent that they were now. If he was dealing with shadow activity, it was often with complete strangers off in other towns or cities. Sure, there were incidents in Tokyo, but he hadn’t connected with the individuals who dealt heavily with the mental shutdown and EMMA incidents until recently, the Shadow Operatives work in those cases being rather limited due to constraints set by the police higher ups or not realizing the issue until it had already been dealt with. Now, it was different. They had free reign to look into Phlegethon, and now those they cared about—he cared about—were becoming deeply involved with the corrupted roots of the newest Metaverse-related incident. This was something that affected him more than any of his other jobs. At least with the others he didn’t often have a personal stake, save for wanting to protect those he got to know over a short period of time and preferably not watching the world meet its end. No, now, those he cared most about were getting dragged into it, and that only made the entire situation wear down on him much more than any before it. …How could he get too stuck on that, though, when Yosuke had been radiating with such joy? He had already thought that the ride over had been the happiest Yosuke had been around him in so long, but now? It was difficult to even comprehend such pure… Bliss, coming from the man, for the first time in what felt like years. Even when Yosuke had tried to cover it up, Yu still couldn’t help but feel his own smile grow and light blush begin to envelop his cheeks. All of his worries about anything outside of this room had melted immediately. For now, it was just the three of them, and nothing else mattered.

4:31 AM

The way that Yosuke had started to explain everything, giving out plans and directions felt leagues more like the man he knew. This was his partner back in his prime, coming up with the ideas and sending Yu to execute them. Maybe he just needed some more time out of the apartment like this, and things would be better again and Yosuke could be like this all the time, right…? …That was a far off dream, and even he knew it, but at least he could have hope for a brief moment. “Yes, sir.” His words were sharp, as was the salute that paired with them. All the while, a smile still permeated his face, eyes falling onto Yosuke and Nozomi for a few seconds more, captivated by the beauty of it all. If he had the thought at the time, he would have snapped a picture to hold onto for the memories, but trying to etch it into his mind would hopefully work well enough for now. Not every picture was entirely perfect, and neither was the brimming anxiety that had been coming off of Nozomi-chan throughout this. At the very least, Yu could hopefully help a little to calm those nerves… ‘Hopefully’ being the key word. “If you want to switch tasks at any point, tell me.” He directed his attention to Nozomi, smile returning more to a grin. Not that it lost any of the warmth it had previously—even if he had calmed down slightly, just seeing his two friends like this was more than he could have ever asked for. And he certainly wasn’t going to let that get ruined by Nozomi-chan getting overwhelmed by the kitchen jobs assigned to her. They could always teach her how to properly cut or do anything else in the process at a later date if she needed to step away.

4:31 AM

After those final words, he had swiftly made his way over to the kitchen sink with the udon noodles and vegetables, glancing around in a couple of boxes that had still scattered the group for bowls large enough to wash their ingredients in. It might have been a slight invasion of privacy, but there wasn’t anything incriminating lying around in the yet to be unpacked kitchen supplies, and, even if they were, Yu wasn’t often the type to go prying past what was necessary, especially with friends. Once finding something satisfactory enough, he dropped everything onto the kitchen counter, starting up the water to wash his hands before placing one of the bowls underneath and unveiling their various ingredients; mushrooms, carrots, bok choy—all the typical components that they were lucky enough to have lying around the house. Speaking of… Yu glanced back towards the boxes, scanning over what contents he could make out from his position as he began to drench the mushrooms. “...Do you have a cutting board?” Though it may have come out of nowhere, it was a valid concern. They had forgotten to grab the materials necessary for cooking past the ingredients, and knowing Nozomi-chan wasn't much of a chef, things like that could have easily gone overlooked in her kitchen collection. Not that they needed too much in terms of kitchenware—they'd make due with what they had. Still, it would hopefully be a lot easier if they could show her how to do things correctly. Sure, Yu liked to improv, but that probably wasn't the best way to teach the basics…

And just like that, she was swept into the cooking. There was a nagging panic in the back of her brain as she watched the produce being unloaded. It honestly didn't even occur to her to help get supplies out until Yu went and got the bowls. Showed just how much she was focused on the task at hand. That was sure to go over amazingly when they actually got to the cutting. There was udon there too, so she could hazard a guess that some kind of udon soup was the goal. Hopefully that wouldn't be too hard for her. She went to retrieve a knife, picking up a steak knife to start. It would do the job, right? Never mind that she rarely even used them for her takeout orders, let alone actual food prep. Then there was Yu's question, to which she felt a pang of embarrassment. "O-Oh, I um-, no, I don't have one." It was a common item right? Most people probably had one, though the thought hadn't even crossed her mind when she was buying things for the new apartment. "We don't need it right? Can't we just cut the stuff on the counter?"

"You don't want to cut up your nice counter, Nozomi-chan," Yosuke smiled at her as he explained, "Mom threatened to kill me if I ever cut without a cutting board. N-Not that my mom is here, of course..." He sees the little steak knife she has, instead pulling out something from his back pocket. After clicking a button, a blade presented itself. "This may work better for cutting. Nozomi-chan, can you get us a plate?" He moved over to wash the knife next to Yu, grabbing for the bok choy and winking at his partner to let him know things were going well. Yosuke turned again to meet with Nozomi. "Ok, I'll demonstrate first. You definitely want to hold the vegetable with curled fingers, like this--" He demonstrated a few cuts for her, showing her how he held the knife for full control. It was better than a steak knife, he thinks. The sharper, the safer, is what he heard. "Here, now you," he moves behind her, bumping backs with Yu and taking Nozomi's shoulders to stabilize. Was… Nozomi taller than him!? He tried not to think about it as he shuffled to her other side, apologizing for touching her. "Remember how I showed you…"

Did Hanamura just pull a knife out of his pocket? Why did he have that on him? Well, far be it for her to question his expertise. If he said it was better, it probably was, so she reluctantly put down her own knife and retrieved the requested plate. She watched and listened as carefully as she could to his instructions. It seemed simple enough at first. Then she was given the knife. As she was starting to work up the confidence to start, she felt the touch on her shoulders and shrunk a bit. That wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but it was an accident, so she was willing to forgive it. The problem right now was that it had thrown off her groove, and she was struggling to regain it. What was it he said? Curled fingers? How did he.... She awkwardly grabbed a hold of the vegetable, trying her best to curl her fingers up to keep them out of the way of the blade. Geez, for someone who played instruments for a living, she certainly lacked a lot of dexterity outside of that, huh? She swallowed, trying to regain her composure as she carefully slid the knife through. Well, so far so good, it was a cut. By no means was it a clean one, but she'd managed to slice a slightly wavy, probably too large chunk off. "L-Like that?"