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[swordfucker]

Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F

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[swordfucker]

[Guren takes way too long to get to the door. He's busy finishing writing something to himself, shutting his laptop and shoving it away, and then he has to make sure that he doesn't look as dead as he feels. A hand through his hair, both scrubbing quickly at his eyes.

Then, he can stop at the door, casually swinging it open. Even if he made it seem like a big inconvenience, he won't keep Minato at the front door. He can walk in to the hideous pink wallpaper.

Guren is immediately looking him over, anyway.]

Hey.

[messianic]

[What's up, Guren. Minato definitely just looks Guren over in return, trying to make sure he really is okay and not, you know, hiding a broken arm or something.

For his own part, Minato's fine too; he's stuck in pants and a shirt from this place with how muddy his clothing got from his tumble down the hill, but he's at least competent enough with needle and thread to be able to alter them to look a bit less... old timey.

A bit.

Anyway, Minato just kind of offers up the plate in his hands.

Bunnies, Guren. They're bunnies.

Usually? At a time like this, Minato would make proper food. But mixing in the ashy grey nonsense of this town with the actually properly colored apples seems like such a waste, and he doesn't really have any other ingredients. So for now, just...apples.

Sorry, Guren.]

... Hi, Ichinose-san. Sorry, it's not much, but...

[Vague gesture.

Rabbits.]

... You should eat something.

[swordfucker]

[He's not injured at all. Still in his uniform, it's a little beat up from the harpies he fought first, but all of those scratches are healed, and any bruises from the demons were gone already. Even so, anyone who knows him would be able to tell that something is off. His eyes are pretty lifeless, his expression is stuck pretty neutral, without the energy to even look annoyed, and as he reaches to take this plate, he's stuck on what to say, staring blankly down at it for a moment.]

...Thanks. [They have colors... That's right. Cute little rabbits like they're straight out of a bento box. Goodness. He turns to take it into the kitchen.]

You didn't have to bother with something like that. I've been eating. [No, not really,]

[messianic]

[He takes the plate--that's good enough for Minato.

And in truth? Minato doesn't know Guren very well. They've had a couple of good conversations, but there's still so much he doesn't know, so much he'd like to know.

But.

He can tell that, if nothing else, Guren is exhausted. That much...that much is plain.]

Well, apples aren't really a meal anyway, so it won't hurt to have some extra.

[He doubts Guren's really been eating, but calling him out on it seems counterproductive right now. So instead he'll call him out on the other thing!!]

...You look really tired, Ichinose-san.

[swordfucker]

Thanks for that, too.

[For calling him out!! If he jokes, will it make him seem a little less in despair? Haha. He'll try, anyway. Setting his plate on the counter, he picks up one of the bunny apples, staring at it.]

Everyone's tired. [He looks back over to Minato. Everyone is tired, so it's not like he's special here. He didn't have anything bad happen to him.] Did you find out what happened yet?

[messianic]

[Yeah. Haha.

Okay no, Minato doesn't laugh, but on the other hand, he's not really the sort to...ever. So. It's fine. He just tucks his hands into his pockets, tilting his head a little.]

... Yeah, I heard a bit more.

[In truth, Ryoji was the first person he checked on, but he didn't know Guren was with Ryoji until Guren brought Ryoji up.

So, really, the first thing he has to do is bow his head.]

Thank you for looking after Ryoji.

[That's something that's incredibly important to him--because Ryoji deserves so much more than more pain.]

[swordfucker]

[Guren watches him do that, eyes a little sad even as he bites into a cute little bunny apple slice. It's nice to have flavor again, but there's something lost about it with all that's been happening.]

I didn't look after him enough. [He insists on that.] How do you two know each other? Classmates?

[messianic]

[It's... complicated, Guren.

But Minato just straightens a little, expression...contemplative.]

... For a little while, we were. But we've known each other a long time, in a way.

[#complicated.]

But Ryoji's still here, and he's still himself. So that's...why I'm thanking you. [Guren looked after him enough for that to be the case, and Minato is grateful.]

[swordfucker]

[It's true that Ryoji ended up okay, but the same couldn't be said for their other group member, and what did that do to Ryoji? Even if he was used to weird things, which Guren is kind of leaning towards believing with all of these weird persona kids, this was something that changed a person to see, in one way or another.

He looks away from Minato again, slowly finishing his apple slice.]

My sword didn't do a thing for their demons. He saved himself by knowing how to listen and see the flaws in what he was facing.

[messianic]

[You are not wrong in any sort of way, but...

Minato will deal with Ryoji, and helping him through things as much as possible. As for Guren, though...]

You take your duty really seriously, don't you? Not just...as lieutenant colonel, either, but...by all of us, too.

[swordfucker]

Of course I do. You're all my family.

[As soon as he says that, a figure only he can see begins to materialize beside him. Sitting on the counter of the kitchen, peering over the plate of apples and wrapping her arms around Guren's shoulders, she giggles.

"Already family? ♪ You always did make friends so quickly, Guren. Are you going to try to save them all, too?"

He ignores her, staring at Minato and refusing to look elsewhere. "You wouldn't forget about your family back home. So, how do you think you'll be able to do that?"

He scowls at seemingly nothing, turning his face away from her. He's trying not to seem like he's Losing It in front of Minato, but Mahiru can be incredibly distracting.]

[messianic]

[... Oh.

For Minato, an orphan, shunted around from place to place because he was unwanted his whole life, being told something like that is...well, it's big. He's quiet for a long moment, as if processing that--and then his lips curve upwards in a small, tired smile.

Guren's sincere, isn't he? He's that sort of person, that he would consider them all family just like this, and want to protect them just as much.

But that means...]

Do you mean that? That we're all family?

[Because that scowl... Guren's struggling even now, and for Minato--]

Because if that's true... then shouldn't it go both ways? You want to protect and take care of us, but...we want to take care of you, too.

[swordfucker]

["Your heart can't take it, Guren. You're going to end up just like I did. A demon."]

Shut up.

[It's under his breath, but it's still definitely there, and he's not sure if Minato would hear just a mumble or more detail there, but he's sure it's impossible to ignore. They're both in the same room, the only ones, and Guren is having to shoo away this demon.]

I mean it. [But he speaks up shortly after, eyes firm.] Family is what I live for. I wouldn't call someone family if they're not.

[Mahiru is giggling, and he ignores it, though the way he rolls his shoulders to shrug her off as he steps forward and away from the counter is probably a little odd.]

You already do help. You brought me those apples even when I told you to buzz off. [He gets it!! It is helping...] And back then, with the music... It all helps. You don't have to worry about that.

[messianic]

[... It's definitely impossible to ignore. Something is going on here, and Minato is no stranger to extra things in his head, but usually he doesn't have to tell his Personas to shut up.

... And yet Guren is so fierce, so certain when he says things like that, and...]

I believe you. And... I'm grateful for it.

[Minato says that softly, chin lifted to meet Guren's eyes. He believes Guren when he says they're all family, but...]

But you're still trying to take everything on your own shoulders. Even if those small things help...

[It's not really enough, is it?]

You still try so hard to stand all on your own.

[swordfucker]

[Mahiru moves to follow him, but he focuses on Minato, instead, ignoring as she comes up alongside him. There are some things that he has to deal with alone. And no matter how much he values friendship... Opening up out of the blue isn't his style. He's... shy, or something similar.]

What are you trying to say I should do?

[messianic]

[Minato can't say that Guren should open up out of the blue, really--it'd make him a hypocrite, because he doesn't really open up at all. Not on purpose, but because that's just the life he's used to living.

And he won't ask for Guren to change the way he is, the way he copes with things--nothing like that. That wouldn't be fair either.

But even so...there's one thing he can ask for. And he tucks his hands in his pockets quietly, meeting Guren's eyes, and:]

... Just admit it, when you're not completely okay. You don't...have to say why. Or what's bothering you, or talk about it.

But... you don't have to say you're "fine" when you're not, too. Isn't that just taking on even more burdens...when your family wants to support you?

[It's a lot easier for them to be there for Guren if he'll admit he's not 100% okay--even if it's just things like the music or the apples.]

[swordfucker]

Hahaha.

[It's a short laugh, and he doesn't really look happy or amused with it. Say when he's not okay— is he ever okay? Saying it each time he felt any ounce of sadness or anger or loss of control— he'd never shut up. He was raised not to be that way, and even his friends of 9 years couldn't stop him from that.]

But I am fine.

[Mahiru is just watching, and Guren turns back to go take another apple slice. They taste good... he missed flavor. Mm, but even if that answer will probably hurt Minato, he knows one thing.]

You came over here because you were worried, didn't you? [He's making a point. It's obvious when he's not okay to the point where he needs help. His friends can always tell— anyone could tell, probably... Except for those larger things that he hides a little too well. It's the fact that he doesn't hide everything too well that he's talking about, here. If he wants to ask for help, he won't hide it completely. He'll let a little exhaustion show. He'll let his friends see him frown, or go weak on a forced smile. He'll let some of that harshly trained guarded expression of his fall, even if he could keep it up.]

It would have been easy to type so that you weren't worried at all.

[messianic]

[It's a point that's made, sure. Minato hadn't thought about it that way--and he can see the point Guren's making. He could've hidden things better, but he chose not to. In a way, then, was that really his way of saying he wasn't entirely fine...?

(Still, not being able to say anything but "I'm fine" feels terribly sad to him.)

Minato's always known when to compromise.

Now's one of those times, and quietly, he nods.]

... I guess I didn't completely get it, but now I think I understand a little better. [And he's grateful for that, especially. Understanding people, piece by piece... that's something that's made his own life have some sort of worth and meaning.]

In that case... I think that's all I can ask for. [For Guren to keep reaching out in those small ways, when things are overwhelming.] And I'll just have to keep being a pest, regardless.

[He's only joking a little, honestly.]

[swordfucker]

[Guren is full of half lies and partial truths. He loves each and every friend he makes, but he places them all before himself, no matter what they say. He's so emotional over this that he desperately needs help, but instead of admitting it, he's just trying to move on, and half of the time it's his normal personality dealing with it, and half of the time it's his namanari side. No one can tell the difference here, either. Not when he's being careful.

So he laughs, quietly, still a little distant.]

You're good at that. [Teasing, affectionate enough to be clear that he doesn't mean it as an insult.]

[messianic]

[There's a lot there to unpack that Minato still doesn't know or understand, of course--but the best he can do is to keep trying to understand Guren, day after day.

Maybe someday, it'll be enough.

The affectionate teasing, at least, gets a soft snort out of Minato.]

...Yeah, I think I am. [It's his only real saving grace, his refusal to give up on people. Over and over again, that's...his real virtue.]

But you know... since that's how it's going to be... [With Guren always saying he's fine--] I guess I'll just have to always check up on you.

[Even if Guren really is fine, every single situation...that's the best way for him to be sure for himself that it's true (or not), right?]

[swordfucker]

[He places a hand on his hip, staring incredulously at Minato. Hang on, revealing his tsun secret doesn't mean using it against him? That basic math isn't allowed?]

Don't you have other people to bother?

[messianic]

Yeah.

[He won't deny that when it's obviously true? He's that kind of person.

But also, like:]

But I can check on them and check on you. It doesn't have to be one or the other, so I'm choosing to do both.

[This is how he lives his life.]

[swordfucker]

How annoying.

[He's so mean, he loves it, really... But Mahiru is still hanging around, and he still doesn't have the willpower to make her vanish. She's sitting on the countertop, swinging her legs as she leans over the bunny apples.

"I could have made you a bento with apples like this, Guren. Is that what you'd like?"]

Get lost. [That alone might have seemed like a really mean comment to Minato, and maybe it still does, but it's accompanied with a strange swat of his hand over the plate before he grabs another apple. Leave him alone!!! Demon!!!]

[messianic]

[... Hm.

Maybe this would seem stranger if Minato was someone without multiple pieces of his psyche floating around in his head, but... right now, he's starting to wonder.

Guren isn't even really looking at him.]

... Ichinose-san... [Hm.] I know this might sound weird, but... is there someone else there?

[swordfucker]

[ Ah. No one has ever asked him straight up, but then he’s never been this bothered, either. In the car, with his friends, but they knew not to ask. He sighs, his eyes acthally directly finding Mahiru as she says some obnoxious comment about introducing her. ]

No one to worry about. [ But he pauses again, and relents. ] Just a demon. The one in my blade. Keep that to yourself.