Maruki made quick work of the last of his takoyaki, chewing thoughtfully as he let himself enjoy the simple relief of a good snack. Even in the middle of an unfamiliar town with an unusual cognitive phenomenon to study, at least the street food was reliable. Small victories.

Once finished, he neatly disposed of the takeout box in a nearby trash bin and turned back to Hamuko—only to find her already stretching, limbering up like she was getting ready for a training session.

He blinked.

Then, glancing down at his own arm, he flexed his fingers slightly. Should I be working out, too…? Most of his "training" boiled down to target practice with the guns in his lab and occasional rushed fights through all the levels of Mementos with his Persona. And, of course, the two other Persona cards he carried from his own adventures back in his hometown- Mikage-Cho. But real, physical training? He... hadn’t exactly prioritized that.

He was a researcher, not a frontliner, after all.

Still, as Hamuko stretched, she asked a question that drew his attention back.

Maruki hummed in though, pulling out his clipboard again and making notes on the paper. Explore Tartarus he quickly jots down and encircles those words at the top. “I’ve only really been in Mementos, and I’ve had some… encounters in Mikage-cho,” he admitted. “So, I don’t have firsthand experience with Tartarus, but from what I’ve read, this place might be a little more forgiving. You can still get lost if you go into the wrong screen which I am assuming is similar to the constantly shifting floors of Tartarus.”

He made quick note of that as well.

The way she carried herself made it clear she was experienced—more than just someone who had once dealt with Shadows. She was still prepared, still sharp.

But then, before he could help himself, his mouth moved ahead of his brain.

"...Do you do any sort of martial arts, Hamuko-san?"