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... ... ... ... ?

What is...?

I shouldn't... be awake...

[In the Velvet Room...]

[It's courteous of whatever's going on with Igor's plan here that Hamuko is dressed. She probably shouldn't even have a body... whatever she has going on now... did her body fall comatose without her? Did it die? If it was alive, she surely should be much older. ... ... ... Maybe that all doesn't really matter, right now. She's here, gifted a chance to be around others again. The pinboard catches her attention first, of course. Signs of other people... so many little notes, talking about multiple versions of the same person running around. That's... that's charming... that's fun. ...Even if the notes about Ken Amadas make her sad...]

Hmm... I don't see any other 'me' off the bat...

[She'll take a few minutes once given a pen and some pink paper to doodle a little version of herself, signed with her name and phone number, and add it to the corner of the pinboard.]

[Inaba, Central Shopping District]

[What a fun little town! A charming place... hey, isn't this the town she went to for the volleyball camp? She loved the accommodations, but it's so nice to actually wander the streets and see the little shops. This place is SO rural, Hamuko had never really visited a place this remote, even when jumping between foster homes.] Let's see... what's the good spot for the locals? [No point being a complete tourist shmuck!!]

[Shibuya, Underground Mall]

[Well, since nothing costs anything here... might as well get some cute new clothes, right? Who knows how long she'll be around here, and 'dreaming up' new outfits didn't seem to be a thing. No lucid dreaming here - somehow, Hamuko felt a lot happier with that in mind. Still... the fashion is so different!!]

I just want one cute orange top...!! Is orange out of style? Dang it...

[Iwatodai Dorms]

[Of all of the places she's been having fun goofing off and exploring in, the dorms... she couldn't quite get the courage to open the front. Not just yet.]

Not even Koromaru is out front right now. ...I've gotta apologize...

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With a small, polite bow of his own—respect is respect, regardless of age or type of clothing—Maruki quickly latched onto the subject change.

“Oh, this?” He patted the clipboard lightly onto his side. “I was actually studying the cognitive phenomenon surrounding the Midnight Channel—the one that supposedly appears on television screens here.” His voice took on his usual warmth, his enthusiasm seeping in.

“There have been accounts of people claiming to see strange images on their screens, particularly on rainy nights as per some interviews with the cognitive people here. From what I’ve gathered so far, it seems to be a shared cognition-based phenomenon localized to this town.”

He smiled. "It’s fascinating, really. Cognitive distortions tend to take many forms across all the doors in the velvet room, but it’s worth looking into.”

With the last piece of takoyaki still in its box and his clipboard secure in his grip, he shifted his weight slightly. “I suppose you could say I’m on a walking field study of sorts.”

Edited 2025-01-31 23:45 (UTC)

"Shadow research, huh? I haven't dabbled in looking into anything like that yet, but it's risky to interact with that sort of thing on your own, isn't it?" Hamuko chided, though there was absolutely no bite to it. It was interesting, seeing an older Persona user... the oldest that she'd run into was probably Takaya? Maybe? He was so emaciated it was hard to tell.

But hey... people kept living and apparently Shadows kept existing, for a while. ...Despite not really having much interest in diving right back into the more stressful part of her life again, could she really not offer a hand for someone going solo?

Or at least, maybe he wasn't solo, but going out on his own.

"If you need a hand, I think I can still summon my Personas. I'll go with you."

Maruki hummed thoughtfully at Hamuko’s concern, tilting his head slightly. “You’re not wrong—it can be risky,” he quickly popped open the packaged box to get the last remnants of his own food. “But cognition works in… interesting ways. If approached carefully, it doesn’t necessarily pose an immediate threat.” A small, sly smile played at his lips. "I have had my experience dabbling around with Carl Jung's theory of the collective unconsciousness. "

Her next words, however, caught him a little off guard.

"If you need a hand, I think I can still summon my Personas. I'll go with you."

Maruki blinked. His first instinct was to assure her that he wasn’t entirely alone in this, that he had his own Personas and had long since learned how to manage himself in a cognitive space. But then again… he wouldn’t mind some company, either.

“I do have Personas,” he assured her. “But… well, I suppose I wouldn’t turn down the extra help. Or a curious mind.” He chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “The only issue is that everything is still hypothetical at this stage. Raven—one of the younger residents who’s apparently quite experienced with this—explained that we need to find the main hub in one of the main screens at Junes. That’s where we’ll get the glasses to see past the fog that clouds this place.”

He sighed, lifting the last piece of takoyaki from the box and gesturing vaguely with it. “I was going to check it out, but, well…” He glanced down at the remnants of their earlier mess, smiling sheepishly. “I got a little distracted. And hungry.”

His gaze flickered back to Hamuko, his smile turning a little wry as he takes a quick bite of the last piece. “Are you sure you want to come along? You seemed pretty caught up in your shopping.”

Hamuko just smiled, looping the bag on her arm so she could crack her knuckles. "I've got my equipment belt and a simple weapon I can put together. And it sounds like we won't have to do a major climb or grueling battles, so that should suffice!"

Going into a television realm, seeing through a fog, all to find Shadows...

... Well, hopefully this guy's a bit more put-together than anyone from the Kirijo Group of old. ...The bar for that was so, so low.

Either way, she took a few minutes to stretch out her limbs. This body wasn't really different than how she remembered it, but there was a lot about herself and how she showed up in this strange place that... probably should be looked into. Note to self, do a little bit of strength training later to see where I'm at...

"I'm only familiar with Tartarus. Do you know how this new place compares?"

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?"

"A boyfriend of mine taught me how to deliver a killer right-hook," Hamuko teased, pretending to go into a boxing stance. It didn't last long, she immediately dropped form to chuckle.

She noted that he was taking notes. Was a little funny being studied... it prickled at her, remembering that Ikutsuki was doing that... but innocent until proven guilty. He likely was keeping track of her capabilities in case they met up again after this.

"No martial arts training exactly, I just know my way around a naginata."

Maruki perked up immediately, his enthusiasm kicking into full gear at Hamuko’s words.

“Oh, really? My girlfriend used to throw insane right hooks too!” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “She wasn’t officially trained or anything, but she knew her way around bullies and self-defense in general. A single punch from her could knock the wind out of anyone who underestimated her.”

He chuckled fondly, momentarily lost in the memory, before snapping himself back to the present.

Still holding his clipboard in one hand, he tucked his pen into the little mounting pin at the top. “I’ve always wanted to learn some form of martial arts myself,” he admitted, tapping a thoughtful finger against his chin. “A naginata, huh? That sounds familiar…” His brows furrowed slightly as he made a mental note of it. Probably a weapon.

Then, as if his train of thought suddenly hit full speed, he leaned into the teasing, eyes lighting up with genuine excitement.

“You know, I’ve been seriously interested in learning hand-to-hand combat—Aikido in particular! The way it uses an opponent’s own force against them? Fascinating.” His stance widened slightly, clipboard still clutched in his grip as he lifted both hands into the air in an exaggerated mimicry of a defensive form.

“Just imagine—pftwah! Whaa—tah! Hyah!”

With all the grace of someone whose only exposure to martial arts came from action movies and the occasional internet deep dive with small notes from his own survival here, Maruki swung his arms in wild, sweeping motions. His clipboard flailed dangerously in his grip as he mimicked a dramatic throw, shifting his weight as if he could actually flip an invisible opponent.

For a brief second, he felt cool.

Then reality caught up with him.

He froze mid-motion, realizing how ridiculous he must look—grown man in a hoodie with cat ears, glasses slightly askew, dramatically karate-chopping at the air with a clipboard in hand.

Slowly, he straightened, clearing his throat.

“…Ahem. I, uh… may need some proper instruction before attempting that on an actual Shadow.”

If nothing, it had Hamuko laughing the whole time! Sure, it was silly and embarrassing, but that was fun!

"Hehehe, maybe! But you've got the enthusiasm. Don't worry - I've got experience, equipment and proper footwear - I'll handle any Shadows that get too curious or feisty," she reassured, still laughing. It's rare to see an adult get so silly, but it's a delight.

Maruki’s lips twitched in amusement at Hamuko’s laughter. He couldn’t exactly blame her—he knew how ridiculous he must have looked, clipboard flailing and all. Still, seeing someone enjoy themselves so freely was… nice. He let out his own chuckle, shaking his head.

Then—

"She probably thinks you're a joke."

Azathoth’s voice curled into his mind, an ever-present whisper laced with knowing amusement.

Maruki’s chuckle stuttered in his throat. His expression dulled for just a fraction of a second before he forced himself to brush the thought aside. He was used to this. He’d learned how to silence it when it mattered.

He exhaled lightly, re-centering himself, but then—

Footwear.

His gaze flicked down to his own feet, blinking once at the sight of his trusted flip-flops.

“…What’s wrong with my footwear?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

It wasn't like they were bad! They were comfortable, breathable, easy to slip on—practical for a casual stroll around town! …Granted, they weren’t exactly combat-ready, but in his defense, he hadn’t planned on diving headfirst into a TV when he left the house.

Edited 2025-02-01 20:56 (UTC)

"Heheh, well. If you've got to make an unexpected sprint, they might fly off, especially going up or down stairs," Hamuko answered matter-of-factly, still mirthful from the laugh.

But Maruki seemed a bit... pale? Sheepish? After that. Mm, maybe she should be more careful, in case he's self conscious.

"Also not good arch support if you're out for a looong time, but that's for longer exercise and excursions, so it might not matter as much."

Maruki blinked at her reasoning, then let out a soft snort. "You know, that... might explain why I get clumsy."

It was an absentminded comment, but it was a little funny when he thought about it. He rarely even traveled on foot in cognitive spaces—Azathoth’s massive, writhing tentacles made for a strangely effective (if unsettling) means of flight. Maybe he’d just gotten too used to floating everywhere to worry about his footing.

Still, Hamuko had a point. Flip-flops weren’t exactly great for stability, especially if he had to make a sudden break for it.

“…Alright, fine. I’ll invest in some proper shoes.” He smiled, though there was a lighthearted resignation in his voice. “Perhaps not immediately, but… maybe I should at least keep a small bag on me. For storage. Just in case.”

That was future Maruki’s problem.

"I've got your back, don't worry," Hamuko assured with a confident nod. "Well, if you've got an idea where 'the big TV in Junes' is, I'm ready whenever you are."

She pulled out from the bottom of her bag her old S.E.E.S. belt, clipping it on and making sure the evoker was ready. And then, of course, pulling out a few... metal rods? And something in a leather bag? She screwed the rods together snugly, making a long pole-arm.

Maruki straightened up, giving a firm nod in return. “Alright, then.”

He turned slightly, pulling his clipboard back up to double-check his notes. The big TV in Junes… should be in Junes. Obviously. That part was simple enough. He had been there once before to return a tape—surely that was the right place to investigate.

With a sigh, he turned back to Hamuko, ready to lead the way. “We should get moving. If we’re looking for a main hub, then—”

He paused.

Oh.

She was making the naginata.

His eyes widened slightly as she deftly screwed the rods together, the weapon extending into its full length with each practiced motion. For a moment, he was just… impressed. And maybe a little envious.

“That’s—” He cut himself off, regaining his stride and motioning for her to follow as they started walking. But his curiosity had already taken hold.

“You just… make the weapon on the spot?” He glanced between her and the now fully assembled polearm, brows raising slightly. He kind of wanted to get a feel of the weapon itself, eyes doting on its form as it did. “That’s incredibly efficient. Do you always carry the parts around like that?”

"Well, back in Tartarus-climbing days, we usually left the door during the Dark Hour to not raise suspicion. A lot of the better quality naginatas we picked up weren't able to be broken down like this one - I just asked Igor for something discreet for here. This one isn't too different than some of the basic stuff I got really early when I started fighting Shadows," Hamuko explained plainly, resting the polearm against her shoulder. The leather bag stayed on to keep the blade away from anyone, for now.

"The 'people' here not quite being people... that makes it a little easier."

Maruki hummed thoughtfully as he jotted down a few quick notes, his mind working through what little he knew of Tartarus. He recalled hearing bits and pieces—a towering labyrinth, floating coffins, and a school built atop something much, much older. Even before this strange town or this strange place, he'd read enough scattered reports in his own world to piece together that it was more than just some supernatural anomaly.

A place where so much pain settled upon the world that even cognition itself warped to reflect it…

His chest swelled with discomfort at the thought.

It was only when Hamuko spoke again that he realized he had absentmindedly circled the word coffins on his page, the ink pressing deeper into the paper from the number of times he’d gone over it. He blinked, quickly shaking off the creeping weight of his thoughts and glancing back up.

His gaze flickered to the weapon again, then to her. Right. Cognitions. The residents here weren’t quite real, not in the way they should be.

“Well, that does explain a few things,” he mused, tapping his pen against the clipboard. “I’ve heard of people blowing up buildings around here at their own leisure, honestly. So really, you could probably go flaunting that around and no one would bat an eye.” He chuckled, though there was an odd sort of exasperation in his tone.

Then, as if remembering something, he glanced off to the side, rubbing the back of his neck. “…I had to buy weapons from shady online dealers just to get anything functional for my research.”

The way he phrased it made it sound a little too casual. Like that was a perfectly normal thing to do.

Maruki sighed, shifting his clipboard under his arm as they walked. “Not a fun process, let me tell you. The whole time, I had to go through layers of vague listings and extremely questionable sellers just to get anything functional for my research.”

He shook his head, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “One guy I bought from—real eccentric cognition—had me meet him in some abandoned warehouse at exactly 3:33 AM.” He recounted this with the same tone someone might use to complain about an inconvenient grocery store trip. “He said it was the only time the ‘spirits’ weren’t watching.”

He nodded to himself. “Nice guy, though! A little paranoid and waved around a knife, but he did give me a discount when I told him I wasn’t planning to use the weapons for ‘government-level cleansing operations.’”

Edited 2025-02-02 18:14 (UTC)

"Sheesh!! We were mostly stocked thanks to an in with the police... they would sell us weapons they'd apprehended from people illegally owning them. But honestly, the strongest weapons came from fusing Personas into weapons. Or from treasure chests in Tartarus," she laughed a little awkwardly. It sounded a little insane saying it out loud like that.

"I'll have to do a little more climbing and regaining Personas to get set up with better equipment, but I'll figure that out later. I can still feel a few strong Personas sticking with me right now."

Still... walking through town with a naginata ready, looking for a TV to jump through.......

"So, what sort of things have you been researching, when it comes to Shadows? Or 'cognition', I guess?"

Edited 2025-02-02 18:29 (UTC)

Maruki barely blinked at Hamuko’s explanation—if anything, he just hummed in understanding. Sure, fusing Personas into weapons was new, but after all the things he’d seen, he wasn’t about to be surprised by yet another supernatural loophole.

"Treasure chests, huh…" He tapped his pen idly against the clipboard, thinking back to Mementos. "I suppose that’s not too different from what I’ve found in the depths of Tokyo. Weapons, supplies… even some rather nice accessories." He says, adjusting his heart shaped pink glasses in tandem. It was an interesting item from a shadow if he will be honest.

His voice was lighthearted, but he did make a mental note—if Hamuko was willing, he could show her Mementos sometime. Might be interesting to compare their experiences.

He kept walking ahead, taking a quick glance at her from the corner of his eye. She was staring around, almost like she was still getting used to the town’s layout.

“Junes should be just around the corner,” he commented quietly. “It’s a little tucked away, but we should be able to spot it soon.”

At her next question, though, he slowed his pace. He mulled over his answer, carefully weighing just how much he wanted to reveal.

"Let's just say I have had my fair share in understanding cognition from experiencing supernatural phenomenon at quite the young age," he starts. "While I specialize in psychology, I’ve particularly dabbled into cognitive behavioral therapy before—back when I was a school counselor. It’s something I’ve always been interested in, especially in how people process their struggles.”

His fingers tapped idly against the clipboard, his gaze drifting ahead as he continued.

“But with everything I’ve encountered over the years... my research has shifted toward something broader. Metaphysical cognition—how the mind shapes and perceives reality, and how deeply it integrates with memory, emotion, and perception. Shadows, distortions, cognitive spaces… all of it seems to stem from the unconscious mind. The fact that we are connected to the main hub across multiple universes, regardless of our current species, timelines, habits, experiences being built on the thread of cognition is just about enough proof that our reality exists because of it- which tends to shift more towards an occult-like science rather than the ones governed by human law."

"While I have only made theories before- I have only begun to see and experience it practically. It's a powerful field, I suppose, in a way you can't even lift a finger without it." He hesitated for a beat, then continued, “I also look into how it connects to emotional trauma. And, more importantly, how people should be allowed to move forward.”

He offered a small, subdued smile. “From their pain. From their suffering. From everything they’ve lost.”

Edited 2025-02-02 23:37 (UTC)

Her curious gaze - and focus on mapping out her new location - subsided a bit as Maruki explained and claimed more of her attention. The collective subconscious... Shadows coming from mankind... she'd gathered from the bare bones basics of the Kirijo Research, what little was allotted to her and found in Tartarus, that Shadows came from the hearts of people.

The idea that people might be connected on a societal level, though... while the knee-jerk thought she had was that it didn't make sense, after a few more steps of silence to listen and think, it did.

"Supposedly, all of humanity was calling out for its own demise... at least, that's what we were told. I don't think that's strictly true... I know what despair feels like, but I think humanity wants to live, and thrive. There's painful things in life, but making it through to see beautiful things, to forge new connections with people... that's what makes life worth living. Even when it all seems hopeless."

Maruki stalled for a moment, Hamuko’s careful words lingering in the air between them.

Despair. Pain. And yet—humanity’s will to fight, to persevere.

His expression dimmed slightly as he considered her perspective. Considered the sheer defiance of the people here, their refusal to be shaped by suffering, their rejection of his ideals—the ones he had built to save them from it.

And yet…

“I don’t disagree that hope can shape people,” he said at last, his voice quieter, measured. “I’ve seen it here. The strength people gain from one another, the way they lift each other up. It’s remarkable.”

His fingers tightened slightly around his clipboard.

“But...” His eyes flickered downward, toward the pavement. “The collective consciousness, the general world, the common man- doesn’t always reflect that.”

The wind carried his sigh, soft but heavy. “Not everyone makes it to the surface. Some fall too deep into despair to even see a way out. When someone has spent so long drowning, do we truly expect them to survive a relentless storm?”

Maruki exhaled lightly, shaking his head. “...In a perfect world, I would love to believe that everyone has the strength to fight. That making it through pain to find something beautiful is always an option.” His lips pressed together, and when he spoke again, it was almost to himself.

“But not everyone gets that chance.”

Solemnly, she nodded... there was absolutely no denying that some people don't have that strength to keep going on. People give up, or even fight tooth and nail to force the end on themselves and others. Pain runs deep, like that.

She remembered so, so many moments in her life.

What's the point?

She doesn't have a family anymore. All she was in these strangers' homes was... a burden. No matter how small she made herself, she couldn't deny that she DID take space, and time, and resources - and saw how it furrowed brows.

Why am I fighting?

All of her efforts hastened the death of everyone, she'd been complicit in endangering everyone and been an unwitting pawn.

I'm scared.

She would have lied if she said that she hadn't seriously considered Ryoji's offer, even if it hadn't lasted long in the face of her resolve. Those few moments of deep terror, anguish, knowing it was coming inevitably, not wanting it to hurt more... it would be so, so easy. Living without being seized by guilt, fear, by knowing that she did this, she harbored the end of the world inside of her and doomed everyone like a fucking idiot--

Akinari's smiling, pale face came to mind. Ryoji, hugging her for a final time that terrible New Year's Eve. Shinjiro, finally alive and breathing and embracing her before everything went dark, a smile on his face. Every single member of SEES, looking to her, finding comfort in her resolve, deciding that even if they die, this mattered to them too.

Life was funny, like that.

"That's why it matters for those of us who can fight, who can keep going, to reach out and help everyone else. If I can be strong for someone that isn't, and I can be there for them so they aren't alone... then I will. That's worth fighting for," she answered with a soft, melancholic and humorless laugh. "People are afraid, so often. We don't live in a perfect world because people aren't perfect, but... they deserve a chance."

Maruki watched her carefully, his gentle gaze softening as he took in her expression. The way her voice wavered just slightly, the weight behind her words—it told him more than she probably realized.

She had been through far too much. More than anyone should have to endure.

And yet, he understood.

Because he had been there too.

Even now, in the quiet of their conversation, he could still hear Rumi’s screams echoing in the halls of that hospital. The raw, anguished cries of someone drowning in grief, pleading for something—*anything*—to take the pain away.

"I want to forget, Takuto..."

"I can't- I can't do this! Not anymore!"

"It hurts!"

"It hurts!"

Ithurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithurts-

So he took it all away.
The pain. The hurt. The memories. Rumi wished to forget him. Forget everything related to her parents.

~~Azathoth? helped? him?~~

Not even as he failed to protect her parents, not even as he stood helplessly by while her world shattered.

He had lost so much that day. The love of his life, the future they could have had, the warm light in her eyes that once made him feel like everything would be okay. It was gone, ripped away by circumstances beyond his control.

That was why he had to take up this research.

If the mind could shape reality, if it could distort and twist under the weight of pain—then it could heal too, couldn’t it?

He wanted to use it in therapy. To pull people up before they sank too deep, to erase the burdens that crushed them.

If he could take away the suffering, if he could lift even one person from the depths of despair… then maybe they wouldn’t have to beg to forget.

Maybe they could move forward. Truly move forward—free from the pain, free from the endless suffering that bound them to the past.

And Hamuko…

He could see it in her. The loneliness. The loss. The way she fought so hard for the sake of others, but never for herself. Despite not having any sort of context.

His fingers curled slightly around his clipboard, and for a moment, he looked away, his expression dulled by something unspoken.

When he met her gaze again, it was with quiet compassion.

“…You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you, Hamuko-san?”

It wasn’t just a question. It was recognition. A quiet acknowledgment of everything she had carried—and everything she still did.

"Hasn't everyone?" she asked back, with a slight laugh, shifting her weight a bit into a more relaxed posture. "Fate can deal a really difficult, painful hand. But I made it through to the end doing the right thing, so that's what I can take pride in."

The end, huh...

"I may not have 'fixed' society, or anything like that... I might not have made things better. But I believe in them... I think it's in human nature to want to connect to others. And bonds like that are what help people that are struggling through the worst of it. Even if humanity was crying out for death, I won't let Her reach them - I want them to have the chance to make it through that despair."

"I made it through to the end."

"Even if humanity was crying out for death, I won’t let Her reach them—"

His grip on his clipboard tightened.

She was talking about herself like she was already gone.

The factors were all there. The hints, the implications, the way she carried herself—like someone who had already reached their end and had made peace with it.

He didn’t want to make assumptions. He couldn’t.

Because if he was right, if he acknowledged what was clawing at the edge of his mind, then what did that mean? That he was talking to a ghost? A lingering cognition left behind in the wake of something tragic? A memory?

A lump formed in his throat.

Maruki tucked the thought away, quickly, methodically—like pressing down a loose page in a book before the wind could carry it away. His own psyche was already a fragile enough thing. He wasn’t going to risk unraveling it further.

Instead, he exhaled quietly, carefully choosing his next words.

“…I don’t know your circumstances,” he admitted, his voice measured. “I don’t know what your timeline, your world, particularly looks like in the way you may have experienced it. But I do know that you’ve made an impact. Just by existing.”

His gaze softened, his sincerity pressing against the weight of her words.

“I believe that each and every person is a miracle in this world, Hamuko-san.”

It wasn’t just something he told his patients. He believed it. People were born into circumstances beyond their control, shaped by joys and tragedies alike, but their very existence was a defiance of the impossible.

Maruki hesitated for a beat before continuing. “And while I won’t pry into what you’ve been through… I can say that there are people out there who are striving to fix society now. People who have devoted themselves to their cause, to sort out Humanity's old habits of self-destruction, to studying cognition, to understanding the mind’s influence on reality.”

He offered a small, almost wistful smile.

“People like me, hopefully.”

~~Morning believed in it too. Right?~~

Because if cognition could shape the world, if reality could be rewritten—then maybe, just maybe, they could create a world where despair didn’t have to linger.

He just...needed to perfect the method. The answer must have been somewhere simply lingering in his mind but he will do it. No matter what it takes.

"If everyone tries, then it will get better. I'll probably end up talking more about things anyway, but there's no rush," she laughed lightly. After all, she was lonely, and wanted very badly to talk.

If she knew him better, she would've given him a playful shove. For now, she just chuckles.

"Well, being a counselor is always a good start. Most people just need someone that will listen and not judge them, right? Someone that'll believe in... them. Oh," she trailed off, seeing the sign for Junes, lit up even midday. "Wow, I really wouldn't have missed it if I kept walking, looks like part of the city encroaching on a little town. That's gotta be the place."

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cw: suicidality

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