yes, i just yoinked a shakespeare title
no im not worried: what's he gonna do, rise from the grave and belt me?
---
Midnight
One Week after Okumura's death
—
Phantom Thief Group Chat:
Joker: Noir, what happened?
Joker posted a video:
[Transcript]
They're in Mementos on a lower floor, near the end of their daily run.
Futaba yells through Necronomicon.
Two Shadows, weak to PSI!
Battle music begins.
Haru steps forward.
Her voice cracks, but no one dares to mention it.
PERSONA! MILADY!
She rips off her mask just as the action music climaxes.
Ten sets of eyes watch the mask clatter to the ground. Mementos's echo has never been so loud.
[Transcript End]
Panther: are you alright? HARUUUUUUU??????
Noir: yes, I'm fine.
Noir: I was distracted by, ah, something personal.
Joker: oops, sorry Noir
Oracle: always here if you wanna chat
Oracle: awake anyways so :/
Noir: thats very kind of you. I'll let you know if I
need to take you up on that ^^
—
3am
Incoming Call...
Incoming Call...
[Transcript]
Hey Haru! Wassup?
Ah, did I wake you up?
Nah, 've been playing Celeste. Why, something wrong?
There's a deep breath on the other line.
Ryu-kun, why is it me who deserves Milady?
Ryuji is silent. The cheerful blip in the background fade.
This 'sbout Mementos, yeah?
....yes.
You and Milady having trouble?
No! Haru's voice spikes. She hastily lowers it. No, no, of course not. I'm thrilled to have such a lethal counterpart, and it's an honour to work by her side. It's just...
There's a contemplative pause.
Morgana said a Persona is your other half. And if she is, then... I suppose I don't know, Ryu-kun.
They sit in silence for a while. On Ryuji's line there's the thump of bare feet on wood, the rusting hinges' squeal, the bedsprings' whine.
Ryu-kun?
Yeah?
Can you tell me about something?
Someth'n? Like what?
Anything.
A snort.
I'll go on an' narrate 'the Life of a Delinquent' to ya, then, yeah?
Haru laughs. It sounds like a tired laugh.
I've been stuck in high society for too long. Tell me something...normal. A normal day in the life of a normal guy... well. Another laugh. None of us are quite normal. But if you wouldn't mind?
M'kay, then.
He tells her about the nice lady he used to buy running shoes from- she's knowledgeable, up to date with everything- at least, when his mom still had money. He tells her about a regular at the gym and a worn coil of rope he passes every day on the way to school. He tells her about inconsequential pieces of his life, and she listens.
Ryuji pauses to breathe.
Haru's line crackles.
You notice so many details.
How else'm I gonna stay sane? B'fore the Thieves, I used'ta watch things on the road, see how long they'd take ta move. They all stayed the same, and I sorta thought that was nice. Hard to explain, really.
Haru's words are hesitant. Is it difficult, being a guy?
Another snort-laugh. Can't be more difficult than being a girl, Haru-chan. I might be stereotyped, but I won't be attacked.
Hm.
Why?
Ah! No rea- She stops. Waits. Starts again. I've been considering... I suppose, how my life will fit together, now that my father is gone. It's like a bandaid has been ripped off, I think... There's an audible clap on the other line, like she's covered her mouth.
Anyhow, sorry to keep you, Ryu-kun. Goodnight!
[End Transcript.]
---
am i projecting?
absolutely. deffo a vent fic in a trench coat ^^, do i care? lol nope
robin out
YOU ARE READING
In Lieu Of my Father- Haru Okumura
FanfictionIS THIS HARU SCREEN TIME?! Haru destroys some stuff, rambles, and maybe questions her gender and has an existential crisis. yknow- just a little. ft: broken mirrors, 3am rambles, mementos runs, and sobbing into a pillow. this idea sounded less clich...
