Evolving Threads (Multi-crossover)

Take your time

Ren: Yeah... I don't know if they could say the same though... I haven't gotten a single call from them in the year I was gone. My mom was a detective and my dad worked in theater so I get that they're always busy with something but... Not even a single text?

Ryuko: Yeah, I know a thing or two about shitty parents, and busy parents... 

Ren: I mean, I get my mom. She was usually distant but my dad? He used to take me to his shows all the time, I'm sure there's a reason... But sometimes I just can't shake the feeling that they gave up on me.

Ryuko: Well that's something you'll have to figure out when you meet them again. I mean my old man was similar, I could go months at a time without hearing him, but I knew that he still loved me and now I only wish that I could love him back. I guess what I'm trying to say is [she smiles as she pats his shoulder] it ain't over just yet... Things may look bad but things always have to go down before they come back up. Which leaves the question... What next? 

Ren: Next? I have no idea what to do next...

Ryuko: Fine then we'll take over and you follow our lead... I ain't the smartest or anything but I damn sure'll go with my gut, and that usually does me good.

Tatsumi: Yeah, you look like you need a break anyway... This is too much of a load for you to handle for now at least. It isn't safe to rely on only yourself. Now let's get to cooking, these omelets aren't going to make themselves.

Ryuko: Wait I thought this was a beef bowl place?

Ren: There isn't enough beef for everyone so we're just putting them in the omelets. I trust that you can carry them out for us?

Ryuko sighs before leaning next to the wall.

Ryuko: Fine... 

Ryuko resisted drooling the smell of eggs long enough to hand out plates to everyone sans Kaneshiro. Later on when Ren came he was greeted by his friends who've all started their own conversations by now.

Ren: Sorry for the wait, foods ready though. Prepared by Tatsumi and yours truly.

Futaba: Finally! What took you guys so long?

Ren: Just had to talk about some stuff. But none of that matters right now, just eat up.

Ryuko and Tatsumi handed everyone their plates and watched as everyone begun to dig in. But despite how they were eating, they all looked worried still.

Ren: What's wrong? Did the food get too cold for you guys?

Haru: No, that's not it at all... It's just...

Sumire: We're worried about turning into someone we are not.

Kaneshiro: You're not turning into someone you're not. You're revealing who you really are.

Sae: You will speak when we tell you to speak... Is that clear!?

Tatsumi: No... Let's hear him out. He's the only one here who might have that kind of knowledge we need.

Sae: Hmph, fine. But the moment he steps out of line-

Tatsumi: Don't worry, I got this. Now, Kaneshiro... Finish what you had to say.

Kaneshiro cleared his throat before putting on a smug grin.

Kaneshiro: As I said, this blight isn't turning you evil. It's influencing your more selfish and darker desires and making you act on them, causing you to turn into the version of you that you look at in shame... Why do you think you're able to summon your Personas so easily? They represent the will of your rebellion against society but at the end of the day, that "rebellion" is really just a product of rage, sadness, fear, hatred, or desperation. All of those things are amplified by the blight.