The queen was cornered. Her men lay strewn all over the wretched battlefield, while enemy forces were amassing to surround the few that lay standing. This was clearly the end.
Not her end of course. "The time has come to attack!" She decreed, her loyal page following her words intently, with the delicate scribble of a pencil.
A few shrewd moves later, with her somehow overlooked knights flying deep into enemy territory, the Queen of the Togo kingdom smiled, satisfied, with her trap fully sprung, and her opponent driven to a humiliating defeat. "They followed the scent of blood in the water so thoughtlessly," Hifumi mused, "that they never considered that blood is only spilled in my lands when I decide it is time."
Her page channelled the victory speech into the finishing touches of his sketch, as she watched the 'WIN' screen on her sleek laptop come to a close, with a satisfied smile on her face. The playing statistics of her opponent made her surprised that her gambit had become so successful, but only in terms of how quickly she had reached victory. Her strategy had enough points of divergence and counter-plays within itself that she had already achieved an 80% chance of victory many turns ago. "Did you manage to keep up with my strategy this time Yusuke?"
Her question was unanswered for a few moments as the artist's drawing became more frantic, but his pencil was soon deposited on the cafeteria table. "Only towards the end," he admitted, as he dragged his thumb to form certain smudges onto his pencil lines, "To my eye your forces were being compressed due to your stubbornness, yet your counter attack exploded out at precisely the right moment. Your knights were a key part of your strategy, yes?"
Since they had started spending time together, Hifumi had slowly but surely been teaching Yusuke about the game, but he certainly wasn't as quick a study as Akira. His recognition of the pieces flying over the battlefield as knights was in itself a coup. "Precisely." she told him. "Heavy losses are in fact a tool you can utilize, although I admit such a strategy is easier to use when your opponent isn't at the table with you."
"Because then you have to conceal your emotions, correct?" She nodded. "For what it's worth, I was entirely convinced you were approaching your doom, even sitting alongside you." He passed his sketch paper over, and Hifumi could see his point. A silhouette of a queen stood alone on a hill, a mob in the foreground approaching, stepping over the bodies of her forces. But she could see where the queen's arms, slumped in defeat, had been erased, and replaced with a commanding point, that signalled the rise of grand pegasi behind her in the skies, to lay waste to her enemies. "It actually added something more genuine to the sketch," Yusuke continued, smiling, "When I drew the scene of you in peril, it meant that you breaking out into a position of strength was much more powerful."
"It's an excellent drawing Yusuke, I must give you something for-"
He shook his head firmly. "There is no need. It was your battle, thus the drawing itself is yours as well. The inspiration your play gives me is payment enough."
Hifumi hoped he didn't catch her blush. She had thought herself lucky that she had found Akira, who somehow enjoyed her… eccentricities, but with Yusuke he had given her fantasies a physical form. They had never been close before the Phantom Thieves business, despite having both been aware of the other's reputation as a prodigy. It was that status that contributed to that, with the machinations of the elder's and their own genuine passion to pursue their talent coalescing into making the pair both rather withdrawn in the school environment. Of course, the shared, hazy memory of blood red skies and creatures that could only be described as monstrous, could do wonders for even the most casual relationship, especially with the urge that Akira had sent them both separately on his departure to "Be more social."
"Actually, would you mind if I take a picture?" Yusuke requested, pulling out his phone. "This would be perfect for A Stroke of Heart."
"Certainly; I always consider these sketches to be your property anyway." Hifumi replied warmly. She was aware of the website, a testament to its' growing momentum in the face of her rather modest tally of online friends. Followers however, now that was another matter entirely. "I could share this on my page as well actually, if you would appreciate the exposure?"
Yusuke smiled. "I suppose that could be rather helpful, if this portfolio's reach is as powerful tool as some are saying it is…"
"Oh, it is Kitagawa," a curt tone cut in, with Yusuke and Hifumi looking over their shoulders to identify who had crept up behind them. Kozue stood over them, her aura it's exhuding it's usual mix of haughty confidence, and this time, an air of conniving. Her right ear today was proudly adorned with a sizable bronze spear, with a glittering jewel at its tip. "Ah, the Phony Princess and Maderame's orphan performing a collaboration I see? Perhaps my proposal wouldn't be too outlandish then."
"Proposal?" Yusuke repeated, easily distracted, "What-"
Hifumi cut in, not wanting to give her what she wanted that easily. "Rather rude, to approach two clearly preoccupied people in such a manner, isn't it?"
"Quite, but that was the point." The two girls glared at eachother. They had a history, minor elementary school bickering about who's spot or who's crayon graduating to pure disdain by the time they came across eachother again at Kosei. This was exacerbated by Hifumi's increasing fame, which as of the present, still greatly eclipsed the following Kozue had obtained purely from her own work. The revelations surrounding her moniker as the 'Phony Princess' certainly didn't help matters. "Anyway," Kozue said dismissively, ending the standoff to address Yusuke directly, "My proposal is simply this; we should collaborate together."
"A collaboration," he repeated, for his own benefit. "In what medium? Oils? Pastels? I believe simple pencil can often lend itself to an excellent ground work in which to grow a more grand vision. Perhaps we could go experimental, could we craft something using only objects found within this cafeteria..."
Oblivious to bored look Kozue was offering, and the strange twitch in Hifumi's face, Yusuke had begun to gather a collection of plastic cutlery and unused paper napkins amassed from the centre of the table. Kozue rolled her eyes, and snapped her fingers to get his attention. "Paint, sculpture, drawing, all of the elegant methods are possible, but not eating utensils." His expression remained vacant as he mulled over her words, and she sighed. "God, look at yourself." Yusuke sheepishly stole a look at his plastic treasure trove. "So, do we have an agreement?"
"I-"
"I have noticed that website of yours," Kozue added, "Impressive, but if you want to maintain it's growth you need to find a way to tap in an already established artistic community. You have an audience sure, but you need the right audience. Enter, Kozue."
Those words seemed to cloud Yusuke, and an uneasy silence fell."He'll think about it," Hifumi decided for him finally, with a look that dared Kozue to stay any longer.
She almost did, but the artist's overriding instinct to not waste valuable time on those beneath her won through, dramatically placing a dark, shimmering object in front of Yusuke. "My business card," She said smoothly, "If this project goes well, perhaps we can see about obtaining some of your own." She walked away without another word, Hifumi scoffing as she saw her whip out her phone and begin tapping rapidly, already set on some other piece of business.
Yusuke meanwhile picked up the card between his index finger and thumb, doing his very best to avoid any smudging. It was already a piece of art in itself, an obsidian background highlighting the shine of red petals cascading across the card, while 'Kozue Torawa, Fine Artist' was declared boldly in white. It was hypnotising. So much so that Hifumi had to slap it out of his hand to get his attention. "Yusuke!"
"Yes?" His eyes were still on the card for a fleeting moment, but Hifumi's glare was enough to pull him away.
"Well?" He didn't answer, and Hifumi tapped the table impatiently. "You're not actually considering this, are you?"
Yusuke's expression turned more thoughtful. "I have often wondered how our styles could mesh, and I have been wanting to create something of such grandeur it requires two pairs of hands…"
His friend narrowed her eyes. "There are many talented artists at this school," Hifumi pointed out, "But this seems to have really piqued your interest. Why?"
He let the question simmer for a few moments before answering. "I suppose my interest in her art has always been prevalent, but that could be said for many of our peers, not that I've ever been approached for such work outside of a classroom context." He hummed, dissatisfied with his explanation. "No, if I want to be truthful, then I have to admit that the fact our project would put my name in the mind of her audience, that is enticing to me."
"Enticing?" Hifumi was even less sure of his answer then he was. "Yusuke, I never thought you were one to care about your ego."
"Ego, no," he stated plainly, "My work is another story, but this is besides the point. A Stroke of Heart's viewership is growing, at a rate that's quite frankly alarming, but such an audience is useless if they don't provide the right connections."
"Your talk about connections and viewership makes you sound like her." Yusuke squirmed in his seat. "She was irritating before, but ever since it became the norm to broadcast your entire life online she really has become insufferable…"
"I don't want this for the same ends as she does," Yusuke insisted, catching Hifumi's gaze. "She is obsessed with fame and influence, that is obvious to anyone, but those things are useful for an up-and-coming artist, especially with my, ah, lack of resources, so to speak."
He looked sincere to Hifumi, who admittedly had only just started to delve into psychology textbooks to add an extra dimension to her Shogi technique. Considering Yusuke also didn't have much of a filter to control how he expresses himself to begin with, she had to take his words as genuine. She also started to feel bad, reminded that her family made pursuing her passion easier with the safety net they offered, versus the relative dearth of support offered to Yusuke, besides his scholarship and his friends. "I can see that," Hifumi admitted meekly, "and I trust you to make the right choices for the right reasons. But you've never spoken like this before. Has something changed?"
Yusuke leaned back in his chair, tapping his index fingers together. "Not per say. But the future is fast approaching, and I have been told by many close to me that building my portfolio and following are the best ways to secure that future for my own shaping." He exhaled. "I must admit, some of this approach feels like progress, however, there is a general unease that tends to linger, but I can't tell if that feeling is instinct, or a paltry fear that serves only as a distraction."
"It's good that you're thinking about this at least." Hifumi offered. "I don't think you should work with her, though I can admit there are some of my own biases that lead me to saying that. The choice is yours to make. In my experience," She added, "Fame does open doors, however, you have to be ready to be thrown back through those doors. Not every one will be right for you. But the important part was that I always made Shogi my main focus, and I would say that's left me in a good position on the board, for now. I'm sure if you focus purely on your artistry you will find yourself in good stead."
Yusuke smiled, his friend's words making him feel more settled. "That does seem like the best approach." His calm was irked by thoughts of flashing lights, prestigious art institutions, and people, a person, by his side throughout it all. The imagery itself was a nice picture, but the strong resonance for that life in his soul was unnerving. "Perhaps I should seek further counsel."
The school bell rang, and the pair were now faced with having to traipse into the horrors of gym class. "At the very least Yusuke," Hifumi stated wearily, "I hope the combat of dodgeball can fire up a warrior's spirit, and weave your thoughts into clarity."
"It hasn't had that effect previously," he replied darkly. "Honestly, we are final year students, and such pursuits offer nothing to us at this point. Many paths lay in our way, and none of them involve a playing field."
"I agree with you mostly, however," Hifumi starts wistfully, "One gym class became the basis of an excellent Shogi technique..."
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"Oh gosh, and all that might really happen?!"
"Perhaps," the fortune-teller replied, "I can only tell you the shapes I see in the cards." She waved a hand over the spread on the counter for emphasis. "They tell me of the paths laid before you, and the figures that lie at the crossroads between them. Which path you walk, and what obstacles you can overcome, is all up to you."
Sojiro couldn't help but roll his eyes, but considering he was currently washing dishes he didn't need to restrain himself. He didn't know how his beloved coffee shop had also become a conduit for channeling arcane energy, but he blamed Akira, and was thankful that this tomfoolery took place on a fairly sporadic basis. It was only natural Chihaya Mifune would come to learn of LeBlanc, and it's almost legendary coffee, due to her friendship with the boy who used to live in its' attic. Most of his network, even that cocky little brat who kept talking about 'damage stats' and 'the sick plays I made down the arcade' were certain to make an appearance every so often. Chihaya had taken this to another level, with a few of LeBlanc's regulars soon becoming her regulars as well.
"Goodness," an older gentleman said, giving his wife a worried glance, "It still seems like we have some trouble in our future…"
"Oh, stop worrying!" She replied cheerfully. "She might've said that there was a dark force in the way of your success, but she also said to vanquish the monster with honesty, and reap your just rewards!" Her voice lowered to a whisper, but that whisper that the older generation possess where they aren't concerned by the rest of the room hearing every word. "Don't you get it? She's saying it's time for you to face your boss, you already have the evidence that he-"
"Oh lord look at the time," the man interjected, bringing both he and his wife to their feet as he ushered her to the door. "Boss, thank you for the coffee."
Chihaya already had the couple's money, but frowned slightly upon their exit. "Huh? They didn't say goodbye…"
"I think your reading hit a nerve for them." Sojiro explained, putting the last of the now-cleaned dishes in its rightful place. "I think you may have tipped their argument one way in particular."
The fortune teller shrugged, turning her attention back to her coffee. "I didn't do anything, I merely tell them what the cards tell me…" She took a sip, enjoying full and rich taste of the blend.
"If you say so," Sojiro said neutrally. It was getting late, with Chihaya being the only customer left in the shop. Well, depending on whether he could call his own daughter a 'customer'. Futaba had taken up a whole booth, as usual, working on whatever project she had currently become obsessed over, tapping away at her laptop's keyboard with a strange sort of rhythm. He walked over to her, not that she noticed. "Hey, y'know we're closing soon?" There was no response, her eyes still fixed to her screen, but by this point Sojiro knew she would be listening on some level. "I don't want you on that thing much longer, it's a school night."
"Why not?" Futaba asked plainly, without giving any other signs she was paying attention.
For once, Sojiro actually had an answer. "I actually read an article in the paper about how sleeping patterns get all messed up by the light from screens," he said, with a hint of smugness, "Something to do with the wavelength of the light only being found in sunlight before we came up with computers."
Futaba smiled. "Huh, so you actually have been doing your parenting homework!" Sojiro was pleased with himself for only a moment, as Futaba turned her laptop screen over to him, which was showing that website that it seemed her and the Kitagawa kid were working on, but covered in a strange orange hue. "But I use a program to get rid of all the blue and white light," Futaba explained, as self satisfied as ever, "making the screen all orange like this. So I'll be sleeping soundly, no matter what I'm doing!"
Sojiro was irked to have his ace in the hole shot down, and wasn't entirely convinced that the colour orange had that much of an effect. "Well, as your father, I'm cutting you off."
The tone he used told Futaba this wasn't a time where she could play with him any further. Not that she could resist huffing about it a little. "Fiiiine, just let me finish this while the phony finishes her coffee."
But owing to her lack of social skills, she said that rather loudly for a quiet coffee shop. "Futaba!" Sojiro scolded. Sure, he agreed with his daughter completely, but there was a decorum to be followed, especially with customers. Unfortunately, he spoke pretty loudly then too, and that only caught Chihaya's attention, confirming what she heard.
"It's okay." The Sakura's looked away from each other and to the fortune-teller, who was smiling sweetly. "I've heard a lot worse! But I think the power of the tarot cannot be underestimated, even if it's methods are strange and mysterious."
Futaba rolled her eyes. "Suuuure it is..." Sojiro glared at his daughter, who retreated into her seat. "Well, I'm not wrong!" She argued. "Look, lady, I don't mean to offend or anything, but don't fortune-tellers just prey on people who want easy answers?"
"I have met a few unscrupulous members of my profession yes." Was her honest reply, much to Futaba's surprise. "But myself, at the very least, I attempt to offer the most accurate divinations."
"But there's the problem," Futaba leaned forward, attempting to throw weight to her upcoming argument, "They aren't divinations! It's all subtle psychology. I've got my own reasons to believe in spiritual stuff, believe me, but a tarot reading has more to do with the human brain than the human soul. That couple that left just now? You probably overheard them talking, made some logical bridges, and came up with a story those cards told that juuuust about fit their situation. There have been so many exposé's on exactly this kind of thing!"
Chihaya was still smiling, but it started to waver. "I see… Well, I am unfamiliar with those techniques, and I certainly don't practice them!"
Futaba studied her for a few moments, ignoring her father's frown. "Interesting. Maybe you learned them without realising, and you yourself can't even realise the scam that you're pulling."
"Scam?" The colour drained a little from her face. "No, I couldn't possibly- Oh dear…"
"Futaba, you're being very rude," Sojiro said sternly. He loved her to death, but a part of that was letting her know when her eccentricities would not be tolerated, or else she would learn those lessons in a much more unforgiving setting. "I want you to apologise to Chihaya, pack up your things, and go to your room."
Now that was a tone she couldn't fight back against. With a mumbled "Sorry," Futaba closed her laptop, put it in her bag, and trudged out of her seat before Chihaya intervened.
"Wait!" Futaba turned her attention to her, an ornate looking deck of cards in one hand, while the other patted the stool next to her own. "I can't convince you there isn't trickery performed by many of my colleagues," Chihaya admitted, "But I can show you that my powers are genuine."
Futaba's first instinct was to look to Sojiro for permission, and his slow nod indicated it was a 'yes'. The customer was always right after all, and if she wanted to prove herself, he couldn't argue. Although this was not going to get Futaba out of the lecture he was planning in his head about how to properly treat paying customers.
Plopping herself down on the stool, Futaba suddenly found herself feeling very nervous. She was at the mercy of a fortune-teller who she had just insulted. Was that chill wicked spirits coalescing around her? But then the rational part of her mind deduced it was because of her sudden proximity to someone she didn't really know, and she felt her usual bravado slowly come back to her. "S-sure." She started shakily. "Let's see what you've got!"
All of a sudden, Chihaya's demonour shifted. The cards flowed in spirals around her hands, in a shuffling technique so intricate it felt spiritual in itself. "This will be a five card spread," she said airily, but with a certain degree of authority, "Perhaps one of the most well-known techniques, but only because of its undeniable power." That sent a shiver down Futaba's spine. Was the room getting darker? "We will examine your past, present, and future, and ultimately, show a possible path for you to follow, and the destination it will take you, should you choose to heed this reading. Whether you do, or do not, is entirely up to you."
In a flash, five cards lay face-down on the table, in the shape of a simple cross. "Woah," Futaba muttered, a small smile creeping up Chihaya's lips.
"So let us reveal the first card of our spread," She began grandly, "And determine the truth about your current situation." Futaba cursed her heart for beating so fast, and faster still as the fortune teller flipped her first card. It depicted a silhouette walking across the card, with a bindle laid over his shoulder, clearly on a journey of some sort. "The Fool," Chihaya explained, "symbolises beginnings, yet see where it sits on this counter?" She beckoned Futaba to place her fingers on the card, and she realised it had become caught on a small divot in the wood of the counter, making it difficult to move. "The card is immobile, which is unusual to see. There is meant to be a new journey for you, yet, it remains ignored. You believe you are on familiar ground, when in fact you have been led into somewhere new. You choose to live the same way you always have, despite this obvious shift."
The reading felt a lot more intense than Futaba was expecting it to. She couldn't have set that specific card to be stuck on that specific spot, could she? Or maybe she could. She'd seen footage of much flashier tricks after all. Regardless, she tried to think about the words. "I'm not sure that makes sense," she started slowly. "There has been a change, I've been going to school. I don't think that's usual for me at all!"
"Perhaps that journey isn't the most important right now," Chihaya replied, "Or perhaps your capability means school isn't really much of an undertaking." It was true that Futaba hadn't had any real crises to speak of since that first day. The regular drudgery of school work and being around other kids had its drawbacks sure, but she couldn't pretend that she was finding it to be much of a challenge. "Remember, it is up to you to define the meanings surrounding these cards. I am only your guide."
"Got it," Futaba said, without really getting it. "On to the next card?"
Chihaya nodded, flipping over the card to The Fool's left. "This card shows your past." She said as it turned. It lay flat on the table, a sword bearing scales. The scales, and number of the card itself, were upside down, which Sojiro and Futaba both found surprisingly unnerving. "And it is Justice, reversed." The fortune-teller looked at Futaba apologetically. "There was someone special to you, someone you lost. Their absence, and the actions of those surrounding that loss, has made it difficult for you to reach out, and put your faith in someone, and really care about them, without them disappearing, or letting you down."
Sojiro frowned at the fortune teller. "Hey now, I thought this was supposed to be a bit of fun?"
"The cards only draw on what has been, and what is too be." Chihaya replied diplomatically. "Life has it's bright spots and it's miseries, so too, does a tarot reading."
"It's fine anyway Sojiro," Futaba waved off, completely unmoved, or at least appearing to be. "You noticed how she said 'someone special?' and a really vague 'lost?'. That's so it could apply to anything, Tana, Mom… even when they killed off the Chrome Featherman!" She sat in her chair smugly, hiding how the reminder of the demise of her favourite 'mid-season ratings push the writers suddenly decided was an awful idea' character was burning her insides. "She hasn't even done anything yet!"
Chihaya did feel slighted, but she did her best not to show it. "Perhaps the next card will resonate with you more…" The card to right of The Fool was turned, revealing a woman and a man, with a heart separating them, however once again this image was upside down. "The reversed Lovers, another bad omen…" Nevermind 'reversed', the word 'Lovers' was enough to set Futaba's mind ablaze. Was she sweating? Why would she, these were just cards… "You will live and lead a good life if you continue as you are," Chihaya continued, "a life many would say they would be happy to live. However, you will feel a weight of absence, and you may not even realise that weight comes from regret, and that regret will always be around you, dancing with another, and taunting your cowardice."
Futaba couldn't hold it in anymore. "Absence? Regret? Are you saying I'm supposed to be dating somebody right now?" Chihaya tactically stayed silent, letting Futaba go on. "But there isn't anybody, I don't know people! Akira is out of town and a toootal dweeb, that Mishima is just an NPC, Ryuji is kinda cute I guess but he's suuuch a sore loser at the arcade, and he keeps killing me with exercise. Not to mention everyone in the hacking IRC channels are such amateurs."
Sojiro also had a slight heart attack at the mention of the L-word, but more than that, Futaba's response to it. She could be flustered by the world, yes, but it was usually more in an absolute sense, rather than being embarrassed as he could see here. More glaringly, he couldn't help but noticed she had managed to list every boy in her social circle except the one she had been spending the most time with recently.
"Besides," Futaba continued, "Aren't tarot cards kinda abstract? Like I know Death doesn't actually mean Death, so the Lovers is the same, right?"
"Of course," Chihaya nodded carefully, "But the emotions that they stoke within us do correspond to their true meaning."
"Okay, cool." Futaba smiled, relieved, choosing to ignore that second part. "Then this is fine, it probably means I need to keep my friends close or something, or else they'll go away. Next card!" Hesitantly, Chihaya turned the card below The Fool, revealing a decrepit skull, upside down. The trio all stared at it. "Death huh?" Futaba whispered. "I guess maybe I should be the fortune teller here."
"This card represents the reasons you're in your current situation." Chihaya explained quickly, trying to assuage the worries of her audience. "You were certainly right in saying that Death as a card isn't literal, and its' appearance to us in the reverse actually ties together with The Fool."
"It does?"
"Yes. Death represents a shift, a change from one form of life to another. Reversed Death shows a resistance to that change. While you have made many strides, and overcome monsters that are truly unspeakable, you have questions that are unresolved, despite your strength. Your blind spot comes from ignoring those questions, and instead staying comfortable in answering what you already know you can answer."
"So," Futaba started slowly, "The Fool's saying there's a journey I should be going on, while Death is saying I'm ignoring the questions that'd take me there."
"That is the meaning I would take from this," Chihaya encouraged. "The cards allow us to reach within ourselves, and admit what is holding us back, which otherwise we would be unable to confront."
"But this is all so vague!" The fortune teller's expression dropped, not that Futaba noticed. "Like as a performance, this is excellent, ten out of ten. That thing you did with the Fool card was a really good gambit! But everyone feels like they're meant to be going somewhere and not, had bad stuff happen in their past, wants people to love them, and doesn't like change. That's being human! So no, you haven't convinced me," she finished, folding her arms, "Though I admit you had me going there." She hopped off of her stool, adjusting her backpack on her shoulders. "I'm gonna head off, you're not gonna convince me, and anything I say is gonna make the old guy madder..."
She left without a goodbye, leaving Sojiro and Chihaya in silence. She looked very unsure of herself, looking over the spread of cards at all angles, as if to see what went wrong. "Don't worry about her," Sojiro said apologetically, "She's stubborn, and too smart for her own good sometimes. I'm going to have a talk with her about respecting people after I shut up shop here."
"Oh, don't worry," Chihaya replied, putting on a cheery face, "As I said earlier, people can be cruel to those who scry for knowledge. I can tell she has a good heart." Her expression softened slightly. "I'm more disappointed in myself. I could tell there was real power in this spread, yet I couldn't get it's message across in the correct way…"
"I reckon you did," Sojiro said firmly, to Chihaya's surprise. "But she's stubborn. Every time you were saying said she had to change she threw it right back at you. I think that means you're right." His hand hovered over the final, face down card. "May I?" She nodded, and he revealed an eye staring back at them, underneath a shining lantern. "I'm not sure what this one is," Sojiro admitted.
"This card in the spread represents the outcome, if your daughter heeds the advice of this reading." Chihaya informed him, regaining her professional air. "This is The Hermit, which usually represents solitude, but here I can see it is more about the mastery of one's self. Though this image is hazy, I can envision her surrounded by those she loves, and those she loves even more. This future can only be achieved by following the tenants of the Hermit- to look deep within herself, with no judging, and complete honesty, to reconcile her place in the world, but perhaps more importantly, to learn what to take from the world that will make her whole."
Sojiro exhaled. "That's positive at least." He removed his glasses and began rubbing his eyes. "Christ, you were right. The cards do reveal everything."
"They have?" Chihaya was mystified. "She didn't resonate with any of the reading."
"Trust me, she did." He wasn't exactly sure on what the protocol was for realising your daughter had a crush on someone before she even did, but he knew for sure it was far above his capabilities. "God, why did she have to fall for the one that never pays..." he grumbled to himself.
"Then there were accuracies?" Chihaya relaxed a little into her stool. "That's very relieving. I must admit, I was wondering if there was any truth to her words."
"She's a bit of a know-it-all," Sojiro explained, "It doesn't help that she's right most of the time either. Though apparently there are a few important things she's missing."
"I'm sure she'll find those things," Chihaya said confidently, "whatever they are. I know I did, in my own time."
Sojiro insisted that her coffee was free, as compensation for the impromptu tarot reading, and sent the fortune teller on her way, with a newfound respect for her art. Now alone in his café, he laid his hands on the counter and sighed heavily. How the hell could he help Futaba through a problem that she didn't even know she was having. He looked to his right, at the Sayori hanging on his wall. At least she didn't pick too badly, he thought wistfully, All things considered...
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"I can't believe Sojiro grounded me for that."
"If you are grounded," Yusuke asked, sat on her bed in the late afternoon, "then why am I here?"
"I managed to convince him your website was important to your school work, and you would be helpless without me." In actuality, while Sojiro could totally believe that last part, he was more concerned with having his daughter confront the feelings she was oblivious to hiding. Yusuke was a 'first boyfriend' that he could have some influence over at the very least, not that he had any idea what the boy himself thought about the matter. The kid just confused him most of the time.
"Hmm, excellently done. Though I do believe his punishment may have some value."
Futaba swivelled away from her computer to face him, and frown. "What, you're on his side?"
"Tarot reading is her way of expression," Yusuke reasoned, "I certainly would be affronted if someone criticised my art without particularly understanding it's intricacies."
Futaba squinted. "But art is meant to be criticised. If noone has anything to say about what you've made isn't it sort of pointless?"
"Perhaps," he admitted, "but then there can be an odd sort of beauty in a piece so removed from everything it provokes no response…" As he said this, his eyes started to focus on nothing in particular, becoming lost in the concept. Futaba let him explore for a few moments before snapping her fingers. "I apologise," he said immediately. He had been getting a lot better at refocussing on the conversation since they had started working on the website, considering he had to do it so often. "If I may provide an analogy, imagine you have written a very competent and admired program, yet someone begins to reduce it to all of those little tricks you have told me about when writing it, implying you have somehow frauded the process. Would you not find that irksome?"
Futaba considered that. "It's not really the same," she started, before swivelling back to her computer with a sigh, "but I think I see your point. I'll say sorry when I see her in LeBlanc."
Yusuke smiled, if only because he knew it wouldn't be caught. In all of their little squabbles, and her vast array of knowledge, he always cherished the moments when he had reached her with reason. "I am happy to hear that; she is a delightful woman."
"Is she now?" Futaba asked, her eyes still on the screen. "I didn't know you knew each other."
"I do take up my own residence in LeBlanc, as you know," he explained, going back to the sketch book in his lap, "The readings she gives to the other customers can provide a font of inspiration, and the emotions she catches in her delivery is rather captivating."
"Why don't you just marry her then," Futaba mumbled, without really meaning to.
"Hm?"
"Nothing." She didn't really know how that came out of her. Sure, she was pretty, but much too old for Yusuke, wait, why the hell did she care anyway?! "Have you ever gotten a reading from her?" Futaba asked quickly, wanting to get off that train of thought.
"A few months ago," Yusuke told her, focussed on his sketchbook, "She told me a new figure would be coming into my life, one of vast importance, that I should make all efforts to understand and befriend."
More vagueness, Futaba thought to herself. "And how did that go for ya?"
"Well it was just before you told the Phantom Thieves to steal your heart." He answered casually. That made Futaba seize up a little, a reading about her?! "She was entirely correct of course," Yusuke continued, "Mona was a much less effective navigator than you showed yourself to be."
"N-no kidding," she said lamely. "She say anything else?"
The artist looked up from his sketchbook, rubbing his chin as he racked his brain for information. "Not that I can remember. She mentioned the heart a lot, but I imagine much of that stemmed from my actions surrounding Maderame's palace, although that never seemed too convincing to me.."
Somehow a silence fell over the pair, and Futaba felt Yusuke's eyes burn into the back of her head. In actuality, he had returned to his sketching, but Futaba felt she had to do something to stop that phantom gaze. "Processing's done!" She announced hastily, turning around, and beckoning Yusuke besides her. "Meet A Stroke of Heart version 1.1."
Yusuke looked all over the screen, displaying the homepage of their website, but couldn't identify anything that looked like an update. "Has anything changed?" He asked bluntly. "I have an eye for detail, yet this is still the same design as we began with."
Futaba, infinitely glad of something to talk about, didn't even chastise his ignorance. "It's all stuff under the hood, and super clever stuff at that! Por exemple," she started, opening a new tab in her browser and sticking the words 'heart', 'art', and 'stroke' in the search bar, "Look!"
The website was now in the first page of searching, albeit on the bottom of the list. "That's quite impressive," Yusuke said, although the prospect did unearth some small sense of worry within him.
"Search engine optimisation at work my friend," Futaba replied smugly, cracking her knuckles as she leaned back in her chair, "You were pulling in good numbers before, but now it's really going to shine!"
Again, that prospect of fame. Again, that feeling that something wasn't quite right. Yusuke couldn't stop it. "Futaba-"
"And just think!" She continued, drumming her fingers together. "If we can keep growing like this, we set up a store, set up some publicity, a place for your fans, you might not even need university! You could just work on what you want, I'll handle the business side, and we'll be set for life!"
Complete freedom? Yusuke wondered. Even he knew her words were a pipe dream, but her enthusiasm, and satisfaction for the project, was contagious. "I didn't realise your plans were so grand," he said warmly.
"Have you seen the markup on prints?" She replied excitedly. "We could be making a killing! Not to mention on fine art itself, that's even more ridiculous! Plus, you wouldn't be the worst person to work with," she admitted, "I kind of have been thinking I'd like to be working with at least one of our friends in the long term."
"A burden is lightened when working with those you care about, after all," Yusuke agreed, daydreaming about an easy future. "Though why did you choose me?"
"Huh?" It was a question she wasn't prepared for.
"Our friends all have marketable skillsets. While Makoto's career is already chosen, Akira could make a success of himself wherever he chooses to go, the fruits- or rather, vegetables of Haru's labours are already beginning to flourish, Ann's modelling career is already established, and Ryuji…" He struggled for any justification. "They are all very talented," he finished lamely, "Yet you have undertaken all of this effort on my behalf. Why?"
Now this would be a struggle. "B-Because…" Why had she started this whole project? Yes, it could make a good business someday, but he was right, there were other opportunities right there. Did she feel sorry for him not having a clue about the digital world, or just not having his life straightened out? That didn't feel right at all. As much as she didn't like to say it too loudly, she just really respected what he could do with a brush, but more than that (and thought much more quietly), all of the thoughts and feelings he put into his work. All of the him in it, basically. "I just ran the numbers and this came out as the best one," she lied, surprisingly smoothly, "no big deal. I did try to convince Mona once to stage some viral cat videos, but he wouldn't have it. Said it was 'demeaning to a human like himself'."
"I see." Her answer somehow felt hollow to him, but perhaps he was hoping that his art had inspired her into this course of action. That must be it. "Regardless of intention," he said with a smile, "I'm in if you are."
"Hell yeah!" She raised her hand for a high five, and accepted the adorably feeble reciprocation. "We're gonna make KitagawaCorp the biggest name in the business!"
While the name would need working on, Yusuke remembered how long it took to decide the name of the website itself, and decided it would be a discussion for another time. He also remembered one of the points of discussion he needed to raise at this meeting. "Futaba, I was meaning to ask you, what would you think about a possible collaboration."
"Er," she gestured between the two of them, "what do you think this is?"
"I mean between myself with another artist from Kosei. Here."
He passed over Kozue's card for Futaba's inspection, the hacker holding up the card to her bedroom's light. "Ooooh, pretty. This seems really professional. And she goes to your school?"
Yusuke nodded. "She has quite the following herself, I can imagine it would do good things for the website's publicity."
"Oh! Sure, why not," Futaba waved away, ignoring the prickle she felt at the word 'she', "What could go wrong, right?"
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AN- So I've pretty much got the rest of this set, there might be 3 or 4 more chapters? Hope you've enjoyed the story so far, let me know what you think!
