Haruto sat at a table, everything they had told him sinking in. Basically, they wanted to overthrow the dictatorship and put the monarchy back in power. Coming from a democracy, Haruto didn't really get the difference, but they assured him there was one.

"Either way, there's someone with all the power, isn't there?", he asked.

"That's not how a monarchy works, Mr. Diplomat", Bijou said.

"So it's not about changing the power dynamic. It's about making sure the right person has all of the power", Haruto clarified.

"He's annoying", Robin said. "Why do we need him again?"

"I'm starting to think we don't", Bijou agreed.

"What did you need me for?", Haruto asked. If this was simply a Dorissian coup, they had no need to a JIORan ambassador. He had no combat experience and nothing he could say would sway either side of the coming conflict.

Ira shrugged. "We just thought you could be useful since Michael thought you were so special."

Special

Special

Special

That word echoed in Haruto's head. Had Michael thought he was special? Had he told his friends that? Did he really believe it? Had he seen Haruto as different from everyone else?

"I agree, that your current government is a problem", he started. "But you need to tell me more about what you plan to do differently before I can help you."

"What help can you give?", Bijou asked.

"I can explain your situation to JIOR so that if you succeed, you're not seen as a hostile government. We've had a tense relationship with Dorssia for a long time. I'm sure everyone would appreciate it if that came to an end", Haruto said.

Bijou smiled. It was exactly what he had wanted to hear. This man was as easy to manipulate as Michael had said. They spent a couple more hours, going into detail about their reasons for doing this. The oppression of the lower classes, the plight of nobility, their position on the world stage, as well as other things. Haruto listened intently, letting it all sink in.

He was aware of most of this, he wasn't a fool who only got his position because he was friends with the prime minister's daughter after all. But he'd never been allowed to view it from the other side. It mattered to Michael as well. This was his country, his home. Haruto knew how he'd feel if it was JIOR under the thumb of a dictatorship.

Since that day, Haruto had been allowed free movement of the...complex. That was the only way to describe it. There were no windows, which pointed to being underground. And several halls to get lost in if he wasn't careful. In his days, he sat in on strategic meetings, getting to know the core members (Michael's friends) more and more.

So he felt comfortable enough asking this question after about a week. The meals were taken in a small kind of mess hall. It wasn't gourmet, but it was food. This was a resistance after all.

"Where's the other guy?", Haruto asked. "With glasses?"

Bijou frowned. But now that he thought about it, Haruto didn't think he saw the guy ever smile.

"Yonah...is the most loyal to Cain. He would never be able to sympathize with our cause."

"Have you ever tried? You're friends, aren't you?"

"Don't act like you know us!", Bijou snapped, getting to his feet and storming out of the mess hall. Haruto watched him leave with a confused expression.

"What's his problem?"

"For a diplomat, you sure don't know how to read a room", Ira said.

"You royally pissed him off", Robin added with glee. Haruto was still trying to get a read on him.

Ira picked at his food. "Think of how he feels, having to help with a rebellion that he started with his best friend. A friend that is now probably dead. All because of you." It was clear from his tone that Ira blamed Haruto as well.

"Because of me? I didn't!-"

"It's because you couldn't keep discrete that they had that whole trial. If we weren't in that courthouse...if your relationship hadn't been made public..."

"I love him just the same as the rest of you", Haruto said, his voice firm and his eyes bright. "And I'll make his vision come true to prove it." He ate the last bites of his food and and left, deciding to go after Bijou to give him a piece of his mind.

"What is this?"

"It's yokan!"

Michael poked at the bar of jellified...something. "And you expect me to eat this?"

Shouko nodded. "Haruto likes it too."

Michael glared down at the yokan some more before using his spoon to take a small bite of it. Shouko smiled and went off to the vending machine to get them a few drinks. Inuzuka came to stand next to her.

"I can't believe you've got such a handle on him."

"I'm not the one", Shouko said. "Haruto is. But that's what it's like when you're in love. You want to know everything about that person."