"I still can't believe you went out clothes shopping with Futaba before you went with me!" Ann-san says with a playful bump of the hip.
"I wouldn't exactly call it clothing shopping..." I trail off to an awkward chuckle. Our little trip to Akihabara was something, that's for sure. We didn't leave the district till sundown and I completely lose track of how many outfits Futaba-san had us wear together. It was less embarrassing when it was the two of us, but still quite the day. At least on the train ride back to my apartment she sent me the picture of myself imitating Joker in the Phantom Thief costume. I'm not entirely sure she deleted her copy of it, but I'm hoping she'll forget about it if I don't bring it up again.
I made dinner for Futaba-san and I when we got back to the apartment. She wasn't kidding when she said she'd do the fix to my Aunt's computer in seven minutes either. After we ate I finally said goodbye to Futaba-san and basically fell right asleep.
Yesterday I went straight back home after school, rather than come to the Cafe. I got home to my Aunt using her computer and a disinterested greeting, so Futaba-san's repair completely fixed the machine. I'm afraid to tell her out of fear of what she'll suggest I cosplay next, but I can't imagine how I'll ever repay her for everything she did.
Today I came to the Cafe to find it a full house, Ann-san helping out in the Cafe with Amamiya-san while Futaba-san and Morgana are working on the new case upstairs. As soon as I arrived, Amamiya-san headed upstairs to join them with the explicit instructions that I was to make all the drinks. That confused me for a little bit until I saw Ann-san try to make a drink. She has no attention to detail and the drinks come out passable at best.
It's slow today though, so no one's bothered us as we chat. In fact, the only person in the Cafe in the last hour was Amamiya-san, Futaba-san, and Morgana. The three left a few minutes ago at Futaba-san's insistence. As far as I understood, she said no more work could be done on the case until Amamiya-san had a properly stocked snack drawer.
"Well, we have to go together too, okay? Your hair is such a lovely shade, I'm pretty sure the entire Spring line from Darling Designs would look amazing on you," Ann-san says as she adjusts her ponytail.
"S... Sure, that sounds nice," I give Ann-san a quick smile. "Just just don't make me try on the entire store, okay?"
Ann-san pauses with her hands holding her hair. "Futaba did that?"
"... Twice," I reach for the nape of my neck awkwardly, a habit I realized I'm picking up from Amamiya-san. Ann-san winces at me sympathetically.
"You know, she used to be shier than you? There was a lot surrounding that, but long story short meeting all of us," she emphasizes 'us', "was what started to get her out of her shell. Ren did a lot for her, if you can't tell by how close they are."
"They remind me of siblings, honestly."
Ann-san nods. "Yup! A lot like that. Anyway, by the time she hit college she was pretty much alright on her own. We never her expected to come back after the first semester with a thing for cosplay."
"Has... she dragged everyone else into it too?"
Ann-san chuckles. "At one point or another, yeah. You already know Ren's a ham," Ann-san winks at me, I smirk a little remembering him at the photoshoot, "so he doesn't mind, Yusuke gets roped into it the most because Futaba can play him like a fiddle at this point... She loves when she can get Makoto, but Makoto's really shy about it for some reason or another."
Ann-san shrugs. "So she's gotten everyone at some point or another. It's not really any different than my uniform," she puts uniform in air quotes, "So I don't mind."
Before I can reply, Ann-san's phone rings. She pulls it from her back pocket to check the front.
"Oh, I should take this. Gimme one sec, okay?" Ann-san flashes a quick smile at me before answering the call.
"Hello?" There's a pause.
"Oh god, really? I hope she's alright." Another pause.
"I..." Ann-san glances back at me, pensive. She turns back to the phone. "Yeah, I can do it. I'll text you when I know how long I'll be."
Ann-san hangs up her phone and shoves it into her jeans pocket. She jogs her way over towards the apartment stairs, untying her apron as she goes.
"So they just called me in to cover for a model who got in a minor car accident," Ann-san calls over to me as she jogs up the stairs. She comes back down a few moments later with her purse. She stops in front of me with a nervous smile.
"Ren'll be back in a few, so do you mind covering the store by yourself till then? I'm sorry to spring this on you."
"It's fine Ann-san, and I'll be just fine." I try and convey how not worried about this I am with an easy-going smile. Arsene is... kind of a home for me at this point, and I've been long aware I'll be covering the store by myself before long.
"Oh, you're the best! I'll bring some sweets back tonight, so stick around okay?" Ann-san's smile is absolutely radiant.
"Of course!"
"Alright, I'm off! Tell Ren where I'm at alright?" Ann-san says without even looking back, bounding her way out the door.
The door chime clatters as the door swings closed and I'm left alone in Arsene. I breathe in and sigh contently, the coffee smell comfortable and cozy. I tap my fingers against the wooden counter for a bit, check that all the glassware is clean... The Cafe is usually... maybe not noisy, but at least always filled with warm presences be it Ann-san's cheerfulness, Morgana's lecturing, or Amamiya-san's comforting presence. Cafe Arsene on its own is nice as well... But different.
Shaking my head softly I clear my thoughts. Might as well do some sweeping while it's empty. As if waiting for me to decide to move, the door opens with a gentle chime.
The man who enters is older than Amamiya-san but has a similar long hairdo, although in brown instead of black. He has square rim glasses in a modern style for someone who must be in his thirties and is dressed in a fleece sleeveless vest over a button-up shirt with the button unbuttoned. What strikes me most about him is his eyes and by extension, his whole expression. He's clearly a little nervous, he's telegraphing that like a spotlight by biting his lip. But his eyes are oddly warm, like he's looking back at old photos or meeting a friend after a long day. I can't quite describe what it is about his expression that does it, but he just emanates an aura of calm.
"Hi there, Welcome to Cafe Arsene. Can... I get you anything?"
"Oh! Hello yourself!" The man's nerves fade off of him as soon as he greets me. He must be a people person.
"Um..." Oh, his nerves are back. "Would Amamiya Ren be in today?"
There's a part of me that wonders if I should be concerned that he's asking for Amamiya-san by name. He is Joker after all, and this man could be after him or be trying to get information to use against him. Amamiya-san did make it clear on my first day that there's a risk of that if I work here and continue to associate with the Thieves.
But, and maybe it's the calm aura talking, I quickly shake off my concerns. Amamiya-san has a lot of friends from the sounds of it so this could simply be another one whose recently come to town. Plus, his Cafe is well known by his friends (I assume, since Principal Kawakami said she was going to swing by) so it wouldn't be odd for them to look for him here.
"He just stepped out for..." I pause to come up with something better than snacks were demanded of him, "Brewing supplies, so he'll be back in a little bit. Would... you like a cup of coffee?" The man pauses a moment before sighing softly. He looks over to me with his nerves again gone and a kind smile on his face.
"Absolutely. I assume Amamiya-kun has been teaching you?"
"Yes sir," I reply from around the machine on the counter. The man has sat down on the stool next to the machinery. "Amamiya-san is a really strict teacher, but he's the best."
... I silently amend my statement to 'Amamiya-san and Boss-san are the best,' and hope that will correct my karmic failure. Kind man he may be, I feel like Boss-san has to be respected or else.
The man chuckles softly. "He's an excellent teacher."
I nod in reply before turning my attention to the finishing touches on the coffee. I place it on the saucer and slide it over to my only customer.
"Crystal Star, fresh off the press."
He nods in thanks, sliding the mug before him and bringing it to his lips.
"... Mmm. You're an excellent Barista yourself. Have you been working for Amamiya-kun long?" he asks after taking a sip.
"Um..." I pause to think. "It's only been... just over two weeks?"
"Wow, I'm even more impressed." He replies and I flush a little. He takes another drink and I move to reset the machine before I have to make another drink. It's quiet with just the two of us in the Cafe, awkwardly so. I try to think of something to ask him that's not too personal, but he comes up with something first.
"I recognize the uniform, you're a Shujin student?"
"As of this year, yes."
"A transfer student huh? You really do remind me of Amamiya-kun when he was younger."
"That's..." I look over from my cleaning to flash the man a quick smile, "Very high praise. Thank you."
The man nods in acknowledgment. There's a bit of pause before he speaks again.
"How's the school... doing? It had a bit of a... well, let's call it a reputation when I worked there for a bit. Lots of corruption, negligence regarding abuse..."
I hum quietly. I haven't heard of anything major the last few months, no students coming forward with things or acting strange... But I'm not terribly connected in the class. I might just not see it. Though, if Shujin was that bad at one point and is better now... I'm willing to bet this man was at Shujin when the Amamiya-san and everyone became the Phantom Thieves. He's too old to have been a student, so maybe another former teacher, like Principal Kawakami? It would explain why he's looking for Amamiya-san.
"I'm still pretty new to the school, but there's nothing I've seen," I reply as I pull myself from my thoughts. The man looks... I want to say relieved, but there's a bit of a somberness to it. I wonder why. Maybe it affected him somehow.
"That's wonderful," He says before taking a sip of his drink. "I enjoyed counseling, but I'd much rather that the students don't have anything painful in their lives they need my help with."
"Are you a psychologist then?"
"Not anymore," The man says more into his coffee than to me. "But at the time due to a lot of terrible things happening at Shujin, I was asked to serve as a counselor there."
"What... kind of things happened?" I'm starting to wonder if I should know more about the school I attend.
"There were some faculty abusing their power back then, and a lot of victims of that abuse," the man looks up and winces. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you or anything. I'm sure Shujin is a far safer place than it was back then. The primary man behind it all will be in prison for decades, and even if he were to be released, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts changed his heart."
"...Woah." I knew Amamiya-san's career started in high school, but it's weird hearing about it from the other side. I wonder who this faculty member was. I'm not sure if Amamiya-san will answer me, but I make a note to ask later. It might be too personal, considering it was an early case. Ann-san and Morgana have both mentioned that the earliest cases were personal for the Thieves, and they have a lot of lingering feelings about them.
The man's easy smile is parted by a chuckle. "I suppose you're a fan?"
"Aha... I mean, who isn't these days?"
"They do..." there's a bit of that somberness... maybe wistfulness in his expression again, "wonderful things. It's hard not to believe in their cause." I nod in agreement but look to change the subject. I'm not sure what about the Phantom Thieves causes his mood to depress, but I'd be a poor host if I let it keep happening.
"So, is the counseling you did how you met Amamiya-san?"
"Oh," the man looks over to me, shaken from his own thoughts, "Yes! As a matter of fact, Amamiya-kun even taught me back then."
"Not how to make coffee, I assume."
The man laughs. "No, no. Amamiya-kun has a... shall we say unique insight into the masks people wear to hide their true selves away from the pain they may face."
He... couldn't be...? Those are some very specific vague phrasings I know I've heard before...
"Amamiya-kun helped me with some of my grief," The man sighs softly as he reminisces. He turns back to me after a moment though. "Oh, I suppose in a more conventional sense he also was a research assistant of mine for a thesis I was putting together. I suppose that'd be the easier answer, wouldn't it?"
The man chuckles again. I relax, glad I wasn't holding anything to drop and alert him to my, well, alertness. I try to shake it off as a coincidence.
"They both sound like Amamiya-san though!" I laugh with him for a moment.
The man is... looking at me, contemplatively. Not in a scary sense by any means, but he's searching my face for something.
"Do... you have an interest in becoming a counselor one day?"
"Um... I haven't put too much thought to beyond high school quite yet..." I don't know if I'd be able to afford college and even then, what would I major in? Magic eyes?
"There's a lot of interesting concepts in counseling, I could tell you about some if you like," he offers.
I shrug and nod, not having anything else to do till Amamiya-san returns.
"Well, to start with, have you ever heard of the concept of a Persona?"
...
"M... Miss? Are you okay?"
My brain reboots as quickly as it can. That had to be a code phrase or something right? Or is he here looking for evidence that Amamiya-san is Joker? I'd never forgive myself if I let something slip that got Amamiya-san arrested, and then what would Japan do, we'd have no one fighting the good fight against corrupt adults and-
"Hey, calm down... Everything's safe. Take a deep breath, just like I am." I breathe as asked. "Good, now focus on something in the room. My coffee maybe, or just close your eyes..."
I decide to close my eyes and my thoughts slow down enough to realize it's the man saying these things. When I relax enough to open my eyes, he's stood up from his stool and is leaning over the counter, but not within my space.
"I guess um, you really are a counselor huh?" I say with an awkward chuckle.
"I just want to support other people, that's all," He says with his soft smile. Something about the way he holds himself just puts me at ease, and I'm grateful for it more than ever at this moment.
"Well, thank you um..."
"Oh, I never introduced myself," he leans back from the counter. "I'm Takuto Maruki."
"Wait... The one that Futaba-san wanted to talk to?" I don't stop myself from pointing a finger at him, even though it's rude.
"I... don't know about that, but Amamiya-kun did call me about wanting to chat last weekend, so it's possible that's what he wants to talk to me about," Maruki-sensei takes a seat again.
"Then you're, um..." I look left and right to confirm the store is as empty as ever at this time of day.
"Yes, you could say I know a thing or two about Amamiya-kun's other interests. Takamaki-san and the rest's too."
I let myself lean back against the shelves with a loud exhale.
"I take it he didn't tell you about me?" Maruki-sensei says with an awkward chuckle.
"Amamiya-san rarely tells me anything. I think he actually enjoys my reactions," I all but groan.
"He is definitely a trickster under that mild-mannered appearance, I'll give you that!" Maruki-sensei laughs again. I flash him a quick smile. Maruki-sensei must be a terrific counselor. His ability to take the pressure out of a conversation is a godsend.
"Are you... also versed in the topic of personas?" He asks carefully.
"Um... Not quite..." I glance to the front door. I... actually want to talk freely with Maruki-sensei about things, and I am in charge of the shop so... I hold up a finger to Maruki-sensei and jog my way around to the door. I flip the closed sign, knowing Amamiya-san will ignore it, and turn back to Maruki-sensei. He's already moved him and his coffee to a booth seat. I shuffle my feet nervously for a moment.
"Sorry, I just thought it'd be nice to talk without worrying about other people. Though it looks like you read my mind."
"More like that great minds think alike. I'd like to chat more with you too," Maruki-sensei says. I all but skip to the seat opposite him.
"To answer your question, I don't have a persona... I don't think."
"You would know if you did, I promise you that. It's a rather unforgettable experience when you summon one for the first time."
It just looks like taking off a mask to me, but I don't argue. "I have an... ability to see things from the Metaverse in the real world, as Morgana puts it." Maruki-sensei just looks on, so I continue. "I can see the borders of those Palaces the Thieves work in, like a hazy wall of purple, and I can see yellow in the eyes of people that the Thieves would later target. Amamiya-san says that's because they have a corrupted shadow, but I'm not sure what that means exactly."
Maruki-sensei is still silent, so I keep talking, fidgeting with my skirt under the table. "I mentioned this to Amamiya-san when I visited because of a conversation we were having and then I ended up in a Palace by mistake when I walked through one of those haze walls... Am... Joker rescued me and I ended up here. Amamiya-san doesn't really know why all this is happening but he offered me a job, if I helped run the store when he was busy with Thief work, he'd try to help me figure this whole thing out." I realize I started talking pretty fast at the end there, but Maruki-sensei just nods with a soft hum.
"That sounds like Amamiya-kun. He's a big fan of deals, which I'd say fits his image," Maruki-sensei pauses to smile. "It sounds like you have quite the special gift."
"It's... been nothing but a headache if you ask me..." Maruki-sensei cocks his head slightly, which I take as him wanting me to elaborate.
"In short, the first time this happened was the whole world tinting green at night, the moon getting way too close, and all the people I could see were in coffins. That alarmed my parents, and I went to doctors for a better part of a year and then it just stopped happening."
I feel like I should stop but at the same time, Maruki-sensei looks so interested the words just spill out. "After that, my parents... passed away in an accident, and I ended up living with different relatives, who all remembered what happened that year. They all treated me like a freak at best, a liar at worst and whenever I would see something at school I'd become a social pariah... So my relatives would have me move in with another relative and the cycle started all over again."
I realize just how much I'm oversharing. With a little gasp, I clamp my mouth shut. Two quick breaths in and out through my nose and I look back up to Maruki-sensei.
"I'm sorry, You just um, have this really easy air about you and I was sharing all that before I ever realized. I didn't mean to start acting like this was a counseling session." I bow as much as the table will let me.
"Oh, don't bow or anything. I'm glad you felt comfortable sharing all that with me. It sounds like you've had a hard time thanks to that ability, and I'm so sorry about your parents. They sound like they truly cared for you."
I look up at Maruki-sensei. There's not an ounce of hesitation or doubt in his words.
"T- Thank you, Maruki-sensei. They really did."
"I wish I could do more about your sight, but Amamiya-san and Futaba-san are far more knowledgable in the realm of cognitive psience," Maruki's expression is showing me so much sympathy I actually feel bad for complaining to him.
"I really am sorry Maruki-sensei, I wasn't trying to turn this into a counseling session."
"That's okay. I don't actually counsel anymore, it's actually... a little nostalgic." He has that somber expression from before, and since we're this far already I figure I might as well ask about it.
"Why don't you? Is it related to Amamiya-san and the Thieves...?"
"Excellent deduction," Maruki-sensei acknowledges softly. "Amamiya-kun and I... actually came to blows once. We had differing opinions, and he and his team won out against me." It's my turn to look on and encourage Maruki-sensei to continue. The first sentence alone left me with so many more questions.
"It's a very long story, but I couldn't bear to watch people suffer facing the hardships in their lives anymore," Maruki looks away from me, his head tilted back so his gaze falls on the ceiling. "I wanted to use the power of the collective unconsciousness to change reality, give people a world where they could be happy, without hardships to suffer through. Amamiya-kun and his team felt that... Wasn't truly living."
"Do you... resent him for that?"
"Well... I might have," Maruki looks down at me again. His gentle aura is intact so I'm positive I know what he'll continue with. He takes a sip of his drink. "The change of heart gave me a new perspective on our conflict faster than I would have found it myself though. Which is a long way of saying I don't hold any grudges."
Maruki-sensei pauses. "Have you met Yoshizawa-san yet?" I shake my head, the name isn't familiar. "It would be easier to explain if you knew her, but it's not my place to tell her story," Maruki-sensei hums.
"Let me put it this way then. The thieves, with Amamiya-kun at the helm, completely believed that suffering through a hardship gave someone strength. That the trials they've faced and overcome make them better and happier people. I felt we shouldn't have to face those hardships, because why should we have to suffer for our happiness? I could remove that pain from people's lives and make them happier."
"Meanwhile, the Phantom Thieves didn't try and remove the pain, present a false reality to those who suffered as I did. Before we were at odds with one another, they each had suffered on their own and gained truly admirable strength and willpower. I assumed this could only give them the strength to move forward, and that was the mistake I made. I saw for myself that they could inspire others with their strength and stories."
"Everyone they inspired fought back that much harder against their own problems and challenges until they too succeeded in defeating them. A hardship might be too much for one person, but with the support of their friends, family, and even inspiration strangers like the Phantom Thieves? It can be overcome. The way I see it now, the Phantom Thieves chose to bet on us, on our bonds with one another. I can't say it will always ring true... but there's a power in the bonds between people that even changing reality can't defeat."
Maruki-sensei trails off, before coughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, I..."
I cut Maruki-sensei off, "If I don't have to apologize, neither do you." We share smiles. "That's an amazing story, Maruki-sensei. I never realized personal their work as Thieves is to them."
"It is what drives them, all of them. They are quite the admirable bunch." Maruki-sensei looks wistfully back at the front door, before turning to me. "And it seems to me they have found another fine soul to work with too."
My cheeks go red at the compliment. "I, I'm nothing special..."
"I disagree! In fact, I have to thank you for letting me get this all off my chest. If we're being honest, I've been nervous about seeing them all again. I haven't kept in touch, given everything that happened between us."
"And you're... not nervous now?"
Maruki-sensei smiles. "No. I'm sure it'll be okay. They tried to help me understand even back then, not just for the world's sake. For mine too. I'm sure they won't resent me too much."
"I'm sure they won't!" I grin at the former counselor. "I believe in you too, Maruki-sensei, even just having met you."
"That means a lot," Maruki-sensei nods in thanks.
From behind Maruki-sensei, I can see the door jiggle. The chime on the door shakes and Maruki flashes me a grin with a pop of his eyebrows.
"Let's hope we're right," he mock whispers. We both stand from the booth to greet Amamiya-san and co on their return.
"Maaaruki! You've been ignoring all my calls!" Futaba-san cries. She's not carrying any of the shopping bags, Amamiya-san appears to have all of Futaba-san requested snacks in hand. This lets her stomp her way up to Maruki-sensei (her boots are quite loud on the hardwood) and look up at the man from not a foot away. He's got a head or two on her but she looks straight up into his chin.
"I am sorry for that, Futaba-san," Maruki-sensei replies with his arms raised in surrender.
"Easy Futaba," Amamiya-san says dryly as he walks past her. He makes a point of bopping her on the head with one of the shopping bags as he does.
"Okay, okay, fine! You're just lucky Ren's here or you'd be getting the lecture of a lifetime!" Futaba wags her finger at Maruki-sensei with every word.
"And take your snacks upstairs already. You and Maruki can work on your thesis up there."
"Oh, you're already working on your thesis Sakura-san?" Maruki-sensei says, finally able to get a word in.
Futaba-san snatches the bag from Amamiya-san at the foot of the apartment stairs. "In cognitive psience and my entire department is full of absolute knuckleheads so I'mma need you to-"
"Upstairs Futaba, I'm reopening," Amamiya-san calls behind him as he walks back to the front. Futaba-san huffs but makes her way up the apartment stairs. Maruki-sensei lingers for a moment, gathering his coat from the booth we shared.
"I take this is what you called about?" Maruki-sensei asks Amamiya-san when he comes back from the front.
"Pretty much. What, did you think we were calling you for a grudge match or something?"
"Ah..." Maruki-sensei stands there with his mouth open like a fish while Amamiya-san circles the counter. Noting the lack of response, Amamiya-san turns to him with a raise eyebrow.
"... Did you?"
Maruki-sensei chuckles awkwardly. "I suppose it does me no to lie now," Maruki-sensei turns to me. "It appears you were absolutely right after all."
"It was kind of obvious..." I giggle a little.
"The only one who still cares about all that now is you Maruki. Isn't there something in your counselor training about this kind of thing?"
Maruki-sensei laughs. "There assuredly is! That said, there truly is no better medicine than hearing it from someone else. Thank you, Amamiya-kun." Amamiya-san waves off the thanks with a smile.
"And thank you as well," Maruki-sensei says with a glance in my direction. "You have a quite the protege Amamiya-san, everything I would expect from someone who'd catch your eye."
"And more," Amamiya-san adds and I feel my face alight. Amamiya-san steps into the kitchen nook and Maruki-sensei turns to me. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. After rooting around for a moment, he fishes out a business card.
"I haven't given one of these out in years..." Maruki-sensei says, looking at the card wistfully. "I may not practice anymore, but if you ever need to reach out..." He presents the card to me. I take it, reading over his full title and contact information.
"Thanks, Maruki-sensei," I put the card in my skirt pocket. "I'll be sure to keep in touch either way. You're bad about doing that yourself, right?"
"Just like Amamiya-kun, aren't you. I will have to work on that!" Maruki-sensei chuckles then looks over at the apartment stairs. "As for right now though, I do believe Futaba-san is going to explain to me everything that's happened in Cognitive Psience since I left the field."
"Good luck, Maruki-sensei!"
He nods in thanks and heads up the stairs. I stretch my back a little before returning to behind the counter with Amamiya-san.
"I take it you and Maruki got along?" Amamiya-san asks.
"Yeah. He's a really kind person."
"Too kind, at times," Amamiya-san says quietly. I wonder if Amamiya-san is thinking back to when the two fought. I just got the cliff notes of it, but too kind sounds like it could fit. I don't press Amamiya-san on that though... Though I do press him on something else.
"You know, you could have told me Maruki-sensei was coming today. I only found out who he saw how I reacted to the word Persona!"
Amamiya-san chuckles. "It's a shame I missed that then."
I can't help but pout. "Amamiya-san! You do enjoy letting me be surprised by everything, don't you?"
Amamiya-san flashes me one of those Joker grins he keeps in reserve, which is answer enough to my question. I'm stopped from continuing the conversation by the front door jingling. Both of us turn to the front, and while Amamiya-san simply smiles I greet our customers.
"Welcome to Cafe Arsene!"
-
Hello again! This a short chapter than those prior, but Maruki is sort of a special guest to the Cafe. Interacting with the Thieves is pretty core to this story, but I did want to throw Maruki a chapter because he's such a fun character. I loved third semester so much, and just writing this has made me want to tackle all 120 hours of a P5R playthrough again!