Author's Note: I'm sorry for deleting the old version of Steady Hand, Kind Soul & Safe Heart. I was originally going to make a longer story, but I wanted to shorten it up as I want to remain focused on other stories and continue with real life events happening in my life.

Again, I send my thanks to RosyMiranto18 for suggesting the title. The title is based on a quote by author, Shana Abe. The second quote by famous French philosopher, Albert Camus, I picked it because I felt it would suite the storyline.

I don't own Persona 5 or the characters. OCs are mine.

I want a steady hand. A kind soul. I want to fall asleep, and wake, knowing my heart is safe. I want to love, and be loved - Shana Abe

A work of art is a confession - Albert Camus

...

"It's ready!" Haru's cheery, elegant voice breaks the silent atmosphere of the cafe, satisfied at having completed her task. The sweet, soothing scent of freshly brewed coffee fills Leblanc. Sojiro has been instructing his apprentice about which type of beans that need to be used and the coarseness of the grind for making pour-over coffee. Haru had listened with firm attention, writing it down on a notebook as a reminder.

"You did a good job," Sojiro complimented her. He takes the cup and tastes the warm liquid, savoring it for a moment.

Haru watches and waits with bated breath, hoping the coffee she brewed is perfection.

"This is excellent."

The praise makes her sigh in relieved satisfaction. Haru has been working part time as an apprentice at Leblanc for at least two afternoons a week. If she's going to open a cafe in the future, she needs to distinguish the myriad types of beans, the quantity of acidity, the combinations and methods to prepare them. Coming here feels as if she's back in her grandfather's cafe. The customers, the old booth seats, the gentle aroma of coffee lingering in the air... especially that marvelous portrait in the corner depicting a beautiful lady cradling her infant certainly makes the comparison easy.

Looking at the love and gentleness in the mother's eyes as she smiles at her baby, Haru wondered if her father ever saw her that way when she was born... or did he view her as a bargaining chip or a stepping stone from the beginning? She will never know because she will never ask him.

After successfully changing his cold heart, Haru remained hopeful of ever maintaining a healthier and happier relationship with her father once he makes amends for his actions. Unfortunately, fate has not been kind to her. Her father suffered a mental shutdown, on live TV no less, when he arranged a press conference to confess his sins. The memory of his eyes rolling in the back of his head and black ooze dripping out of his soulless eyes was both nauseating and horrifying. But it didn't compare to the feeling of her heart breaking when the doctors gave her the sad news.

Everyone is continuously spreading malicious gossip and rumors that the Phantom Thieves are most likely the culprits responsible for his death. If only they knew the truth. President Okumura's shadow was killed by the rouge Persona-user who conceals his face behind a black mask. If only she and her teammates had considered the theory that he might be lurking within Palace, none of this would've happened.

Haru's expression darkened, eerily similar to when she first awakened to Milday. She will never forgive that monster for murdering her father. He ruined any possible hopes of her father redeeming himself and becoming the kindhearted person whom Haru missed dearly.

To add salt to the wound, some people had the audacity to express their joy or relief on President Okumura's death because of his atrocious actions for mistreating his employees or forcing his teenage daughter to get married to an uncouth scumbag. Speaking of Sugimura, his continuous visits only made things worse.

Every time Haru refused to please him whenever he came for a 'friendly' visit, he got physically aggressive. More often that her loyal maidservants and chef jumped to her rescue. But Sugimura seems to have gained favor and support in the company's administration, arguing that an ungrateful wretch like Haru cannot mistreat their savior when he's trying to help improve their company's public image.

Haru knew that he was taking advantage of the situation Okumura Foods was in after her father's death in order to seize control of both the company and her life. A life of living under that creep's thumb to be used as his plaything is not what any young girl wants. She feared being cut out from the world, isolated from her dearest friends and forced into Sugimura's household to be his wife. The young heiress craved a true, trustworthy and meaningful romantic relationship. Someone who will treat her like a human being.

Someone who will respect her.

Someone who will love her for who she is.

Someone who will support her in her dream to open a cafe.

Couple of times when walking to school, Haru often found herself looking over her shoulder to keep her eyes peeled. More than once, poor girl caught sight of that scumbag lurking in the streets or hiding inside his black limousine, watching her.

She mentioned this to her fellow Phantom Thieves, and it was widely agreed on that she should be accompanied to walking to school or home. Today, however, Yusuke had volunteered to walk her to Leblanc after school and he remains seated on a stool in front of the bar, busy trying to concentrate on drawing something in his sketchbook.

The bell on the door jingles and everyone looked up to see Futaba enter, throwing herself onto the stool next to Yusuke. "Yo, guys!" she raised a hand in greeting.

"Hello, Futaba-chan," Haru replies. "How are things on your end?"

"I got a text from Kana! She's gonna attend the same high school as I am when she moves here. Apparently, her parents are going to prison for all the crap they put her through. She's got an aunt living in Tokyo, so we'll be seeing each other next year."

"That's wonderful!" Haru clasped her hands together, joyously. Having been informed of Futaba's childhood friend's situation by Ren, Haru couldn't understand what drove Kana's parents to think it was a good idea to sexually abuse their own flesh and blood for money. Her father wasn't any better, recalling how his shadow willingly allowed Sugimaru, or rather his cognition, to do as he pleases with Haru. It was obvious in reality that he knew what type of scum that man is, showing no remorse in using his own daughter as a bargaining chip.

"Sojirooo! I hunger!" Futaba's abrupt whining snaps Haru back to reality.

The barista just grins, shaking his head. "Calm down. I'll make you some curry. Hey, Kitagawa? Do you want some too?"

Yusuke raised his head, his mood brightened at the offer of food. "Yes, please."

Haru offers her assistance to Sojiro, and it isn't long before two plates of hot curry are ready to be served. The delicious smell makes Yusuke's and Futaba's stomachs growl loudly as they began eating to their hearts' content.

Though Futaba was eating like a ravenous lion, Yusuke eats delicately like a gentleman. As he does so, Haru couldn't help but notice there was something amiss with the young painter. He enjoys the curry but something else plagues his mind like it's preventing him from speaking of whatever bothers him. He doesn't respond to Haru when she says his name, off in his own private world. A world where he could plunder the endless creativity of one overbright with aesthetic prompts. He stares moodily into his cup of coffee.

"Yusuke!" she calls his name, slightly louder this time and now he gives her his full attention. "Is everything okay? You look, as they say, down in the mouth."

"I fear I have found myself in yet another horrible dilemma," he groans. "Will you hear me out?"

Haru nods. Sojiro and Futaba listen with firm attention as well.

Truth be told, Yusuke hasn't be faring well these last few days. It's not just the fact of acting normal to avoid suspicion when he and his team are framed for President Okumura's death (he left that part out, just so not to make Sojiro suspicious). Art is becoming more of a problem for Yusuke. Inspiration used to come fast for him growing up, and those paintings would come in like sunshine after the rain goes.

Nowadays, his imagination is at its worst, a dark eclipse waiting for the slightest bit of sunlight to guide him. The last time he was suffering in a slump, he found what felt like the perfect solution to solve his problem. Discover the human heart and paint its desires and hopes in order to help people understand what the human heart is truly like.

Alas, it wasn't enough. Visiting a museum or venturing in the depths of Mementos (he also left Mementos out of the story, so Boss won't assume he had gone mad) would create more of an ambience than it does inspiration.

The first time he had asked Ann in attempt to make her into a beautiful piece of artwork, he assumed she was perfect for the part because of her statuesque figure and believed he could bring her feminine allure to life on canvas. However, when it finally came down to painting her, everything just felt so bland now that he knew of her true personality.

Recalling Ann's angry refusal to pose nude due to whatever personal reason she has puzzled him. It wasn't her fault, though. She's a good friend. He just simply couldn't find the inspiration to paint her like he originally believed he could. All of this he explained to his listeners.

"Hey, maybe this time you should just paint Haru in the nude," Futaba suggested, grinning like a mischievous troll.

"WHAAAT!?" Poor Haru's brain registered what the young hacker just said that she failed to pay attention to what she was doing. The cup she had been holding fell from her grasp and crashed to the floor, split in two pieces. "Oh no! I'm so sorry!" She gets down on the floor to pick up the debris.

"It's not your fault," Sojiro calms her anxiety with the patience of a saint. Then he shifts a firm gaze at his adopted daughter. "Don't go putting weird ideas into his head! I don't want him doing anything he'll regret later on."

Before Futaba could come up with a retort, Yusuke, who is always nothing but polite, lectures the bespeckled hacker. "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop talking meaningless nonsense." He pretends not to notice Futaba sticking her tongue out at him.

Leaving that aside, Yusuke continues to explain the rest of the problem. During the summer, he discovered so much about himself and his artistic process thanks to Ren's support and guidance. The bluenette could request Ren to provide him assistance, but alas, his leader had to focus on other things like part time jobs or providing assistance to others in their desperate times of needs. Yusuke can't let his artistic fuel be tied to the life of another if he selfishly took Ren away from those in distress to help him yet again.

When it comes to a conversation with Yusuke, it was always easy and he was so nice to talk to, as Haru had noticed. While an eccentric, his talent in the fine arts division made him intelligent. His undying loyalty to their team considering the countless times he fought alongside the Phantom Thieves makes him a man worthy of trust. She didn't know much about what his life was like outside their work in erasing the world's corruption, what with a lot happening after her father's death. Once she'd gotten more relaxed and settled, her first idea is to get know everybody and become the very best of friends with them.

Listening to Yusuke's problems, Haru is tempted to offer assistance. Except listening to his lament on his failure to make Ann a beautifying work of art made her question whether or not she should volunteer to be his model. Ann is incredibly attractive. It made sense that she was picked to be the perfect model for Yusuke's artwork. And yet, the idea made Haru somewhat disappointed.

"Why not ask Haru-chan to be your model?" Sojiro suggested. "She's a very pretty girl."

"Huh?" was the reaction Haru says, not expecting Boss to speak up on her behalf, as if he had read her mind. "Oh, no. I don't think that will be necessary. I'd really like to help you, but I fear I'm not that perfect or attractive enough to be your model... Ann is more of a model than I am..."

"Ann is rather trying when it comes to my artistic pursuits..." Yusuke studies her carefully, framing the confused Haru with his fingers. A serious expression seems to lighten his brief depression, seemingly lost in thought the longer he examines her face and body shape. "To be honest, there's another reason why I wanted to accompany you to Leblanc... I wanted to ask if you'd agree to be my model. You have this maidenly and dignified aura about you and-"

"I do?" Haru's eyes widen, not expecting to hear him say this.

"Yes. The first time we met, your posture and elegance are that of a princess, your eyes shone with kindness and compassion. Even the litheness of your moments reminded me of the serene grace of ballet dancer playing the role of either a majestic swan or a radiant fairy."

Haru felt herself blush over his genuine compliment. "Thanks, Yusuke. You make even a regular compliment sound elegant."

"Perhaps that's Inari's way of hitting on you," Futaba teased.

"Will you stop that!? I speak with purely aesthetic appreciation!" Yusuke glared at the hacker for what she's trying to imply. "Just a reminder for everyone here, I'd never wish to imply I'd make an inappropriate pass at Haru or anyone else!"

"Let it go already..." Watching his adopted daughter make intimate jokes on her friends was starting to agitate Sojiro.

Speaking of ballet, Haru could never imagine someone correctly figuring out she'd done ballet before. Remembering what her grandfather once said, an artist is trained to have a keen eye for detail, and Yusuke does have a keen eye. "You're right on one thing, Yusuke. I used to do ballet in elementary school because a painting is actually what pushed me towards ballet in the first place."

Yusuke's eyes sparkled, impressed. "Ah, you are a woman of considerable culture. Yet I must wonder, how do the two connect?"

"There's an exquisite painting of a ballerina hanging in my room. I adored it when I was young. She was... beautiful. A strong, resilient woman bounding forward in an elegant white tutu. It made me think, maybe I could dance like that too."

"Heh, I can sympathize. A true masterpiece inspires all who gaze upon its beauty. If we have the time today, I would love to view this painting you speak of."

Haru giggled. "I'm sure you'll love it. I believe it was painted by a French impressionist." She thought for a second, trying to recall the name of the artist. Either Renoir or Degas, she can't remember. "My grandfather bought it a long time ago, and I think there was a signature on the back."

Yusuke froze entirely, his brain registering at the revelation of a real, genuine portrait created by a famous French impressionist with an actual signature exists. "A-A signature!? This must be a message from the heavens!" His heart burst with excitement, laughing ecstatically and practically begging Haru to see it before he loses this chance. "What an immense discovery! Please show it to me once I escort you home! I cannot contain my excitement!"

Sojiro and Futaba were shocked by the boy's sudden outburst, looking as if he was some sort of puzzle they were trying to solve.

"It will have to wait until my shift is done," Haru, polite as ever, calms him down. "For now, I need to make more coffee for some customers."

An elderly couple entered the coffeeshop, just as Sojiro bluntly whispered in Yusuke's ear to tone it down or else he might scare off the customers, to which Yusuke willingly obeyed, still too excited.