2025-08-24: Picky Eaters
- Log: Picky Eaters
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Myunghon Yeo
- Where: The Cardboard Dragon
- OOC Date: 2025-08-24
- IC Date: Saturday, June 30 2012
- Summary: Yua visits Myunghon the day after the attack on Sevens, bearing food for them to eat... and through her concern for their recent troubles, as well as their reminiscence over troubles long past, she learns that they've been struggling to eat for a deeper reason than lack of motivation. Myunghon relates how food tastes like ash to them, now -- and Yua shares the Ooshiro's own experiences with picky eating, giving them another way to look at it in the process.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua doesn't work on Saturdays. Generally speaking, it's a half-day, with students being freed after lunch -- and her dance classes run in the afternoon instead of the morning. To be sure, it was hard for Yua to get up this morning, but she gamely did her best to achieve all their usual morning goals despite her grief. ... she knows it's difficult for Miho to have to cajole her. Once Miho is safely sent off to work -- with her very cute, extra-big bento, obviously -- Yua's able to focus on her tasks, for today.
The first thing she does, this morning, is go shopping. For one, she needs a new phone; luckily, the little card which stored Yua's contact lists and service details was salvageable, so once she's secured a new model it's just a matter of inserting the card anew. For another -- and more importantly, as far as Yua is concerned -- she needs supplies, and so she buys everything she needs to take back home...
... and cook up a big batch of lean beef salad, with all the freshest ingredients! She makes sure to prepare the beef right, with nice, small, thin cuts, and cools it down to an appropriate temperature before tossing it in. (Yua Sez: Food safety is no joke!!) She apportions a series of servings into microwavable containers, adding extra protein powder on top, and labelling each with the date of production and a little personal message via a post-it note. 'Please eat me!' 'Food will make you strong!' 'Thank you very much!' 'With love, from Yuarin!' ... once they're all prepared, she puts them into an ice cooler with some cold blocks, and takes it all down to meet Seiji.
Of course, she has more than one leotard in her wardrobe. She's able to walk up the steps of the Cardboard Dragon carrying her box of supplies at her hip, rustling her sheer black skirt as if her clothing had never been ruined.
"Myucchi?" Yua calls, ahead of her, as she eases her way in with her awkward boxy cooler. "I brought lunch! Several instances of lunch! It's yummy salad, I promise you'll like it! Can we get this into your fridge...?"
(Yua knows for sure they have room, because she snuck a peek, while she was helping them yesterday. SHE KNOWS YOUR FRIDGE SINS, MYUNGHON.)
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon's only fridge is a little minifridge that doesn't even sit in a cubby with NOTHING in it but their medications that needs to be fridged, which also means that Yua's been in the Nightmare Third Floor, which might prompt screaming and panic from Yua of a completely other nature. She'll have to take Myunghon to task for those other crimes another time, like 'please actually purchase a wardrobe so you can put clothes in things other than cardboard boxes despite the name of your store' and other, more dire ones.
"Oh--" Myunghon has been in a bit of a funk ever since Ayame left, since talking about family made them reflect on how dismal and lonely their family life was. Yua can see them gently flicking a certain sports trading card in their hand, handling it with so much care like it's a treasured charm to them.
They rise from the couch, fortunately having stapled and treated all their wounds so Yua doesn't have to panic. "Yuarin..." She's brought lunch! They're fortunately energised enough to hide the terror underneath their mask. "Oh, thank you. Yes, I'll take them up to store them. Thank you for the... the other day, as well." Either Yua came by to accompany Myunghon when they said they didn't feel safe, or Myunghon just spent time at the penthouse -- since both are possible options. "I do feel... a little better now."
It's strange how fleeting the high of having liberated Hirasaka is, and they feel guilty and annoyed about it. Shouldn't the euphoric feeling just last for weeks?
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I'm glad," Yua smiles, as she thunks the cooler down. "It seemed like it was pretty scary... I hope Tiger helped." Because of course Yua invited them up to the penthouse! There's a cat there! Hug cat, receive healing.
(She has not brought a cat here, though. Tiger is an inside cat.)
"The salads should be okay in here for a little bit," she says, patting the lid of the cooler, "since I put plenty of ice blocks in with them... but remember to put them in the fridge, okay? It's important to keep them cold. You could get sick if they're warm for too long!"
Yua will be RINGING THEM after she leaves to MAKE SURE they remember. ... she has the insight roll necessary to realise that offering to take the snacks up to their fridge herself will stress Myunghon out way too much.
(so many crimes.)
With her hands free, she swans over to the couch, to wrap Myunghon up in a hug. "I'm okay," she assures them, a hand on their shoulder as she pulls back. "Mimi made sure I had a nice, long bath after all that. And I got a new phone, too! Mimi said it wasn't any trouble at all, you know, that things could be replaced... goodness, I guess that shouldn't surprise me," she says, her hand lifting to the gold and copper choker latched about her neck, looking a touch embarrassed.
"But... I'm sorry," she says, turning her half-gaze to Myunghon again. "I could have protected Watanabe-san, but I selfishly kept hidden... well, there are reasons for that, but I know you were hurt because I did nothing." She doesn't know that Myunghon had to go back out as soon as they roused, either.
"I know it's been hard for you..." She starts, a touch unsure of herself. "You know... ah, it's just... I want to help you," Yua settles on, her brow creasing, and perhaps that explains the terror salad. "But I'm not sure... how."
"Are you doing better, after... all of that?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I'm glad," Yua smiles, as she thunks the cooler down. "It seemed like it was pretty scary... I hope Tiger helped." Because of course Yua invited them up to the penthouse! There's a cat there! Hug cat, receive healing.
(She has not brought a cat here, though. Tiger is an inside cat.)
"The salads should be okay in here for a little bit," she says, patting the lid of the cooler, "since I put plenty of ice blocks in with them... but remember to put them in the fridge, okay? It's important to keep them cold. You could get sick if they're warm for too long!"
Yua will be RINGING THEM after she leaves to MAKE SURE they remember. ... she has the insight roll necessary to realise that offering to take the snacks up to their fridge herself will stress Myunghon out way too much.
(so many crimes.)
With her hands free, she swans over to the couch, to wrap Myunghon up in a hug. "I'm okay," she assures them, a hand on their shoulder as she pulls back. "Mimi made sure I had a nice, long bath after all that. And I got a new phone, too! Mimi said it wasn't any trouble at all, you know, that things could be replaced... goodness, I guess that shouldn't surprise me," she says, her hand lifting to the gold and copper choker latched about her neck, looking a touch embarrassed.
"But... I'm sorry," she says, turning her half-gaze to Myunghon again. "I could have protected Watanabe-san, but I selfishly kept hidden... well, there are reasons for that, but I know you were hurt because I did nothing." She doesn't know that Myunghon had to go back out as soon as they roused, either.
"I know it's been hard for you..." She starts, a touch unsure of herself. "You know... ah, it's just... I want to help you," Yua settles on, her brow creasing, and perhaps that explains the terror salad. "But I'm not sure... how."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"He's been really persistent lately... I don't really enjoy admitting it, but... I am scared," Myunghon's somewhat reflexively drawing into themself, their eye glancing to one side to a point that doesn't really exist in this reality. They put the Miho trading card away to their pocket. Then the mention of Tiger has them smiling a bit, as they say, "I think I'm doing better, aren't I? Recently, I was convinced dogs won't bite me on sight either."
They also realise Yua's giving them an out by not asking them to try it now or anything... but there is a quiet pang of both guilt as they wind back to the conversation with Shinjiro and how much they've been keeping from Yua and the others. Yua gives them a hug, which they return somewhat gingerly -- Yua'd know their belly got sliced, so they're being a bit careful there.
The two of them settle on the couch, and there's some hesitation... but then they reach for the top container in the cooler bag, taking the chopsticks with them. Myunghon pops the lid open.
"Wow... this looks really appetising," Myunghon admits. Visually, it's not like food suddenly neurologically becomes invaders or anything. "Thank you for doing this, Yuarin, I know I am... um," there's a hard lump in their throat. "Difficult. When it comes to food."
Myunghon lets Yua lead the topic, though, since listening about Miho does cheer them up too, despite the everything going on between them. They don't hold onto that card exclusively for Yua. "Oh, I am glad... I did notice you wanted to call Miho for help, but my hands were a bit... full." The choker's a nice colour. It accents Yua well. Is it new?
Yua apologises, that half-gaze towards them. "... it's all right. I know it is... complicated. Between Miho-in and you and I, as well," Myunghon takes their time, trying to not hurry or get themselves tangled. "I just wanted to see you and Ikkaku-san both safe, at that moment. Perhaps I was ignoring my own safety a little too much... so I can't claim it's not my own fault either."
If one were frank about the situation, no, because Myunghon didn't even know Personas could break and then there's nothing between them and glorious flaming Japanese steel, but that same behaviour is why they're trying to soak some of the blame here.
Yua expresses her concern on Myunghon's circumstances and how she wants to help -- but isn't sure how. Thoughts start to swim and spiderweb out again, as if they're instantly trying to filesearch for some topic that Yua can help on to make her feel better. Another part of her points out that's manipulative. The argument in their head is ongoing.
They decide to try the salad. They're kind of picking the beef to one side for now and starting with the greens, since vegetables have less flavour and fat in them and edge closer to bland and don't trigger the sensation as much.
"There's... something I haven't confessed to you, or Miho-in, or Remi, about... food."
That topic's been on their mind, and they wanted to anyway... it's not associated with the supernatural, but having the stamina to tackle the supernatural is not unrelated.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"If you want to talk about it..." Yua offers, open-ended, as Myunghon alludes to their fear. She settles on the couch, beside Myunghon; luckily, she's good at being gentle, so a gentle hug is no problem.
The cooler opens, and... salad! Yua smiles, when Myunghon compliments it; the visual composition of a meal is important to her, too. "It's okay," she encourages them, on food, and consciously shelves her comment about how much she worries.
"It's okay," Yua's smile grows a little complicated, as she looks down. "I think... it would have made things difficult for Mimi if she had to drop everything and rush to Sevens. I know she would, in a heartbeat, but... her firm has certain expectations of her." Remi's not in that same position, of course, but... even if it's something that comes naturally to her, Yua wonders, is it really okay to ask Remi to protect her?
(The choker is new. Miho gifted it to her just recently. Most of Yua's jewellery, in fact, has the same story; she loves gifts like that, and she loves wearing the things Miho likes to see her wearing, so of course it's a feedback loop.)
"I know you've figured out I have powers," Yua says, playing with a scrap of thread poking from the couch, "since I came from 'that place'... it's pointless to pretend I'm normal. But those powers... I can't decide to use them like you can. They..." She starts, and shakes her head. "... never mind that. I'm just in your debt, Myucchi."
Yua gives Myunghon time to sort through their thoughts; she watches, quietly, as they push aside the lean beef in favour of the vegetables. Have they decided to eat vegetarian from now on...? Maybe she should have gone with tuna...
"Ah?" Yua asks, when they actually speak up, looking up to them from the salad. "What's that...?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon doesn't have a huge problem with prolonged touch, especially from someone that they trust and have trusted for a long while. Sudden contact is typically much more alarming to them, since instinct kicks in before rational thought. But the salad really is gorgeous -- even after being packed in a lunch box, it still looks like something you could get as a pricy ekiben at Tokyo Station.
"There's this officer, called Ishiba..." Myunghon starts, finding the topic stressful, but not impossible to explain like the night where they went to stay at the penthouse. "They've been... finding all kinds of reasons to take me in for questioning. They keep calling me slurs... and..." A pause. "Most recently they threatened they know where I live too... that was why I had to call you."
They eat salad as they try to convalesce from that emotional expenditure. They're trying to suppress a slight grimace, but the salad is manageable. It does make them wonder how truly delicious this all could've been, though. Crunchy cucumber, juicy tomato, sweet corn, a slight bitter hint of arugula... Yua's so thoughtful, and yet...
"... yes," Myunghon nods assent, trying to stave that topic off a bit longer, that Miho has a lot expected of her -- not just the NWO, but her job, as well, and also the upcoming Olympics. They're not the only one under pressure. Miho's activities make them think about physical activity, and physical activity makes them remember...
"That dance you performed was quite gorgeous," Myunghon compliments gently, even if they know it's done under duress, to a talking Hellhound. But perhaps especially so, not that they think Yua's physical form or athleticism was compromised in any way. "I know the situation was dire, but... it still struck me."
Myunghon's couch is... pre-loved, is the kindest way to put it. There's so much thread to pick at. Yua admits that she has powers, and that Myunghon's figured that much out -- and the nod gently. But Yua can't decide to use the powers as she wishes, like they can. "I know. And... Miho-in has a lot of pressure too, I know that much. I'm not about to be upset at you because of things 'they' impose upon you. I've had to tell that to Remi too... but..."
When Yua says she's in their debt, there's a gentle nod. They decide trying to downplay it would be crude, so they say, softly: "You're welcome anytime, Yuarin."
They try the first slice of beef. Maybe it'll be different... they start to chew on it. Just like the hamburg steak before... Myunghon carefully chews, before swallowing. That lean slice of beef, cooked to perfection, should've been incredible -- bursting with umami, with a delicious crust.
"I think you know how I was hospitalised for... quite a while," Myunghon carefully omits Miho out because while they're reasonably sure Yua might know, they don't want to make her feel guilty by association or anything. This would've also been before they and Miho burst into the lab to rescue her. "I became sick from all kinds of things then... seasonal flus, bacteria, it wasn't certain if I would make it at the time."
They can still smell the disinfectant from that hospital room. The blinding, eternal white. Like they're stuck in a false heaven that refuses to admit them. Their heart's choking now. Their throat's closing up, when they're reminded of that. Panic is one hell of a fast train when it roars through the station.
"I, um... I lost my ability to taste and smell as a result," Myunghon finally confesses. "... foods just kind of taste like-- ash now. The doctors said it might be psychosomatic, I don't remember. I can't... I can't taste how amazing this beef must be, Yuarin." Oh no, they're tearing up. Please, make it through this in one piece. "I can't... I can't taste the care you've put into this salad... the sesame dressing, the mix of fresh veggies..."
They're losing the battle. Their shoulders are shaking as they start sobbing. No, no, don't fall apart!! It's no use. "I'm so sorry, Yuarin, I'm wasting your incredible food..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"They're profiling you," Yua frowns, her lips pressed to a thin line. "Just because you're Korean... what a miserable person! How dare they?!" It isn't just that what's happening to them isn't okay; it's an offence, to Yua.
She smiles, at least, when Myunghon compliments her Negotiation. "Really, I was terrified... but I thought that if I didn't show them the most taxing moves I knew, they'd never be impressed enough to leave us alone. If it hadn't worked... well, I know I did something very risky, and I'm really quite lucky it went the way it did. I was just thinking, you know... what if Yume-chan had stayed back late to clean up after Newspaper Club and got attacked by one of those wretched beasts?"
Because, of course, her younger sister is still young enough to be a high school student.
But... Myunghon starts talking about their hospitalisation, and it isn't news to Yua, though she keeps quiet on the details she was told. (It's not that she thinks Miho is wrong... it's just... there must be some mistake. How can Myunghon be a traitor?) She doesn't interrupt them, humming to show the way she's listening.
They were very sick...
Finally, they put a pin in their problem, and Yua gasps softly, a hand to her lips. "Oh!" It must an awful thing to live with, food tasting like ash, and she scoots closer to place a hand on Myunghon's shoulder. "There, there now, you're not wasting it at all! Oh, Myucchi, for such a fundamental thing to be awful, it must be hard every day... it's all right, really, it's all right! It isn't your fault."
She bites her lip, glancing back to the salad. "I'm sorry," she says, tears springing to the corners of her own eyes. "But you really must eat... it isn't something you can ignore. Are there things which hurt less? Textures you like? Surely there's something...?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"M-mm," Myunghon realises that the word hadn't even come to them even if it should've. "Profiling... I really don't know everything he wants... it makes me scared just thinking about it." Profiling. That does fit the textbook definition, with how unguarded Ishiba is being about it. ... does it just come from race, they quietly storm in their mind, because they're still driven spare at how they can't guess at all the motivations. No-- forcefully push him out. You're already broken down as-is, trying to bring the racist cop back into the equation will just pulverise you to pulp.
The sniffles come inbetween Yua pointing out that she used the most taxing, and impressive dance moves. The Hellhound sure seemed impressed, at least... there's a little nod as reason and logic worm their way back because logic is one of the bastions of Myunghon's mind. "I did see... it was mostly teachers, that late. I'm glad Yume wasn't caught up in it. ... it was so strange, to be back there again, Yuarin. My mind kept flashing back to-- to back then. I suppose you've been back more often than I have, given your dance lessons..." They don't quite want to say 'how easy it was back then', because they had their own struggles and bullies then.
Yua scoots closer as they work through their confession, and Myunghon's hitting the nadir of their emotion because the sobs keep happening, and that means the other side of their eye is also throbbing in a lot of pain from whatever it is the nerves and muscles are doing because there's no eye there, just a whole bunch of packed flesh stolen from their thigh or wherever it was the surgeon used.
"I know... I know I have to eat. I'll get sicker and sicker if I don't," Myunghon blubbers, mentally feeling like they're falling into a pit inside themself at how unguarded they're being. It reminds them of a lot of the nurses, back in that white room. Some of them were patient. Others were not. Yua helps coax them into some helpful topics, as they somewhat haphazardly stuff more salad into their mouth and chews. Their mouth's a bit messy. "K-khm. Crunchy...?" they pick the first thing that comes to mind, "Because... well, crunchy is crunchy, taste or no taste." Does that make sense?? It doesn't right now, in their confusion.
"I wanted to see if those protein powders you and Miho-in like to have might work... blander things do taste less like ash, so..." They think they've seen unflavoured ones, at least. They haven't gone shopping for them, but given how athletic and macro-conscious Miho and Yua both must be, it's hard to not have glanced at varieties in the penthouse.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"It's completely unacceptable," Yua scowls, thinking of Ishiba. Of course, she has her own expectations about the assumptions of Japanese authorities, though her fears lie far more in being pushed out of view to avoid disrupting their order. "You're not alone, all right..?"
... it wasn't easy for Yua, either, back then. She still remembers the dissected frog, taken from science class and left in her bag as a warning. Her precious pointe shoes, back when her family could scarcely afford such things, thrown callously in the toilet... the jeers of everyone who hated her for being a bian out loud, accusing her corrupting their Ijuuin-sama in one breath and pitying her to her face for not realising she was just being used as practice in the next. The teachers who humiliated her when she failed to answer questions properly, digging their claws in and going that extra mile so that everyone could snicker at her...
All that to say her gaze grows a touch distant, as she thinks of Sevens. "It's been difficult as a teacher," she settles on, after a moment, "since the older staff remember how I was. 'Thank God you've grown out of it', they say... well, it's better when they say that than when they raise doubts about whether it's safe to leave me with the children."
Of course, she's gone and ruined that, now. Everyone knew she wasn't talking about lions.
She leaves that aside, though, as she focuses on Myunghon's tears. She lets go of Myunghon, for a moment, to dig through her handbag and find a little packet of tissues to offer to them instead.
"Crunchy and bland," she nods, treating it with gravity. "... please leave it to me, okay? I'll figure out how to make something you can eat without so much despair. I promise!" Is she speaking with too much bravado? No -- it hurts her soul far too much to see Myunghon sobbing as they eat the food she prepared out of care and concern. She can't leave it like this...
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"I-- I know," Myunghon has to reassert that reality. They aren't alone, no matter what -- they have so many people protecting them, from Reiko to Katsuya even at the police station itself, to compassionate and caring people like Yua who can understand, because one of the most powerful reasons they became friends was because Myunghon is still struck at how awe-inspiring is for Yua to introduce herself as Okinawan. "I know... I'll-- call, if I need to stay the night again, okay...?"
They really don't want to, but it is overwhelming sometimes. But Rumourmonger Merry getting chased out of Hirasaka because of this when they triumphed over Kaneshiro feels beyond humiliating. Why is the Revolutionary so limited by the weakness of flesh and mind and emotion?
High school should've been Perfect, for the Perfect Student. Myorei Yukichi was photogenic Student Council President, back then; she had a nice haircut, a beautiful figure that just fit the Seven Sisters' girl uniform, she was a master of small talk and cute, little expressions that made you feel noticed and appreciated and heard. She seemed to know just enough of everything going on to make everyone's interests feel relevant.
Then Tsumugi Kujaku cut to the truth of the matter, seven years later: were they really alive, then? Myorei Yukichi is a *monster* in their rear window, nowadays, to them.
The only island in which they feel they actually surfaced to oxygen and life was the little island in which they found Miho and Yua and Remi on. The way their friends made them feel something approaching honesty and an embrace of what they might like to feel, not just what they should elicit in others. But their power wasn't infinite, even as the popular Student Council President. They understood all the bullying that happened to Yua... they couldn't be everywhere, everyplace, they couldn't resist teachers, and they graduated earlier.
... when they put it into context like that, no wonder going back to Sevens was so hard. Their own gaze is in space for those few seconds. "... mm," Myunghon quietly reels themself back from memory with fatigue. They want to say something rebellious and cold, like 'those people don't matter'. But their knives still hurt to this day. "It wasn't a rosy time for us... I still hate the way those teachers abused you..." They don't say 'hate' much. But it feels good, right now, uncentred and floating as they are. Feels grounding, assertive. "But I'm still-- really glad we met."
Myunghon squeezes their eye shut. "You're still the first person I confessed to... being Myunghon Yeo, back then, after all."
Yua fishes some tissues out, so they do take the time to dab some of those tears away -- their cheeks sting easy, so it's a good time to clean up. "Thank you..."
Crunchy and bland. From any other person but the closest ones to them, they'd panic -- after all, what a fool idea for food! They're still eating that salad. They'll get around to the beef, but the salad is easier right now. It helps that Yua sprinkled it with protein powder.
"Okay..." Myunghon nods again. "Okay, I-- I believe you. You're a wizard in the kitchen, after all, Yuarin. And... and I'm going to be brave. I'm going to finish this meal so you don't have to worry tonight."
Shinjiro's okonomiyaki is flashing into their head, at this point. They focus on how the texture of the beef is still somewhat pleasurable -- not chewy and tough, but still kinda silky and cut beautifully, so all the fibres of the beef fall apart nicely...
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I'll protect you, too," Yua says, even though she can't really promise something like that. Isn't wanting it enough?
(Life's not a fairytale, Yua.)
Myorei... was exceptionally driven, and on the surface, you'd think Yua, honoured priestess at the shrine of Hard Work, would have appreciated something like that. But back then, she saw the way the Perfect Student had no passion for her work... and she implored her to find it, instead of just working to make her parents happy.
Now, Myunghon has that passion; and you'd think Yua would lay into them for lazing about and not striving for greatness... but she's just glad they're thinking of what matters to them, now.
(Even as she is bound.)
"I wasn't a very good student," Yua sighs, glancing away. "It's funny... I scored so terribly in my final exams, none of the performance colleges would even consider the portfolio I submitted... I guess you'd not have heard about it, since you were our senpai, and you'd already fled. But despite that, I'm teaching...!" And if there's something strange in that statement -- something which doesn't quite line up with her talents with dance, which surely a theatrical program would value more than academic rigour -- she doesn't recognise it. (She blames herself.)
"... that doesn't matter," she decides, shaking her head, as she smiles to Myunghon. "What's important is that I'm glad I met you, too. Haha... it was funny, wasn't it, how we fooled them with 'Myucchi'? They thought I was just pronouncing it like a bumpkin!"
It's less foolish than Myunghon might think... at least, in Yua's household. To wit: "You're the bravest," Yua affirms, squeezing their shoulder. "I saw that you had to work up to the beef... but you're still eating it! That's amazing! If it were broccoli, I'd never be able to do what you're doing!"
A light pause. "I can't stand anything bitter," Yua explains, a touch embarrassed at her own sensitivities. "Whether it's green tea or coffee, dark chocolate or cranberries, bitter melons or brussel sprouts...! Stewed or steamed or roasted or basted, I just can't do it!" She shakes her head, as if to shake off even the thought of foods like that. "Mom can't eat anything slimy," she adds, "so noodles are right out... oh, and Yuken-kun won't even consider anything that isn't the right brand. I've tried making my own versions, but he says they taste wrong, and he just can't swallow them. So... I know it's not really the same, but I understand that sometimes food can be impossible to force down, okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Something kind of warm flows inside of Myunghon, as Yua declares she'll protect them. ... it feels-- really good. They've wanted this for a long time, the ability to just have a-- a Miho, the way they see Yua being able to lean on her, not have to wear the armour with the guise of social invincibility, the mask of Rumourmonger Merry's hope, which promises invincibility, if you only believe, then better things are possible. Even if they know it's not going to be something they can promise.
... being told it, with sincerity, is enough.
"... I want to be protected too..." Myunghon admits, voice soft and pliant. The Myorei-like grace that still is woven in their polite, graceful moments where they're tending shop or interfacing with the world is completely melted, right now, and they don't *care*, and it feels good not to care.
And it does feel good, to have passion -- they never thought their passion would end up being *community*, they always thought they'd be too selfish and self-interested and not great at crowds or loud noises, but somewhere along the line, their heart started bleeding out for people, because the masking was killing people. Several strokes of the keyboard and the click of a mouse, and a person was dead.
Of course, they don't just magically fall over of a heart attack. But what's the difference between that and being a devil in the detail and denying a lifesaving surgery as 'non-essential'? They walk and they breathe still, but their life is over.
Yua reflects on her scores, and how none of the performance colleges would accept her -- and there is a quiet, rueful note in their eye. They fled. Even if Yua doesn't mean it, they still feel bad about how harrowingly fast they were spirited away to Todai, to prestigious Tokyo University, to grind even harder. They focus on Yua's triumph, rather than factual oddity. "You're teaching," they affirm. "And I'm really proud of that."
But Yua tells them that that doesn't matter, and her smile is fond in that moment, as she affirms being glad she met them too. "Yes. I do remember feeling so empowered, everytime. It was our own secret, in a world that was so out to claw all our secrets out," they find themself so pleased at that memory.
And Yua points out Myunghon is brave -- and shares the tales of the Ooshiro households' own relationship with food. There's so much more than they ever realised there was -- people are just, like them, really good at concealing it for one reason or another. The tears have stopped at this point, and they don't feel as much vertigo, allowed to align back upright in the metaphor of drowning by allowing themself to laugh with Yua.
"O-often... the shame and embarrassment is bigger than just having to-- to pucker up and brave it," Myunghon confesses. "I did that successfully for a while after I left the hospital, more than a year ago... it got harder and harder, even though I became better at trying to hide it. ... I shouldn't have hidden it for so long. I'm-- so silly. I was so wrapped up in being afraid of disappointing you..."
So Yua's understanding that food can be impossible to force down has Myunghon nodding. "Thank you, Yuarin... I feel-- full, for once. In a nice way."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua knows she is weak, but she is not only made of her weaknesses; there is silken steel, threaded through her, proud and nurturing. When Miho calls her a Queen, she can believe it. She reaches out, to stroke a hand across Myunghon's head, as she assures them fiercely: "I'll take them to task the minute I'm prepared. I'll make them answer for their crimes!"
Ishiba's the one committing a crime against them, as much as the crimes keep getting blamed on Myunghon.
"I didn't really earn it," Yua admits, despite knowing she's not supposed to, "but... I wanted to teach the children to dance."
So she sold her soul to do it.
"Feeling empowered is important," Yua decides, smiling to Myunghon. "What can you do that's empowering now? I think it's even more important when things are scary. You don't have to have an answer right now," she assures them, because she's sure the conversation is tough as it is, "... but think about it, okay?"
She nods, as well, when Myunghon talks about shame. "You must have felt really alone," she sympathises, tilting her head. "Or really different... like I felt as a kid, when everyone talked about eating your veggies as if it was an unpleasant task you could just soldier through... I knew then that when I said I didn't like them, I wasn't saying the same thing as the girls next to me. Back home, people were more accepting, but when we moved... I felt quite ashamed of things like that, once the mainland was through with me."
Yua shakes her head. "I don't think it's silly," she says, "but I'm not disappointed, either. I'm really glad you were brave enough to tell me, okay? Now I know, I can try and make something easier for you! I get it, because we're both picky eaters!" She claps her hands together, brightening up. "It's nice to know you're not alone," she all but sparkles, as she smiles. "I'm really happy I was at least able to nourish your spirit, Myucchi!"