2025-12-30: Bigger Fish to Fry
- Log: 2025-12-30 Bigger Fish to Fry
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Paulownia Mall, Tatsumi Port Island
- OOC Date: December 30, 2025
- IC Date: September 02, 2012
- Summary: While shopping at a pet store on the last day of summer vacation, the topic of Akechi and his seeming betrayal comes up between Tsubasa and Ren. Tsubasa decides to tell them about the friction with their parents--though when Ren asks if they want to look into if their father has a Palace, Tsubasa staunchly refuses. The only progress that might happen here is Tsubasa clearing the air with Akechi later...
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
It's late afternoon on the Sunday before school starts up again, and...
... it's too early to go on a midnight run to steal their stuff out of their old joint, so Tsubasa's come out to the mall to hit up a PET STORE while they fill out the time. Mrs. Ichika's Mom, you see, has been buying Lance toys here and there throughout their stay... and Tsubasa finally got up the gumption to ask her what store she was visiting to buy them.
As it happens, it's right here in Paulownia Mall!!
Tsubasa's wig today is cyan, magenta and yellow; their tank-top is military, flashing their binder beneath it, and they're wearing a set of cargo pants beneath. (And the usual hightop sneakers with a half-dozen patches sewn on, of course.) They have /not/ brought Lance here to buy her toys, because the mall cruelly does not allow pets. What they did, instead, was invite Ren to come along with them.
(This has less to do with their not-a-cat and more to do with them being free.)
They're already by the pet store when Ren arrives; they had less to travel, so that makes sense, really. "Yo," they lift a hand, in salute, as they head in. "Wanted to grab somethin' fer Lance 'fore I went back to Sumaru... she likes shit from this joint. Gon' be harder to trek out after tomorrow, so..."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Morgana is technically in the area--he's skulked around Paulownia Mall before, no-pets-allowed be damned--but he opts to not accompany Ren in within their shoulder bag. What would he want with a pet store anyway? He's not a pet!! Even more so than he's not a cat!!!
So Ren, when they approach Tsubasa, does so with an empty bag and a hand raised back in a wave of greeting. The two of them head in together, and they look around in interest. "It does look nice in here. I can tell why she likes the stuff it sells," they remark.
They look back at Tsubasa when they remark on the trek. "Yeah... Good idea to stock up if you can."
Their look is... well, their normal. They don't have a lot of unique outfits--they didn't bring a lot with them when they moved from Inaba to Tokyo, and while they have an interest in fashion, they don't tend to buy a lot of clothes, so on their days off, they're usually wearing a very simple unbuttoned white shirt, black undershirt, and blue jeans. That's true today too, and as they walk together, they tuck their hands into their jeans pockets. It might be a ways to come out here, but they're happy for a chance to hang out with their friend for the precise reason that it'll be harder to trek out for both of them after today.
"What kind of stuff are you looking for, anyway?" they add. They took Tsubasa out to eat on their birthday, but they didn't get a chance to buy a present on account of they learned it was their birthday that day. Getting something from here for them... might still be underwhelming since it's not like they wrapped it up, but at least they'll know for absolute sure Tsubasa will like it.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Lance is real into rawhide," Tsubasa explains, and that also explains why they're walking right to that aisle. "She likes squeaky toys, too, but... if I'm gon' be stayin' with Shuyo-kun, I better not get her too much a that shit. Don't wanna drive him nuts."
They reach out to examine the price tag on a pig's ear as they explain: "... uh, we figured I'd go stay with him. Me mom sent a gift to me house, an' it's bein' watched, so... better move again."
... if it sounds a bit like they're on the run, well, that's not not true.
"Maybe get her a new rope knot, too... or one a them treat-dispensin' toys...? Man, they can get pricey, tho'..."
They're kind of lost in thought for a minute thinking about all the cool shit they could get their dog, but they do remember to have a proper conversation a minute later, looking back to Ren. "... how's shit been with ya, anyway?" They ask, as they look through the rawhide. "I know, like... all that shit with Akechi-san had ya real down, uh... sorry I ain't had nothin' better to say on that."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"That sounds like a dog," Ren comments, smiling slightly. They never had a dog growing up, but what's a more iconic pet-treat match than a dog and a bone? They nod in agreement at the idea of not getting more squeaky toys for the sake of their new roommate...
...not that Ren really knows who Shuyo is, but they can tell from context that he's a friend of Tsubasa's, and that's the important part.
They do frown a little at the news of Tsubasa's mom sending them a gift to where they're saying. "...Yeah," they agree quietly on the 'better move again' comment. When the mom who tried to sic a supernatural serial killer sends you a roundabout message about how she knows where you live... that's definitely a sign to move. "D'you need any help moving your stuff?"
(In this case, 'moving' is code for 'repossessing during the Dark Hour.' Ren knows what's up.)
They note what Tsubasa mulls over. As they listen, though, they start to wonder--is it really a gift for Tsubasa? Then again, giving someone a gift they can give to their dog can be nice, too... They get to take joy in their pet's joy.
"Oh--no, you're good," they utter when Tsubasa focuses back on them. "We talked it out. Punched it out, really." A beat. "Speaking of, there's something I've been wanting to confirm with you... When Akechi suggested his theory about the psychotic breakdowns and who might've caused yours, was that after what happened in Aoba Park, or was it earlier?"
They chose to accept Akechi's apology and forgive him, but they also want to make sure they're not being tricked or manipulated--and Akechi's apology hinged on the idea that they poised this to Tsubasa way back in June, when he and Ren still didn't know each other well, and that he didn't think to update Tsubasa on his theory during the aftermath of the Aoba Park arson.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Lance is such a dog. 100% confirmed dog. Dog Inside.
"Ichika's gonna haul the van out 'round midnight so we can grab it," Tsubasa says. "Since, uh," they lean a little closer, "it's th' cops watchin' th' joint." Of course, around midnight probably implies the Dark Hour being employed in some fashion... though they can't drive a car in the Dark Hour. Who ever heard of a vehicle that works in the Dark Hour?
(Tsubasa don't know 'bout Mitsuru Kirijo.)
"Oh, yeah?" Tsubasa asks, looking to them, when Ren says they punched it out. "Nah, man, I didn't know shit when he told me that," they shake their head. "Was... yeah, day after me father," otou-sama, unlike their earlier kaasan, "uh, got pissed me microwave broke," and there's something about their tone and expression which is doused with cold water as they say it, though it's a subtle thing to pick up on. A little drop in their tone, a little deepening of their scowl. "So, like... back June? Ish? Yeah, reckon it were June an' not May by that point..." Early June, then, if they're foggy on the transition.
Tsubasa slips a pig's ear into their basket (they picked up a basket! They're not stealing from the pet store!!), and heads over to the rope toys, quiet for a few moments. "Uh," they start, a touch awkwardly. "Hey, uh... you wanna hit up karaoke after this?"
Why would Tsubasa, who sounds like they've been smoking a six pack a day since they were six years old, want to go to karaoke all a sudden? They're definitely not the kind of guy to like singing. And what is there to karaoke if you're not singing, just sitting in a small, soundproofed room?
Oh.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren frowns but nods at the explanation that it's the cops watching Tsubasa's old place. Tsubasa's parents are really controlling--but then, they would be, if it's true they're part of the NWO that Umie's so terrified of and they consider Tsubasa a Problem. They of course don't say that aloud. ...some things you really just shouldn't say out loud.
"That'll be tough with curfew," they muse instead, because that's true for both of them. "But we can make it work." They'll just be tired when they go to school the next morning, it's fine. Their teachers don't expect anything from them anyway, aside from Kawakami--maybe Dr. Maruki.
They do notice the change in Tsubasa's tone and expression; they certainly notice the high level of respect in the word they use for their dad. Early June, late May... Ren nods slowly. That fits the timeline. Then... "Did he ever bring it up again after that? Or otherwise talk about it?" It seems pretty clear that Akechi hasn't spoken to Tsubasa recently from the way they talk, which is its own answer--albeit to a different question.
As for karaoke... well, this wouldn't be the first time Ren's gone to karaoke not to sing. They even did it with the very Detective Prince they're discussion. "Sure," they say, casual as you please. They look over Tsubasa's shoulder at the pig's ears and grabs a couple more to buy for them. Like they said: smart idea to stock up.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"We're used to dodgin' curfew," Tsubasa assures Ren. "It's cool." Is it really cool? They say that so casually!
Look, reform is hard, man. Rome wasn't reformed in a day.
"Uh..." Tsubasa thinks, pausing for a moment with a rope toy in their hand. "Nah, man, like... I didn't have nothin' to pass on to him, y'know? So next I saw him, he was savin' me ass from th' cops what wanted to blame me for Aoba Park. An', uh -- I had other shit to talk 'bout, y'know? Weren't thinkin' 'bout -- y'know, that, too much... didn't realise who you guys were, back then." They must have been too occupied to have caught the context clues during the Joker Killer's attack. Being fair: he was trying to kill them.
They grab some Pet Tennis Balls -- they're made of softer material which is kinder to the inside of dogs' mouths than real tennis balls -- and head to the checkout; and Ren can see, beside them, that they're kind of scraping at bills to get enough together to pay for something like this, but they are at least making a good-faith effort to pay for what they're buying.
... is it mostly just because they can't come here in the Dark Hour and steal shit for free? Look, one more time: reform's hard, man.
Ren... might need to pay for the karaoke room, though.
"Gotta hit Mementos again too," Tsubasa grumbles, when they sit down on the nice, plush karaoke couch of Mandragora. "Anyway..."
They take a breath, turning to Ren. "Sakamoto-kun said he'd tell you guys what was goin' on, but... figured I oughta jus' say it." ... their stern expression is a little tight, though. "I... said how me father's with th' Order, yeah...? Look, it's..." Whatever it is, it makes their hands tighten up, around the bag in their lap.
"It's not great," they start. "I mean -- uh -- it's -- uh, like... I remember jus' when Akechi-san first talked to me 'cuz it was th' day after me father first hit me with a closed fist? Like... punched me in a bruise I got fightin'... so no one'd believe me if I told on him. Which -- uh -- that's kinda what he does, like -- deniable, like. Like... back then, he told me I oughta jus' die an' make shit easier for him... only reason me mom went that far is jus' 'cuz it didn't happen without him seemin' like he did shit? An' -- an' I know this is a lot, man, jus -- I wouldn't say shit, but they tryin' to get me on side again, like..."
Tsubasa takes a breath. "... I dunno. Th' card said it was me mom what convinced him to give me another chance, but... he don't let anyone else have their way. Gotta be another reason. But -- but like -- if they tryin' -- might make shit hard for you guys. My father knows th' cops 'round Sumaru... I told Officer Shimizu what he was doin', but apparently they got, like, they got me declared as a disabled child so they could still pull shit now I'm eighteen?" Juveniles, in Japan, are those below eighteen years of age; but there are extra legal protections, for those with disabilities under twenty.
"I don't... like talkin' 'bout it," Tsubasa shakes their head, "jus' sometimes it comes out, man, jus'... I don't wanna cause no trouble for no one. Better if this shit don't come as no surprise... I guess? Jus'... ran into me mom with Ichika an' Sakamoto-kun, yesterday... it really freaked them out," they add, with a touch of guilt.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"...Okay." Ren nods once, relief floating inside them. "That's what Akechi said too. I'll..." They look around the pet store and consider that they're about to head to karaoke after this. "...tell you the details a little later. But basically, he said he was sorry and he messed up."
Ren pays for the extra pig ears and puts them in Tsubasa's bag afterwards with a smile and a 'Happy birthday again'; they also pay for karaoke. It's fine; they made a lot of money this summer with all their part-timing, and they no longer have to worry about finding a new place to stay of their own.
Once the both of them have sat down on those plushy, plushy seats, Ren lets Tsubasa talk first. 'Karaoke' was their idea, and clearly they've got something they need to get off their chest. They nod as Tsubasa speaks, not interrupting even when they flash an ugly face at the talk of that closed fist. So it's as Makoto implied--the real power in the Seki household is the father, pressuring and manipulating the mother into doing something as horrible as calling a serial killer on their own child. That doesn't absolve Tsubasa's mother of blame... but still.
Another reason... Ren can't even begin to suggest what that might be; the only things they know about the Seki family are what they've heard from others, like Makoto and Tsubasa. Their parents continue to sound incredibly controlling with the 'disabled child' stuff. It almost makes Ren feel grateful for how their own parents had them exiled so far away from their hometown; at least they can exist without their parents' interference... even if it might turn out their parents are also with the New World Order.
It makes them sick. All of it.
"I don't blame you. I'm the same way," they say quietly, of Tsubasa not liking to talk about it, not wanting to cause trouble. "If your parents are trying to mess with you, you gotta do what you gotta do. Especially if they're dragging the people you care about into it." They pause. "But... Makoto and Yusuke and I talked a little about this a while back. It was during finals season, right after you were attacked by the Old Maid, 0so we didn't pursue it, but... we wondered if maybe your mom or dad or both have a Shadow in Mementos. If so... we might be able to change their hearts." They pause. "Is that something you want everyone to look into?"
The Phantoms aren't in the heart-changing business for their own gain--but if Tsubasa's parents are part of an entire Persona-based conspiracy, then it's extremely likely their sins go way beyond harassing their own child.
The only way to know for sure is to put their names into the MetaNav app, though.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"You sure, man?" Tsubasa asks, looking surprised when Ren pays for the extra Lance treats. "... thanks."
Money's hard, but maybe if they ask Tamaki whether she'd consider paying them for something...
Still... after they've said all those awful things... the first thing Tsubasa notices is that Ren is the same way. They can't be said to pale when Ren suggests Changing their Hearts, but that's just an artifact of their artifice -- between their fake tan, concealer, and wild cyan and white makeup, it's really impossible to see what the tone of their face is under there.
What is more visible is the way their lips thin to a line, and their eyes widen just so, in a way which mostly results in flashing white.
"No," they say, immediately, going quite still. Their voice doesn't raise; if anything, it gutters out, a touch strangled. "Don't -- don't do that. I don't -- wanna meet who they really are, he -- hates people seein' that. Real -- don't open th' curtains, don't -- like, when I got locked out when I were ten me mom were mostly worried 'cuz me neighbour caught me cryin'? Shouldna done that. Shouldn't... let no one see that shit."
If your Shadow is everything you're hiding from the world, and Tsubasa heard things like that about keeping their family life hidden...
... perhaps it's perfectly logical why they wouldn't want to meet their parents in Mementos, even beyond Akechi's advice.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yeah. It's a present," Ren replies, smiling back. "You're welcome." They shrug a bit. With a touch of humor, they add, "Sorry I didn't wrap it first."
As for Tsubasa attacking The Phantoms, well--it's fully understandable. They had only Akechi's initial theory, and he didn't think to update them on it, so it makes sense that they blamed the one group they had a clue against. Once they realized who they were, they stopped right away. Ren doesn't hold that against them at all, and they've forgiven Akechi his role in the matter. Sometimes, things just go poorly, and it's no one's fault.
But that's not important right now. What's important is the sheer terror in Tsubasa at the very suggestion of looking into their parents' potential Shadows--because their parents have beaten the idea that no one should know about their horrific abuses into them so thoroughly that they cite how their father wouldn't like that as their reason why not. Because what matters is how it looks on the outside to other people.
It makes them so sick. It makes them so angry. If they hadn't been trained out of crying years ago, they might start crying bitter tears right now--because it reminds them so much of their own parents too.
But they don't. This isn't about them, it's about Tsubasa. They take a deep breath and tamp it down.
At least their parents never beat them. What do they have to complain about, really?
...They can't just let Tsubasa sit in the frog pot, though.
"You know one of our rules is unanimous consent before going after a target, so if you don't want us to look into them, we won't," they say quietly. "But if you don't mind the suggestion, try talking to Yusuke about his experiences with Madarame's Palace. I think it might help you."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa thought it was a pretty funny addition. They even flashed a grin for a second!
Unfortunately, the thing they brought Ren up to karaoke to talk about isn't funny at all.
It's not about Ren, except -- except it is a little bit about Ren, because Tsubasa hasn't forgotten the way they insisted she was the same way. Just... if he's the same way, she won't want to bring up what's going on with them.
(For the record, their brain does that code-switching with Ren's gender much more frequently than the narrative does.)
"Th' only people he's hurtin' is us," Tsubasa insists, shaking their head. "An' I ain't gon' snap under that or nothin'... we got bigger fish to fry, Amamiya-chan." If it really is a case of Hanzou just terrorising his family... there are certainly people doing harm to many more people than that.
Still... does someone really rise to power in the NWO like that when they're only hurting their family...?
"... but I can... talk to him, sure," they add, slowly. "About it. Uh."
They swallow; they haven't been trained out of crying, but they can certainly do their best not to. "Sorry to dump all this shit on ya when you get it, tho'. Uh. Not like... gettin' surprised would be no better, I guess... it was supposed to be done with, man," they insist, their voice a touch raw. "Officer Shimizu gave him th' business, I told him I didn't need him for nothin' an' he better jus' leave me alone... but my mom didn't wanna let me go? Stupid... shoulda been I coulda jus' moved on with me fuckin' life."
But when has the child been the one allowed to say something's over? Etsuko might have been able to suggest a more conciliatory tone, but... Tsubasa's efforts to emancipate might have been doomed the minute they dared to dictate terms.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ah, friendship: caring more about the other than about yourself, and not wanting to burden others with yourself. Yes, this is definitely where Ren and Tsubasa's relationship gets a little more difficult to navigate.
(Both Ren and the narrative appreciate Tsubasa's frequent code-switching.)
Ren keeps their expression neutral when Tsubasa insists he's only hurting his own family and therefore it's not important because there are worse people out there. They have a lot of experience with maintaining a poker face when they don't want their feelings to be known. They've been letting that slip more and more lately, but... they don't want to make Tsubasa feel worse than they already do.
"You've got nothing to apologize for. You just want to live your life. It's your parents who're causing all the trouble," they say firmly. "Maybe we've got bigger fish to fry, but that doesn't stop them from being a problem--especially if your dad might try to sic the police on us. Especially if they're part of a shadowy conspiracy."
Especially if he's the kind of person who'd manipulate others into trying to get his own child killed for his convenience. That's a particularly twisted, distorted behavior that deserves to be exposed to the world--but Ren keeps that opinion to themself. Tsubasa's made their line in the sand clear. ...They'll have to give Yusuke a head's up, though. Ren gives them a small smile and a nod of encouragement when Tsubasa agrees to talk to him.
"But," they continue instead, "even if that's your problem--which makes it our problem, because you're one of us now--it's not your fault. Okay?"
They take a moment to let that sink in--or slide off, as the case may be. Internalizing that sort of thing is hard work--way more work than a single pep talk. "Anyway... is there anything else I should know about that? I'll let you tell the others or not as you see fit. If not... we need to talk about Akechi, too." A slight pause. "I know how crushed you were when I got pissed and called him a liar and the enemy. He... helped you out a lot, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Mm, he is part of that... but I don't know what he might be doing for them. Being a huge jerk, probably," Tsubasa grumbles, and it's far from the worst insult they've levied at anyone, but... it's probably a lot harder for them to insult him. "Uh, I'm lookin' into it, anyway... asked Uchida-san to help."
(It's notable, really, how their speech gets a little less rough speaking about something like this, like they have to remember they're a no-good punk thug.)
Ren insists it's not their fault, though, and Tsubasa shakes their head. "Sure," they say, even though that's a real mixed message with their body language. "Thanks, Amamiya-chan."
Tsubasa bites at the inside of their cheek, as they think. "Uh... jus'... I got an older brother? Uh, his name's Kiyoshi, he a year older than me... he's fine, tho', they love him, he's never been able to do nothin' wrong... uh, he's jus' studyin' to be a doctor, tho', so he really ain't done nothin' wrong. You... you can tell 'em shit, sure," they add, though their eyes dart from one edge of the couch to the other.
They get no less furitive when Ren brings Akechi back up, either.
"Ain't no one helps someone like me out. Made a lot of sense... when you said he was jus' usin' me. I jus' thought -- served me right -- thinkin' someone'd notice it were fucked. Back with th' Aoba Park Arson, too... was gon' take th' fall fer that, jus' like before... they dragged me outta th' foxhole, like, even when they put me up in hospital I had a guard makin' sure I didn't yank me IVs an' bolt... an' jus'... sittin' in lockup, like... it was like, that was it, y'know? But him an' Sergeant Suou, like, they saved me, man... ain't that pathetic? I'm supposed to be hard, but I'm sittin' here feelin' like I wanna cry 'bout it..." And they try to brush it off as a funny-ha-ha comment, except their voice is kind of quivering, so it's actually true. "Even sayin' it's cool, I'm like... can't trust anyone, man..."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren chuckles when Tsubasa calls their father a 'huge jerk.' It might be far from the worst insult they've made of anyone, but it's honestly a relief to them to hear them call their 'otou-sama' any kind of negative thing. They do note also how their speech pattern has softened... They don't yet know what to make of that though.
"Sounds good. Let us know if you want any help," they say. "We're not detectives or anything, but we've been doing pretty well for ourselves so far. We've got that Furudate guy to deal with, too." They smile slightly at their thanks--and although Tsubasa doesn't seem like they believe them, they'll take the gratitude at face value. Sometimes you just need to keep repeating something before it sticks. "You're welcome. And you can call me Ren, if you want." Ren-chan, even.
When Tsubasa continues to be uncomfortable with talk of their family and sharing it with others, though, that smile becomes more subdued. "It's your call what you share or don't share," they reassert. "You could've let Ryuji tell me about what happened with your mom, but you chose to tell me yourself. I want to respect that."
Their eyelashes droop as the topic moves on to Akechi, and they essentially admit how much it hurt them to think that Akechi was just using them after all. How they can't trust anyone.
"...I'm sorry," they say quietly. "That was me jumping to conclusions." They look away, rubbing the back of their neck. "Things are... kind of weird between him and me. The detective and the phantom thief, you know? So I'm on guard against him a lot. When you explained what happened with you and him, I misunderstood--I thought you meant he told you we made you have a psychotic breakdown after the Aoba Park arson.
"But when we ran into each other in Mementos a few days ago, he told me he only theorized that to you way back in June, before he and I got a chance to know each other better, and he did it in part because he wanted to make you feel heard and not crazy. After the Aoba Park stuff, there was so much else going on it just never occurred to him to update you on it. From what you said a little earlier, I think he's telling the truth after all."
They slip their hand down to their lap and look up at Tsubasa, sober. "He said he was sorry--he didn't mean for it to turn out like this. I think he wants to apologize to you about it, too." (Technically he already did when he gunned down the Cognitive Patriarch, but that's not the same as a face-to-face heart-to-heart.) "At the very least, he promised me--as Joker--he wasn't going to get you arrested over this." A pause. "He definitely knows who I really am, but right now we're still pretending he doesn't know I'm Joker," they add as explanation. A thin little smile. "A bit of plausible deniability. For both of us."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"That cool?" Tsubasa blinks, looking surprised, when Ren offers to let them call them Ren. "Uh -- cool, Ren-chan. You can call me Tsubasa, it's cool." They flash a smile, briefly, though it doesn't last. "An' I been lookin' into Furudate-san, too... let ya know when I finish that up." Their scowl is firmly fixed on their face again as they add: "What I found already might make him a problem for you, tho', since he's, like, doin' property shit 'round Yongen-Jaya. ... maybe keep an ear out if anyone ya neighbours havin' trouble gettin' bought up. Like, I don't know nothin' for sure, yet, but... it's fishy, y'know?"
They shake their head, when Ren mentions Ryuji could have told them. (... man, they should probably ask him if he'd rather be called Ryuji, too, huh? They just... don't want to be disrespectful.) "Jus'... reckoned I oughta give ya a heads up. If it's gonna keep happenin'... ain't right if I keep it a secret, if it'll hit you guys, too."
Apparently it was fine to keep it a secret if their friends weren't going to witness it, though...
Ren apologises about jumping to conclusions, though, and Tsubasa nods, a touch mutely. "... can't blame ya. Thinkin' it lined up like that... he'd look pre' bad." They turn the fact that Akechi was trying to make them feel less crazy over in their head... and wonder at how they always seem to invite destruction, that way. Of course, that's an inside thought, because -- "You were really goin' through it back then too, y'know? Like, you say things are weird, but... he ain't nothin' to ya. An'... th' explanation makes sense. Like... fuck, man, I was wrecked when I got outta lockup after Aoba Park, like... I took three steps in Mementos an' straight collapsed." Most peoples' first forays into Mementos at least last a few battles, not a few steps...
"But... he ain't gon' arrest me, huh?" Tsubasa worries at their lip, grasping their bag of Lance-treats a little tighter. "Did occur to me, y'know. How -- sayin' I'd keep me record clean an' get me detective's licence -- was real stupid when I were th' obvious choice to charge. Like, there's hope an' then there's stupidity... lotta people mistake th' second one for th' first. But... I dunno, I still wanted... to give it a shot, so... it's a relief, right?" Well, it's the kind of relief that feels harrowing, because it's also an acknowledgement that the threat existed, but Tsubasa's pretty sure that's just -- them. How they are about everything. "Means I got a fightin' chance, anyway..."
Tsubasa breathes out, looking down at the bag in their lap. "Okay... cool. Guess I can hear him out, anyway... an' maybe this is fine. If you guys gotta get all plausibly deniable, I'm th' one guy what can talk straight to him... maybe we can use that." Maybe everything isn't just horrible! Well, it's probably also horrible, though, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yeah. It's cool, Tsubasa," Ren replies, smile warming. It too doesn't last--there's a lot of serious things they're talking about--but they're genuinely glad to get closer to their new friend.
"All right," they say of Tsubasa's research into Furudate. They frown at the mention of Yongen-Jaya--they'd mentioned that in Eiji's Palace too, though at the time they hadn't read too much into it, being too caught up in Akechi's perceived betrayal. The reminder is a good one. "Will do."
They hope they don't end up having to talk to Officer Shimizu about that... Tsubasa likes her, but Ren would rather avoid the cops as much as possible. Even the decent-seeming ones like her and Sergeant Suou.
Ren does catch that implication that Tsubasa would've kept it a secret if their friends wouldn't have known anyway--but this is something they've already realized about them. They nod once. "Just let us know if there's anything we can do to help you out." (They're not sure Tsubasa will, but they want the offer out there all the same.)
They sigh on the matter of Akechi. "...Yeah." That, they say to how he looked back. When it comes to them going through it at the time--how Akechi 'ain't nothin' to them--they're silent. Tsubasa's right, but... this is the point on which she and they are the same. Akechi... is something to them. More and more, he's become... important to them. They've come to care what he thinks of them, when most people it really doesn't matter to them. The thought that he might have either thought them a murderer, or cared so little about them that he'd deliberately spread lies about them--it hurt so much they couldn't help but lash out.
That's why they say things are 'weird' between them. Ren knows the way Akechi feels about them is not purely platonic. Navigating that has only gotten more complicated after falling for and starting to date Minako.
"That's what he said. Other stuff, he implied he was going to say to you directly. Which is how it should be anyway," Ren replies. "But... I believe him this time. I don't think he wants this to end yet." Maybe not at all. Not if the pursuit is what gives him an excuse to talk to them, to spend time with them.
Their expression turns concerned when Tsubasa relates their first experience with Mementos. Clearly they're all right now, but that does sound like a harrowing experience. Their desire to become a detective doesn't seem that stupid to Ren, but they get what Tsubasa means. "It is," they agree. "A fighting chance is better than the alternative." That is, no chance at all.
They smile slightly as Tsubasa works out their end of things with Akechi out loud. "Yeah. We've still got to be careful--he knows who I am, but I don't know how many of the others he's figured out--and if he's going to this much trouble to pretend he doesn't know, that means knowing something decisive means he has to act. But if he openly knows who you are anyway... Yeah. Maybe we can work something out."