2026-01-24: Rooftop Talk
- Log: 2026-01-24 Rooftop Talk
- Cast: Kasumi Yoshizawa, Haru Okumura
- Where: Shuujin Academy Rooftop
- OOC Date: January 24, 2026
- IC Date: September 15, 2012
- Summary: Kasumi runs up to the roof to avoid Motojima-senpai. There, she finds, and commiserates, along with Haru Okumura.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Yoshizawa has a secret admirer. A fellow first year who saw the Yoshizawa sisters at a gymnastics meet last year, and was entranced by ever since. And today... Today, she's decided to offer some flowers, and some words of encouragement!
She sees Kasumi leave the library, and walk past her to the stairs. Haaa... The flower girl visibly brightens and begins to move to intercept. Except...
Except Kasumi reaches the stairs and suddenly stiffens in her posture. She then runs up the stairs. A few moments later, the flower girl can see Motojima-senpai and Oosaka-senpai chatting happily, walking up the stairs. Mm... Poor Yoshizawa...
Kasumi bursts onto Shuujin's roof, closing the door behind her with a visible sigh. Why is she running from Motojima-senpai like this? She should be happy that Kazusa is happier and kinder now, but... There's just something so wrong with her. And Kasumi didn't want to have to play placating with a kid who's supposed to be her senior today.
Then, Kasumi realizes there's a brunette tuff and pink cardigan hanging out on the roof too. She blinks, taking a moment to recognize the third year.
"Oh! Okumura-senpai!" Kasumi takes a moment to recompose herself. She then bows. "I'm sorry for dropping in like this! I just...needed a moment to myself, I guess." For some reason, she gets a feeling like Okumura would understand.
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
Another Saturday means another half-day before the weekend, which also makes it easy for Haru to retreat to her usual haunt after school - the rooftop garden. She's been spending a little less time up here for the past week, having harvested the vegetables and cooked them up with Ren days prior - but by now, it's a good time to plant more, so she's here now.
Truthfully, Kazusa was another reason she was dragged away from the comfort of her garden... but Haru's not sure how much her intervention really helped the poor girl. She feels it's something that's going to need the combined effort of not just the Phantom Thieves, but other groups of Persona users as well.
As she does some planting, Haru stops humming when she hears footsteps up to the rooftop. It's still rare for her to get much of any company up here, so at first she wonders if it's Ren, dropping by to help... or even Akechi, following up on his 'investigation' again. It couldn't be, she thinks, those footsteps sound far too hurried to be either of them.
She looks back in surprise to see it's the model gymnastics student, Kasumi Yoshizawa. Surely she'd be far too busy most of the time to find her way up here, right? Still, she isn't a total stranger. She may not have decided to join the Phantom Thieves, but the honour code of a Phantom Thief still ties them together. She can afford her that trust. "Oh! Hello, Yoshizawa-san." Haru waves her over. "There's no need to apologize. It's not as if it's my space alone." She smiles. "Um... is there anything I can help you with?" She offers. "You seemed like you were in a bit of a rush." She does understand needing time to yourself, so she doesn't impose too much.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"Still. It's your club time, right...?" Kasumi asks as she approaches. She sets her bag someplace safe for the moment, on one of the shelves of the big...heater? "I feel a little bad about it." She says as she bows again. But... if she's being invited...
Kasumi looks over the planters. "It's a little silly, honestly. And I'd be being rude about a senior..." She laughs a little awkwardly. It might take a little more for Kasumi to open in then... Though, who else would understand better then another Persona user? She'll consider this a little bit further.
For now... "What are you growing up here? Can I ask?"
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
"Hehe." Haru laughs a little, when Kasumi calls it 'club time'. "I could only make a complaint if this was an official club." There's not nearly enough members for that, unfortunately - and technically the rooftop isn't meant as a club room. Still! Haru seems fairly unbothered by Kasumi's intrusion. "Please. I don't mind the company at all.~" She waves it off, and makes room for Kasumi to sit down by the plants. Haru's always had a reputation for being shy to the point of almost being standoffish, but perhaps Kasumi's familiarity does her some good.
"Oh?" Haru tilts her head, when Kasumi mentions something about a senior. "Oh no... I hope none of my classmates have been giving you a hard time." Haru frowns. Some - no, many - of the students here aren't the kindest, especially towards anyone who even slightly doesn't fit in, so Haru can't help but view it in the worst possible light. "I can hardly judge for that." She smiles, again.
Then, her eyes light up more when Kasumi asks her about what she's growing. "Oh, I'm just growing some vegetables. Last time, Ren," Kasumi might note Haru doesn't add an honorific, "and I planted some potatoes and carrots. They turned out quite well! So, I decided to plant some more and see what kind of meal we can make out of it next." She explains. "When we do, you're welcome to try some."
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"Oh?" Kasumi walks over to crouch down, hands deftly keeping her skirt in check. "I'm surprised there isn't more members for a gardening club..." She says, biting her lip a little. "I'm sorry..."
Haru assumes it's one of her classmates and Kasumi realizes her mistake. She slams a hand on her mouth. "Oh! No, I'm sorry... It's a second-year, actually." She pauses. "...And it's actually the lack of a hard time that's strange to me." Okay, with that there's only one person it can really be... "Have you...gotten the sense of something *weird* with Motojima Kazusa-senpai? She's a second year in my Gymnastics Club, but... She's suddenly nice??" What is she saying? Like she wants Kazusa to be mean...
No honourific... They must be really close. Makes sense for Phantom Thieves, but... It does make Kasumi blush a little bit. She shakes her head. "Oooh... That sounds so good.~ What did you make with them last time?" Oh, then she gets an idea! "Maybe this time, we could make stew!" Way to invite yourself along, jeez!
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
"I don't entirely mind it this way. It makes it feel more... personal, if that makes any sense?" Haru admits, as Kasumi apologizes once again. "Though if you're ever interested in helping out... I won't say no.~" She giggles a bit, even. She's surprisingly laid back for a Senpai!!
"Oh?" Haru tilts her head when Kasumi says the problem is the lack of a hard time. When she hears the name Kazusa Motojima, it all starts to make sense. "...Ah. Motojima-san." Haru nods, slowly. The rumours surrounding her sudden change have spread all around the school. Perhaps it isn't surprising that Kasumi is so unsettled about it, considering they're both in gymnastics.
"I have to admit, you're not the only one." She agrees. "We were never terribly close... but our families have done business with each other, and we came to meet that way." Haru explains. "...When I spoke with her the other day, she was nothing like I remembered." There's a bit of a chill as she recalls. "Honestly... it was more like she wasn't there at all." Haru frowns. "I'm sure it must be especially strange for you as her teammate." She glances back over to Kasumi. It must have entirely thrown off the group dynamic. "...I think there must be more to it than it seems on the surface." She adds, more quietly.
As for the lack of honorifics, well... they're accomplices - and Ren seems like the type to drop them as soon as possible. "We made curry.~" Haru chimes. Curry is really good! "It's Cafe Leblanc's specialty, after all. I'm still quite the amateur myself... but it felt nice seeing something closer to a professional quality dish come out of the vegetables I harvested." Kasumi has an idea of her own, though! "Stew... yes, that would be wonderful. I'm sure Ren would be happy to have you, too." Haru agrees. Part of her liked the idea of this being something they do together, but... Haru isn't the jealous type, either.
Haru pauses, then, as she considers Kasumi - actively inviting herself to spend time with two Phantom Thieves. That could be dangerous, mostly because of a certain someone profiling the Shujin student body. Haru's tone drops to more of a whisper. "...Sorry to ask so suddenly, but I have a question. Has Akechi-san approached you at all recently?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"Oh? Thank you, Okumura-senpai!" Kasumi beams. "I'll see about coming up when I'm not busy with Gymnastics. So, I'm sorry if I'm not around as often as I'd like!" The offer really does make her so happy. But jeez, she's barely out of accepting it before making excuses for herself...
Kasumi nods, intriguied. So Haru knows Kazusa too... "It's strange, isn't it?" She hestiates for a moment. It's okay... Haru's a Persona User too. "Have you felt something strange about her too? Like... A nagging feeling in the back of your head, that this isn't entirely human?" Then, she thinks about what Wakana had said to her. "Or, is it good? That she's happy? That she's kinder...?" Then she panics. "Ah! Not that I'm saying it's better if something kept happening to her! Ohhh..." She gets out a groan. She's messing up, isn't she...?
She can at least handle the next conversation piece a bit better. "Curry, huh? Oooh, I haven't had it in a while... Cafe LaBlanc, huh...?" Is that Senpai's part-time job? Visiting might be a good idea sometime.~ "Hehe. I can only imagine, the feeling of savouring something that you made entirely yourself... It must be a feeling of pride.~" Like perfecting a move you've been trying your hardest on! Kasumi however, does spot a glimmer of...something across Haru's face. "Oh... And let me know if I'm overstepping, Senpai... Please?"
"Oh...!" Kasumi drops her voice accordingly too. Like spies... Or, well. Phantom Thieves. "Akechi-san? Well... A little bit?" She tilts her head a little. Then, she panics- again. "N-not that I'd ever sell Senpai out! But..." She hestiates. And decides to just be straight up. "Yes. Akechi-san's been talking with me too."
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
"That's okay! Please, don't treat it as an obligation, either." Haru shakes her head. "But if you ever need a place to retreat to sometimes, like I do..." She glances over at the garden and then back to Kasumi. "You'll always have somewhere." That is, unless Akechi decides to waltz up here again. You never know.
Haru notes Kasumi's hesitation, and then brings up something similar to what she felt when she sat with Kazusa. "Not human... maybe something like that." Haru frowns again. "Something felt horribly wrong... and I left with quite the headache." Kasumi asks if it's better that way, and Haru gives her another unsure look. "Whatever she is, I don't think she had any malicious intent. Maybe she is happier..." She hesitates, too. "But it's hard to say if that happiness and kindness belongs to Motojima-san at all, right?" It almost reminds her of Akechi's ethical dilemma with the Phantom Thieves. "There's just far too much we don't know... but I hope she is okay." She nods empathetically to Kasumi.
The conversation about curry flows a lot easier. "It's over in Yongen-Jaya." Haru explains. "It's a cute little curry cafe." Kasumi says that she must be feeling proud to savour something she made with her own hands, and Haru can't help but blush about that a little, modest as she is. "Hehe... I probably couldn't have done it on my own. Still... it did feel like a step towards feeling independent, at least. Perhaps that is something to be proud of." She smiles. Kasumi really is just as good as lifting the spirits of others as she is downplaying her own. "No, not at all, Yoshizawa-san! We may have only worked together once... but it's the least I can do for a teammate."
As for Akechi... "Aww, don't worry. I know you wouldn't." Haru smiles, REALLY trying not to come off the way she does when she's interrogating a Shadow in the Metaverse. "I see.. he's approached me, as well. He's quite the charming and charismatic personality, isn't he? And sharp at that..." She giggles a little. "Ren and I agreed that he knows a lot more than he wants us to. Of course, we won't make it easy for him." Her smile turns a little more devilish for just a moment. "Just... please be careful, okay? I don't... want to give him the wrong idea and get you into trouble."
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"...Thank you, Okumura-senpai. I really appreciate it." Kasumi gives a bright smile. Honestly, a place to hide out is deeply appreciated. Even after her Awakening, the pressure and gossip can get a little much...
Kasumi nods a bit. "I feel the same way, Okumura-senpai. If it isn't her happiness... Then I don't think I can stand idly by." There's Kasumi's Will of Rebellion gleaming through. She looks into the plants, the sprouts of carrots and potatoes. "I really hope she's okay too. Oosaka-senpai... Her friend, and another one of my Senpais... I couldn't get what but...something may have happened during the break." She shrugs. "I really don't know."
Kasumi giggles a little. "If it was done with help, then everyone gets the feelings of pride." But... that might not be what Haru is concerned about. "Are you wanting to be independent, Okumura-san?" Haru is truly kind to her though... She blushes once more, and runs a hand through her ponytail. She resists the urge to mention 'that might be changing soon...' "You're very kind, Okumura-senpai!"
The attempt does come through at least. Even if Kasumi does feel a tiny bit threatened... It's easier to push away at least. Though, she doesn't know just how charming Akechi really is, when so much is wrapped in lies he tells about himself. "Of course. I turned Senpai down because I wasn't sure if I could lie to him at the time. Say earnestly, that I'm not working with you." She's still thinking about that, constantly. "But, hm... Don't you get the feeling that Akechi-san and Amamiya-senpai...?" She presses her fingers together, thinking how to say it. "Aren't those two so interesting when they get into it?~"
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
"For the longest time, I thought I could stand idly by." Haru nods, as Kasumi's Will of Rebellion comes through. "I wanted to keep my distance from Motojima-san, because I didn't think I could be the one to help her." She admits, with a sad smile. "I think I understand how much I regret that, now." She pauses for a moment, considering how much information she can give away to Kasumi. Something about an 'Atelier' they can access to help her. For now, though... "Something supernatural, I'm certain." Haru nods, when Kasumi says something happened. "I'm almost glad, if that's the case." Haru says, as strange as it sounds. "It means there is something we can do to help."
"Are you saying pride is something to be shared?" Haru tilts her head. "I suppose that's a nice way of looking at it." She smiles. But selfishly... there is that need for independence. "Maybe so. I'm about to be an adult soon, but I've always lived under the thumb of my father, and now my fiance." She answers, honestly. "If I went according to their wishes, I might never get a taste of that independence. That's why... even if it's something small, growing food with my own hands meant so much to me." There's a sigh, but it's not an unhappy one. "Hehe." She smiles, seeing Kasumi's faint blush. "It's the least a Senpai can do for her junior, right?"
"I think that's an admirable quality to have," Haru nods, when Kasumi admits she didn't join up because she didn't think she could lie to Akechi. "It was... uncomfortable to have to lie to him. Though perhaps a little thrilling to dance around the truth like that.~" Gosh, now she's starting to sound like Ren.
Haru pauses, then, and stares blankly at Kasumi when she asks about when Ren and Akechi get into it. Then, she starts giggling. "Hehe~ I know exactly what you mean." She answers, finding her fully immersed into gossip for the first time ever. "I think it's like a game for them. How did he put it...? Like a catfight!" Always chasing each other, always taking a swipe when they can, but never enough to end the game. "It's almost adorable when you think about it that way.~" She clasps her hands together.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi nods, understand the feeling completely. "Motojima-senpai has been...pretty rude to me, in our club." She admits, too. "I don't think I'm the one who can help her, but... If it isn't Motojima-senpai's happiness... Then I'll take it back for her." She smiles. "If there is anything, I'd love to do anything for her."
"Why not, right?~ It's nice to share something we made together. Like team sports." All boats rise with the tide and whatnot. And... Haru continues. "A fiance?!" Kasumi says, maybe a little too loudly. She coughs, back to a normal register that isn't going to alert the school leaving through the front gates. "Ahem... That's... really quite intense, Okumura-senpai! No wonder you need some independence..." She murmurs a little. "Well, starting small is as good a place as any! And soon, you'll be growing plenty by yourself.~" ...Haru might've meant it innocently, but Kasumi defintely runs another hand through her ponytail. "That's very kind of you, Senpai...!"
"Th-thrilling?! You make it sound so..." Kasumi trails off... It's a little embarrassing to think about. Plus, no wonder there was the threatening aura from earlier... "You're pretty scary, Okumura-senpai.~ You must make Shadows quake in their boots.~"
Kasumi giggles alongside Haru. "Yeah, exactly! Though, I thought it was more like cat and mouse- and they just keep swapping who's who..." Kasumi laughs, deviously. She's not usually one for gossip, but this is one department she's willing to skirt by it. "Even if I'm rooting for Senpai, you kind of want to see them go back and forth forever... I remember visiting a cafe in Kitchoji with them and..." She starts gushing a little bit, on how interesting their debates can be. The two surely gossip for a little bit longer, before deciding they ought to head home.