2026-01-26: You Can Try
- Log: 2026-01-26b You Can Try
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa
- Where: Inokashira Park, Tokyo
- OOC Date: January 26, 2026
- IC Date: Sunday, September 16, 2012
- Summary: While out training together in Inokashira Park, Ren clues Kasumi in on some of the supernatural going-ons at their school--and in particular in Kasumi's rhythmic gymnastics club.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
There's nothing like a morning training session in autumn, just as the weather's starting to cool. It was warm enough yesterday for the beach, but for stretches, runs, climbs, and more at Inokashira Park with Olympic hopeful Kasumi Yoshizawa, it's great to have that cool early breeze in the middle of the lush foliage slowly turning brilliant shades of red and orange. Even after a couple hours or so of working out together, Ren's barely broken a sweat.
The two of them are taking a drink break right now; it's late in the morning by now, and part of training is making sure you're always hydrated. Ren drinks from a water bottle they brought from home, the red jacket of their Shujin sweatsuit open to expose their white undershirt. As they bring the bottle down, they sigh in contentment, then look over at Kasumi.
"This has gone really well so far today. I feel like I'm in good form," they remark. They aren't smiling, but that neutral expression of theirs is carved in calm confidence rather than a distant stoniness, as it often is at school. All their exercise and training, both inside and outside the Metaverse, has been paying off. They swam a lot in the ocean yesterday, too. They'll be sore tomorrow, but it's worth it. (Morgana will make them go to bed early tonight. Rest is another important part of training.)
"How about you?" they add. Not just today, but-- "How's your gymnastics training going?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Autumn is truly a wonderful time to get in some extra training outside! Before the cool winds turn into harder snow and requires significantly more bundles. The redhead tends to blend in with the reds and oranges and yellows, which makes visibility a bit of an issue. Thankfully, Inokashira Park is pretty clear this morning, aside from Kasumi and the ~dangerous delinquent~, Ren Amamiya.
Indeed, they're in the middle of a temporary break by one of the more central benches. Kasumi for her part, is dressed in her usual out-of-school gym uniform, a red tank top with her black sports bra visible underneath. Then, she has leggings to match her black dolphin shorts that are red trimmed. She happened to bring a black sports jacket with yellow shoulders and trimming, that currently is covering the school bag she brought filled with her exercise things. Kasumi drains a good bit of her water bottle in one shot. Best to be hydrated!
"You're doing great, Senpai!" Kasumi beams as she brings her bottle down. "I'm really impressed, I'm not used to friends being able to keep up with me like this." She giggles. "You look like you could keep going all day if need be.~ Must be all of your...extracurriculars.~" She says with a light giggle. Sure, it'd be fine to come out and say it, the park is still relatively empty, and they're at regular speaking volume. Maybe Haru Okumura-senpai is rubbing off her a bit?
"Oh, I'm doing good. It's a lovely day today.~" Then, Ren asks about gymnastics and...Kasumi sours ever so slightly. "It's been...better? Since my... What did you call it, Awakening?" She hesitates for a moment. "But... Since coming back from the break... Not that I want to talk badly about someone, but... Do you remember Motojima-senpai?" Kasumi furrows her brow, as she pops the cap back onto her water bottle. "She's...kind now. Not that that's bad, but... I keep having some weird nagging feelings around her."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Their crimson jersey fits into the park, too, even if Ren's personal coloration is about blacks instead of reds. Fortunately, it doesn't seem that crowded this morning--or maybe more accurately, the crowds that are here are content to just do their own thing and not pay much mind to the pair? Either way, there's space for them to work out and talk.
"Must be," they agree, one corner of their mouth quirking up. "It's easy to get a lot of exercise in." They might not be at Isabeau's level, working out two hours on weekdays and four on the weekends, but they're slowly but steadily reaching the condition they used to be in before... well, before everything crashed and burned for them.
It is a lovely day--but Kasumi's looking to be in less of a great mood at the reminder of gymnastics. Yeah... She would have to deal with Kazusa Motojima more than any of them, and she'd know even less than they do about what's going on with her. They nod once, frowning slightly.
"...Be careful around her. I don't know a lot about it myself, but it turns out this is a Metaverse thing. Apparently she's been possessed by something called a Homunculus," they warn her, lowering their already deep voice. "Ryuji and Haru have been looking into it, but this is something we don't have any experience with, so we're figuring it out as we go."
At a normal volume, they add, "If she's 'kind' now, does that means she isn't giving you any trouble?" Of course, with this new context, Kasumi would understand that 'trouble' is more than just saying mean, catty things.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"I have to imagine." Kasumi replies. Principal Kobayakawa's Palace was pretty horizontal, but that can't be every Palace, right? "I'm sure it'd be interesting to see my gymnastics used in navigating palaces." And that's just traversal!
"A homunculus?!" Kasumi manages to keep her voice under control thankfully. "So Motojima-senpai's been possessed..." Honestly, she doesn't really get it either. It sounds like a ghost to her. Does she need an exorcism? If only she took that part-time job at a shrine! Wait, if it's a metaverse thing then, it's Phantom Thieves territory.
Kasumi looks away, a little...ashamed of herself. "Well... She's very kind and energetic. It's almost like she's a little kid." She runs a hand through her ponytail. "Would it be bad if I said I'd prefer her old self back? I mean, if this isn't her happiness... I don't think I can stand by and do nothing."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Definitely not. That was the small Palace of a small man. Most of them exude madness, to paraphrase Yusuke--reaching up for heaven like they could seize glory through it. Joker's grappling wire sees a lot of use in most of them, and Kasumi's gymnastics-forward training helps with that indeed.
It does sound like a ghost... or something like that. Would an exorcism work? Who knows? It might be more Phantom Thieves territory than monk territory, but it doesn't sound like their wheelhouse, either.
"Huh," Ren utters, hearing Kasumi's description. They've heard a lot about Kazusa feeling weird and off and creepy, but Kasumi's description paints a different picture. "I guess not. Even if her old self is a jerk, at least it's really 'her.'" Even if the thing wearing her face is kind and energetic, almost to the point of being childlike, it's not fair of it to just take over someone else's life. ...Right? "If you want to help her, apparently there's a couple people around who know more about what's going on with Motojima-san: Hazuki Nakao from Class 2-E, and someone named Roger."
A beat.
"Don't tell them I sent you," they joke deadpan.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi nods, relieved in the feeling that she isn't just being naive. "Thank you for your reassurance, Senpai. Motojima-senpai could be cruel certainly, but I don't think I hated her." Kazusa was just yet another source of pressure and stress for her. "Now, her criticism is... hardly helpful, even if it's spoken kindly. She had a really sharp eye for gymnastics." Is that...admiration bleeding through Kasumi's words?
"Nakao Hazuki-senpai... And Roger...-san?" She tilts her head slightly. Oh no. Ren, you can't deadpan with Kasumi. She's too earnest. "R-right! I'll be sneaky about it!" She pumps her fists. She doesn't really know what she'll do, but she'll figure it out!
"I've tried speaking with Oosaka-senpai too, Motojima-senpai's friend. She's noticed something weird too, but...she doesn't want to hurt her friend's happiness." Kasumi wrings her hands a little. "I can understand the feeling too, but if it's being possessed..." She hesitates for a moment. Wasn't she the one who turned down the offer to become a Phantom Thief? "...If this is Phantom Thief business, then I won't interfere. But since it's gymnastics as well... Please take me with you, Senpai! When the time comes to help Motojima-senpai." There's her will of rebellion shining through. "A-and, I will also talk with this Nakao-senpai about it too!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren's eyebrows rise when Kasumi says she didn't hate Kazusa. That's... good to know. The way Kazusa treated Kasumi was definitely why they didn't like her. But... they kind of get it, especially hearing that implied admiration. "Yeah. When it comes to advice and rivals, you want someone who'll be real with you," they say slowly.
Maybe Kazusa is--was--to her a little like how Akechi is to them.
...Which is an interesting thought on a number of levels. Ren resolves not to read too much into it.
Kasumi is too earnest, but that's okay. Ren was joking, but at the same time, she actually shouldn't let on to Hazuki or Roger that she heard about their knowledge of the supernatural from Ren. Her resolve to be sneaky is met with a nod of approval.
"Right," they say of Roger-'san'. "I don't know where to find Roger, but he's apparently like Morgana." Does that mean he's a cat?! (MORGANA CONTINUES TO INSIST HE IS NOT A CAT!! ...and, in fairness, Roger isn't a cat, either.) Kasumi will have to find out for herself...
"Hmmm." Ren considers 'Oosaka-senpai.' That friend of Kazusa's they saw that day the fireworks got rained out, maybe? She did seem rather... doormat-y. Still-- "If she's not Awakened, there's no helping that. I don't think there's anything she could do."
They do smile at Kasumi's shining determination. "It isn't Phantom Thief business, per se. Supernatural, but different from our changes of heart," they reply. "So you don't need to rely on us taking you along." They wink, just a bit. "You can stick your nose in all on your own."
That doesn't mean that she's not invited to help along with Ryuji and Haru--just that she's free to take the initiative without worrying about if it means she's working with the Phantom Thieves or not. Talking to Hazuki is the key...
...probably. Ren is admittedly leaving the matter to their friends. Since a change of heart isn't involved, they don't need to be The Leader about it.
"By the way, Haru mentioned she was talking to you yesterday," they continue. "Another friend of mine has been teaching me to cook; if you're okay with her joining us too, you're welcome to come cooking with us sometime."
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi blinks. Rivals. They're...rivals? She takes a moment to consider this. "Yeah... I think we're rivals." She says, after a moment's hesitation. "Even if she should be kinder about it." She laughs, a bit awkwardly.
Maybe just a little bit. It's strange to think about. It's been a while since she's had a rival. Not since the school year started.
It's for the best then. Kasumi will absolutely remain mum on it. Just...approaching Nakao-senpai is going to be the tough part then. Just...calling them out during a break in Shuujin might be a little dangerous.
Though... "Couldn't I ask Okumura-senpai or Sakamoto-senpai to introduce me then? If they're working on it too..." Kasumi says after a moment. The process of her thinking it through, writ clear on her face. "Ah, so it isn't Phantom Thief business..." Then she definitely won't have to bother Senpai!
On Oosaka-senpai. "I just feel bad for her." Kasumi says. "She was clearly struggling with it. Oosaka-senpai... I wonder if I could convince her somehow, on information. The last time I tried, it didn't go very well."
"Oh?" Kasumi has a blush come across her cheeks. "Okumura-senpai was very kind to me! She let me hide out with her on the roof for a bit." She laughs a little. "I was trying to avoid getting trapped in dealing with Motojima-senpai." She nods, and claps her hands together! "I would love to help cook with everyone. I'm used to cooking meals for myself occasionally. Just let me know when, okay?~"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren doesn't join in on Kasumi's awkward laughter. They simply give her a thoughtful look. ...Well, it would be nice if Kazusa were more pleasant of her own volition rather than because something took over her body.
"You could try, but I don't know if they've reached out to her yet or not. Besides..." Ren scratches the back of their head with their free hand. Their fingernails are painted black. "Now that you're mentioning it, I don't actually know how they're going to reach out to her. It's not like they can reveal who they are as Persona Users." That's the same as admitting they're Phantom Thieves. Definitely a no-go. Kasumi isn't a Phantom Thief, but if she ever changes her mind on that...
"You can try asking them what they've done so far," they continue, thinking it through in real time. "Maybe you can brainstorm something. Or maybe you could keep it simple and one of you could slip Nakao-san a locker note asking to meet in Mementos or during the Dark Hour. Only one of you has to talk to her, really; whoever does can pass on what they learn to everyone else."
It's clear that Ren thinks about this sort of thing a lot. They take being a Phantom Thief and maintaining a secret identity quite seriously.
Ren can certainly sympathize with Wakana. They don't know her well, but it has to be hard for her. "Hmm... Maybe you could talk to Motojima-san's younger brother. I think he's a first year like you. Another Persona User friend of mine told me he knows something weird's going on, though not exactly what, so he might be chattier than Oosaka-san." They don't know his name, but surely it won't be hard to find Motojima-kun the First Year.
For now, though, the topic turns a little lighter. Kasumi seems eager to join in, and Ren gives her a nod. "Will do." They take another drink of water, then stuffs it in a pocket. "All right. I'm ready to get back to it if you are," they say as they stretch. "You want to grab lunch once we're done?" Ren will keep their meal relatively light to leave room for dinner, but it's getting close to noon at this point anyway. Got to fuel up!
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
It's probably for the best then, that Kasumi is intent on tagging along then. Ryuji lacks a certain amount of subtly that the girls can make up for. Though, Ren absolutely does not want to hear any of the ideas Kasumi had on making contact. "Huh. How is Nakao-senpai a known quantity then?" She tilts her head slightly.
Well. Not all questions have answers to them, but how to contact definitely does. "You're so smart, Senpai! No wonder you're the leader of the Phantom Thieves." In retrospect, it might've been really good that Kasumi refrained from joining. Being secretive is not what she's good at.
"Oh! You're totally right..." Kasumi should've remembered about Motojima-senpai's younger brother. It'll be way easier to speak with someone in her year too. "That's a great idea, Senpai! I'll be able to find him easily." Kasumi is getting pretty amped up, actually. It should turn out well!
Kasumi similarly puts her water bottle back into her bag. "Let's get back to it." The moment food is mentioned though... "I'd love to get some lunch. For a hearty meal.~" She lets out a soft cheer. She does not share the same philosophy on food. It's always important match the calories you burn!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"The same Persona User friend who met Motojima-san's brother told me to reach out to Nakao-san and Roger," Ren explains.
Also they're friends with Hazuki and can tell she's a Persona User--but they can sense lots of Persona Users in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area. They didn't know Hazuki knows anything about Homunculi in particular. Approaching her directly could be risky... Ryuji's in her class anyway, so they've got a hook there.
"Glad to hear," they reply. They smile briefly when she compliments them, but soon enough it's back to the workout. The two of them will definitely earn the calories they ingest later.