catch-all: rufus.

[siblingless]

jae what's a good shitpost

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Week 1: Monday

[soulus]

[Rufus hasn't been around this section for long. When Yoshizawa next enters the main hallway, she'll find him there as well in the middle of crossing rooms. His next destination appears to be the cafeteria.

Will she introduce him to astronaut food?]

[siblingless]

[Maybe she will! As always, she offers him a polite greeting.]

Hello, Wilde-san. [... Peering curiously in direction of the cafeteria.] It seems we're headed in the same direction. Would you like to walk together? There's something I'd like to tell you.

[soulus]

[He shifts to face her. Yes, he'd maybe like to walk together.]

What is it?

[siblingless]

[That maybe is good enough for her! She gets the feeling the sky will fall the day she gets a straight yes or no regarding a friendship-ish question, anyway...]

Um, well... [Slowly, as if she's still gathering her thoughts. It takes her a couple of seconds to continue.] I owe you an apology! I doubted what you told me on Friday, and started to suspect you during the trial, even though you were innocent. I'm so, so sorry.

[soulus]

[His face crinkles.]

Some of the evidence lined up. You were supposed to suspect me.

[siblingless]

That doesn't mean it could have been pleasant. I'm still sorry for putting you on the spot.

[soulus]

I expected it . . . but if you want to apologize that much, I have a request.

[siblingless]

Yes...? What is it?

[soulus]

You may not have been directly responsible, but the secret of my nature was unveiled before all the participants. As a result, I've found myself troubled by the relentless curiosity of others.

My request is an even exchange where you tell me a secret of yours. It doesn't have to be big; however, I would prefer that it be useful for better understanding you as a fellow participant. Is this reasonable?

[siblingless]

[Oh... That's not at all what she expected, and it shows on her face. She stares at him for a moment, unsure of what to say, before she slowly nods.]

... It's reasonable. Though, I'm not sure I have anything valuable to say.

[soulus]

Even if it isn't valuable now, it may have value later.

[They discussed this before. ]

If you're interested, we can continue to exchange what we know after this.

[siblingless]

I... suppose. Then, yes, that is alright with me. I'm interested. [He seems like a pretty okay dude, so it's not like she's uncomfortable exchanging info with him. Though...

Now comes the hard part: Deciding what to say next.]

Um... Do you recall our first conversation?

[soulus]

[He nods.]

It was at the emporium.

[siblingless]

Yes... Back then, I said there had been a mistake. I was talking about my name in the DATA app, "Kasumi Yoshizawa." [She says the name a little shamefully.] I didn't understand why at first, but after the leaders said the app was made from our memories, it started to make sense.

[Are you ready to get info dumped for the plot of P5R, Rufus.]

[soulus]

[He waits for her to continue, expression unchanging. Give him his secret's worth, Yoshizawa. Run him over with the spoiler bus.]

[siblingless]

[Well. Time for the spoiler bus.]

I've told a few people my sister, Kasumi, died. But the truth is, she... died because of me. I wasn't looking where I was going, and Kasumi pushed me out of the way of a car. [Slowly.] ... I couldn't live with myself after that. So I tried to become Kasumi... And for a while, I lived as her. That's why my name is listed as "Kasumi" Yoshizawa.

[soulus]

[She has his full attention while she speaks. Once she finishes, he takes a moment before replying evenly:]

Are you still unable to live with yourself?

[siblingless]

[A shake of her head.]

Not anymore. Kasumi wanted me to live, so I'm going to live my life to fullest. I'll make both of our dreams come true.

[soulus]

. . . Thank you for sharing.

[siblingless]

[A shake of her head.]

We gave you a hard time, so it was only fair.

[soulus]

Fair . . . Do you believe something like that can be possible here?

[siblingless]

[... Hm.]

I think that's entirely up to us.

[soulus]

. . . Of course. If not for that, you most likely wouldn't have considered sharing your secret with me.

[siblingless]

[She nods.]

I won't deny that's true.

[soulus]

A fair-minded person like you is less likely to back out of or shortchange an agreement. I look forward to working with you.