TAKE YOUR TIME!

He misses the Metaverse. At least he was able to escape in his dreams or to a whole other world in general, back then. To push everything out of the way in favor of helping someone else… it was cathartic more often than it wasn't.

But the Metaverse is long gone. He doesn't dream at all, anymore, anyway.

To think he'd miss it this much.

READ (CHAPTERS 4-6) ON AO3

omg just saw this but i have a few!

he's kinda self conscious abt it. in the few p5 fics i've written, it constantly reminds him of a time where people he cared about were struggling, and how he "couldnt do anything to stop it". he hates having a physical reminder of kamoshida's abuse and his helplessness, but once they take down the palace he learns to adjust to it

he's still a bit unstable on it at the beginning of the game. he spent winter break getting it and attending physical therapy to get used to it, but by the time the game starts he hasn't gotten as far as running with it yet, so he trips a lot (see: running out of kamoshida's palace)

akira running with him helps him get used to using it. he takes a lot of walks with ann and yusuke too (with limits ofc) to adjust to it

shiho, in a wheelchair following her attempt, likes to race him when they see each other. it comforts both of them a lot

When they stop after the third sketch and look back up at Ryuji, they find him staring at them with dark eyes. Odd how the look makes Yusuke want to pull away and conceal themself more than usual when paired with Ryuji's newly dyed black hair.

“What?” they ask, formalities lost to their embarrassment, feeling all too vulnerable under Ryuji's gaze. Ryuji is good at that: making Yusuke feel like they can't hide, like they don't need to hide. It doesn't make them want to hide any less, however.

“This ain't workin’,” Ryuji answers, and they both know what he means by that. He sighs and ruffles his hair before moving to get into a different pose.

He really does look charming with black hair.