#nomoruleskidd

She’s gotten the brunt of another new case, and her eyes hurt from staring at screens trying to find some semblance of a pattern in the data. Her supervisor had left long before she did, but she finds she can no longer pretend to concentrate.

She always berated her sister for working late and not taking care of herself, but now, she’s no better.

It’s too late to cook, and she’s terribly hungry. She remembers Ryuji talking about a ramen shop that he works at (she thinks she recalls seeing him deliver a bowl to a pompadoured receptionist). Ramen may be more of a guy thing, but so is kissing girls allegedly, so that doesn’t faze her.

It’s rather easy to spot Ryuji exiting a nearby store, causing a spark of excitement within Haru at the sight of a friendly face. Thus far, the only famliar person she had interacted with was Akechi and Akira, one of which she hadn’t even met face to face. It would be such a relief to be able to catch up with him, and Ryuji’s energy and enthusiasm was always quite contagious. 

She’s about to call out to him, but falters when her wits catch up to her, as well as her conversation with Akechi. Were he to be believed, most all of her companions have had their memories altered. Some of which reverted to a point before they had even met Haru. 

The thought brings the same level of hurt as it did the first time. But... That didn’t mean it was impossible for Ryuji to know her, right? And even if he did, that didn’t change the fact that he was a valued ally and friend. She couldn’t just pretend not to know him to avoid hurt feelings, right? 

... Right. 

Bracing herself, she straightens her posture, slowly making her way towards the boy. All the while she hopes that he’ll notice her, that recognition will light up in his eyes. He glances in her direction, but only in passing... Maybe it hadn’t dawned of him yet. She can’t be sure until she catches his attention. 

In the running tally of “where the fuck is this, anyways,” Eleanor has mentally added “cold as tits” as a point in favor for this being the Bad Place. On the other hand, though, it’s “probably not Florida or Arizona,” so maybe that balances things out? 

Only slightly related, but is there anything more annoying than joggers, especially people who run in the winter? The last time Eleanor saw a doctor (who unfortunately was old and definitely not anything like the sexy beasts on Gray’s Anatomy) she heard the whole spiel about “getting exercise that wasn’t dancing on tables or trying to climb the 7-11″ and “not drinking so much because her habits were going to destroy her liver.” Well, neither of those things ended up killing her, so suck it, doc!

Back to runners being annoying. Okay, Eleanor can appreciate a muscular bod, but can’t people go to like, a gym or something? Dumb showoffs. Then there’s also the issue of dumbasses not looking where they’re going. Some kid nearly collides with Eleanor, some idiot going for a jog when it’s like negative ten degrees out or whatever, and she’s not just going to let that slide.

Or maybe it was just the amount of focus you had let yourself slip into. You’d made one too many thumbnails of his distant expression, trying to capture what exactly it was he might be thinking of now. Perhaps he was waiting for someone there. You’d captured his posture just fine... his one leg leaned slightly unevenly on the stool in a way you found peculiar. But those eyes.」

「 They meet yours. And. Oh. It seems your time to capture that expression is up, lest you become a nuisance. You pocket the small sketchbook you’d dedicated for your ventures out, drinking the last inch of your coffee. Something about this all feels... so nostalgic.」

「 You give the stranger a small smile, to say you meant no harm. It’s time you go on your way. You hope he finds what he was looking for.」

Josuke never would have thought that he’d be inside of a medieval-style building that has a state-of-the-art arcade, but that’s exactly where he’s at right now. As much as he wants to get back to making sure everyone in Morioh is safe, he can’t keep working all the time, and he hasn’t been making any progress at all. Plus, the graphics at the arcade are amazing! 

He’s playing some fighting game, pouting at the screen as the ai kicks his ass. After an astounding loss, he groans and notices a blond kid who looks like he’s waiting to play the game. The guy looks like a Japanese delinquent with his hair bleached and cropped short. Josuke hopes the two of them will get along.

Ann should have known by now not to get her hopes up, even when she did run into any of her friends here. Two  times out of three, all of their experiences together had been forgotten, and the third barely counted as a friendship. She should have come to expect that none of the people from their group would remember anything, and even though it was like a punch in the gut each time it happened, she would have to put a smile on and do everything she could to help them. 

She didn’t expect to almost fall apart when she saw Ryuji, leaning against a lightpost, brows furrowed in concentration as he scrolled through his phone. After everything that had- after he- 

... She didn’t care if he didn’t remember. Only that he was here, and he was okay.

Sucking in a shuddering breath, she straightened up and approached the other with as much composure as she could possibly muster. It was cool. She had this. She totally calm and composed, and RESPONSIBLE, and... And. He peeked up from his phone and locked eyes with her.