TAKE YOUR HEART.

A reasonably priced collectable. Within her own grasp...however...

there's a couple of things akira could say to her -- some supportive, some casual ... but he settles instead for cocking his head to the side and giving makoto a guileless smile. ❛ i said it was cute. maybe i want it? ❜ he can't help but tease her a little. she'd given him the perfect opening, after all. 

          His reassurance was met with a sheepish nod. Once again, she's going between trying to maintain eye contact, and worrying a great deal. Who else knows who she is? Is she going to be bullied again? This was her safe place, it wasn't safe anymore. So far the stranger has been extremely nice to her, and she's hoping that he personally doesn't know her. It'll be easier.

"Here, maybe if I put it up on the easel." He hoisted the canvas up from where it had been leaning on the floor and gently placed it back where it had been when he had been painting it.

He took several steps away and gestured for Akira to stand next to him.

"You might be able to see it better from over here."

There were bags under Yusuke's eyes, making it clear he'd sacrificed sleep to get this painting finished, but he still had a smile on his face, happy that it was finally able to reach completion and excited to be showing it to Akira.

The painting in question looked like a bunch of abstract brush strokes, but from further away, they clearly were the silhouettes of people. Yusuke had painted a whole crowed, mixed in a variety of colors. His abstract style didn't allow for the details to make them unique in the way every individual in a crowd would be, but the mixtures and gradients of colors within each solidified every silhouette as their own person. No two silhouettes were the same.

Behind the crowd, the background was full of warm yellows and oranges meant to invoke his meaning of 'hope'.

"I... had a realization as I was people watching several weeks ago. I saw somebody I thought was interesting and so I asked to sketch them. As I did, they talked to me. They told me about their life. By the time they had to go, I realized I wanted to know more about the people around me..."

"When I stayed at your place after the thing with Madarame... I had a talk with Sojiro. I told him about how little I know when it comes to the world, and the people in it. I told him that in order to depict people in my art I needed to interact with them. This is the first step."

He gestures at the canvas.

"After having talked with that one person, I went out and spoke with others that caught my eye. Sure, I was rebuffed a few times, but there were people who genuinely had a story to tell."

with that in mind, akira turned back to the painting once more, observing it with a new understanding given to him by his friend. the colors and silhouettes were indeed almost blurred together, but they stood out at the same time. it was like looking at a collective, but being able to see their individuality at the same time.

❛ i can see it. ❜  he says finally, giving a nod. ❛ if mementos was society's twisted desires, then this feels like their unified hope. kind of like a mirror... ❜  he blinked, gaze flicking over to yusuke with a tiny smile. ❛ you captured it well. ❜

         "Wha'. . ." On one hand, it was flattering that she had an avid enough fan for her voice to be recognized. . .on the other hand, does this mean that other people can pick her out just as easily? Nicole thought she was doing well, enunciating her words more, albeit slowly, and covering up what shes could with cute noises and gestures. All she could do was shyly hide her face in her hands for a moment, getting herself together before looking back to the stranger.

         "--!!!" Choking on her own spit for a moment, all she can do is stare at the stranger with nothing but pure, unadulterated confusion. How in the nine hells did he know this? She purposely used an avatar, and avoided using anything that would link back to her. There's just a moment of small hesitation, almost as if trying to mentally reset herself before gently grabbing his wrist and pulling him aside. Just a little away from others where their conversation wouldn't be heard as quickly.

uh, what? his own eyes widen at her shocked look, and though he manages to keep a calm exterior as she pulls him aside to somewhere more private, akira feels a swirl of confusion and surprise inside. was her identity a secret? futaba hadn't mentioned that when they'd gone over everything. he probably looked like a stalker now. great.  ❛ uh. ❜