Tuesday

Suki made her way to Jumin's house, her feet sore.

I should really consider taking the bus rather than walking! Even a bicycle would suffice better than this! Suki thought as she tiredly stumbled to Jumin's door and knocked.

"Coming!" Jumin's voice called from the other side of the door.

Stumbling could be heard as Suki waited. The door opened and there was Jumin, in his grey hoodie and black sweatpants.

"O-oh! Y-you actually came! S-sorry I wasn't more..nice for this." Jumin stuttered.

Suki shook her head. "It's okay. I don't mind. Are your parents home?"

Jumin shook his head. "Nah. They go on dates sometimes, so we have the...house to ourselves."

A small blush crossed his face as he opened the door completely for Suki to enter.

Suki walked in and they walked to Jumin's room. Suki carefully took her seat on Jumin's bed as he leaned against the desk.

"So...whadda wanna do? I have some old games if you wanna play 'em. Or read comics?"

"Um, actually...I wanted to talk."

Jumin tilted his head, a bit confused.

"T-talk? About what?"

"Nothing specific. Just talk."

Jumin shook a bit. "Oh, yeah see, I'm not good with talking in general, let alone talking about...basically nothing." Jumin admitted nervously.

"That's fine. You can just ease into it."

Suki then stood and walked over to Jumin, moving his bangs to see his scar.

"Does it hurt?" Suki asked, caressing it a bit.

Jumin shook his head. "Not really. Just when I get headaches..."

"You get headaches now?"

"No. I get them when I pull all-nighters or just play too long."

"You should probably cut back on that.."

Jumin smirked a bit. "You sound just like Isas..."

The smirk fell and he looked down at his feet.

"Are you okay?"

Jumin bit his lip nervously, not being able to speak. Suki gently massaged his forehead to comfort him a bit.

"You can tell me. That is...if you want. It's your choice."

Jumin fiddled with his fingers for a bit before finally gaining the courage to voice his situation.

"I...I feel like it's my fault." He blurted out quietly.

Suki gazed at him quizzingly. Jumin looked up, his steel eyes glistening with tears that he was trying to fight back.

"I feel like it's my fault...Isas listened to all of my shit, all of my whining and crying. He listened. And that's all he did. Listen to me. Yet, I knew that his parents beat the ever living shit outta him...I knew he was going through the worst...and I...I did nothing. I never let him talk. I was never there to listen to him! None of this would have happened if I was just...I was just...better. "

Suki sighed, cupping Jumin's face in her hands.

"Jumin, this is not your fault! None of this is your fault! Isas....you couldn't have known...remember, he wanted you to be happy and that's why he didn't tell you! He did it to see you happy! Wasn't exactly the best way to handle it...but it is because he cares..."

Jumin smiled tearfully as he went to hug Suki.

Suki smiled sweetly, noticing Jumin taking comfort in her words.

Hermit Arcana: Rank 2

Jumin quickly broke away from the hug, nervously shoving his hands in his pockets.

"You know...I wouldn't mind playing some of your vintage video games." Suki then said.

Jumin lit up. "R-really?"

Suki nodded.

Jumin's smile grew. "O-okay!"

Jumin grabbed her hand and pulled her towards his little game corner and they began playing video games.

It turns out, I absolutely suck at video games...

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Suki woke up to find she was in the Velvet Room, or, at least, the room before entering the Velvet Room. She looked up to the doorway and saw Lazuli, excitingly walking into her hospital room.

"Hello! It's so wonderful to see you again!" He greeted her happily.

Suki smiled. "It's wonderful to see you as well, Lazuli."

Lazuli absolutely glowed once she said that. Even with his small stature, Lazuli managed to pick her up and placed her in the wheelchair beside her bed, beginning to wheel her out of the room.

"I apologize for this, but Master wants to make sure you're properly rested from your first fight! That's why we took so long to get you here!"

"It's fine, Lazuli. I don't mind."

Lazuli smiled as he wheeled her into the Velvet Room and quickly took his place beside Igor, who seemed happy to see her.

"Welcome back. It has been awhile since your last visit to this place. We are delighted to have you return."

Suki bowed her head. "It's a delight to be back."

"It seems in only your first few days, you have managed to created many strong bonds and even saved the life of your new friend. This quick of development is not very common in most fools. I am impressed."

Suki lit up in excitement, and so did Lazuli.

"But, you still have a long way to go on your own recovery. Just because you save others does not mean you can neglect yourself."

Suki's excitement faded a bit. She knew what Igor was referring to...but it just could not be done. Not now, at least.

"Well, your time here with us is over. I hope to see you again-"

"U-uh, M-Master?" Lazuli broke in, "May I...ask her?"

Igor chuckled. "Of course, Lazuli."

Lazuli squealed as he rushed over to Suki and wheeled her out quickly, causing her to grip the sides of the wheelchair.

"W-woah! Lazuli!"

"I-I'm sorry! I just...Master allowed me to ask you something once we were finished."

Suki looked up at him, quizzingly. "Ask me what?"

Lazuli blushed a bit. "I...you see the seven doors around Master's desk?"

Suki nodded.

"Well....Master allowed me access to the rooms and...I was wondering if you would like to venture with me into the rooms."

Suki could see his eyes were basically pleaded for her to go, so, she nodded.

"Yes. I will go with you."

Lazuli squealed, jumpy as could be. "Oh thank you! This is so wonderful!" He exclaimed.

I can sense a bubbling excitement inside of Lazuli...

Lazuli continued to smile and placed Suki back in the bed.

"I'll see you soon, Suki..." His voice said as she began to fade into unconsciousness.

"See you soon, Lazuli..." Suki mumbled as she fell asleep again.

"Such a lucky fool..."

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Late into the night, Isas spent a good amount of his time in the Toxic Isles and became very exhausted but was satisfied.

At least half of the town was safe now thanks to him not resting like everyone told him to.

He was now tired and was already walking home when he heard something.

It sounded like...someone was crying.

A bit worried, he made a detour, walking towards the green, murky rivers to find...a boy.

He seemed about three years younger than him, with blonde hair, toxic green eyes, almost the shade of the rivers, and...naked and covered in patches of tree bark. He was crying, hugging his knees to his chest.

Isas was taken aback, somewhat fearing if he was a shadow or a human that was somehow mutated in the river. He carefully crept towards the boy, trying not to startle him.

Feeling the vibrations under his feet, the boy looked up in fear and moved back, heart pumping fast and breathing heavily.

"N-no! I wanted to see if you-!"

"P-PERSONA! P-PROTECT ME!" He commanded as his fear faded and was replaced with a threatening glare.

Within the blink of an eye, the boy summoned his persona,

Isas stepped back, not fighting back not out of fear or defense. He chose not to fight him. The boy was confused.

"Y-you're...you're not gonna...fight me?" He asked, confused.

Isas shook his head. "N-no...I'm not. I...that's not who I am."

The boy softened as his persona disappeared. He signed in defeat and went back to sitting down.

"I'm pathetic, aren't I? Sitting here, crying in front of some random stranger....I suck!" The boy exclaimed.

Isas sighed and sat next to him. "You do not "suck". You just...are more peaceful rather than a fighter. You are a nice person."

The boy smiled, comforted by his words. Isas smiled back at him, until he realized that the boy was still naked.

He blushed and reached into the backpack he had brought with him, taking out some extra clothes and handing them to him.

"Here. Put these on." He said.

The boy tilted his head. "Why?"

" 'Why?' Because, you-you are-do you-? Where did you come from?"

The boy looked over his shoulder and pointed into the river. "I came out of there..."

Isas' eyes widened. "O-oh dear..."

"Something wrong?" The boy asked.

Isas shook his head. "N-nothing. It's-It is nothing...just, put on the clothes."

"I-I can't..." The boy whispered, wincing a bit.

"Why not?"

"T-the things...on my skin...hurts to touch or even graze..."

Isas thought for a moment, placing a singular finger to his chin, until a very risky idea popped into his head.

"Come with me."

"W-where are we-?"

"A better place."

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"AAAH!!! STOP! STOP! IT HURTS!"

Isas shushed the boy, for his yelling would wake the entire house. They were currently in one of the many bathrooms in Isas' house, using a scalpel to rid the boy of the bark on his skin and the tub to help flush out the blood.

"Please bear with me. This is the last one."

The boy, with tearful eyes and a quivering lip, nodded, gripping the sides of the tub to ready himself.

Isas took the scalpel and slowly and shakily peeling off the last piece of bark on his leg.

"AAAHHH!!" The strange male screamed.

Isas sighed in relief. "There. All done."

The male gasped for air in relief as Isas drained the tub and handed him a towel.

"T-thank you for doing this..um...person. Sorry I was so unbearable..."

Isas shook his head. "You were not unbearable. You were just in pain, which is completely understandable. And it's Isas."

"What is Isas?"

"My name. It is what others call me." Isas explained.

"Oh! But then...what will I be called? What's my name?"

"Hmm...that's right. You do not have a name, do you? Hmm...oh! What about ? That sounds like a good name for you."

He smiled. "I like it! Let's call me that!"

Isas chuckled. "Very well, Yasahiro it is then!"

Yasahiro smiled widely. "Yay!"

Isas smiled, then yawned, stretching out his long arms.

"What's wrong? Why are you doing that with you body?"

"Stretching. I am exhausted from fighting..."

"You fight a lot?"

Isas smiled and awkwardly shrugged. "I do...I am the Prince of Impaling, I guess you could say."

Yasahiro lit up, even though he had no idea what that entire sentence meant.

Isas let out his hand to him. "Come, I will introduce you to clothing and sleep."

Yasahiro smiled. "I-I'd really like that."

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