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[codeoracle]

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[andtherevolution]

[Utena hasn't been at the house much lately, it's true, but it's not normal to go so long without seeing Futaba around. Maybe she's busy? She's probably just busy, but... She sighs, and gives her door a quick knock]

Futaba? It's me, Utena. Are you in there?

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[codeoracle]

The girl that knows Utena...

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[codeoracle]

[Futaba is definitely here. She has been for the past few days; that's mostly due to her having a stash of instant meals and sodas in her room. If anyone were to come in, they'd find her curled up on her bed, laptop in her lap and blankets draped over her liked a hooded cape.

She's half tempted to reply to Utena's knocking with a text message, but she thinks better of it after a moment.]

Yes. The door's open.

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[andtherevolution]

[Welp, here goes nothing. Utena opens the door and steps inside, pausing when she sees the Futaba-sized lump hidden underneath the covers. Has she been like that all day?

...maybe not. Utena puts her thoughts aside and walks towards the bed, settling down on the floor next to her.]

Hey. Long time, no see.

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[girlybruiser]

Anthy?
Why are you hiding from her?

[codeoracle]

Things have been busy.

[That's the understatement of the century. It feels like everything has been on a constant go for the past few weeks. That was what led her here, curled up in her room. It was all a bit too much at once.

She spares a peak out from her cocoon of blankets.]

...Hi.

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[codeoracle]

Too much. A lot is going on...

she knows Utena from their home right?

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[girlybruiser]

Yes, they are friends from school, I believe?

[ Haru is not grasping what the issue is... yet. ]

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[codeoracle]

I think she's the one that Utena told me about. They were close...

[And really that's a small part of all of this. She's just overwhelmed with all of this.]

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[girlybruiser]

Is that why you're hiding out in your room?
You don't need to worry about that, I think.

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[codeoracle]

Part of it.

There's also...I've been here almost two years. And mom's anniversary is soon...

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[girlybruiser]

[ Oh, Futaba... ]

May I come into your room?

[ This is better face-to-face than over text. ]

[andtherevolution]

[Utena gives her an awkward smile and a little wave]

Hey. There's always a lot going on here, huh? But if there's anything I can help with... well, I'm here.

[codeoracle]

It's a lot...of different things. I've almost been here two years...

[Thing one. Two years is both a lot of time and very little.]

But I'll be all right...

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[codeoracle]

The door is unlocked...

[That is the best and closest to an invitation as she's going to give.]

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[girlybruiser]

I will see you when I am home.

[ And as promised, as soon as Haru arrives home she heads straight to Futaba's room after taking her shoes off. Her coat is slung over her arm neatly, her free hand raised to knock lightly on the door. ]

Futaba-chan? Pardon the intrusion.

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[codeoracle]

[She was used to people the whole of the Phantom Thieves taking an unlocked door as an opening invitation. She had forgotten that, on her own, Haru was much more polite. At the very least, this forced her out of her blanket cocoon she had made in the past few days--a plus.

She cracks the door open, peeking out at her friend before opening it wider to let her in.]

You...could have come in. It's why I leave the door unlocked now...[A pause.] But uhm, thank you. For thinking to knock anyway...

[andtherevolution]

Two years... I guess we've both been here for a while.

[A pause. Idea.]

Hey, how about we go out? Just the two of us. I think I still owe you for the Valentine's chocolate, so...

[This might make her feel better? Hopefully?? Maybe???]

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[girlybruiser]

[ Back when her father was still alive, Haru's bedroom was one of the few places she could feel relatively safe in when she came home. Her father rarely intruded on her and Sugimura didn't dare step inside either. She recognizes the significance of having a place of privacy and would never want to disrespect that.

She steps inside, her eyes on Futaba the entire time. ]

Does Goro-kun know you've been hiding out in here this whole time?

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[codeoracle]

He doesn't. [The mention of her brother has her bristle, shoulders tense. There were reasons not to tell him, a link in their past that was still too dark to touch.]

I didn't want to bother him...

[It was the easier explanation.]

[codeoracle]

You...want to go out?

[Honestly, it wasn't an invitation she was expecting. Anthy was here, they probably had things to catch up on...But it does get her to smile a bit.]

Where would we go?

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[girlybruiser]

[ As soon as she's asked Haru realizes why Futaba wouldn't bring the subject up to him. She simply nods, understanding Futaba's unease. ]

You have a lot on your mind, don't you, Futaba-chan? It's alright, you can talk about whatever you would like with me.

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[codeoracle]

I wouldn't know where to start...

[She's back on her bed, knees drawn to her chest. At least she hasn't taken to burying herself under blankets again.]

...I want to do something for Mom, but I'm not sure what.

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[girlybruiser]

[ Haru meanders over to the bed and takes a seat, her own knees pressed together and hands laid on her lap all ladylike. She listens carefully to Futaba, observing how she's drawn into herself.

She knows the subject of her mother is an emotionally difficult one. Haru had only heard secondhand from the other Thieves here and there about how Futaba's Palace was a tomb and how much she had suffered over her mother's death. Haru only wishes she had joined the Thieves earlier so she could have helped Futaba then as she did in her father's Palace. ]

Something in memoriam? I see, I think that's a wonderful idea.

What kind of person was she?

[andtherevolution]

[It's true that most of her attention had been focused on Anthy since her arrival. However, Anthy had to go back to her home in Jeopardy eventually, and Utena had to face the people she had left in the dust. If Futaba is having problems, then she needs to make good on her promise.

For a moment she's afraid that Futaba's going to say no and retreat back under the covers, but when she smiles, Utena smiles back, relieved.]

We could go downtown to that malt shop, maybe grab a couple burgers... or maybe we could head to the Porter and see the other cities. This new arcade just opened up in De Chima - I haven't been there yet, but I heard it's pretty fun. Oh! And there's this coffee shop I found up in Maurtia Falls last month, if you just want to grab a couple drinks. We could go anywhere, really.