Fortunately they weren't actually late to school, and Ruto still had about ten minutes before class officially started. Which was good, because he needed ten minutes.
He quickly hurried towards his classroom, pushing open the door to reveal that luck was finally on his side today.
Yusuke was there, sitting in his usual seat behind Ruto, next to the window.
"Ah, Ruto," said Yusuke, smiling at him as he approached. That was unusual. Yusuke wasn't generally much of a smiler. "I was worried you might be late again today."
"I'm not always late," Ruto protested, sliding into his seat, then turning it to face Yusuke. "Besides, you're hardly one to talk."
"My lateness is purely in service of my artistic spirit," said Yusuke, turning his nose up.
"Oh yeah? I guess the vending machines have nothing to do with it, huh?"
"You never know when someone might have left something in the bottom," said Yusuke, deadly serious. "It's important to check, Ruto. Practically my civic duty."
"Is it also your civic duty to eat what you find people have left in the vending machines?"
"Well how else will they learn if they aren't punished?"
Ruto chuckled, but it was forced. Kind of had to be, now he knew… "Couldn't you just ask Madarame for more money?"
"Ah," said Yusuke, suddenly reluctant to meet his eyes. "Sensei is very poor, you know that, Ruto. It's part of the lifestyle he lives."
"Right," said Ruto.
That was Yusuke's response every time. "Sensei is poor," "He's providing accommodation for me and that's enough," "It's selfish to ask for more."
It probably wouldn't bug him so much if he didn't recognise the rhetoric from the very same excuses he'd used about his own substandard parents. But he'd known what they were from the start—that was the difference. He just didn't want people poking about in his private life, worrying about him. Yusuke, on the other hand… he seemed to genuinely believe what he was saying. And now he knew Madarame had a Palace… it was only that much more troubling.
The fact Yusuke seemed particularly cheerful didn't bode well either, albeit, for a different reason…
"Alright class, settle down," grumbled Mr Murakami as he strolled in. "It's class time now."
Ruto needed to talk to him at lunch. There had seemed to be something stirring for a while now in his manner, and though he seemed happy enough at the moment… Ruto had a feeling it wouldn't be too long until all hell broke loose.
Yusuke was still in relatively high-spirits by the time lunch rolled around. It was enough of a change from his usual dour demeanour that Ruto felt he really ought to ask about it.
"Did something good happen this weekend?" he asked, sitting down next to Yusuke, near the vending machines.
"Madarame is pleased with how my work is progressing," said Yusuke, sipping his tea. "Your help has been invaluable, Ruto, so I thank you."
Madarame again. If he was pleased, that meant he wasn't hurting Yusuke at least, so that was something but… how long would it last? He'd been so melancholy when they first met…
"There's no need for that," said Ruto. "I've said it before, I'll say it again: I'm always happy to help a friend."
And it was important Yusuke knew Ruto considered him a friend—if things went as bad as Ruto suspected they could, he needed to make sure Yusuke understood where they were. Ruto could extend all the offers of help in the world, but it wouldn't work if Yusuke didn't trust him. He was the one he was trying to assist by looking into this, after all.
"A… friend?" said Yusuke, quietly. He seemed almost… distressed by the suggestion. "Is that how you think of me, Ruto?"
"Yes—is there something wrong with that?"
He suspected he already knew what was going through Yusuke's head: that he'd never had friends, that no one seemed to like him, so why would Ruto of all people consider him a friend? It wasn't fair, of course—Yusuke had done nothing wrong—probably still didn't fully understand why he was so isolated, why his relationship with Madarame went through such consuming ups and downs he could barely focus on anything else but… he would understand eventually. Once Madarame was safely out of the way.
"No," Yusuke murmured, finally putting himself together enough to speak, "it's just… No one's ever really… What with my art and everything I…"
"It's okay," said Ruto. "I understand what you're getting at."
And he did. Even though it hurt like a blade to his heart every time.
Yusuke gave a short chuckle, trying to hide his former distress, then straightened up again. "Ah, you're a good friend, Ruto. You always seem to know just what to say to get me out of my slumps."
"Well, knowing what to say is a prodigious talent of mine," said Ruto, grinning at him.
The tension had straightened out again. For now, anyway.
Yusuke smiled back before growing suddenly serious again. "You know, if it isn't too much trouble, could I ask you to look over some of my artwork yourself this afternoon? I feel I would benefit from your opinion on it."
"Sure thing," said Ruto.
Fortunately Futaba had been mostly sated by the attention he'd given her last week, so he wouldn't have to worry about her complaining about it for a while. Wait… today was a Monday though, wasn't it? Curse his hellish schedule.
"I'll have to leave at six though," he said sheepishly, "that's when my shift starts."
"Oh yes, you have many part-time jobs, don't you, Ruto?" said Yusuke, sounding a little surprised. "Are you sure it's wise to work so much with your arm still…?"
"It's almost fully healed now," said Ruto, which was perfectly true. "Don't worry, I'll be there to look at your paintings."
"I look forward to it," said Yusuke, flashing him one last smile before heading back to class.
Madarame was as absent as usual when Yusuke guided him back to the huge shack where they resided. But for once, Ruto's mind was not focused on Madarame. No. Right now it was focused on the picture Yusuke had decided to show him. The picture he'd asked him to model for when they first met.
"Well it's… certainly dramatic," he managed to croak.
The word he really wanted to use was "unnerving". Yusuke had asked to use him as a model, but Ruto hadn't exactly had a good view of the canvas while Yusuke was painting, and now… now there was this.
Yusuke's painting was of an ominous scene; a sunset over a blackened plain, and at the peak of it—the centre of the piece—stood a tall, cloaked figure, with piercing red eyes. It was him. But it wasn't the version of himself he generally showed to Yusuke. In fact, it was a very specific version—one he would have recognised no matter in what context he'd seen it. This was strange. Very strange.
"How did you arrive at the theme?" he wondered, leaning a little closer to the picture.
"I'm not sure," said Yusuke, watching him from the corner. "When we first met I was simply struck very powerfully with a vision of a figure like the one you see in the painting—so of course, I knew I had to enlist your help to bring it to life."
"Should such a figure be brought to life?" Ruto wondered.
"Ah, perhaps you are right," Yusuke chuckled. "He does look quite ominous, doesn't he? But I think there's a certain air of triumph about him."
There was certainly an air of something about him, that was for sure. Death and destruction, if you asked Ruto. Maybe this was what people were complaining about when they said he looked too intense…
"He's… certainly unyielding," he said.
"I'm glad you agree," said Yusuke, smiling.
Yusuke certainly didn't seem on the verge of accusing him of being a trans-dimensional murderer, so that was something, but still… the figure in the picture looked so similar to his outfit in the Metaverse he couldn't help but wonder…
If he has been to the Metaverse, then it is purely by accident, said Arsène. He would surely have confronted you by now if it was otherwise.
He had a point. It wasn't like Yusuke had any reason to shield him, like Wakaba did, after all.
"I was meaning to ask," said Ruto, eager to get away from the strange picture as a topic of conversation as soon as possible, "your mentor's having an exhibition soon, isn't he? Do you know when it'll be?"
"Oh, are you taking an interest?" asked Yusuke, looking pleased. "I didn't know you had a genuine appreciation of the arts, Ruto."
He felt slightly bad deceiving Yusuke in this way—well, if deceiving was the right word, it wasn't like he disliked art—but his true reason for wanting to go had little to do with aesthetics. Madarame would be at the exhibition—there was no doubt about it—and Ruto needed to meet him in-person. It was a number of things; establishing more clearly how he saw Yusuke, testing how good his personable mask was, and most importantly—making sure Madarame remembered his face. He had to know who Ruto was for the threat of brainwashing to be most effective, after all.
He could do it without seeing his victims in-person, of course, but it was just such a hassle when the man was right there.
"Well, I can't say I don't enjoy a walk around a gallery," said Ruto, with a smirk, "and besides, I thought we could go together when it opens."
"Oh!" said Yusuke, his eyes widening. "Well, if that's what you want I could hardly refuse. Of course I will take you!"
"You… still haven't told me when it is."
Not too long, with any luck.
"Ah, yes," said Yusuke, closing one eye in embarrassment. "It begins on Saturday the 14th of May, I believe."
"Then I'll be happy to come."
Providing nothing went wrong in the interim, of course.