Fortunately they weren't actually late to school, and Renko still had about ten minutes before class officially started. Which was good, because she needed ten minutes.
She quickly hurried towards her classroom, pushing open the door to reveal that luck was finally on her side today.
Yusuke was there, sitting in his usual seat behind Renko, next to the window.
"Ah, Renko," said Yusuke, smiling at her 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," Renko protested, sliding into her 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, Renko. 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?"
Renko chuckled, but it was forced. Kind of had to be, now she knew… "Couldn't you just ask Madarame for more money?"
"Ah," said Yusuke, suddenly reluctant to meet her eyes. "Sensei is very poor, you know that, Renko. It's part of the lifestyle he lives."
"Right," said Renko.
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 her so much if she didn't recognise the rhetoric from the very same excuses she'd used about her own substandard parents. But she'd known what they were from the start—that was the difference. She just didn't want people poking about in her private life, worrying about her. Yusuke, on the other hand… he seemed to genuinely believe what he was saying. And now she 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."
Renko 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… Renko 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 Renko felt she really ought to ask about it.
"Did something good happen this weekend?" she 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, Renko, 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 Renko. "I've said it before, I'll say it again: I'm always happy to help a friend."
And it was important Yusuke knew Renko considered him a friend—if things went as bad as Renko suspected they could, she needed to make sure Yusuke understood where they were. Renko could extend all the offers of help in the world, but it wouldn't work if Yusuke didn't trust her. He was the one she 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, Renko?"
"Yes—is there something wrong with that?"
She suspected she 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 Renko 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 Renko. "I understand what you're getting at."
And she did. Even though it hurt like a blade to her heart every time.
Yusuke gave a short chuckle, trying to hide his former distress, then straightened up again. "Ah, you're a good friend, Renko. 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 Renko, 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 Renko.
Fortunately Futaba had been mostly sated by the attention she'd given her last week, so she wouldn't have to worry about her complaining about it for a while. Wait… today was a Monday though, wasn't it? Curse her hellish schedule.
"I'll have to leave at six though," she said sheepishly, "that's when my shift starts."
"Oh yes, you have many part-time jobs, don't you, Renko?" 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 Renko, which was perfectly true. "Don't worry, I'll be there to look at your paintings."
"I look forward to it," said Yusuke, flashing her one last smile before heading back to class.
***
Madarame was as absent as usual when Yusuke guided her back to the huge shack where they resided. But for once, Renko's mind was not focused on Madarame. No. Right now it was focused on the picture Yusuke had decided to show her. The picture he'd asked her to model for when they first met.
"Well it's… certainly dramatic," she managed to croak.
The word she really wanted to use was 'unnerving'. Yusuke had asked to use her as a model, but Renko 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 her. But it wasn't the version of herself she generally showed to Yusuke. In fact, it was a very specific version—one she would have recognised no matter in what context she'd seen it. This was strange. Very strange.
"How did you arrive at the theme?" she wondered, leaning a little closer to the picture.
"I'm not sure," said Yusuke, watching her 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?" Renko wondered.
"Ah, perhaps you are right," Yusuke chuckled. "She does look quite ominous, doesn't she? But I think there's a certain air of triumph about her."
There was certainly an air of something about her, that was for sure. Death and destruction, if you asked Renko. Maybe this was what people were complaining about when they said she looked too intense…
"She's… certainly unyielding," she said.
"I'm glad you agree," said Yusuke, smiling.
Yusuke certainly didn't seem on the verge of accusing her of being a trans-dimensional murderer, so that was something, but still… the figure in the picture looked so similar to her outfit in the Metaverse she 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 her, like Wakaba did, after all.
"I was meaning to ask," said Renko, 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, Renko."
She felt slightly bad deceiving Yusuke in this way—well, if deceiving was the right word, it wasn't like she disliked art—but her 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 Renko 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 her face. He had to know who Renko was for the threat of brainwashing to be most effective, after all.
She could do it without seeing her 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 Renko, 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.