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[whiteshroud]

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[life_ethereal]

[Harumasa can't help a soft, bitter laugh.]

They'd always been good at finding ways to twist something into a poison. [A pause.] ... Of all the kids I tried to help, Luke's... I'll never know if I made the right decision or if I was just being a self-righteous teenager.

[He rests his free arm across his chest while he thinks. This is a delicate place they've found themselves in. Precarious in some ways.

But Harumasa remembers a small hand gripping tight to his hand and a small child looking up at him with trust... and hope. Something in his chest constricts painfully.]

We should, but we shouldn't be the ones to make the decision for him. They're horrific, but they are his. We'll need to approach this carefully. Spooking Luke with the knowledge that we know him could run the risk of him remembering without anyone to support him through it.

[whiteshroud]

[....]

You did. [He sounds certain about that] Luke was a gentle child. Had he not been sent away, he wouldn't have survived. Even if the river waters you sent on him were choppy and left their mark, he was still delivered to safety. That's what matters.

[Sometimes there aren't better options. Jun can recognize the reality of their situation back then. Luke was always so timid, hiding behind Haru's back the way he did. A child like that could only last for so long in that hellish place.

... And it sounds like Harumasa fully plans to try to get involved rather than leave things be. Welp, he had a feeling. But if this is the informed decision he's making, then Jun will comply with it.]

Mm... [He considers] Well, if you want to get to know him without spooking him, the easiest way to do this is through the college. He has classes there.

You can sit in on my classes. I don't usually draw attention to myself, so with our "family resemblance" you could probably pass off as me to the normal faculty. That should give you an in to track him down.

[life_ethereal]

[Jun's conviction is surprising to him, but it does help to ease an old, barely healed wound in his heart. He carries a lot of guilt in his heart and a lot of questions to decisions he's made to protect whoever he could. Hearing this helps to add another stitch to close the wound.]

Thanks, Jun. I hope he feels the same way, but I won't blame him for feeling resentment or disappointment with me.

[Harumasa will accept that consequence if it occurs. At least Luke's alive to feel that way.

He thinks about the proposition. It'll be suspicious if he suddenly shows up in class so soon after finding out about Luke. But....]

That might work if we time it for after our vacation. I've been thinking about taking a class or two anyway, either over summer or for the fall semester. Sitting in will at least be a genuine look into what classes I might be willing to take. Maybe not the bio class, though. I got a funny feeling that Apollo will make that first day interesting if I accidentally pick a certain professor.

[Aww, but isn't that the class with the beautiful professor with the cold eyes? I was really hoping to get to know him....]

Yeah, no, Apollo confirmed to me just now that taking biology will be a bad idea.

1/2

[whiteshroud]

[Jun frowns at that.]

No, you're not going to be a punching bag for his stupidity. If he wants to take out his bitterness out on you, I'll deal with him.

I can quickly show him why you made the call you did.

[He's going to WISH Ash just sat on him if it gets to that. But he knows Harumasa beats himself up enough without some spoiled brat adding to it. ]

2/2

[whiteshroud]

[And as for Apollo..... he just sighs.]

Yeah, we're ruling out my biology classes then. Professor Maple's boyfriend sits in on that class as the professor's service animal, and he owns mechs so...

You can come to my other classes. Just be careful of Dr. Ratio. He's on the app and sharp, so if anyone notices something off, it's him.

[switchaxe]

Wait. Blade's a fucking pomsky?!

[life_ethereal]

His boyfriend is Blade?!

[switchaxe]

Oh, yeah, you weren't here for that. One of 'em is, yeah, Blade's cool. And apparently a fuckin' pomsky.

[whiteshroud]

...."One of them"? Who's the other?

[switchaxe]

Not entirely sure, but I think the white haired one. Last time I dropped Orthie off at the daycare he was there, and I could smell Blade on him.

[whiteshroud]

Ah, that must be Acacia. He likes being in the daycare.

[it could be also riku but... Riku has silver hair and honestly he doesn't trust Riku to have enough rizz to have two boyfriends]

That explains some things at least.

[switchaxe]

Like...?

[whiteshroud]

[....]

You guys didn't know?

[NO SHIT THEY DIDN'T KNOW JUN YOU NEVER TELL ANYONE ANYTHING]

[switchaxe]

I knew he was datin' Blade and that one other guy but not that Blade was a pomsky.

[whiteshroud]

Haha.... guess his act as a pomsky is just that convincing! Good.

[life_ethereal]

No, I didn't know, and now I really have to avoid him! Apollo opened his big mouth when I met Blade in person about my bow.

[whiteshroud]

What.

Is Apollo deadset on flirting with EVERY adult male in my life? What exactly did he say to Blade?

[life_ethereal]

It's only a matter of time before he flirts with Furina and then my life will be over.

[Oh, Harumasa remembers what Apollo said. It's burned into his brain, unfortunately.]

Do you really wanna know?

[Do you, Jun?]

[whiteshroud]

[...]

Yes.

[A thousand times yes]

[life_ethereal]

[Ah. Thinking about it that way, this does make sense.]

That's fair, given my history. Alright, in the event that happens, I'll let you handle it.

[He'll concede that point to Jun. Harumasa won't defend himself against those kinds of accusations. So, he'll need to rely on his siblings for that this time.]

Well... I guess I'll have to take my chances. I've seen him listed under an ethics class I was interested in for the summer, so I guess this will be a test run.

[whiteshroud]

Alright.

You're a good brother. I wouldn't trade you for any brother in the world.

[Its a belief he holds firmly in his heart, no matter what Harumasa might be feeling about himself]

Haha, pretty much. If you want to get on his good side, you should ask Varian. Varian's one of his favorite students.

[He doesn't sound bitter or jealous, but almost proud of that. Look at his boyfriend, winning the hearts of the difficult professors. Isn't he amazing?]

[life_ethereal]

[Oh. That catches him entirely off-guard. For a moment, he doesn't know what to say to that. However, there's soon a smile as he says:]

Haha... I think I needed to hear that. Thanks, little bro.

[Maybe Harumasa won't believe that himself just yet, but he trusts his siblings. If they say he's been a good brother to them, then he'll trust that until he can believe it for himself.]

He seems like he's a really good STEM student! I have a hard time imagining a professor not liking him. They'd have to have a heart of steel. But that's a good idea! I'll ask him.

[He'll be equally proud of Jun's partner!]

[whiteshroud]

Anytime.

[He figures Haru needs to it from time to time. He gets so caught up on his mistakes... not that Jun can talk much about that]

Mm, he takes his schooling very seriously. He even tutors Luke too, so it might not be a bad idea to get his take on the situation... that... I haven't explained to him yet.

[LOOK HE JUST FOUND OUT]

[life_ethereal]

[They're both guilty for it, but at least that makes it a little easier to recognize and step in before the mistakes consume them.

Well, that makes a lot of sense.]

It's alright. You only just found out, and it's been about 12 years since you saw him. Heck, even I had trouble recognizing him at first. I can come with you for that if you want. I might be able to answer any questions Varian might have.

[whiteshroud]

[He considers and shrugs. He doesn't have an issue talking to Varian by himself, but logistically speaking]

Eh, if you don't mind- it'd be best if you were there. You have questions for him anyway I'm sure.

[Get these birds hit with as few stones as possible]

I'll make a group chat and see if he wants to meet up or do it over network.