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"N-No wonder why she left me for him. I wasted my whole fucking life just to become a w-washed up businessman." A mirthless smile forces itself onto his face. "A w-washed up FUCK who kept having hissy fits in front of people. I can't even act like a professional anymore." Any semblance of rage has now crumbled away, breaking into choking sobs interlaced with hiccups.
You can't stand by and just watch him beat himself up like this. You wrap your arms around his chest and pull him into a hug. A sob catches in his throat. <<span class="mu-b">"This feels...nice?"</span>>
"Calm down." You gently pat him on the back. "No one is going to hurt you here. It's just you and me. Take a deep breath and listen to me, okay?" All you get in response is a mutter out of him.
The two of you stand there in silence for a moment before you start to speak to him, "I'm not going to judge or blame you for how you acted lately. It was a rough mission. But you're not a worthless, washed up businessman. You know why?"
"huh?" He chokes out.
"You helped us out a LOT. Getting information out of those Krakatos, finding all of that paper work or, hell, getting that rich fuck to actually help us? Could someone washed up and worthless do that?" You give your best smile to him. "I can't say I know you as well as she did but wanna know what I see?"
"I see someone who pulled his weight and got shit DONE. You're probably the only one here with all of his screws in our little group. I don't blame you at ALL for having a hissy fit at all of the nonsense that happened but-" You grab his face and force him to look you in the eyes.
"You have to keep pushing forward, okay? You can show them how wrong they are for mistreating you! You can show them your true potential, Maru! I know you have it in you!" You might've been a bit too thick with this last bit but it's best to keep up the energy. "Am I wrong?"
There's dead silence for a moment. You're worried you said something wrong but that worry disappears as the man who was sobbing moments ago <span class="mu-g">laughs.</span> There's no anger or sadness in it, it's a completely genuine one.
"You really are a fucking nutcase, huh?"
"I'm not hearing a no!" You coo back.
"Fine, fine." He sighs with a small smile on his face. "You're right. I guess I was holding back those pent up feelings for so long it just sorta burst out. That old bastard was just an easy scapegoat for me."
"Hey, I'm not telling you to like him. You can hate him all you want. You just need to channel that anger into something practical, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks, by the way." "What for?" "For listening to me scream like a lunatic."
"It's no biggie." You chuckle. "You really needed that, huh?" <span class="mu-g">The tension that once drenched this man's whole body has disappeared.</span> You don't think he even realizes you're still hugging him.
>+2 RAPPORT TO MARUYAMA!
"HEY!" You hear someone in the distance. "WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? ARE YOU OKAY???" Well, this is going to be awkward.
