I am surprised and happy to say that the best influences on Hiroto during the 4th wall were Lucifel, Emet, Shrike, and Persephone to a degree(obviously they were not going to 'change him' over the course of 4th wall, but they planted good ideas in his head)
also q: would you like me to send you the setting chapter that was sent out to Exalted Essence backers? it's like, the lightest-weight Exalted primer I can think of at this point (since fuck reading the 650-page corebook)
from lucifel's perspective persephone would straight up not know what to do if hiroto just, genuinely changed as a person and stopped being as violent tried to take steps forward to being a better person etc
so he wouldn't feel bad if hiroto actually managed to do that much because 1. will it even happen? who knows and 2. if it does happen literally everyone will be flabbergasted.
that is not a situation anyone could possibly be prepared for BUT it is a situation that is a net benefit to everyone and persephone can handle telling hiroto No Forever
he does have a vested interest in hiroto becoming a better person because 1. he believes that would also change persephone's perspective of men's capability of changing / it would ultimately bring some level of like, hope/upward movement in his opinion to persephone's mindset about people in general
2. it's also kinda like. he's also out here hoping for the same effect on himself (which is also why he believes it would positively affect persephone, bc it is something that would give lucifel hope)
he at least has considered it heavily. Because he was like sitting there torn about going back home because he WANTS Persephone, but he is like. OBLIGATED to try to bring peace to the Hundred Kingdoms(he doesn't actually want to rule it)
so someone that Persephone loves being like "you don't know, maybe he would be capable of loving you if your attention wasn't split and you dedicated yourself to One Thing" was like
he also I'M SORRY TO TAKE OVER YOUR PLURK TO RAMBLE but he also begrudgingly does respect hiroto's dreams and it does make him really sad that hiroto 1. has to choose violence to do so (this is not judging hiroto) 2. has chosen to apply violence to the rest of his life (this IS judging hiroto)
so he's very like. as a person who shares a similar dream he can't say 'no your dream sucks' or like 'no i think lesser of you for it' and knowing hiroto has that sort of motivation makes him want to believe that hiroto is capable of change bc like. he does ultimately want nice things for everyone he's just kind of being an idiot about it
like he very does WANT to help. he does! But he can admit that it doesn't have to be only him, and he hopes he could start something better, even though he doesn't know if he'll see the finish line
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... that seems like a liethe copsmom and dog on speed diali mean you're right that i can't have both and i was just resigned to Persephone hating me foreverbut if he doesn't shit it's more complicated