FeMC Scenarios [Persona 5 Royal]

#GORO AKECHI [Dietman and the Silent Requester]

... In which Akechi brings a special Mementos request to Rin's attention that reveals itself to be more than she bargained for... and might even cast a new light on Akechi himself, and how much he actually cares, despite the aloof façade. [Based on the unused Mementos request that should not have remained unused.]

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I pull out my phone without giving it too much thought... the lesson's just ended and I've made a habit of checking on people after school, especially since there's hardly anything else to do, these days.

I don't feel like going into the palace today—and we took care of the two new Mementos requests a couple days ago. Being back at school after the whole episode with Yaldabaoth and Maruki's taking over feels almost unreal... unfortunately, that's no excuse to slack on it, as Makoto keeps reminding us.

My heart skips a beat when I make out the name in the only text notification that's hovering on my screen.

—Do you have a moment? I'd like to share something interesting.

I find myself unable to not smile. Akechi hasn't actually texted me like this in ages, not on his own accord. It is always I who has to chase after him if I want to hang out, and he's not making it easy for me. Though it is undeniably fun, and all part of his eternal game that he's so adamant to keep playing with me, I do wish he'd reverse our roles once in a while.

I know that he cares—deep down, I do, no matter how aloof and unapproachable he is acting. I've seen it—but it would be nice if he could remind me, show me himself. Just once more.

—I'm listening.

I can't help but reply at once. It takes a few minutes, but I'm no further than the hallway when my phone buzzes again.

—There's a certain man in police custody, awaiting trial...

—His accuser is a member of the Diet. According to his claims, the man assaulted him.

—But I suspect they're false charges. Something about the accusation doesn't ring true.

I stare at my phone, blink once, twice... What Akechi is saying is completely unrelated to anything regarding a potential wish to see me, but... For some reason, it's still resonating with me. The fact that he brings this to my attention—

"A false charge by a Diet member?" Morgana is peeking over my shoulder at my screen. "Wait, that's just like..."

—Perhaps you can sympathize.

I understand, just when the next of Akechi's texts arrives.

—After all, it's not too far removed from your own unfortunate story.

—With one crucial difference:

—Why hasn't the accused spoken up in his own defense?

—At this rate, a guilty verdict seems inevitable.

—There has to be some hidden reason behind all this.

I barely keep up reading with how fast he is typing. Even through the emotionally neutral screen, I can sense Akechi's agitation about this. In fact, I feel more emotion coming through from him than I have in a while.

Recently, he's been so good at keeping up his emotional walls that I realize I started having doubts whether there is actually something he cares about. Whether he cares about me the way I do about him, or whether I'm really just bothering him like he keeps saying.