Persona 5: The Delinquent and his lover: Full Edition

So Close, Yet So Far

Sae was sitting at her desk, fiddling impatiently with a pen while making a call. It went to voicemail, again . Two days had passed since she called Toshinawa's office and they still hadn't sent her anything. No files, no records, no calls. The defense attorney had never even picked up.

If they think not answering my calls is going to be enough to stop me, then they don't know who Sae Niijima is.

Sae searched her contacts and dialed another number.

"Hello, Takashi speaking"

"Hello Takashi-san, this is Sae Niijima"

"Sae-chan!? God it's been ages since I heard from you. How are you? And How's Mako-chan? Everything alright?"

Sae sighed. Did he really just treat her like a kid? She thought it couldn't be helped. Takashi-san had known them since they were little, when he worked with their father.

"We're fine. You know how it is. Work keeps me busy and her studies do the same for Makoto."

"Of course, of course. Now tell me, how can I help you Sae-chan? Don't think you called to make small talk"

"You're right Takashi-san. I need a favor. I'm investigating the case of a sixteen year old boy who was convicted for assault. The thing is, I'm being blocked. The publicly available file is incomplete, the lawyers involved in the case won't return my calls and I think someone's hiding something."

"Ummm yeah, sounds like it. Who's the boy? He the son of someone big or something?"

"No, his family is completely unremarkable. He seemed to be a normal boy, no prior record, not even a single complaint"

"Right, lemme guess, victim's name and nature of the assault, all redacted right?"

"Right"

"Then the victim is the big shot, or at least related to someone like that. They swept it under the rug to protect 'em, you know, their image and stuff. Sounds like your kid got screwed"

"Yes, with the information I have, that's the only conclusion that seems to make sense, but I really need to be sure"

"But Sae-chan, if the SIU can't get the information, then no one can. Don't know how I'd be of any help"

"Well, turns out the arrest was processed by your precinct. I wanted to ask you to look into your files and see if anything comes up. Could you do that for me?"

"Sure thing! Anything for Niijima-senpai's daughter. What's the boy's name?"

"Last name Kurusu, first name Akira. Thank you Takashi-san."

"Right. Call you when I get something."

Sae hung up. She slammed her cellphone on the table.

"Anything for Niijima-senpai's daughter". Anything? Really? Like, I don't know, help this orphaned daughter in some way, any way after her father's passing? Maybe at least check in with a call, do even the bare minimum for the family of the man that saved your life more than once?

Sae took a long breath. It served no purpose being mad at Dad's old buddies in the force. They all had their lives to take care of, She couldn't expect anyone to take care of hers and her sister's as well.

At least he had agreed to look up the arrest file for her and the conversation had also served to further confirm her suspicions.

A package was delivered to her desk. It was the school information Miss Shuni had promised. Sae began reading. It contained detailed academic reports for each year Akira had studied in Ichimakase high, along with information about clubs and any extracurricular activities he was involved with.