Persona 5: Wilted Rose (Joker X Ann Takamaki. Hanahaki Disease)

Chapter 28: To Find A Killer

Inside the Palace, the ruler has been defeated and the Treasure has been claimed.

Sophia: So, this is a Treasure. It's a bit similar to a Desire.

Akira: Yeah basically.

Sophia: I see.

Morgana: We grab that and escape the Palace. Also, this place is going to crumble now. And we won't be able to come back here. So start running.

Akira: Yep.

Morgana: Like now.

Sophia: Oh. *sprints away with the others*

Everyone makes their escape

Akira: *huff huff* That was close. Everyone here?

Morgana: We're all here.

Sumire: Where's Sophia?

Sophia: On Akira's phone.

Sumire: Oh right I forgot you go back there once we enter the real world. I'm still not used to this.

Akira: It takes a while to get used to.

Ann: Yep. We have to get used to it again since it's been a while.

Ryuji: I'm sure we'll get used to it again.

Makoto: Now that I think about it. What had Zenkichi been up to?

Ryuji: I think just police stuff.

Haru: Do you think we might run into him again?

Akira: Most likely.

Sumire: Zenkichi?

Akira: The cop guy I told you about.

Sumire: Oh right. I'm still surprised you worked with the police. I thought you didn't like them.

Haru: We don't. But Zenkichi-san is a good cop.

Akira: And it depends if he gets involved with this case or not.

Morgana: He only got involved last time cause people were having a change of heart not from us.

Akira: But if it's true, this evil persona user is making Palaces. I'm surprised the media hasn't covered anything about it.

Futaba: Why would they? None of them know the Metaverse exists since everyone forgot what happened with Yaldabaoth. Even when someone has a Palace they don't show signs of one in the real world for normal people to see. Plus the people whose heart we're changing are just small-time people. Not enough to warrant the media in it.

Akira: Good point, but someone would have had to notice. That or they don't care enough.

Futaba: I'm pretty sure with what's going on with humanity that they're too focused on the nonimportant news to even notice us.

Akira: True, too much stuff going on.

Ryuji: If we only had a lead of some kind. The victims of Palaces so far don't even have anything in common.

Haru: The previous ones were common because of love.

Akira: Could be related to the target we're after. Is it out of spite?

Ryuji: If only we knew how a killer thinks we could be closer to finding out.

Everyone looks at Akechi.

Akechi: What?

Akira: Got any idea how to find this person since you know so much?

Akechi: Hmph. Well, an idea they could be doing is hiding in plain sight. For all we know they could be some random civilian we wouldn't suspect since they fit in with the crowd.