Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 7

When having seen the two together Luka was a little impressed. He had never thought that the two would know each other – Akechi and that guy… The black haired one Luka had met at the arcade in Shibuya not too long ago. He had not seen much, only how the two went from place to place. Billiards or visiting a café together. Just the two of them as well! Actually, it was a little amusing and Luka didn’t mind in the end. Besides, one time has given him an amusing shot of Akechi. He looked so different though, most people couldn’t even tell that it was him. Messy hair and wearing glasses… It had a different vibe from the ‘Detective Prince’ he tried to portray whenever out in public. Apparently it hides this ‘princely charm’ or something? Eh, Luka isn’t someone to dwell on stuff like that. And honestly… What was so princely about a slimeball anyways? No, seriously… Sometimes Akechi may as well just have slime coming from his mouth with each word… It was just yucky. If that made sense. 

In any case, he just couldn’t hold in his laughter while looking at his phone screen, much to the detective’s annoyance. He wasn’t actually looking annoyed or anything like that but he had such a pained expression on his face. Embarrassment was written all over it! Actual embarrassment! And it was priceless honestly. It was rare to see the ‘princely figure’ like this. May as well enjoy it while it lasts.

“Hah… I cannot believe that you were around to see this…” Akechi sighed, the tone of defeat in his voice. And it made Luka only grin wider.

“I told you that I was just passing by and happened to spot you two~” He responded, making sure to keep up the cheerful expression one way or another. “And then I saw this and… Snap! Just like that. Oh, it was so funny to look at!”

“I cannot lie, I feel a little humiliated.” There was some stutter in his voice, as if he was holding something back. Luka could tell, having heard this tone in the voice before. But he didn’t comment on it nor showed a visible reaction. Otherwise… Who knows, he might be back at square one if Akechi noticed something. “Even a picture… Have you not heard of the word ‘privacy’?” Oh, now he was getting a little louder though, looking a little more serious than before. Yet he tried to keep it soft all the same. Was he trying not to snap? Hmm… What would happen if the beloved ‘Detective Prince’ were to snap? Curious… 

“Hey, it’s not as if I’m going to publish this anywhere.” He laughed. “It’s for private use only. A reward for being one of the few who were able to tell that this was the Akemi Goro~”

“It’s– Hah, nevermind…”

“Ah, I messed the name up again. Whoops. It’s just too hard to remember~” But was that even the truth from his own lips? Well… He wasn’t going to say anything. But Akechi seemed to be at the end of his wits here and that was funnier than it should have been. He almost pitied the detective here. Alright, topic change! Perfect timing actually! “Anyways, I see that you’re making another friend, huh?”

That had the other male look up at Luka again, expression calming down. “Making another friend?”

“Yeah. You and this guy are hanging around a lot.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve seen you around with that guy from Shujin more often. Also, you kinda stick out like a sore thumb. So it’s impossible to miss.”

A moment of silence. He had a good grasp of Akechi’s expression, so much so that he noticed even the tiniest of details. He was thinking, wasn’t he? Huh… Maybe there was more to it than he makes someone believe. Could it be? There was no proof but— 

“I wouldn’t go that far now Luka.” Akechi then responded… That irritating smile again. Stop looking like that! It’s freaking him out! Well, almost. “I just so happen to find him interesting.”

“Salty that he opened his big mouth?” The other guy joked, leaning a little forward with a small yet playful smirk. “That he had the balls for that? So you gotta put him in his place?”

“Now now, that’s taking it too far. Don’t you think?”

“Hey, I’m just saying. None of my business anyways.” It was true. It was none of Luka’s business and it will never be. “Have fun with him. But don’t forget about me either, alright?”

“I don’t think I could, even if I tried.”

“If not I will make sure that your schedule is packed personally!”

“Wh… What do you mean?”

“Hang outs. Lots of them. So it’s only your work, school and spending time with your buddy over here!” When saying the last part Luka pointed at himself. Though how was the reaction? 

One glance over there and it revealed it all, even if Akechi tried to mask it. Was there an actual hint of annoyance there? Hard to say but… Maybe there are some cracks here and there. One just has to push it… And if Luka gets to see the cracks then he might be a step closer. Ugh, why is this guy so hard to get close to!? The complete opposite of ‘so polite he is easy to approach’... For fuck’s sake.

“Alright, you made your point. I won’t forget about you.” He responded however, sounding calm and as if amused. “But don’t you have other friends to hang out with as well?”

“Yeah, a few buddies but…” But what? Honestly it was… Not the same. Something was different about this each time. Something which made Luka always come back for more. And besides, these were bonds out of necessity. They would break sooner or later, wouldn’t they? Yeah, that’s how it goes… He wasn’t going to tell Akechi that though. Instead Luka just added with a grin:

“ They’re all very busy too, you know. Our schedules don’t match up. ” How true was this though? Even Luka couldn’t help but wonder… 

“So I’m getting a little lonely sometimes. And this loneliness can only be cured by Akechi–Kun!” He added in a rather over dramatic fashion. Though that only earned him a sigh at most. 

“Do I have to drag you to my workplace too?”

“Would you!?”

“I don’t think I can, sorry.”

“Drat.”