Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 12

It was quiet at the dinner table. The opposite of back then. It has been two years. No, three. Maybe?  Luka had lost count. The days just passed by. Nothing had been the same.

It was the day where the police had appeared at the doorstep. It was also during dinner time. Father had opened the door. No one had suspected a thing. After all, he was an innocent man. And yet a voice shouted: “You’re under arrest!”

It had all happened so fast. Anja had literally shot out of her seat. She ran over to the door. Not just she did but mother did so as well. “What’s going on!?” Both had asked in unison. But they could wait for their answer. One of the officers had led Father outside. The other officer then said: “We found evidence that this man is responsible for several crimes.”

“Crimes? My husband?” Mother asked in shock, the gasp more than audible. “You… You have to be mistaken! He would never–”

“Ma’m, are you doubting our word?”

“W… Well…”

“Yes she is!” Anja threw in. She had raised her voice. “And I’m too! Father would never—”

“Shut up brat!” The officer scoffed at her, then shot her a glare. Anja froze right after. She had not expected this. Though she would have countered with her tone. But her mother had held her back from saying anything rash. Though it was amazing how she managed to stay so calm. 

“Can you present any evidence to us?” Mother asked, sounding so cold when speaking to the officer. And yet it may as well be only to hold back her shouting. Ana could feel it as her mother had her hands on her daughter’s shoulder. She was grabbing them tightly. It hurt. It almost did. And yet the hands were also shaking in place. She was holding herself back here, wasn’t she? It was hard. If it was up to Anja she would just run up to one of the officers and punch them right in the face. And yet she couldn’t. She shouldn’t.

“Hah? Why do you wanna see it?” A question as a response, yet it was also how the officer had said it which irked Anja. That piece of shit, saying it as if to spite them. He even had a small grin on his face suddenly. “Your man’s a criminal. Nothing else you gotta know. But if you wanna see it…”

His gaze was disgusting. While not directed at Anja he was checking out her mother. The stomach turned, anyone’s would, and she could feel her mother shaking even more. Her grip tightened on her daughter’s shoulders before suddenly shoving her closer against her body. The hands wandered down around Anja’s wait and not seeming to let her go. The daughter didn’t see her mother’s face yet she didn’t have to. After all, her tone said it all, the near hiss audible. “Have you gone insane!? You are an officer, aren’t you!? Leave!”

“I gave you a choice woman.”

“I said leave! Right now!”

“Hah, suit yourself.”

Life has never been the same after this. Mother wanted to fight these accusations. After all, it had happened all of a sudden. But no lawyer would take them. And besides, they didn’t have the money for it. Things only went downhill since then – It first started with Father’s conviction before he had filed for a divorce. When the papers had arrived Mother was in utter shock and had asked him what this had been about. Yet his response… 

“ Please, Hilda dear, play along. Pretend that you were the one who filed for divorce. Cut all ties with me. Never speak to me or about me ever again. ”

“ But— ”

“ I’ll be fine… I promise. We will see each other again soon. ”

Yeah, their family has been torn apart since. Luka didn’t know why. He never wanted this. Mother never wanted this. But this was the state of things now. Things had become more silent. During the day things were lively. He was often talking to mother at the breakfast table and during lunch when both were home. But dinner time… Dinner has always been so quiet since then. One could only hear the cat munching on his own food away eagerly yet even he was not meowing as much as he used to. A contrast to any other time of the day.

When Luka wanted to speak up and say something it was just stuck in his throat. He wanted to say it. ‘ How do you think Dad’s doing? ’ But he decided to stop himself, knowing that this would probably crush mother again. She had broken out in tears several times, though only at home. Outside she was like she always was, pretending to be strong… But not for image’s sake. None of the Wolffs were ever the type of people to worry about something like that. It was for Father’s sake… Mother really hoped that he would return home soon, didn’t she? But sitting around and wait… Well, to be fair, what was she supposed to—

“Anj– Ah, no. Sorry, wrong. Luka dear.” Mother suddenly said, opening her mouth after minutes of silence. She even forced a smile onto her face… An empty smile. “You’re going more out lately. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Wha– N… No Mom! Of course not!” He responded. Even though there was but… “I’ve just been a little busy.”

“A little busy? With what? A partner?”She asked with a light, playful chuckle… Yet just as forced. 

And even then hearing it… Luka had to pretend to be annoyed. “No Mom. It’s not a partner.”

“Aww, I was just messing with you. But really, did you make a new friend?”

A new friend… Mother was asking directly this time. Honestly Luka had not told her for his own personal reasons. She was not a woman who could be taken for a fool. She would catch on quickly. But he also didn’t say a word because he was afraid of her reaction. Not because she would dislike his friend but maybe like his friend too much. And yet he needed a way out of this. “Uh… Yeah. I’m hanging out with a new friend of mine a lot.”

“Aww, that’s sweet. Are you meeting them tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Even if his friend didn’t know that yet. “You know how it goes.”

“Alright. Just be careful, alright? Don’t involve yourself with the wrong crowd.”

“I’m not. Mom, don’t you trust me?”

“Haha, I do Sweetie. You’re a big boy now after all~”

“M… Mom!” Big boy or big girl, it more depended on the mood. It was both embarrassing.

“Oh, will you introduce me to this friend of yours soon? I’m curious~”

“Ah– Y… Yeah. When they have time.”

‘ He’s not my friend though… ’ A thought Luka did not dare to say out loud however. That was staying in his head. ‘He’s only the means to an end. ’