Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 32

If someone had asked this guy, this person for his opinion on the Phantom Thieves two months ago, he would have replied with this:

“You would believe that those Phantom Thieves really exist?”

“I get that it looks strange and all but… Changing people’s hearts? As if it was that easy.” 

“I don’t know… Maybe it’s just a load of crap altogether. If it was just that easy to change a person by stealing their ‘heart’...”

Needless to say, Luka had been one of the many non–believers within society about the Phantom Thieves being actually real and shoved it to the excuse of conspiracy and blackmail. Though he had no idea at the time. And yet, when the news about Kaneshiro’s arrest hit and everyone online talked about the Phantom Thieves… The mood had shifted since.

“Say Akechi–Kun… Did the Phantom Thieves really steal the show by gettin’ Kaneshiro’s ass?” Luka had asked, making Goro nearly want to spill the coffee he was drinking. Per usual Luka had been dragging him to an outing and now those guys had to be brought up out of nowhere… Honestly Goro just wanted to bite into the cup at that moment but he stopped himself from doing that, just barely.

“It’s spreading like wildfire, isn’t it?” He sighed in response, though not hiding his frustration at all. That much was not fake. “Kaneshiro has been impossible to catch, yes. So having him suddenly confess was already causing a fuss…” 

“Looks like these thieves beat y’all to a punch~” Somehow the way Luka said it, in this upbeat tone, it felt like an insult. As if they were adding salt to the wound. “They sure work effectively.”

And yet, the comment made him raise an eyebrow all the same. This sudden shift was not exactly common nor normal for someone like Luka after all. They were usually holding very stubbornly on his very own beliefs, refusing to give them up. “That’s a different tone from last time.” Goro decided to bring up. They shouldn't be involved in this… No, he hadn’t spotted them. There was no way. 

“Eh? Really?” Luka only let out surprised before seeming to think for a moment, leaning back in their chair and crossing their arms. Only to then have that grin on their face. “Well, it’s like the 3rd time in a row. So I gotta accept that there’s something happening. Those guys are real at least.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“Had to see it to believe it.”

See it to believe it? “May I ask what you are referring to?”

Luka at first turned their gaze to the side, as if not wanting to say. They then let out a rather awkward chuckle before turning their gaze back to Goro. “Promise you ain’t gonna arrest me? I don’t know much anyways.”

He didn’t like the sound of that question, at least not at first. But he had to force himself to keep calm. In fact he felt a little more agitated than usual during this conversation, as if an urge to yell at them had almost overcome him. “Oh please, this is a mere discussion. You’re free to speak your mind.” He assured them with this smile he had practiced day in and out. 

Though he could hear their grumbling shortly after. “Even now…” He heard them mumble before speaking up in their usual volume again, wiping that displeased expression off their face. “I… Tested it myself by posting something on the Phansite’s forum.”

His eyes widened when hearing that, shock overcoming him. “You… did?”

“Basically. Gave them the name of the target and observed what happened.” Luka continued while leaning forward again, this time against the table. “Took a few days yet by the time I saw the target again they did a 180. Apologized and now try to make up for stuff.”

That… There was a hole in the story, surely, but he couldn’t blame them for that. And yet he had to keep quiet about that, what he knew, but nodded as if acknowledging that observation. “So they accepted your request, you assume?”

“There’s no other way. Before you say anything, no person changes so drastically in a few days if they had shown no improvement whatsoever in the past.”

“That’s a fair point.”

“So there’s gotta be some truth to them. Though I’m curious how they did it…”

Curious about the how… No, that was something he couldn’t let them find out. “I think you should leave that to the officials.”

“Won’t change my curiosity… Besides, if I stick around… Maybe the person who falsely accused father…” This again… But they shook their head soon enough. “Nevermind. I don’t wanna bore you with stuff like that! Sorry!”

“It’s… Fine. I’m sure that wasn’t easy to stomach.” Goro had to squeeze that out of himself though. Somehow he felt more and more uneasy. He knew Luka. That guy will start snooping around once curious. 

Maybe he will have to put them on his watch list after all… Just in case they will become a threat. For now it was a mere gut feeling but he should keep an eye out.