Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 69

Showing up more and more... If this had been at the start they would have been off put, especially as Anja. Not to mention the comment they had received, one which made them nearly want to lash out at her right then and there.

'My father would have never killed someone in cold blood! Stop saying stuff like that!' But they didn't. They didn't want to cause a scene, it would have not been beneficial. And yet it still stung. Then again whenever they had to hear it it hurt. So badly, so very badly actually. It made their chest ache each time.

There was foul play there, they just knew it! Yet they still had no proof. All they knew was that there had to be something up with this. But they had nothing to prove the opposite. It was a gut feeling more than anything, not really a fact. And gut feelings only could get one so far. They had learnt this quickly when working together with Akechi. Unless one can convince people it would take more than just 'I knew him better than anyone' to sway a person. And it took way more deduction than that. But where to start!?

Not just that but also the mission Pipistrello gave them, having Miyuki as a target and changing her heart or something. Exposed to the regular dangers the Phantom Thieves probably had to deal with if that was true. So talk about an extra layer of stress. It had contacted them and asked when they wanted to go again but honestly not even they knew. They wanted to be prepared first, have some information on Miyuki. But they couldn't sit there for long, they knew that. Especially not when they had one more person breathing down their neck now, telling them to 'stay away from Miyuki'. And it was Akechi of all people.

That was not telling them anything new. They have seen the Palace. This was perhaps the most obvious thing they could have been told. And even if they didn't see the Palace, the sheer presence was just unsettling. Her words seemed a little too good to be true, as if trying to sweeten whatever she was saying. Yet given how deep those words cut and what she had told them when they were around town as Luka... Yeah, this woman was anything but pleasant news. Yet they had to stay close by, whether they liked it or not. It wasn't exactly that easy. Especially not when she threw herself at them, no matter if Luka or Anja.

Even now, when they were just on their way somewhere else as Anja. They were not trusted alone with work so they had some free time on their hands. Besides, they were just the assistant which was fair enough. As for Akechi at the time... One of the several interviews and the film shoots. Actually the film shoot was nearby in town yet they couldn't be present. It would cause rumors and such, some he had to deal with a bit more thanks to them. Of course they would always give their snarky answers, unable to resist, yet they understood.

Not just that but having the attention on them was the last thing they wanted. They preferred the background to be completely honest. Being a public figure of any kind sounded exhausting. So, one day they become an author, if they manage to do so, they want to be known by a pen name and not by their face or anything like that. Their face didn't matter and honestly they didn't need many people to know who they were. But that was wishful thinking.

In any case, when one wanted to speak of the devil they had been suddenly grabbed by one of their arms, ready to head somewhere else for the time being. "Anja, what a pleasant surprise meeting you here~" The familiar voice would spill out all so sweetly, oozing with said sweetness. But it was too much, to the point that the taste would be ruined. Too sweet is not a great thing either. Yet they kept that part to themself.

They turned their head, surprised, or pretending to be. Honestly, as Luka they had gotten used to this more than they would like. "Ishikawa–San!? D... Don't startle me like that!" Anja said, though faking their surprise. It seemed to go unnoticed, luckily.

"Please, drop the formalities. You may call me Miyuki. Or better, Miyuki–Chan."

"I... Isn't that a little—"

"I call you by your first name, don't I? So it's only fair Anja–Chan~"

Ugh... Did they really have to? Talk about inconvenience. "If you insist... Miyuki."

"There we go. You learn quickly." The other female laughed. "You're free right now, aren't you? I don't see Akechi–San around."

"That doesn't say anything!" What was she hinting at? Probably nothing...

"Well, if you are in company I can't really talk to you, can I? Even if I know the both of you, I think you prefer your alone time."

"You... Could say that." As co–workers. Nothing else.

"And you're glued together! Is there—"

"Don't you start too." They sighed in disbelief. It doesn't matter who, they didn't want to hear it. Especially as Anja. Then again, they only got such a question as Anja to begin with.

"Right, sorry. Just friends, of course. Silly me. In any case, how about we spend a bit of time together? I happen to be free myself~"

"Ah... W... Well..." Wait, this could be a chance! A chance for what? Who is to say but a chance nonetheless! Then again, she had been giving them so many chances recently, it was almost suspicious. But... They had a feeling. If they took the bait, maybe they could reveal something. "I have maybe an hour or two?"

"Is that how long the shoot lasts?"

"Kinda..."

"Perfect. I only have that little time myself. So let's enjoy the time together~"

Getting chummy with Miyuki... Not the best feeling in the world but for now it had to do. If they learnt more about her maybe that Palace could also become easier to understand. Or something like that.