Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 64

No one had told them that plushies could be so dangerous! No, seriously! Their legs were at the brink of breaking to be honest, having probably run the fastest and furthest they have ever ran their life. It was a feeling which had gotten them all wobbly, unable to walk another mile. At least for a short moment, though their bones felt at the brink of cracking. There was a reason that they just barely managed to get through Physical Education classes when it came to applying things in practice. It was a well known fact that they could just barely keep up. And now it was showing itself by a great deal, literally. But they were only given so much time to rest because... Of course Pipistrello would bring them back to reality soon enough.

"Alright class, break time's over. Let's resume our trip, shall we?" It even laughed out loud, even if it was just a voice from their phone right now.

They rolled their eyes at this though luckily they had gathered enough breaths to speak up again. "It's not exactly a trip..." They responded, sighing. They then lifted themself up, hands off their knees and instead on their hips while talking. Not like anyone saw though, they had to admit. "But is that really a good idea by myself? Shouldn't I get Ole first?"

"Hmm... Nah, the old man needs his rest after a hard day's work, wouldn't you say?"

"I... Am not disagreeing but... All by myself? Feels a little unsafe."

"By yourself? Dear, am I not here with you? Oh you wound me~"

"That's not what I meant!" They countered, shaking their head in response. "I meant being here physically! Going by myself doesn't sound like the best idea."

"I just got you out of a pinch, didn't I?"

"Well, yes bu—"

"Then chop chop, we don't have all night~" Pipistrello wasn't listening but what else were they supposed to expect? It never seemed to be the type doing so, at least in the short amount of time they got to know this figure. A mind of its own, a lot to handle... Hah, this was a little frustrating. But they had no choice. Do not as it says and maybe they also end up on the chopping block and they didn't really want that to happen.

So, as soon as their legs were no longer wobbly in one place they continued to walk, right through the corridors, entering and looking through the doors which Pipistrello told them to. It instructed them pretty clearly. Then again, there was not much they could go to at that point. And maybe there was nothing to note... Until it hit them out of nowhere, or the more rooms they had entered to be honest.

They kept entering and exiting through always taking a closer look. At first it just seemed like random locations – A fast food restaurant, some more fancy rooms of a building, a train station, a shopping street, a small club, a movie theater and several more places. At first it really just seemed like a random assortment of locations and none of these were empty. Though while it would look like nothing special on the outside there was something which had put them on edge pretty much right away. Though they didn't want to see it at first. After all, the spaces were filled with people, right!? Nothing odd! Nothing at all!

Ah no, a lie. A total lie. Of course there was a catch. It was never that easy or simple. But that should be self explanatory at this point. This place already had started off with an unusual atmosphere and killer plushies weren't all too common either. In fact, they were as uncommon as one could think! Unless they had missed something at that moment and they were real in some way in the real world.

Back to the topic at hand, all rooms were cold. Literally, a chill went down their spine when they observed them closely. It was as if someone didn't turn up the heater in every single one of them. One may as well just freeze in them. But coming from the summer's heat it wasn't exactly something anyone would complain about. And yet it was also not healthy nor common to have a room below the average room temperature. But that was not the reason why each of those rooms gave them the creeps. It was something else entirely.

This something else being how nothing moved. Everything was filled to the brim with life. People sitting down, standing, being placed in positions as if they were talking to one another. All the people they had seen on the streets, from vendors to friends to even celebrities. All familiar faces, even if they had not spoken to all of them personally. There was a sense of familiarity there after all. That would be enough to give anyone the creeps but when thinking of it as walking through a place where time stood still... Only one person is able to move... It would just leave a shudder in your back, wouldn't it? No one to approach, no one to talk to.

What didn't help was the condition some of those 'people' were kept in... Some looked as if they were at the brink of collapsing after all, as if they could break into a pile of themselves and become unrecognizable. Not as if they wanted to touch any of them to begin with, not after that plush disaster in that first room. What if they also go into a berserk mood and try to kill them on the spot? Worst if they turn their head uncomfortably around, as if their neck would have been snapped or something. Sure, it wasn't the actual person but eerily similar. So it wasn't exactly going to be a pleasant sight, was it?

"W... What the... Is this really—"

"How Miyuki sees things, yes. You should be able to connect the dots, shouldn't you?" Pipistrello suddenly said, though the laugh in its voice did not disappear. As if it had no regard for the things happening. It was just completely unfazed with whatever it was telling them.

"I think it's obvious..." They didn't feel like spelling it out, they could already tell what this was about. And it terrified them to no end... Was this how she viewed everyone? So they would also view them that way? Not just them but also—

"Don't tell me you're getting all scared now? We're not even close to the finishing line yet~"

"Huh!? Y... You want me to go deeper!?" It can't be serious.

"When was I ever joking around?"

"It's only been a short while but do you really want the list?"

"Oh, you keep track? I feel honored. Looks like we're becoming the bestest of friends already then."

"That—"

"Alright, back to business. Just dig a little deeper for me, will you? We're not done juuust yet~"

It might say that but their head felt as if it was about to burst. How could they still endure their time like this here? It made no sense and yet they were forced to keep pushing, didn't they? But just what would be so interesting to see. The room they had been in right now was one of those big, fancy rooms. A hall of some sorts, filled with people in maid dresses and butler outfits, serving people in fancy clothing. Well, so it had all been adjusted that is. A banquet of some sorts but that was just their guess. "Not done? But there's nothing—"

"Nah–ah, no backsies yet. Turn around for me and find out, will you? I promise that it'll be worth it~"

What trouble is it going to get them now?