Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 97

11th October, Tuesday… 

Almost everyone in Tokyo remembers where they had been. It was such a shocking sight, having come literally out of nowhere. It was hard to forget. Everyone had seen it and it was most likely that it was going to haunt anybody who saw it. Even worse, it was broadcasted live on television. It had all started around 8 pm. By that time they had been at home with their mother and had actually stayed downstairs.

She had asked them why. And they responded that it was Okumura’s press conference which had been announced on that day. Ole had also joined though as a cat it looked more as if he was just resting on the couch peacefully. 

Anyways, the man in question was still alive in the real world and they were wondering if this murder in the cognitive world even had any impact to begin with. Maybe they had been worrying too much. Maybe it was just there and not here? The man seems to live at least. It might not be that big of a deal in the end and they were just going crazy over nothing. Maybe it was pointless to worry about it. Wouldn’t have something happened by then? They couldn’t say but it was a possibility to say the least. They were not excluding it. Not like they knew to begin with… 

They had tuned in, them and their mother, this one even commenting: “Oh my, did things finally catch up to him?” She had said it based on how he had been sitting there, in front of those microphones. The posture was… Something else, anything but confident. He may as well have been the equivalent of a sack of potatoes here, given the way he had been sitting. And his expression… It was driven by guilt, pressure. The cameras were all taking photos yet even that didn’t phase him. And he just sat there the first minute or so, not saying anything. They couldn’t help but glare at the screen, sitting on the couch. The cat was in the same boat, having lifted his head up and also staring at the screen with wide eyes, waiting as his tail was wagging. 

And then, there! Okumura had decided to stand up! Finally! And then he began to speak, though his voice was a little stuttery, just barely letting his words slip out. Yet he seemed to push himself to do so, a voice overflowing with regret.

“Today, I’d like to elaborate upon the whole truth behind my company’s labor situation,” He began. “How my employees were forced to work under severe conditions, how… lax we were with the sanitation… And how my corporation acted as a whole to… cover up the facet of this scandal. For all of this, I  wholeheartedly apologize.”

“Oh, as if no one had caught on to that yet.” Their mother responded, rolling her eyes. She always had a hunch. Then again, given what father had told the both of them, it would be more surprising to not have been reminded of that. “An apology is not going to—”

“Quiet Mom, please.”

“Ah, whoops. Sorry dearie.”

“So are you saying all of this was done under your orders?” One of the journalists asked calmly.

There was a bit of hesitation in Okumura’s response yet he got his mouth to open eventually. “Yes. I… am solely responsible.”

“We heard that dozens of your employees were forced to resign due to mysterious illness.” The same journalist continued. They were sure intending to squeeze every detail out of him, didn’t they? “Furthermore, these happened to be officials who stood against your proposal for overseas expansion. The same thing also happened to executives at competing companies who were looking to expand abroad. Is all of this true?”

“Yes.” A short and cut clear response.

“Was it all coincidence? We’d like some answers.” The longer it went on the more uneasy one could see the man becoming. These were sure uncomfortable questions yet he was answering them regardless, even if it took a moment. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if he should mention it to begin with, as if there was something more. Yet… He continued. He continued speaking, ready to face that as well.

“About that…” Okumura began. “I have a critical piece of information to announce here today. “ And then a break. Everyone went silent at that moment. That critical information, what was it? Was it who was behind all of that? It would be the confirmation. Even though they didn’t want to hear it they knew that it would be necessary to hear. However, that was exactly when it happened…

Just as he was about to speak up one could see how unwell he was feeling right the next second. There was a quiet, painful groan one could hear through the microphones before it just happened. A sudden scream came from Okumura’s mouth, one filled with pain. It was loud enough to even cause an uncomfortable feeling from the screen. Everyone’s eyes went wide inside the room, the sight unbearable. They first just heard him scream until… Right then and there—

Something like blood shot out of his mouth and eyes. But it wasn’t blood itself, no. Unless that man’s blood had been black. But it was not far from it. As if that had not been enough the pupils were… Gone. Just suddenly gone, out of nowhere. They were white, as if having never been placed there. All while this black liquid kept dripping down his face and out of his mouth. The skin has been all pale as well. A grotesque sight, short lived yet long enough to burn itself right into the brain. And right after he just collapsed, face landing right onto the desk, drips of the black liquid dropping right down onto it. And the screen then cut to a sign where it said that the broadcast would be paused right then and there, soon returning.

They just… Sat there, in shock, unable to process this. Was that… They had read it, the signs of a mental shutdown. And… That was just one. Broadcasted live on television, for everyone to see. Just when they thought that this had no consequences… It did. These were the consequences, weren’t it? They knew what this meant. They knew what would follow right after. Okumura… He’s dead. He was killed. Not just in the cognitive world but also in the real world. And… 

“ The boy just murdered someone. And that was not his first time either. ”

Yeah, they’ve seen it. But… Why? Why would he even do such a thing? They were wondering, maybe they also just wanted to know… 

They had to decide. Get out while they still can, flee to safety and take all of the information right into their grave, staying silent forever. Or… Give into the curiosity and dig deeper, find out what exactly has been going on.

It will take some time to think about it but… They had to make a choice, didn’t they?