Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 101

When they spotted Officer Sato getting out of that office they were quick to jump up and hurry to him. They knew that there was no need to wait for him and he would have told them the same thing. That they didn't need to waste their time like this. Yet they chose doing so to begin with. Because how often has it been that he was just getting in between the conversation before it could become any worse. They didn't know what to make of it yet they owed this man more than he may be probably aware of at this point. Who knows where things may have headed if it wasn't for him after all. Though they would need to think about how to make this up to him. The least they could do was to check up on him, how he was holding up.

The first thing they saw when he had left the office was his shoulders hanging down for a moment. He was not in the best headspace it seemed, looking down while letting out a sigh. It made them stay silent for a second when they were close by. Something about this was a little off putting. They weren't even sure if they should say something as he seemed to not be doing great. However, it was not as if they had to in the end. He had taken note of them moments later, managing to lift himself up and off the door, facing them soon after. The previous expression had been put away and he was now looking as... Well, neutral as ever, making him look once more very uncaring. However, he was anything but. They knew him by now.

"O... Officer Sato? Are you alright?" They asked however, a little careful sounding. They weren't sure if they should ask, let alone what Nijima said in there. Yet they figured that they may as well should, while they were here.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." He said. "Just the usual verbal slap, nothing more."

"The... Usual verbal slap?"

"Don't concern yourself with that. I'm used to it." He explained. "You should worry about your position instead."

He dismissed it as quickly as they had asked, thinking these were satisfactory answers. Yet they were not.. There was always something off about them. It was as if he didn't want them to know, hence why he would always make sure to avoid such questions. And yet there was nothing they could really do about it either. What's a nobody like them going to do around here? They were a kid to most, someone who had just barged in. They knew that so they didn't want to get ahead of themself. Maybe they were a little when it came to Nijima and the case of the mental shutdowns and Phantom Thieves but... That had been part of their job in the end, hadn't it? Though he had them confused all the same with his last statement as well. "My position? What do you mean?"

"The one in charge of the case now? The one you've been dragged into?" He asked. "That#s under her control now."

They looked at him, dumbfounded from one moment to the other. What the... Wait... Nijima? Her? What was the meaning of this!? "Under... Her control? What does that—"

"She's in charge now. That's what that means." He answered. "And she's going to use all means necessary. I have known her long enough. She's been waiting for this pretty much since I've known her."

They could only help themself and look in literal disbelief. Nijiima... Was in charge of this case? No, both cases then? That was just... Just... They had no words left. It would make things harder, they already knew that. Yet didn't that give them more reason to—

"And before you say anything, I'd not face her heads on." Officer Sato interrupted their thoughts all of a sudden, his expression as stern as always if not more.

They wanted to falter and for a moment they did. This sounded unbelievable. Them not facing her? Not when they had a point to make!? "What do you mean!? It's even more reason now to convince Nijima–San that—-"

"I get that you two disagree a lot but she has now the power to fire you from the team." He interrupted yet again, tone sharper than they were used to. And that meant one thing... He was serious. More than serious actually. "I'd watch it a little if I was you."

"Watch it? I think that's the last thing I should do. I should—"

"Trust me, not even your detective partner could help you out now." Sato pointed out. "Total control means total control. And what she says is final. Not the greatest outcome but if you want to stay close to the case, you're better off keeping your mouth shut for a moment. One wrong move and she's going to call the shots on you."

They looked away for a moment. It was a tough pill to swallow but... It made sense. They knew that he had a point. If this was true, which it could very well be, then they were in even more hot water. Because she could just get rid of them and that would be it. Or not really yet that would make acting so much harder from here on out. As hard as it was to admit for them. And they couldn't afford it. Also, it wasn't paying that bad. It was enough to help their mother out at least. So they had been killing two birds with one stone here for months.

They didn't say anything, only nodding silently. They didn't want to, their expression probably said the same thing. They weren't the best liar out there, they knew. They couldn't hide it. Officer Sato knew, judging from his sudden sigh. Though the last part... That had them caught off guard a little.

"Because... How do I put this?" He began, only to finish up in a bizarre way. Maybe they didn't think much of it at the moment but it was just... Something to just point it out. "They can't lose someone capable around here."