Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 119

Lukanja would lie if they didn't say that they had been a little curious in regards to who she was, Haru Okumura. After all, the circumstances weren't that different when they really thought about it. Or maybe they were. They... Couldn't say. And even then, not like it mattered to begin with. Not as if they could get themself to find out in any way. Why?

Well, here comes the thing of approaching strangers again. Sure, they had talked to Okumura–San before at the school festival yet the interaction was brief and there was someone around who they knew. So it made this a little less nerve–wracking. But the thought of approaching her alone? On their own!? They couldn't even get a proper word out during meetings, when the group was discussing their next course of action! Then again, there was usually no need to as they could agree with those plans, how to go on about things right then and there. But alone!? Face to face!?

Ann was a different story. Lukanja had known her prior to all of this. So it was easy to talk in some way without the fear of messing up. But Okumura–San? She seemed so... Different. There was something about her they found particularly scary. It had nothing to do with her directly of course nor was there any indication of her being a terrible person. It was nothing like that! It was more... That she seemed to be from a different world.If that made sense.

It was no secret that Okumura–San was still someone of higher class. Essentially, her family was one of the wealthiest after all. As terrible as her father had been, he had made it in some way at least. And that put her leagues above them. Maybe it was that alone which had made it a little terrifying for them. Sure, she seemed polite and kind but that may have made it a little more terrifying. It made Okumura–San just... Unapproachable. Someone who seemed to be on some higher plain than they could ever reach. They had to admit to that much. No, that was just a fact, something they could not change. After all, being so well off yet also not letting it get to your head, benign so refined and polite. It was a lot to take in. She wasn't unfriendly, they knew. They could already tell. Yet that was what made it just so terrifying.

They wouldn't want to mess up in any way. Especially with how recent her father's passing was. Maybe they were just scared to make one wrong comment. Something which they did not intend for to happen. In general they didn't want their tongue to slip and say something weird or off putting. It was terrifying to think about... Imagine getting on Okumura–San's bad side. Lukanja could never forgive themself if that were to ever happen. Someone like her? Maybe... The two are more different than they had realized.

Yet they shook their head, taking a deep breath. It was just them in the hideout right now, waiting for the others. The leader had to go downstairs, apparently some preparations were in order. Morgana had tagged along as a result. And no one else had arrived just yet outside of Okumura–San, leaving the two all by themself. Yet all they did was stare at her, noticing just how tense their body was. They didn't intend for staring as long as they did yet no matter what a word didn't want to come out of their mouth. They tried to shove it out there but nothing. Nothing at all. Worse of all she had caught on, making this even more awkward.

She was staring right back for a good while now. Oh she must think of them as some weird idiot! How hard was it to even get a greeting out!? Truth to be told they had not said a single word ever since it was the two of them. No, ever since she had walked in. This was just... Just... Ah yeesh! How were they supposed to explain that!? They wanted to talk, hence why they were not on their mobile device like usual, yet they couldn't start it! Conversations were difficult... Oh why did the raven haired guy have to leave? And why did Akechi have to be busy before the meeting at the hideout? Why did they have to be left alone here!? This was bad! No, terrible! It was just—

"Uhm... Lukanja–Chan?" They heard the soft voice coming from her mouth, though that only made them flinch even more, nearly falling with their back onto the dirty ground beneath them. And yet they managed to keep sitting up, staring at the one who has been sitting on the sofa all this time. And her gaze... Was showing a hint of insecurity? Nah, no way! And yet... "W... Wait, or do you maybe prefer Lukanja–Kun?"

That... Was an odd question. They had not expected to hear that in any way. But could they an– Wait, this was the chance! They could take it upon themself here! That counts as a starter! Just... Don't do or say anything weird. Deep breath aaaand go!

"Huh? Why are you asking me that?" They asked, trying to make their voice sound like anything but strained. Yet even they heard that they were doing the exact opposite because of that. Damn it...

"Oh, I just wasn't sure!" Okumura–San responded, her voice still keeping awfully calm. "I... Uhm... I just don't know what to call you."

Why was she asking? "I... Is it really that big of a deal?"

"Huh!? I mean... Yeah, it is!" She suddenly brought up, soft as always yet insistent. Actually, how many times did they think of her voice as 'soft'? Then again, there was no other way to describe it either. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Or say anything inappropriate."

Her? Saying anything inappropriate? She wasn't making a joke but... It still felt like one. Because there was no way that she ever could do such a thing! At least they didn't think so. "Haha, uhm... Thanks for your concern Okumura–San but... Don't worry too much." They tried to reassure her. In fact they had even thrown in, an attempt to be more lighthearted. "Besides, I don't think that it can get any worse than what I had already heard in my lifetime."

Though that part may have been anything but reassuring. In fact it made her gasp all of a sudden, startled. "W... Worse!? What do you mean!?" Oh boy, now they've done it...

"Ah! It's nothing like that! Please, don't look at me like that!" They had to try to resolve this properly! That was exactly what they had been worried about. Yet it was also why they were forcing a smile on their face, trying to defuse the situation. "All I meant was that... Uhm... Just... Call me whatever you like! Don't think too much about it."

"Huh?"

"It's just some short addition to the name. I don't mind either of 'em, really." One sounded more cute, the other made them sound tough. Though honestly they could care less. Either or worked for them. "Heck, you can even switch between 'em if you want."

Okumura–San had been a little taken aback from the looks of it. Actually, had she been hesitant all this time? N... No, they were reading too deep into this. "Really? You don't mind either?"

"I don't see why I should mind."

She nodded in the end, making them sigh internally. Well, they didn't mess this up. Not completely at least. Though the next bit had them caught off guard now. "Oh, by the way, you can call me Haru if you want."

That had them blink now. "Wha— I... Isn't that a little inappropriate? I mean—"

"No, not at all. I don't mind." She interrupted, a polite smile on her face. "I think it's only fair. Besides, we're teammates right now, aren't we?"

They couldn't necessarily argue with that. "Is that really ok though? I just... Well..."

"Yeah, it's fine. Go on ahead."

"So... I should just call you... Uhm... Is Haru–San ok? Or—"

"Yeah, that's fine. We can take it one step at a time." Her reassuring smile helped for it to settle in a little bit. 'Haru–San'... And she didn't mind that either. This was surprising. Yet it was as if it had soon turned into some type of conversation, putting them a little less on the spot. In fact it seemed rather... Nice. It was easier than expected at the very least. Haru–San... Huh...

"I'll keep it in mind" They nodded. This wasn't so bad. A part of it made them wonder if maybe she had been just as nervous until this chance and that was why it had gotten a little easier.

But even if not it was still nice in its own waý. Maybe they won't have to be as nervous around the rest of the thieves either.