Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 125

If there was one thing which was not on the bingo card while having to cooperate with the Phantom Thieves it was the following… Being locked in the café for who knows how long, with no way out whatsoever. Now, Lukanja and Akechi were both no strangers at Leblanc, at least not anymore. Sometimes one or both just came over here for a simple cup of coffee. But nothing more than that. Sometimes they even stayed a little longer than intended, primarily because they had been invited to stay a little longer by the Phantom Thieves’ leader. And today was no different. Or so it was supposed to be… Because by some twisted fate the unthinkable had happened, something they had not really deemed possible.

The two had not really noticed nor had they been paying any attention to their surroundings. It proved to be a great mistake shortly after, just when the two were ready to leave for the day… It was when they tried to open the door. It just wouldn’t budge. Lukanja in particular had been ticked off so they decided to pull on it if not kick it in. But to no avail, the door just wouldn’t open. And that had caused them to panic deep down. At least they showed it more than Akechi did. This one had just been groaning in annoyance when looking at the scene.

“This guy…” He even grumbled and when they turned they just saw that annoyed face. He was so close to kicking something down or punching a wall in, wasn’t he? So very close… Yet he held himself back in the end… Or at the very least. All to not cause a scene, even if there hadn’t been anyone else around. Wait… There wasn’t anyone else? How did they just notice that? “What does he think he’s doing?”

“Wh… What do you mean by that?” They asked, a little confused sounding. He turned to them with his gaze finally, as if almost surprised that they had heard. But only almost. “It was probably an accident.”

“Yeah. Because this was totally by accident…”

“Oh c’mon. What reason would he have to lock us in? I’ll send him a text.” And before any protest could occur that was exactly what they had done. They were just informing the guy with the glasses of the following: 

‘Hey. Can you come here for a sec? Akechi–Kun and I are locked in Leblanc.’

The response? It took a little bit, they had to admit. Yet when they got one they were surely taken aback for a moment.

‘Sorry. I didn’t notice. Give me a little while.’

‘A little while!? Where are you!?’

‘Shinjuku.’

‘What are you doing there!?’

‘A part time job.’

‘Wait seriously!?’

‘Yes.’

‘So we have to wait a few more hours until you come back.’

‘Pretty much.’

‘Alright. We’ll behave. But please, come back soon. We have to go home too!’

‘Understood.’

And they pocketed their phone just as quickly, though letting out a sigh in the end. They then had turned back to Akechi who could probably tell already what the news were. “We’re stuck here?”

“Yeah. Pretty much.” They responded, plopping onto a couch nearby. “He’s currently busy with his part time job so it might take a bit until he comes back.”

“So he just soooo conveniently forgot that we were here while he was heading out to his part time job?” Akechi scoffed, still doubting that this could have been anything but a coincidence. He sounded more pissed than anything. He didn’t even hide it. Well, it was just the two of them in here at the end, it had been pretty much confirmed now. So no need to keep up any facade necessary, was there? “Yeah right. If you ask me, he’s up to something.”

“You’re reading too deep into this.” Lukanja tried to wave Akechi off, literally. They were waving one of their hands in front of their face as a result of this, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible here. “It was an accident and that’s that. Guy was probably in a rush too.”

“Yeah right, as if anyone forgets that two people are inside the café before leaving.” He responded, not even buying into that idea. Yeesh, talk about stubbornness. “Is he that much of an idiot and not worried that something might get stolen from this place? Or that we plan on sniffing around? If so that is beyond an idiotic behavior.”

“I mean… Do you plan on stealing anything?” They suddenly decided to throw in, having a bit of a smirk when saying that. “The Detective Prince is transforming into a petty criminal now, huh~”

He was probably listening to that with their ever so teasing voice. Given how one of his eyelids was twitching, he was not appreciating that most likely. They knew how blunt it sounded yet it was meant to tease him a little, get under his skin. Actually, it was kind of fun to do, especially with the way he was reacting to things. They had their fun here, they had to admit that much. “Of course not. I’m not that stupid.”

“I dunno. You’re bringing it up. Maybe you had something planned.”

“I had not and you know it yourself.”

“Hmm… How can I believe that?”

“Would you shut up? You know that it’s nonsense already.” A cut clear response, followed up with the voice sounding as sharp as a mere knife, making the nearly flinch. Yep, he was surely getting a little agitated here. And it made them laugh in the end, unable to hold it all in.

“Okay okay. You win.” They responded, snickering. “You planned to not add ‘theft’ to your crime resumée. Messaged received.”

How they said it probably ticked him off, somewhat. At least enough for him to turn away all of a sudden. “You’re literally unbearable sometimes.”

“Heh, can’t be helped after all. You make it way too easy you know~”

Oh they could hear the slight irritation in that grumble Akechi let loose. It made them hum upon their ears having been hit by it, knowing just how much it seemed to bother him. At least to a degree. “Ugh… Whatever. Just keep quiet while we’re waiting.”

“Hmmm… No promises~”

“Why you…”

Although, not much interesting stuff was going on after that. Silence had kicked in and pretty much stayed there for a good while. Probably because they were both in an unusual setting, to day the least. 

Also because that was what it had turned into, the two of them were waiting for the return of the guy who had locked them in here by accident! 

… Or was it?

You could never know with Joker sometimes.