Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 132

Evening had arrived, the time they had agreed to meet with Akechi. The day itself had already been busy enough with work and infiltrating the Palace. They really had to hold themself back this time, otherwise they would just collapse and be unable to walk. Let alone the energy they needed to even function properly in that regard. However, they would be freed soon enough, only to be met with the next task at hand.

Both had decided to head straight to Jazz Jin for the time being. “It should raise no suspicion if we talk there. And no one should bother us either.” He had suggested they agreeing as a result. The really couldn’t argue much there. And besides, the cocktail they had there the other day was pretty good. So a conversation while having something to drink? Why not. But that was only secondary to the task at hand. 

Hence why that evening they were back at the same location, going first through the procedure of ordering drinks to not raise too much suspicion, then starting their meeting. The topic? Finding the right words to the Palace. After all, they couldn’t just stand at an empty spot for hours on end. They would get glances sooner or later, then someone would see them and it was all over. So they had to discuss beforehand on what words to use, make a list of what words could even come into question. The longer the better as it gave them more to work with, reducing the chances of possible failure.

The first keyword was of course an easy one. The name was one both knew after all, given that they had their target set. ‘Eli Sato’ and if Pipistrello was correct he was a person with a Palace. They weren’t going to question how, they were just rolling with it. After all, if it only took to change Sato–San’s heart, then so be it. They were going to try anything in their power to do so! They can’t let him quit like that! Though the other words… That would be tricky.

“A location though… Do we know where he lives?” Lukanja had asked with a sigh, taking this as the next possible guess.

“I could look it up in the registry. But I don’t think that we’ll have to go that far.” Akechi responded, making them a little curious.

“Huh? What do you mean? Isn’t a Palace a personal deal? Shouldn’t it be connected to him and stuff?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t always have to be someone’s home.” He countered with a quick glance. “What other places is he connected to?”

“Uhm… I don’t know him that well. So dunno.”

He rolled his eyes in annoyance at that. “You’re not that dense, are you?”

“You could be more direct y’know! That could mean lots of places!”

“What place is he working at?”

“The police station nearby the courthouse.”

“And therefore?”

“The location— Wait, you mean the police station itself?” They asked, a little surprised. “But why is that?”

“It’s simple, really. Officer Sato was always known to cherish his work. So it has to be connected to this place in particular. There is a special connection to it for him.”

When it had been phrased like that… They thought about it for a moment… “That does make sense.” They finally agreed, hearing the annoyed sigh of relief escaping Akechi’s mouth.

“Glad that we can come to that understanding at least.” He said, shaking his head. “But that still leaves us with at least one more term before we can even think about moving forward.”

“Right. A concept or a distortion…” They nodded. “But if we only need three then maybe we should pick the one easier to guess?”

“It’d speed everything up, yes. His distortion should be easier to figure out than whatever concept he has in mind.” Akechi explained. “We’d just need to guess how he perceives the police station.”

Sounds easier said than done, despite their silent nod in agreement. Because shortly after the two would stay silent to think about it for a moment, staring wherever to see what it could be. Lukanja themself was trying to think about this clearly. How would Sato–San perceive the police station? He was there as a police officer but… They hadn’t known him before the Ishikawa case had been considered truthfully solved. So they couldn’t think of anything. And the most they knew was what he had told them or shown them. They had no clue what word to use. And a moment later they were showing just that, leaning back onto the chair and moving their head up to face the ceiling.

“Hah… This sounds almost impossible!” They groaned in annoyance, almost ready to throw the towel and get ready to dig up some things surrounding Sato–San. Though Akechi seemed to get them back on track easily.

“Think a little longer. You’ll get an idea soon enough.” He scoffed though, making them tilt their head back down just to face him.

“Do you have a clue then, Mister Ace Detective?”

“Keep quiet, I’m getting there.” He countered, though sounding even more annoyed than before.

“So nothing either huh?”

“I said that I’ll get there.”

“Yes yes. I’ll keep thinking too then.” They said, even waving rather dismissively. Though thinking about a distortion… They had to pull out all stops, having to think about every interaction they had with Sato–San. No, not just that. They also had to consider any observations they made about him. The times where they had seen him by chance, talking to others or doing his own thing. Maybe there was something worthwhile there? At least as far as they could tell maybe. Though in each and every single one of them he wasn’t exactly in great spirits. In fact it only got worse and worse. And even worse with each passing time, like a downward spiral. But what could—

Ah, wait! They were recalling something. Maybe that’s what this distortion could be…