Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 154

Lukanja had been asked that day directly by Akechi, on the way home as they had been holding the sleeping Ole. Never had this cat slept this peacefully honestly... But that had been besides the point that day.

" When he offered you the treasure... Why didn't you take it? " He had asked them directly. " His Palace is still– "

" I guess but it would've felt wrong, if that makes sense. " Was their response. Of course that would only get them a raised eyebrow at first.

" It felt wrong? Really? You had no problem stealing Miyuki's treasure. "

" Hey, that's different! She's not exactly a great person! " That was their protest and even then they secretly doubted that their mission had even done anything properly. But that was no longer for them to worry about. " Sato–San however... Something about his Shadow seemed different. "

" Different? In what way? "

" Well, the Shadow's attitude changed. It's a bit of a gamble but let's just wait and see what happens. Maybe Sato–San changed on his own that way. "

It was a bit of a risky plan, they had known that from the start. Yet they were ready to put their faith into him. Maybe this did something. If it did then there would be no need to worry about it anymore, about the Palace and the Shadow. So it really meant playing the waiting game for a while.

Yet the first few days had even Lukanja on the edge of their seat. Each time they were reminded of it and even they were wondering if that plan had worked. Especially when they heard that Officer Sato was not coming in due to not feeling too well or something like that. And it had been going on for days, no one knowing what exactly was up with him. That was as much as anyone knew so it was really like a big guessing game. And truly all one could do was wait and wait and wait even longer. The days passed by, just like that... The due date came closer too. The 20th November was soon around the corner. Or it pretty much was. And just when one would reconsider the plan it was when Lukanja had spotted something once entering the usual space.

There he was, Officer Sato, right in front of a trash bin. He was eyeing something in his hands, a stack of papers. He looked at them for a good few moments, a few seconds longer before all of a sudden – There! He tore them apart! Right then and there! It left them with a gasp as it had been rather sudden. There was an inner panic within them, some type of worry. ' What if these are official documents!? Nijima–San will kill him! ' Or something like that. So they rushed over pretty much immediately, asking loudly while running over: "Sato–San! What are you doing!?"

This one overheard them, turning his face after throwing those papers away, then not hesitating to ask: "Ah, you alone today Anja? Some type of lover's quarrel?"

They blinked at first, processing what he had just said before they noticed heating up for a moment. They had not expected that wording in the slightest and they knew just who he was referring to. Not the time! "A... Akechi–Kun has something to do is all!" They protested before he public denial kicked in. "Also a what!? It's nothing like that between us!" Though maybe there was some wishful thinking there at the time...

Though Sato–San only scoffed at them. Not in a cold, rude manner. No, it was a light hearted scoff because it had been followed up with a sudden smirk "Calm down, I'm just messing with ya." He explained.

"Wha— Hey! That's not funny!" They responded with a pout though quickly got back to business. Yet the change in mood did not go unnoticed, far from it. He seemed calmer, more relaxed... And he was not holding back his cheeky tongue. "Anyways, uhm... Can I ask what those papers were?"

"The ones I just threw in there?"

They nodded.

"Those... Hah, you caught me." He sheepishly said, rubbing the back of his head while doing so. Even his laughs seemed way calmer than before. It was as if the sudden tension they had felt from him for months was gone. For the most part at least. Yet it just felt easier talking to him now than a few weeks ago. "Just throwing my resignation into the trash."

Hearing that made them stare for a moment, having to hold back any type of beaming smile they could have had when hearing it. Though it was hard to hold it in. "R... Really!? You decided against resigning after all!?"

"Pretty much." He nodded before turning away for a moment, as if in thought. "I don't know why but over time... I came to realize something." He continued, only to finish up with the following when turning back to them: "I can't run away."

Hearing that... Those words... Words they wanted to hear. They knew they had to hear. And they were hearing them, right then and there. It was just... A little too good to be true. And yet hearing it was just... It was great, to say the least. "So you'll be staying!?"

"That's what I just said." The officer responded with a sigh. "It's probably not what he, I mean your father, would have wanted either... Even if I–" Oh boy, there it goes. Lukanja didn't even need to guess where this was going. Especially given that they had been stuck inside this Palace for a while, having a clearer insight now. And they looked peeved when he was getting there.

It was probably rude but they didn't care. They just had to interrupt him, one way or another. "Sato–San, you didn't kill him." And that was a fact. He didn't do it, Ishikawa–San did. He was just being deceived and that was that. He acted as if he had pulled the trigger however.

"Huh?" It only escaped from his mouth, as if not expecting to hear something like that. Was it really that surprising?

"Listen, you only did what you could." They said, trying to stay calm to reassure him. "I'm certain that father understood that too."

After all, when they thought back on his apprehension... He didn't put up a fight. At all. It was probably to get Mom and Lukanja themself not into the crossfire but he certainly also understood? Father was that type of person. He held grudges but only if the person really deserved it. And Sato–San... He didn't fall into this category.

Yet they knew that this wouldn't satisfy the officer. So they had to pull out that cheeky grin of their own when continuing. "But if you want to make it up to him then always remember why you joined the police force! Protect anyone you can!"

Sato–San was really looking at them now, almost bewildered for a short moment. Yet then he suddenly burst out laughing. Not to laugh at them but rather because he seemed to be amused about all of this. It didn't stop for a short moment before he caught himself and managed to continue.

"Heh... You sound confident. But you are his daughter so... I'll take your word for it."

Seeing him smile like this finally, having him more at ease. Sure, not all problems were solved that way yet the worst had been prevented and he was finally regaining his spirits again. And that's all they could ask for at that point. They knew from experience that this is only a head start. What will happen from there is going to be something he had to figure out.

' Good luck, Sato–San. '