Pandemonium || PERSONA 5 FF (hiatus)

09│ A Sleepless Night

Part 1

"Breaking News: Hitman killed by the target."

The masculine voice of the news anchor was heard from the seemingly old-fashioned TV in the retro-themed cafe, Leblanc.

Standing there by the counter, was a man in his middle ages, wearing a pale pink dress shirt with sleeves rolled up underneath his black apron that has conspicuous white pinstripe design on it. His gray eyes that's seen behind his glasses shifted its gaze to the TV. You could notice his slicked-back dark hair with a receding hairline the moment you lay your eyes on him and his chinstrap beard with a goatee flare out.

It really did not catch his attention. It was just a blubber to him, as the journalist report the location, identity of the hitman and-

"The target of the hitman was identified as Kyoko Mochizuki."

"Kyoko?!"

The man gasped in shock, as he in an instant shifted his attention to the news report.

And yes, he indeed saw the young teen that was an acquaintance of his, no, maybe she was more than that to him. The girl was covered in a towel, but that was not all that caused him to react like that.

Beside the girl was the teen that was under his guidance due to his probation, which has his arm wrapped around the girl's body protectively.

The man stared at the TV with wide eyes, as his mind tried to process the entire story that is being told by Kyoko in the interview.

"Any messages for the mastermind?"

Before the interview ended, the journalist gave the last question. As a response, Kyoko shifted her intense gaze to the camera the cameraman held. As it is played on the TV, it was as if Kyoko was directly talking to whoever's watching the news.

"If you had known me, then you wouldn't mess with me."

A very simple and a sentence that is easy to comprehend, yet a very powerful statement. Goosebumps grew all over the man at the sudden unfamiliar coldness present in the girl's voice.

Part 2

"If you had known me, then you wouldn't mess with me."

The voice of the girl who gave this statement was heard from a pricey TV in a certain apartment, as a young lady with waist-length black hair wearing a lab coat was listening to the same news many people are listening to as well.

The young lady sipped on her tea while she was sitting on her couch, reading a certain novel book. On her table was a variety of books, which confirms that she is indeed a bookworm. Looking back at the TV, the girl spoke,

"Kyoko Mochizuki, hm?"

Part 3

After a final turn, Leblanc was finally in front of their eyes. The two exchanged nods, as Ren took the lead to enter the cafe. Opening the door, the ringing of the bell cued the shop owner to turn its head to the shop door which was opened by the duo.

"Excuse me-" Ren's greeting was interrupted when Sojiro Sakura, the shop owner himself spoke over him.

"Kyoko! Are you alright?!" Sojiro spoke in a worried tone as he proceeded to where the two was. As a reply, Kyoko silently nodded.

"Thank goodness..." As if the burden was lifted from his shoulders, he sighed in relief.

"I'll get her some clothes upstairs." Ren volunteered as he then walked to the stairs that lead up to the attic.