Persona 5: Exchange Student's Tale

Chapter 1: They Caught Me

It's hot in the police station, despite the cool breeze outside. Guess the cops' feelings about some harmless artistic expression are the same as their feelings on temperature: Quite unsavoury. Bored with his grilling, I shrug at the officer.

"Look, I really didn't do anything too bad, just some harmless painting."

He slammed my crime report on his desk, glared at me like pond scum, and raised his voice very noticeably, "Painting!? You were graffitiing a railroad car!"

I mean... he's got me there. I'd love to explain the complex inner machinations of my mind that make me find satisfaction in the vast public spectacle my tagging allows, but I don't think that'll go ever well with the authorities. So I just sigh, and BS it.

"Eh, looked like a good canvas."

The officer squeezed his eyes together and gave a groan. He was tiring of dealing with me, I could feel the distaste radiating from his very being. Honestly, how could I blame him? If I tried lecturing me, I'd go mad. He finally came to some words, and steely looked at me.

"You're lucky kid, this is only as misdemeanor. Ironic part is, you're also pretty unlucky. These past couple months, four different cars have been tagged real heavily. You're the only offender we've caught. Guess they were just better at hiding their tracks."

He looked away, and I chuckled under my breath. What he didn't know is that the "they" tagging the cars was all me. I suppose i got cocky, made too much noise. Those cops came from just about every angle, so I knew that no matter what route I tried to take out of there, I'd get cut off. Acting intimidated and going in quiet was my best bet. Of course, the cops didn't need to know any of that. Thank God I have a solid poker face.

I put on a sly smile, "Well, guess I'm just not cut out for it, huh?"

The officer just scoffed, and finally picked up the phone to call my mother. Welp, guess this was inevitable. Lord knows I'm in for it when that woman gets down here. Not looking forward to that at all. Mom never was hard on punishment, but I just hated listening to her nagging on how I, "Give the Kessler family a bad name," and, "Need to act like a proper heir." I never truly cared for my family's agricultural property and stake, nor am I ever going to. I don't want my face out there as "Weylyn Kessler, CEO of Kessler's Cultivation." The very idea of becoming the face of some fat cat farming company just repulses me. Sure it's a billion dollar company, but what do I need a fortune for? I wouldn't know what to do with it. After about ten minutes, I hear what sounds like a pair of heels Olympic sprinting my way. She must've gone twenty over the speed limit if she were here this fast. God help me.

"WEYLYN JACKTON KESSLER, EXPLAIN YOURSELF THIS INSTANT!"

Oh... she's never screamed at me like this before. Something tells me this will not go too well. Perhaps I could play the "sweet child"?

"Hello mother, how are you?"

"Save it. Start taking, and it better not be anything but the truth!"

Alright, innocent won't cut it. It would appear that my luck ran out. I'll save the bull crap, and just come clean. The cop has a plethora of evidence anyway.

"I was spray painting the side of a railroad car... I didn't think it was that big a deal, and I didn't mean to cause such a disturbance."

"WELL YOU CAUSED A HELL OF A DISTURBANCE, DIDN'T YOU?"

Oh, this definitely won't end smooth for me. I've gotten trouble in school plenty, cheating, back talking, even fighting, and it always ticked her off, but it looks like breaking laws is where she draws the line... well, now I know. She gave me a searing look, and turned to the officer, pulling six mustard coloured bands from her blazer.

Stonefaced, she said, "Here, shred the file, and drop the report."

This wasn't a new sight for me, she had always used cash to settle her problems. Dumbfounded, the officer simply nodded, collected the money, and started towards the shredder. He didn't even make it there before my mom yanked me out of my chair and out to the car. I didn't bother resisting at all, it wouldn't aid the situation. Once we were both in, she bolted out of the driveway, and towards the house. This new charge in here behaviour shocked me so bad, I didn't say anything. The twenty five minute drive home was completely silent. Once we pulled into the driveway, she gestured for me to follow her, and she led me to my bedroom, and furiously flung open the door.

"Start packing." She sounded monotone. Was she serious?

"W-what?" I honestly didn't know how to respond.

You heard me. Start packing. I've had enough of your rebellious behaviour, and I won't deal with it anymore. I'm getting in contact with your school and setting you up for the exchange program."

It wasn't fully sinking in yet, but I was starting to think she wasn't joking. Was she was actually planning on sending me out of the country just to get away from me for a while?

"Where am I going?" So much was going through my head, that was all I could think to ask.

"Tokyo, Japan. One of your grandfather's friends lives there, in a district called Yongen Jaya. You'll be transferred to a school near there, and you'll be out of my hair."

With that, she turned and left. I was utterly speechless. She has never been this serious about anything before, so she wasn't just overreacting and lashing out. She's truly going to ship me across the globe out of anger. I feel like I should be angry, but... I'm not. Fact is, I'm thrilled! Not only do I get to see a distant country, but I get to be completely separate from my pestering mother! After silently celebrating for a bit, I pack for my trip like I was told. It took about an hour, but I organized everything I'd need into two backpacks, one for each shoulder. I would've brought more, but I didn't want any more hindrance in leaving than necessary. With all my preparation out of the way, I lie down smiling, my mind venturing to the very near future, and my fresh start in Yongen. Without my family name weighing on me, I can make real friends, forge real bonds, and have real fun! Mom's "punishment" never fading from my mind, I drift off into unconsciousness.