Disclaimer: Persona 5 Characters except Ryuunosuke Katsuo belongs to Atlus, this fanfic has no commercial purpose.
It was on Sunday at Shibuya. I was sitting next to the Lottery Booth while watching the people passing by from the train stations. If my intuition was correct, they would reunite around Station Square because it was really crowded. People would not mind about teenagers hanging out around here. I saw him, he was accompanied by another two guys and a chick, but Makoto wasn't with them though. They were standing in front of a dog statue, just talking and sometimes saying random words that I couldn't get. They were standing for an hour, which became tedious. The only words that they kept repeating were; "Kaneshiro," "Bank," and "Shibuya" I had no idea what was for.
Just bored out of my mind, I stood up and bought a lottery ticket despite my bad streak. I felt a chill when I turned to see them as if they disappeared out of the blue. How the hell just happened? Was I losing my mind? Because the moment my sight was on another direction away from them, and suddenly I lost them like nothing. Maybe they moved to Central Street if they were still looking for information. After an hour and a half of wandering around the area, they completely left Shibuya without a trace. What was going on? It was impossible for teenagers to move so fast without being noticed by any human being. I walked around the area, the only area I didn't check was the alleyway behind the arcade.
"Yo! Looking for easy money?" A thug with exercise clothes approached me on the same alleyway.
"Sorry, not interested." I refused his offer; it was obvious he was with the people doing suspicious business.
"Why not? You look like someone who can accomplish any job right." He insisted despite my previous answer.
"Hey, I said I'm not interested. Besides, I already have a job so don't bother me again." I was starting to lose my patience.
"Hey, Smart-Ass, I offered you easy money, you can't reject me just like that." He was pissed off.
"I just did it" After saying that, I walked away from him. He grabbed me from the collar before he tried to threaten me.
"Seems I have to force you to take this job, don't you think?" He was trying to behave like a hotshot, I just head-butted to his nose, making him bleed. "Owww, you ass, I will make you change your mind with my fists."
"Go ahead, make my day. I was getting bored anyway." I gave him my intimidating glare. I felt his fear, making him stumble like a bitch.
"Tch, whatever, I'm not going waste my time. Better watch your back asshole!" He ran away from me, all words but can't hold by his own.
There is no such thing like easy money in this life. I couldn't believe students fell for that bullshit. I couldn't think of any places where that guy with glasses or the others could be. I saw a shop in the same alleyway I was. "Untouchable" was the name labeled outside. It was the store Iwai-san owns since he stopped working for my family. I was wondering if he had something to share with me.
"Mhh?" Iwai-san was sitting while reading a magazine when I entered the store. "Look who shows up. What can I do for you?"
"Long time no see, Iwai-san. You are looking good after retirement."I complimented him, I think he smelled my sarcasm.
"Yeah, what brings you here? I doubt it is for any business."
"It is business, my own."
"What kind of business are we talking about then?" He looked curious about me.
"Nothing special, I wanted to ask you if you saw a guy with messy hair and glasses."
"Is he a Shujin student?"
"Yes, he is. Did you saw him?"
"Saw him? Hell, he is even helping me to clean the store during the evenings. Why? Is he a friend of yours or has something to settle with you?"
"None of that, we kind of have a mutual acquaintance. I'm just making sure they are fine."
"Well, it's none of my business then. But if you are asking if I saw him today, I didn't."
"Ok thanks, I guess. Now that I'm here, minus well buy something from your store."
"What are you interested for? Handguns, shotguns, rifles, ask me what you like the most."
"Mhhh, This one looks great." I pointed to the double-barrel shotgun model.
"You have good taste: Lupara, a sawed-off shotgun model. It is Italian, used for hunting wolfs. Why are you interested in such a model?"
"I like to collect western stuff. Just like revolvers, those are good weapons that pack a punch while holding with one hand."
"Okay, before selling you that, I want you to answer me one question."
"What is it?"
"Why you left your family?"
"Does it matter? You left them too for your personal reasons."
"Yes, I left them for a better life for my son. But doesn't mean I forgot them."
"What is the difference? You already know that I want nothing to do with them."
"That doesn't mean you have to ignore them. When you know there is nobody else for you, the family is always there. I'm not saying you have to go back to them, but don't forget you are all that they had. Don't disappoint me on that." He said it with his terrifying stare while aiming at me with his lollipop.
"No promises." I stared him back without breaking my cool.
"Alright, here you go. Don't show it in public, not even your folks will help you with the cops if they catch you with that."
"I'll keep it in mind, say hi to Kaoru for me."
"Take care."
After exiting from the store, it made me think how simple it is for him to leave them to focus on a more personal issue. For a tough guy like him, really let his soft side takes him over a long time ago. I was really jealous of how he managed to do that without being worried if his past will come back to haunt him again. Being an adult sometimes sucks, teenagers complain about jobs, social activities or school, while I was struggling more for my place in society because it seems that I had nowhere to go in this life.
Whatever was the case, I was still walking around Shibuya with no signs of those teenagers. I gave up until evening, already late for them to show up. It was better to eat something before heading back home. The Diner was the first thing I saw; it was a better option than cheap fast food. I never liked fast food from any sort. After sitting and ordering my meal, I heard a voice that I hadn't listen from a long time ago.
"Oh, is it you, Katsuo-san?" The person that talked to me was Akechi Goro. Yes, THAT Akechi Goro; the famous young detective that appeared on TV lately.
"Hey Goro, long time no see." I put a small smile.
"I'm certainly surprised to see you again here." He looked really happy.
"I would say the same thing. Six years, right?"
"Yes, it really felt like ages, but it is good to know you are not in jail yet." He said jokingly.
"That is really funny of you, Mr. Detective, because I'm not laughing. Just to give you an update, I'm not with them anymore."
"Oh, did something happens to them?"
"Not much, I wanted to live independently after graduating."
"I see nothing grave then. Mind if I join you here?"
"Are you really going to eat in this place? I thought you only dine in fancy places." I was confused about why he was doing here.
"I usually do, but I skipped lunch because of work. Here was the first thing I saw while passing by." His work sounded really demanding and strict.
"Feel free; it was already depressing table for one."
"Thanks." He took the other seat while looking at the menu.
Akechi Goro, I never expected to see him again after all those years. Since he started to become a famous detective, we stop hanging out together because of how busy he was at the moment. Now that he is with the law, I would expect a little bit of hostility towards me because of my past. In reality, he was still friendly with me as always, only to a certain degree. We talked about things that happened to us over the last three years until he came up with an interesting topic.
"So, what do you think of those Phantom Thieves?"
"Is this another interrogation? To be honest, I don't really care much about them." I wasn't really sure how I feel about them in reality.
"Is that so? I wasn't expecting a neutral response about them." He sounded unsatisfactory of my answer.
"Well, I heard you from that show you were no too long ago. I can't say if both sides are right about justice."
"You look undecided. It is not too hard to think which one is more certain about justice."
"The problem of the why I can't decide is more the fact how the government and laws are so flawed as those guys." I never trusted the government or the police if anybody asks me about it.
"So are you saying we are not good to deliver justice?" Goro looked like he was ready for some kind of debate.
"More like nobody is good to deliver justice, I'm more for fairness on people in general." And yet, I felt unsure about it.
"Fairness, huh? I can see what you mean, but don't you think it is flawed too?"
"I'm aware of it. No philosophy is perfect; there are always pros and cons. It just depends on oneself and how to deal with it, whether if it influences others."
"You might be right; it is not easy to convince other people to support a single person. Although the idea of each one of us has to deal with our problems individually is not as simple as it sounds. Darwinism is never the answer, letting others to solve their own problems creates instability and chaos. The government was created to able to solve people's problems as long they respect the laws. Of course, people like you wouldn't be able to understand that."
"Say whatever you want, I will respect the laws, but that doesn't mean I would trust either side. The only person who I will trust is only me." I was hoping that is the right answer for me.
"Be careful what you wish, I don't think you would be able to handle things by your own in this life. The reason how I'm successful in my line of work is because I needed to rely on people's approval and trust in being able to make justice to any criminal. Even your people rely on trust to expand and growth."
Goro told me in the most brutal way, what a total prick. Although, I have to admit he is now capable of holding by his own now. Despite him saying that people are necessary to succeed he was really good to handle with other adults and media by his own merits; truly deserved to be called the Charismatic Detective.
And what am I? I rejected my name and place because I wanted to become a better person. It seems life was really unforgiving when it comes to reality. I really wanted to be independent, but I can't even do that right because I dragged myself into this annoying investigation with Makoto and the other guy. I was afraid of emotional attachment because it would be really poisonous for anyone who is closer to me. You know, it made me remember someone from my childhood, a friend of me and Goro. Just like him, the other guy left us when I was 12. If Goro is a detective, maybe he can have a lead about him.
"Now that I'm done responding your question, I have one for you."
"What is your question then?" He looked curious about what I was about to ask.
"Are you still in contact with Souta?" I was wondering if Goro was still in contact with him.
"Sadly, I don't. I only talked to him since the time he moved somewhere else with his mother six years ago." He sounded sincere, neither he was able to see him again.
"I was expecting you would use your detective skills to search if he is still around."
"I will try if I have the free time. It's not easy to access info from each citizen around the country." He was uneasy about that.
"Well, thanks anyways." What a letdown.
We left the Diner after paying the bill from our meals, we paid separately. Just at the moment, we stepped to the street, the same thug from earlier showed up with his friends looking for revenge. Another huge mistake for them, it would not take too long before they noticed Goro was with me.
"That's the asshole that broke my nose!" He said to his friends.
"What is the problem, gentlemen?" Goro intervened between those thugs and me.
"Your friend broke mine's nose, and I'm not going to stand here without making him pay for what he did." The other thug said that to Goro.
"Ok, just to make it clear: It was self-defense because your friend was threatening me. That is really stupid of you are looking for a fight with me in public." I replied.
"I agree, not really the smartest choice for them." Goro said with such calm.
"Nobody asked for your opinion, dumbass." The broken-nose thug said it.
"OH SHIT!" The third thug noticed of Goro with fear.
"What are you afraid of?" The second thug asked the third one.
"That guy is the Detective from the TV!"
"WHAT!?" It was a new record, they took longer than expected to notice him.
"Oh crap, let's just leave, dude. I don't want to be arrested by him." The second thug said with panic.
"Tch, fine, I got enough for this day to deal with him now." The thugs left the street afraid of us.
"Still picking on fights are you?" Goro stared at me with guilt.
"As I said, it was self-defense." I replied with confidence. "Are you still a pacifist? I hope you don't have a problem with that."
"I don't have any problem with that if you are so sure about it, and yes, I will keep being one as long I serve the law."
"I think it is for the best. You never were a troublemaker like Souta and me." I felt with relief knowing that Goro is still that kind of person.
"Well then, seems we part ways here. It was certainly a pleasure to have a mature talk with you again; maybe we can go to play darts or something another time." He said it with his trademark smile.
"I agree. See you around Goro." I said with a weak smile.
"Stay out of trouble, Katsuo-san."
Just as we walked in opposite directions, it made me feel nostalgic about seeing him again after all those years. He was totally a different person from what I knew. He was able to overcome his problems now that he was a respected detective. Always in total control without the fear of what others say about him. Why the people I knew are going well than me? What made them alive despite their issues from the past? I just felt like a loser after seeing those people advancing in life. Sometimes, I wished to have the power to help others, but they were capable of supporting themselves. I didn't want to look weak in front of anybody, either people I know or strangers.
I always had that façade since I was a child. It was easy to look calm and reserved so nobody would ask about me or my life at home. Never had many friends, Souta and Goro were the only ones that genuinely knew about me, but they never cared who I was, which made me happy about having trusty friends. Getting separating from them was indeed a heart-breaking moment.
I know that I was talking so down of myself, but it is not easy to ask any person with an honest opinion about me. It was better to tough it up living in solitude. Now that people are trying to the foolish actions, I was hoping that my moment to do something for others came after seeing Makoto trying to help her classmates with those people at Shibuya.
I was hoping to pass by in case of something terrible come out while working. I couldn't afford to screw it again since I just lost sight of them right in front of me. The next day was going to be a long day for me. I was thinking: Those teenagers that were with the guy with glasses, were also helping with the investigation too? That was just getting more dangerous with even more people getting involved with. What a day.
It was on Monday. The traffic in Tokyo was the worst thing during the morning. My stress levels were rising per second; trying to look for those kids, and stopping them from going even further before things go full bar.
That was a total nightmare. My mind kept the priorities on the following order: Jobs, Makoto and co, bills, groceries, bike maintenance, the monthly Ultra Jump, Hyper Featherman's new episode.
I never mentioned what kind of delivery job I had; it was a courier job. Despite being outdated, people still order things around the city when they don't have the time to get themselves. It doesn't pay as much as working in Crossroads, but being able to ride around the city with some fresh air is never a bad idea, except when it comes to traffic.
I didn't have to worry about those kids because they were at school. I doubted Makoto would skip classes just to walk around Shibuya without getting attention from any cop. Now that I was thinking about it the other day, I should bring a book if I have wait hours like the last time.
When I stopped at the gas station to refill my bike, I checked my phone to see the hour. I noticed something weird on it: A strange-looking app with the form of an eye appeared on the main screen. I pressed it to see what kind of function had.
"Please enter a name, a place, and a keyword" it was navigation app. Why would I need another navigation app if my phone already had one? It must be downloaded by itself, damn you advertisements. I deleted the app like the trash it was. After finishing with my bike, I headed back to my work with even more deliveries than before on the way. It took me hours until it was already afternoon. I finished with my job which made me feel tired. When I was passing near Shibuya, something caught me off guard.
I finally found those guys while getting into a cab. They looked in a hurry; I couldn't let them see me, so I stayed far with a reasonable distance while riding my bike. The traffic was being crowded than earlier, so I started to lose them again, so many cars from the same color as the cab.
So close yet so far to lose them again. Why is always that hard to find them? This was getting ridiculous for me trying to stop them. That time wasn't good; almost make bash my head against a wall for my cursed luck and losing sight of them every damn time.
I end up just going circles without results, already evening and I was starving. Just when I get the idea to drop this shit and better continue with my life, I got the jackpot. Makoto, the guy with glasses, and the others walked outside of a nightclub.
So they finally appeared, judging by their faces they looked worried, Makoto was really sad. She looked apologetic to them, whatever she was saying, nothing good came out of that place. I never saw her behaving like this with me or others. I was hiding behind a vending machine, but I couldn't hear what they were talking about.
After they were done talking, Blue-haired guy started walking, while the others followed him. I decided to follow them as well without being noticed. The students kept walking until they stopped at the middle of Central Street. I didn't know what they were planning to do next, but I won't let my sight separated from them this time. "Please enter a name, a place, and a keyword."
That voice, they were using the same app I found in my phone earlier this morning. What the hell is wrong in this life? The blue-guy started to say the following words to his phone: " Kaneshiro Junya", "All Shibuya," and "Bank." Those words, now things became clear: The app was using those words to locate specific people and places. They most likely had an idea of where Kaneshiro is.
Why did they want to go after him? It didn't matter; right before I left my hiding place to warn them about that reckless choice. I felt that chill again like yesterday when I was spying those guys in Station Square. "Starting Navigation." The phone said it.
From one second to another, something shocked me that my eyes weren't able to comprehend what I saw from that moment: They disappeared out of nowhere, like magicians in a show. Was I losing my mind? Being delusional? Whatever was the case, there was only one thing that got stuck in mind. "Are they the Phantom Thieves?"
Whatever it was: Illusionist, smoke mirrors, voodoo, black magic, stunt doubles, or a good elaborated a prank. No matter how many things I came up to answer about it, nothing like that could ever happen in this life.
If those guys are the Phantom Thieves, probably Makoto was dragged into this shit too. I made up my mind if she is now involved in risky business and that guy was one of them; I would not stop until I find answers.
"Oh crap, what the hell I am thinking? I started to sound like Makoto. Please, for fuck's sake, somebody wake me up from this nightmare!"
