Prologue: The End of the Joker
Following the death of Akira Kurusu, the former Phantom Thieves of Hearts are thrown into the danger and excitement surrounding the great master thief, Arsene Lupin III.
Author's Note: The tone of this story will be similar in tone to the Osumi era of Lupin III, though Lupin himself will have a similar personality to his Part 5 incarnation. If you are uncomfortable with violence, gore, alcohol/drug use, smoking, sensual content (no sex or nudity will be described in detail, but possibly mentioned and/or heavily implied), and language, this is your warning.
This story takes place in 2019, 2 years after the events of Persona 5 Strikers. The 'ships' for this story are Akira/Ann & Ryuji/Haru.
PERSONA AND ITS CHARACTERS BELONG TO ATLUS. LUPIN III AND ITS CHARACTERS BELONG TO TMS ENTERTAINMENT AND KAZUHIKO KEITO (MONKEY PUNCH). I DO NOT OWN ANY MUSIC, BRANDS, OR PRODUCTS THAT MAY APPEAR DURING THIS STORY.
To say the news was shocking to the former Phantom Thieves of Hearts would be a gross understatement. 2 years after they disbanded for the second time, the group's leader, Akira Kurusu, was caught in a car accident while on his way to visit his friends.
A drunk had swerved and struck his car on the driver's side, killing him instantly.
In the back-alley Cafe Leblanc, his friends were devastated.
Ann Takamaki, Akira's lover, was crying uncontrollably into the shoulder of the former Shujin Academy Student Council President Makoto Niijima, who was trying to comfort her.
Ryuji Sakamoto, Akira's right-hand-man, gently placed his hand on the back of his girlfriend, Haru Okumura, as they sat in shock.
The eccentric artist, Yusuke Kitagawa, and techie, Futaba Sakura, merely sat speechless.
Finally, after 5 minutes of tears and sadness, Ryuji spoke. "We gotta find out who did this," he said in a quiet and threatening voice. The others looked at him fearfully.
"And when we do?" Ann asked with tear-streaked eyes.
"We make sure he suffers the same way Akira did." Ryuji responded.
Meanwhile, Sojiro Sakura, owner of the cafe, wondered to himself how his old friend would react.
Somewhere, a drunk man stumbled away from his ruined car, not even bothering to see if the teenager in the other vehicle was alright. He just wanted to get away.
Unfortunately for him, that plan would not succeed, as a Mercedes Benz SSK suddenly pulled in front of him. The driver, a figure in a green jacket, got out and gunned him down without a second thought. "That was for what you did to my son."