Hello. I remember that I was asked once any VA for Katsuo in the original version. I usually don't give much importance since that won't affect how the story develops, but I couldn't help myself from thinking anyway. So far, I have the voices that could fit: Ben Diskin for English and Yuuichi Nakamura for Japanese. I like the tone of their voices and the fact that they voice my favorite characters is a plus.
Disclaimer: Persona 5 Characters except Fujin Katsuo belongs to Atlus, this fanfic has no commercial purpose.
After a long week, everyone finished their finals. It was July 16th, two days away before the fireworks festival. We just got reunited on the usual spot Takamaki and Sakamoto looked pale for some reason.
"Exams are finally over… I'm so exhausted…" The blond girl was the first to whine.
"I can get back to actually sleepin' in peace…" The punk's energy was so drained out that not even for his loud tone.
"Huh. You must have been studying pretty hard if it kept you up at night," Makoto was cheerful than usual. Exams were never a problem with her anyway.
"Nah, I was up playin' video games. Slackin' off is just too much fun…"
"I know, right!? I kept cleaning my room instead of studying! It might even be too clean now…"
"You two are perfect exemplars of escapism can mean," Kitagawa commented, not very amused.
"Why I'm not surprised?" I felt pretty disappointed with those two tired-looking teenagers. "What a way to waste my Sunday..."
"And I can only imagine what the end result will be." Makoto sighed.
"Whatever, it's over with now. Who cares about that anymore!? What's really important is the Phantom Thieves' popularity! Ain't it amazin'!?" Sakamoto got his hopes high.
"It kinda feels like our time's finally here!" Takamaki added.
"I have even heard people excitedly speculating about our next target. We will have to choose carefully." Kitagawa commented while smiling.
"There's no need to hurry. We should spend some time thinking it over." Makoto made a point. Better to take things slow after this long.
"Hold up, the most important thing now is our celebration party," well, maybe not for Sakamoto. "I hope you guys didn't forget. It's the fireworks festival on the 18th. I guess we're good meetin' up in Shibuya, yeah? Let's say… at 5 pm!"
"You sure are on top of these kinds of things…" Morgana wasn't as excited as him.
"I hope to be there on time. It's going to be a lot of people with both traffic and trains," I recalled it because the 18th would be Monday. I knew I would have to ask Lala-chan the free day. Just before doing anything else, I got a phone call. "Excuse me, guys." It was my boss from my delivery job; it was weird to call me at those hours.
"Hello?"
"Fujin-san? Thank goodness, you answered!" I sounded anxious for some reason.
"Yeah, so what is it?"
"It's an emergency! Please come here to pick up this package for the priest at Kanda."
"Emergency? What happened to the other couriers?" I didn't like how my boss sounded.
"One of them was reported sick, and the others are already busy. You are the only one available! Please, I will pay you to double for this!"
"Fine, I'll be there in no time." I sighed in disbelief.
"Thank you! You are a lifesaver!" I hung up my phone.
"Lifesaver, my ass…"
"Who was on the phone?" Sakamoto asked me.
"It was my boss from my delivery job. I have to go because there's no other sucker beside me. I'll see you all at the fireworks festival."
"See ya, man."
"Take care."
"Be careful out there."
I said goodbye to everyone while heading right to my bicycle. It was a real pain those last-minute emergencies because no one wanted to work at those hours around Tokyo. From what the company told me, the package is for the priest in a church at Kanda. I didn't remember the last time a stepped inside one, though. I picked up the box and rode to Kanda for 20 minutes. Kanda was peaceful because it wasn't as busy as Shibuya, Shinjuku, or even Akihabara during the evenings. I kind of got lost on my way.
"Excuse me, sir, do you know where the church is?" I asked an old man for directions.
"Which one?" He told me while he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh…right, I forgot there are a lot of them here. This one on the paper…" I showed to the old man the address marked on the package.
"Oooh, it is not too far from here. Go straight down the street and should find it at your left side," the old man pointed at where to go exactly.
"Huh, thank you very much, sir." I kept riding my bike until I stopped in front of the church. Once inside, I looked around and heard the calming music that surrounded the place. There were few people on the benches, praying. What caught my attention was a Kosei student playing shogi by herself; I didn't mind her, so I kept walking. The priest wasn't around from what I saw, and that worries me if he got desperate by waiting or something. I asked the teenage girl since she was the only one not praying in that church.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"Sorry, I'm not interested in doing autographs at the moment." She replied with annoyance.
"Autographs… What are you talking about?" I got confused about what she said.
"Are you not here to ask me questions or something?"
"Look, sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to know if the priest is around."
"Why you need the priest?" Her attitude toned down and looked even more confused than me.
"I got a delivery for him. Do you know if he's here or not?"
"Sorry, he just left a couple of minutes ago. I don't know for how long he would be out until he comes back, though."
"Is that so? This is just great, and now I have to wait here." I sat on one of the benches while holding an annoyed expression. I wasn't sure how long I would be waiting. Despite my mood, the environment was oddly relaxing. I was starting to reflect on how my life had begun. I didn't understand how I got involved with the Phantom Thieves from one day to another.
For all, I would straight up say that I could barely tolerate them much, which staying felt nothing but being obliged. Those guys believe they are doing a great cause to help others, and yet, they seemed only for the recognition. That whole popularity was going to blow on their faces before or after things would go south. Sure, they were teenagers, but they still had so much to learn the simple facts that not everything would go as planned.
I began looking at those paintings that were at the church. I was no expert like Kitagawa, but I could feel the pain and serenity coming from those. Made me think of those old times when I was for myself and other people I knew. But also remembered the trouble I caused to others.
One thing I never understood the Bible when reading it a long time ago. People expect some reward at the end for the good deeds, but their sins were forever gone? Doubt it's true. No matter how many people asked for forgiveness, it never banishes. You could say that their sins can mark someone's skin as a reminder of what they have done. Sometimes, not even physical ones.
"Excuse me?" I heard the girl asking. "Are you alright?"
"Huh? What?" I replied with confusion.
"Are you feeling well? You have been staring at the painting for too long."
"Did I? Ah, probably was lost in my thoughts..." I shook my head while trying to not look clueless or just sleeping with open eyes. I wanted to use my phone to see the hour, but I couldn't know if that would be insulting using that inside a church. Who knows? I'm sure that I wouldn't use it inside temples either.
I stood up and left the church to wait outside. So far, I could only care to finish my job and go home even if I got extra money. That sort of stuff wasn't worth the trouble. When I was about to lose my patience, I saw the priest walking towards me.
"Sorry to make you wait," the man said as he seemed in a hurry. "Bless you for the great work! Take care on your way home."
"Yeah, don't forget to sign this paper," I showed the receipt before leaving the area.
Considering that my home was probably to the other side of the city, it meant an hour or two stuck in the trains. Lovely.
On my way back, Sakamoto started to text me the following:
Ryuji: Yo!
Ryuji: How's it goin'?
Katsuo: Done with work, what's the matter?
Ryuji: Well, d'you hear there's a festival tomorrow. I asked Yusuke and Akira to come. Wanna join?
Katsuo: Another festival?
Ryuji: One with food stands such as ice cream, kebab, that sort of stuff, y' know?
Katsuo: Oh...
Katsuo: I know which one are you talking about...
Katsuo: Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend going there.
Ryuji: Huh? Why not!?
Katsuo: Those places get really crowded that you might spend hours in lines before you could get anything.
Ryuji: What're you talkin' about? Everyone goes there!
Katsuo: Well, not me. And definitely can't go anyway because I have work.
Ryuji: Are you sure?
Katsuo: I made my choice.
Ryuji: I guess I will see you at the fireworks festival then.
Ryuji: See ya.
The last thing I wanted would be wasting more time on those places instead of earning money. Whatever that case was, not in the mood for sure. I read the weather forecast for the following day, I had to stop at a store on the way to buy sunscreen. I would need it a lot.
It was July 17th, and the heat was killing me.
It was hard to accept that Shibuya was the worst place for such atrocious temperatures. I was walking on a frying pan if I had to describe it better. Seriously, you could see someone cooking sunnyside eggs on the sidewalk like on TV. An unbearable ambient that I had to buy two or three cans of my favorite drink from the vending machines during my shift.
I carried a sunscreen bottle on my backpack to apply it one my arms and face every half-hour or so. I looked paler than anything and definitely not up a tan that summer. Was it unhealthy? Who knows. I was roasting, so to speak. My prediction was that by the end of the summer, I would look like one of those nouveau riche douchebags that you see on the beach. Yeah, such tan that would look similar to tangerines. I rather die than looking like one of those guys.
After finishing my day job, I tried to think about what to do before heading to Shinjuku. Any place away from the heat was a good option. The underground mall probably had the AC working that day. I only hoped, but not by much.
A little stroll to see the stores around, but there was never something to catch my interest except the sports one. They always had on display the latest fishing rod that, much to my chagrin, too expensive. It's been a long time since I went to the fishing pond, and definitely not worth the trouble to buy one if I couldn't have the time to go there anyway. Especially alone.
Flowers store, jewelry, makeup, clothes, and etc. The underground mall didn't offer much for guys. The convenience store maybe, but nothing special there. After looking around and deciding to leave, I saw Takamaki near the clothing store, holding her tears as she looked at her phone. What was the matter? I could simply continue on my way and not bother her, but I didn't want to leave things like that.
I headed towards her, being cautious of not spooking her off by accident. "Hey, are you alright?" I asked her.
"Huh? Oh, hey, Katsuo... I didn't see you." Takamaki replied. She tried to wipe her tears off with her left hand. That could ruin her makeup, so I offered I handkerchief I had. "Oh, thanks..."
"I know this shouldn't be my business to ask, but why are you sad?"
"It's nothing. You shouldn't worry."
Acting in denial, the blonde certainly didn't want to lose some of the spunk in front of me. Whatever the girl was dealing with, I probably could do something to share her thoughts. Like all things in the big city, it takes a little bribe to make someone talk.
"Do you want me to buy you something?"
"Would you do that? Why?" Takamaki said. Confused about seeing me act somewhat kinder than usual. I didn't blame her, though.
"I don't like seeing you like that."
"Well... you could buy crepes if you don't mind?"
"Sure," I replied. Oblivious that the crepes that were selling at Central Street would be a little more than I could afford in food. Seriously? How can people pay for such overpriced desserts? Well, anyone except me. I begrudgingly paid a double-stuffed creamed strawberry crepe for Takamaki, which she finally gave a more sincere smile as soon as her eyes were on that crepe.
"Thank you, Katsuo!" She said with enthusiasm. "Are you not going to buy one for you, too?"
"Me? Nah, I had enough sweets back in high school. Those damn N&N's are way too addictive for my own good."
"But those are candies, not the same as crepes. Are there any sweets that you like?"
"Probably pudding. Just, uh, don't tell anyone I said that..." We laughed. Her mood improved despite losing half of what I got in my wallet. Or I might be exaggerating. Who knows. "So, what got you with the long face."
"It's nothing, really," she stopped eating for a brief moment. She frowned. "It's that I got a text from Shiho."
"Who is Shiho?" I asked.
"My best friend. She moved today to another city."
"And why she's moving?"
"Don't you know it?"
"Knowing what?"
"Do you remember the incident at Shujin with Kamoshida?"
"That whole fiasco? Yeah, I can only recall the physical abuses and the girl who tried to... Oh." It hit me like a truck after connecting the dots. "Sorry to mention it."
"It's alright. I'm only glad the school didn't reveal Shiho's name to the news."
"Probably the only decent thing Shujin ever did in this life. But that must be hell." I shook my head. I felt that was insensitive of my part mentioning that stuff. "Well, so, she is moving to where exactly?"
"I don't remember, but she just left after we were done with finals. She will be transferred to another school after summer."
"That's tough having a friend going away," I said.
"It is," Takamaki sighed. "Did that happen to you before?"
"Happen what?"
"Friends going away."
"Oh, that. You could say that." I looked away. Not in the mood to share anything about myself. "Anyway. But at least you are not alone."
"Yeah," she chuckled. "You know, Akira said something like that to me the other day when I was with him and Shiho at Shujin's rooftop. That was enough to cheer me up."
"Really? I didn't know that."
Alas, Kurusu being a saint once again. Not too hard to imagine being there for the others. For one part, I could admit that he did something and not just letting things happen. Am I jealous? As if. People make their own choices. If I want to put my nose where I shouldn't, well, I had justified reasons. I preferred to keep things as low as possible.
"Are you serious!?" Takamaki yelled. She looked at her phone for a few seconds until she noticed something that almost made her drop her crepes.
"What? What's the matter?" I asked.
"Look!" She showed me what was on screen. It was a live broadcast from the festival: A reporter was standing in the middle of the heat while large lines of people on the food stands were behind her. She tried to act natural as if nothing.
"... and just look at the crowd! Smiling faces everywhere you look! With that, let's move right into asking some of the visitors here for their comments!" The reporter was enthusiastic as she looked at the people. It didn't take her too long until she got her eyes on someone. "Ah, let's interview those three," she pointed it out. She walked towards the people as the cameraman kept focusing on the reporter.
And boy, just a second after I saw the people who the reporter was about to interview, three oddly familiar faces appeared on the screen.
"You have to be kidding me..." I groaned. Sakamoto, Kitagawa, and Kurusu were the schmucks to appear on camera. If things couldn't get any worse, the TV crew chose that punk, from all people, to talk.
"Hello! It sure is hot today, huh?"
"Oh, for sure, yeah!" Sakamoto opened his mouth. We noticed that he tried to make some sort of awkward smile. "And if it's this hot in July, can you imagine just how insane the weather's gonna be in December?"
Good grief...
"Ah, anyway... Since you're here for the festival, does that mean you and your friends there are meat lovers?" The reporter kept asking. She lost some focus that almost left her speechless for such absurdity she just heard.
"Uh... I'd say that we're really lovers of fruit! Oh, and sweets! Sweets are just to die for!"
Oww man...
The reporter made an awkward laugh while looking at the camera. "Well, ah... Thank you very much for your time!" After finishing the interview, she hastily walked away alongside her crew until we could no longer see the guys on screen.
Takamaki and I didn't say a thing for a while minute. We tried to process what we just spectated minutes ago. I couldn't come up with the right words to express it. "That, uh, that was..."
"Very cringy..." Takamaki finished off my sentence.
"Yeah, couldn't say any better myself..."
"That idiot! Why would he say such embarrassing things on camera!" The blond girl was furious.
"That numbskull probably thought that they were recording and they would delete it later. Of course, the idea not being the case never went through that thick head of his."
"Just better wait when I see him at school for acting like that on TV."
"Don't bother; chances are that everyone at Shujin watched that too." We couldn't contain ourselves from facepalming when I mentioned it. Undoubtedly, the next Monday would have so much chatter from the other students.
"I think I'm going home..."
"Be careful..."
Takamaki and I said goodbye to each other while looking rather pale from watching that broadcast. That was something I would never ever mention again. Even for Sakamoto's standards, if he had any, that was the dumbest shit I heard in my life.
I began to feel sick for some reason.
Hey, I wanted to say something important. I probably will be less active because I'm going to focus on writing original fiction because I want to publish it in the near future. While doing the rewrite won't take me long, it mean less time here than before. Don't worry, I will update once in a while, but it will be much less. I appreciate for your support in this story. The only thing I can wish you all is to take care and be safe anywhere you are.
