On A Knife's Edge
is a Persona 5 Fan Fiction by Nerdlinger1.
This story takes places two years after the events of Persona 5. Ren is starting his first year at the Academy of Justice and Policing, where Makoto is in her third year. Not long after he arrives, Ren becomes a suspect in a serial killing spree, forcing Makoto to keep him safe long enough to find the true culprit.
This story is a Completed Fic, with a follow up currently in progress.
Tropes found in On A Knife's Edge:
- Bluffing the Murderer: Attempted to clear Ren's name.
- Bullet Hole Spelling: Ren spells his name with throwing knives during his exam to test into the Advanced Knives class.
- Calling Card: One is delivered to the killer in an attempt to gather evidence to clear Ren's name.
- Carry a Big Stick: Jiro's preferred weapon is the bo staff.Jiro: I'll be the baddest motherfucker on the nature trail.
- Clear My Name: As noted in the synopsis, Ren is wrongfully suspected of a series of murders.
- Cold Open: Hiroshi is murdered in the first page.
- Continuation: This story takes place two years after the events of Persona 5.
- Devious Daggers: Ren's weapon specialization, as in Persona 5.
- Dislikes the New Guy: Tetsuo dislikes Ren, mostly shown by the disparaging comments Tetsuo makes to Makoto.
- The Dreaded: The Midnight Blade.
- Establishing Character Moment: Tetsuo, Makoto's boyfriend at the start of the story, is shown to be primarily interested in hitting on Makoto and disinterested in her friends, especially Ren. They eventually broke up down the line.
- Enhance Button: Averted. When reviewing surveillance footage, Jiro zooms in on the real killer and they note that it is very pixelated.Jiro: Hopefully the fidelity doesn't go completely to shit.
- Hidden Weapons: Ren carries a stiletto on his leg.
- Heroes Fight Barehanded: Makoto's Weapon Specialization is Martial Arts.
- If Only You Knew: Naomi is a big fan of the Phantom Thieves and doesn't realize she's working with the leader and advisor.Naomi: I wanna be a Phantom Thief!Makoto: I, uh, I didn’t realize you were such a fan.
- The Medic: Emiko plays this role for the team.
- Mistaken for Murderer: Ren is suspected of being the Midnight Blade due to his criminal history, expertise with blades, and some unfortunate timing.
- Murder Mystery: The story focuses on this with the protagonists trying to solve and find the true culprit who tried to frame Ren for the serial murders of the Midnight Blade.
- Official Couple: Ren and Makoto.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Ren's assault charge from the beginning of Persona 5 is brought up by Tetsuo, Emiko, and the news media.
- Original Character: Most of the cast. Ren, Makoto, Morgana, Sojiro, and Sae are the only returning characters.
- Put on a Bus: The rest of the Phantom Thieves aside from Ren and Makoto.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Detective Naabe, who leads the investigation into the Midnight Blade case, is willing to follow new leads when the case seems solved and is happy to accept evidence from Ren's side.
- Serial Killer: The Midnight Blade.
- Start to Corpse: The first victim is on the first page.
- The Voiceless: Morgana. Justified Trope, as none of the new characters can understand him.
- Taught by Experience: Ren's experience with a knife as a Phantom Thief allows him to test into the third-level Blades course.
- Weapon Specialization: Each academy student learns a secondary weapon of choice.
