Ren, Ryuji and Haruto found themselves outside of the art gallery, all of them were recovering from the stampede they had to endure earlier. They were each catching their breath and not to mention their bodies felt a little sore.
"Ow---" Ryuji groaned, "---That old lady definitely elbowed me."
"I think I got trampled…" Haruto groaned, "... Everything hurts so much…"
"I know what you mean…" Ren said as he stretched, "... I don't know how Dide dealt with that while he was still filming…"
"Speaking of, think they're alright?" Haruto asked.
Before Ren could respond, he could see Kai and Dide approaching them. "Well there you guys are!" Kai said, "We were looking for you, what happened?"
"We were freaking trampled, that's what happened!" Ryuji said.
"Were have YOU two been?" Haruto asked.
Kai and Dide couldn't help but flinch as they couldn't help but recall what had occurred before.
"It's---Not important!" Kai said.
Dide added with an awkward smile, "Yeah, don't worry about it."
"Uh---What's with the faces?" Ryuji said.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." Kai and Dide said as Ryuji flinched.
"Anyway---We found something you guys would want to hear." Kai said.
The three of them looked confused before Kai started to explain, "All of his pieces, they don't have the same style."
"So?" Ryuji said with a quizzical expression.
"So---An artist like me has one style and sticks with it no matter what the medium." Kai said, "Each one of his doesn't stick to one---In fact it's almost random."
Dide added, "They would think it's normal but if you look close, you'll find a difference. We think y'all should follow us."
"Oh heck no!" Haruto said, "We're not going back after that crowd!"
It soon hit Ryuji as he thought about what the boys had explained. "Actually---We might need to go back." Ryuji said, as they looked confused again, "I remembered something while we were in that crowd!"
"Like what?" Dide asked.
"I was looking at the Phan-Site last night before the gallery--" Ryuji said as he got out his phone, "--And I found this post that mentioned the word 'shack'."
"Wait, shouldn't we wait for Ann-san and Kiku-san?" Ren asked.
"And Mo-chan?" Haruto added.
"Don't worry we'll explain things when they show." Ryuji said, before he showed them his phone, "Take a look at this."
Just as they went to look at the post, Ann and Kiku soon joined up with the group. "Hey!" Ann said a little offended, though they flinched at her tone, "Why did you just leave us like that?!"
"We were trying to find you but couldn't." Kiku said.
"Whoa, whoa, you got it all wrong!" Ryuji said, "We got dragged away by the crowd!"
"Yeah, we literally almost died." Haruto added.
"Is that right?" Ann asked with a raised eyebrow
"Oh yeah, they ate shit." Kai replied.
"Dude!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"What? It's true." Kai said as he said with a shrug.
"Yeah but----" Ryuji started to say before he sighed, "---Anyway nevermind, you and Kiku need to look at this. This post might be about Madarame."
He soon turned the phone over to Ann and Kiku before the others looked over. There they saw something truly shocking.
"A master Japanese artist---" Ren said, "---Is plagiarizing his pupil's work? Only his public face is shown on TV?"
The group gasped in horror. "Plagiarizing?!" Haruto said, shocked.
"But that can't be!" Ann said.
"I didn't think about it before." Ryuji said, "Until he mentioned the word 'shack' earlier. And with everyone saying his name that's what triggered it."
"If that's true---" Kai said as it clicked, "---Then that explains why the styles were so different from every painting!"
"Oh HELL no!" Dide said with fire in his eyes, "If there's anything I hate more than assholes, it's assholes that are fucking plagiarism! They don't work hard for their craft! They just take it from other people!"
"Yeah---Why do you think I don't make my art public all the time." Kai said.
"What else does the post say?" Ren asked.
Ryuji soon read the post, "His treatment of the pupils who live with him is awful. He teaches nothing and bosses them around. He treats them inhumanely as if disciplining a dog…"
"Abuse on top of plagiarism huh?" Morgana said as he peaked out of Kiku's backpack.
"Kazuyuki-kun…" Kiku said with worry.
"What's that?" Ryuji asked.
"My classmate---Kazuyuki-kun. He's a pupil like Kitagawa-san." Kiku clarified, "Ann-chan and I saw him earlier, and---He looked really nervous when Madarame came to greet us."
"Yeah… I noticed that too." Ann said as she recalled what happened prior.
"Then if this is real---" Ryuji said, "---It'll be a HUGE scandal."
"Maybe, Kazuyuki-san posted this?" Ann asked.
"I don't think so---" Kiku said, as she recalled the few interactions she had with him, "---When I went to sit with him during lunch, I saw he doesn't have a phone, he has something called a pager."
"WHAT?!" Dide shouted, "A PAGER?! A FRICKING PAGER?! WHO THE FUCK USES THOSE THINGS NOWADAYS?! WHAT A SMARTPHONE IS TOO COMPLICATED FOR YOU?!"
"Woah, you're that offended?" Haruto asked.
"He---Gets like that with certain tech." Ren said awkwardly.
"DAMN RIGHT!!!" Dide shouted as it even startled the people around them. They couldn't help but give him a look as the group themselves had an awkward look,
"No-Nothing to see here!" Haruto said to the people as he laughed, "W-We were just rehearsing a play for our school!"
Ryuji added, "Y-Yeah! Sorry about that!"
"We're sorry if we were too loud!" Ann said.
The people around them seemed to have bought it, as they started to go about their business; They each sighed with relief
"Maybe keep your voice down next time, ya idiot." Kai whispered as he bonked his head.
Dide sighed as he got a bottle of water to drink from Ren's bag. "Sorry--Got too heated."
"Wow, you are such an amateur at this whole secrecy biz." Morgana said.
"Don't make me bring out the mask, Stupid Cat." Dide told him as he flinched.
"Anyway, if it wasn't Kazuyuki-san---Who could it have been?" Ren asked.
Ann soon pondered, "Maybe---Kitagawa-kun? He is the other pupil after all."
"Who knows?" Ryuji said, "The post is anonymous afterall."
"In that case---" Morgana soon said, "---the Madarame we heard about in the Mementos is referring to the same one."
"Even so---Is he really capable of doing such a thing?" Haruto asked.
"Couldn't we ask that Shadow from before about it?" Kiku asked.
"That Shadow's already gone---" Ren said, "---But we can talk to him in reality."
"How would we even get in contact with the guy?" Kai asked.
"I can ask Mishima to arrange the meeting." Ren said, "It might take awhile, but we can talk to him that way."
"It's not a bad idea---" Morgana said, "---But we should investigate right away."
"That reminds me---" Ryuji soon said as he turned to Ann, "--What did you say about his model offer?"
"Well---" Ann soon said, "---Kitagawa-kun gave me his contact info, and the address to his sensei's atelier."
"Didn't he say he lived there?" Haruto asked, earning a nod from Ann.
"In that case I call that perfect timing!" Ryuji said, before he said to the group, "How about we go to Madarame's house right after school tomorrow?"
The group looked shocked by this; Ann especially as she turned a little red. "W-What?! You want me to model tomorrow?! That's so sudden!"
"Ye-Yeah what the hell are you thinking?!" Kai shouted as he turned a little red too.
"What are you talking about?" Ryuji asked, "We're just gonna talk to Kitagawa."
At this, Kai and Ann both flinched; Ann looked a little embarrassed while Kai---Looked pissed.
"O-Oh, that's what you meant…" Ann said.
"SAY THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU ASS!!" Kai shouted as his sheer voice made Ryuji fall over.
"Dial it back, you maniac." Dide said. "We're getting looks again."
They saw a few stared at him as Kai only huffed at this, "WHATEVER! LET'S JUST GO ALREADY!" He soon started to stomp away as the group was left with an awkward atmosphere.
"Uh---Is he okay?" Ann asked.
Dide sighed as he shook his head, "He's alright, just a hothead."
"... Yuuuup." Was all Ren said, earning an awkward look from Ann.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The Next Day After School-
As planned the Phantom Thieves had met up after school and proceeded to head to Madarame's address; Provided by Yusuke. Though their method of getting there had been through the train---Much to a certain someone's annoyance.
"Phantom thieves goin' by train…" Ryuji said as he had been standing with Dide and Haruto while the rest sat, "... This ain't any different from how I get home from school y'know."
"This train is the fastest way to go---" Ann said with a smile, "---Plus we can bring pets on here."
"Isn't that great, Shiro?" Kiku said as she looked to her dog---
---Whom had been sitting right beside her with a leash attached to his collar. "I'm just surprised you went with the duffle bag method again and snuck me into your school." His tail soon wagged, "Though I do like that sandwich you shared with me, Dide! It was delicious!"
"Of course!" Dide said. "I made it with the best materials! At least even pets like my cooking---RIGHT KAI?"
Kai's eye twitched, "Look, I can take that shit today---But what I don't get is---" He soon pointed to a certain rooster and chicken; Harumi was sitting on Dide's shoulder while Momodu sat on Ren's, "---WHY DID YOU BRING THEM WITH US TOO?!"
"What?" Dide said as he made puppy eyes, "They felt left out, and since they came with us to Mementos they have a right."
"Don't you think we're pushing our luck here?" Ren asked, as Momodu started to mess with his hair, "And what's he doing?"
"Oh he's cleaning it." Dide replied casually. "And don't worry Ren! If people can get away with bringing a piano and bringing a food cart on a train in New York---People will be chill with having them here."
"A food cart?" Haruto said.
"That can't be a real thing man." Ryuji said with a look.
Dide soon said, "Oh it is, you'd be surprised what people bring underground, like a TV with a setup."
"You mean like a small TV?" Ann asked.
"Oh no, 72inch." Dide replied casually, making her jaw drop.
"I agree with Kai---Maybe you should've let them home." Morgana said, "They don't have the techniques like Shiro and I do."
Momodu and Harumi gave a look to Morgana as he flinched.
"W-what are you staring at, you bird brains?!" Morgana asked
"Don't start a fight here." Ren whispered, "That's the last thing we need."
A child soon called out as he pointed to Harumi, "Look mommy! There's a funny parrot on his shoulder!"
Harumi clucked in confusion before she clucked angrily as the group and Dide especially looked nervous.
"Easy Harumi." Dide whispered as he calmed her down, "Of course he doesn't think you're a parrot."
"Mama, why does that funny man have a chicken on his shoulder?" A little girl soon asked, "Are they playing pirates?"
Dide flinched as Harumi started to cluck angrily; though Morgana couldn't help but laugh. "I take it back---This is pretty funny." Morgana said.
"Mo-chan don't be mean!" Kiku whispered.
Harumi gave a look before she went through Dide's pocket before she came out while shouting "BA-KAWK!!!!!" Morgana couldn't help but shriek before he ended up---Grasping the head of a random guy making him shriek, "OWOW, WHAT THE HELL?!"
The group soon paled this time; Even Harumi.
"..how did she even know how to do that?" Ann asked.
"I wish I knew.." Dide said.
"Wait hold on, that's not important right now!" Ren said.
"HE'S RIGHT! DO SOMETHING!!" Ann shouted.
"R-r-ight!" Dide said as he soon got some Catnip from his pocket, "Oh Morgana~ I got something!"
Morgana soon looked at the catnip as he meowed before rushing into Dide's arms. "Meow~" He said in bliss.
"Hey! Keep that cat of yours under control!" The man said before he went to move.
"Sorry sir. That won't happen again!" Dide said. Though he could feel the stares from the rest of the group as he flinched. "Wha-What?!"
"You are a REALLY bad influence on your chicken." Was all Ren could comment on at that moment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn't long before they arrived at the address that had been provided by Yusuke. Though much to their own surprise---The house itself looked really run down, on the verge of breaking apart really. The house looked old and they could even hear a faint sound of creaking. The group had been left stunned at the sight. Especially Dide as his whole body was twitching.
"Uh----Is this the right place?" Ren asked.
"Well---" Ann said checking the paper, "---It IS the right address."
"And the door plate says Madarame…" Haruto said, "... It's just… Unexpected…"
"This house looks… Like it could be haunted." Kiku said.
"Can you stop with your twitching?" Kai said to Dide, "You're making me nervous."
"Oh SORRY My fight or flight response is bothering you!" Dide exclaimed.
"... Are you sure you're not getting upset over it being up to code?" Ryuji asked.
"What makes you say that?" Dide asked----As they noticed he had already been holding a bottle of bleach.
"Where did you even get that?" Ren asked stunned.
"... Don't worry about it." He simply replied.
"Seriously, you're scary sometimes." Ryuji said.
"Anyway--" Kai said, "---Should we go knock?"
"You first..." Haruto said as Kai gave him a look.
"How about Ann-chan and I go knock?" Kiku suggested, "Kitagawa-san might answer the door if he hears us first."
The boy's, especially Morgana, looked skeptical at this, though eventually they mentally came to an agreement. "Okay, go for it." Ren said.
Thus they approached the door, with Ann and Kiku went to the doorbell. Ann soon gave it a ring as she and Kiku looked a little nervous. "I'm---Surprised you're not freaked out by the house." Ann said to Kiku, "I know you can be nervous around people---"
"I uh---" Kiku said as she couldn't help but turn a little red, "I'm---Actually a little bit into the occult, and a little bit of the supernatural.
"Really? How?"
"I read an article that supposedly a man committed his crimes through a person's TV."
"Wait, like the Ring?"
"A bit, but without the cursed tape. Still---I couldn't help but wonder if that is even possible. I mean I'm wondering even more so now, considering what we do, you know?"
Before Ann could say anything more, they soon heard the intercom buzz. They soon heard Yusuke's voice come through it. "Who is it?" He asked, "Sensei is currently---"
"U-Um---It's Takamaki and Uchiyama." Ann said.
"H-Hi Kitagawa-kun." Kiku said, making herself known.
Immediately they noticed his tone changed. "I'll be right there!"
This left most of them stunned; though Kai's eye couldn't help but twitch. "People really do live here…" Ryuji said before Ren quickly shushed him.
"His tone really changes on a dime…" Kai said.
Yusuke soon opened the door, "I'm so glad that you---" He soon noticed the boys, "---Oh it's you."
"AGAIN WITH THAT TONE?!" Dide couldn't help but shout. As he was about to roll up, Haruto stopped him as he shook his head.
"Sorry, But uh-- We ain't here to talk about the modeling thing." Ryuji said, "There's something we gotta ask you."
"Ask me?" Yusuke said.
"Well---This might be hard to hear but---" Haruto said, "--But um---How do we put this?'
"Your sensei Madarame-" Kai said. "Is it true that the old man's been plagiarizing and abusing people?"
At this Yusuke looked stunned but---
"Are you serious?" Yusuke asked suddenly as they were a bit confused by the tone, "Where did you hear this?"
"We read about it online." Dide said as he showed him his phone. "Plus I heard it from a few of my former colleagues about how he truly is."
Yusuke looked over his phone, "This?" He said before they saw him laughing, "Preposterous! Not only is plagiarism impossible but abuse?"
"Seriously?!" Kai said.
"If you must know, he welcomes pupils into his own home!" Yusuke stated, "This is no act of violence; it is a charity! And I'm the one residing here and studying under him. I'm saying it's not true, so it's beyond doubt!"
"Really Charity?" Dide asked. "Doesn't sound like it to me."
"Yeah, you might be lyin' about it!" Ryuji stated.
"That---" Yusuke said, as his expression changed slightly, "---That is utter rubbish. I had no family when Sensei took me in and raised me into what you see now! If you continue to ridicule the man I owe my life to, you will rue this day!"
"You little---" Kai started to say.
"Then… How come Kazuyuki-kun looked nervous yesterday?" Kiku soon asked as Yusuke looked at her,
"What?" Yusuke said.
"Kazuyuki?" Ren said.
Kiku soon spoke up again, "You said it yourself---He's a pupil of Madarame like you are. But when he approached us… He looked nervous---No scared is more like it." She couldn't help but tilt her head, "Why did he?"
"Yusuke."
The group was soon startled when Madarame suddenly came to the door.
"What's the matter?" Madarame asked, "I heard you yelling."
"These people are slandering you with baseless rumors!" Yusuke stated as the group flinched at this.
"... Forgive them Yusuke." Madarame told them. "They must have heard some bad rumors and came in and worried about their friend."
Though a bit taken back by his tone, they noticed Yusuke calmed down a bit, "... Understood Sensei."
"Well even I doubt that a cranky old man like myself could be liked by everyone." Madarame said.
'That's---not what we meant." Ann said.
"I'm sorry to have butt in on your conversation." Madarame said "However, I do have neighbors around. Won;t you please keep it down?" He turned as he said "Now if you'll excuse me."
"But--!" Kai said before Ren stopped him as Madarame went back inside.
Yusuke soon sighed before he bowed his head, surprising the group. "That was discourteous of me…" He said, "... I'm sorry."
"... He has a VERY huge vocabulary." Shiro whispered in the duffle bag.
"You're telling me." Morgana added in a low tone, "At this rate, we're gonna need a dictionary."
"I know!" Yusuke soon said, "I think you'll be able to believe in Sensei if you saw that painting."
"... Painting?" Dide said confused.
"It's his maiden work as well!" Yusuke said as he showed them the painting, "his most representative piece,---it's titled 'Sayuri'"
Kiku flinched at the name… As the dream she had before seemed to flash in her mind, causing her head to hurt. "... That name---" She pondered in her head, "---Why does it sound… Familiar?"
"Sayuri?" Ann asked.
"This is the painting that inspires me to become an artist." Yusuke told them. He soon showed them the picture on his phone. They were taken back by a beautiful sight. It had been of a woman, dressed in red in front of a sun background and a tree branch; below it had been a cloud surrounding her.
The group was memorized by the painting…
… All except for Kiku as her face seemed to pale. The dream flashed in her mind once more as this time---The building of Madarame's home became clear as the cold feeling returned. Kiku could only tremble and back up, though the others didn't seem to notice. Except for Haruto and Shiro.
"Kiku-chan?" Haruto said softly as he broke off and went to check on her, "What is it?"
"Kiku?" Shiro said as he managed to get himself out of the bag and walk over to her, without Yusuke noticing. They took her to the side as the others still didn't notice.
"It's beautiful…" Ann soon said.
"Yeah no kidding.." Dide added as he looked at the detail. "This looks like watercolor from the way it was composed."
"Good eye." Yusuke told him
"I don't know all this fine-art stuff but even I can tell this is impressive." Ryuji said.
Kai only turned his head as he clicked his tongue, "... It is a pretty painting."
"It's eye-catching…" Ren said.
"When I first saw Takamaki-san, I felt the same powerful emotion as when I saw this painting." Yusuke said, "I felt the same powerful emotion as when I saw this painting…"
"Wha-what!?" Ann said shocked.
"I wish to pursue beauty like this." Yusuke said as he bowed. "And I believe drawing you will be part of the pursuit. I implore you to consider my offer."
As this was happening, Kai and Morgana had an aura to them as they couldn't help but think "THIS GUY IS SO FRICKIN DEAD."
"I'm sorry that you took the time to come all this way.." Yusuke apologized, "But I misty assist sensei today. I hope we can discuss this another time, If you 'll excuse me, then."
Thus the group had been left stunned by this as Yusuke went inside. The group looked plain stunned as they were processing what they had just heard.
"Those two… Seems like nice guys don't they?" Ryuji asked.
"Maybe we mistook him for a different person in Mementos?" Ann said.
"Damn it all--And I thought for sure we found a new target." Kai said.
Morgana soon noticed something, "Hey---Are we missing a few people?"
"Huh?" The group was confused, before they noticed---Kiku had been sitting on the side, with Haruto and Shiro. They noticed how distressed she looked, not to mention, her body had been trembling.
"Kiku-san?" Ren said as he was the first to go to her.
"Hey, whoa, what's the matter?" Ryuji said as he noticed her shaking.
"Is everything okay?" Ann added
"You're shaking like a leaf, what up?" Dide asked.
Kiku couldn't say anything at first before Haruto snapped her out of it with a gentle tap on the shoulder. "Remember what we parcticed---" He said, "---Just can't to ten and take a breath."
Kiku shut her eyes as Shiro placed his head on her lap. Mentally she started to count to ten before she took a breath. Finally she found her words as they noticed her expression.
"Kiku-san---" Ren said, "---What is it?"
"... That man---" Kiku said, "---Madarame---He isn't what he seems. I think---There's a high possibility that he's just wearing a facade and hiding his true nature. Like how Kamoshida did in Shujin."
This left the group stunned by the statement alone. "Kiku-chan---" Ann said, "---That's a bit of a stretch isn't it?"
"Yeah---How can you be sure?" Dide asked.
"I'm not---But---" Kiku said as she thought back to her dream, "---Let's call it a gut feeling. He's hiding something, something Kitagawa-kun might be too scared to say." She soon looked at them, "You guys believe me… Don't you?"
Kiku noticed the expressions on Kai, Ann, Ryuji and Dide as they looked unsure. She saw that Ren, Morgana, Haruto and Shiro however read differently as she felt more determined.
"I can prove it!" Kiku soon said as she took out her phone, "I'll open the Meta-Nav and do a search on his name!"
"Hang on Kiku-chan, maybe slow down?" Ann said, trying to calm her down.
"Yeah maybe you're just jumping the gun." Ryuji said, "I mean no offense you didn't hear the conversation just now."
Kiku ignored the two and opened the app, "Search Madarame!" She said to the app.
For a moment, they were met with silence as it seemed like the Meta-Nav had been loading. Kiku looked at her phone, still remaining determined to prove her point. Dide sighed, "Kiku-chan, let's just take a breath and---"
"CANIDATE FOUND." The phone suddenly said as it made them jump.
"W-what?!" Ann said, "Seriously!?"
"I knew it!" Kiku said softly, before she told the app, "Search location: Shack."
The app loaded it itself, before they heard, "CANIDATE FOUND."
"Woah, woah, woah, what?!" Dide exclaimed.
"It found something!?" Kai said, "You're kidding me!"
"Then if this is accurate---" Morgana said, "---That means Madarame's desires are warped enough for him to have a palace of his own."
"You mean---He sees the shack as a palace?!" Ryuji said shocked, "Like how Kamoshida saw the school as his castle?!"
"An old man like him?" Kai said.
"This is unbelievable…" Ann said.
"Look---" Kiku said, "---Since the meta-nav picked it up, we need to check this out!"
"She's right." Shiro said, "And since we have the name and location, we just gotta figure out how he views the shack." He soon turned to Morgana, "Is that right?"
"That's correct my canine friend." Morgana said with a smile, "Once we have that, we'll be able to enter his Palace for sure."
"But---What would it even be?" Kai asked.
"Just---Say whatever comes to mind." Morgana said.
"Even so---" Ann said as she pondered, "---This is still so sudden."
Thus the group started to ponder on the keyword. Each of them had been going through it by process of elimination. And yet despite this, they didn't seem like they were making progress. All… Except two.
Ren, and Kiku.
Neither of them seemed to realize they were saying their thoughts aloud. "If he's a painter…" Ren said, "... His palace would have to be a place where could display paintings…"
"A gallery…" Kiku said, before she shook her head, "... No, that doesn't fit… Not for someone like Madarame…"
It wasn't long before they both came to the same thought. It wasn't long before---
"...A museum?" They both said before they looked at each other a bit stunned. It wasn't long afterwards until---
"BEGINNING NAVIGATION" The Meta-Verse soon said.
And just like that---The group found themselves in a set of familiar red shimmers; the world began to change around them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a blink of an eye it seemed they found their forms had changed drastically. Before them stood, not a shack---But a large building entirely made of gold that stood tall; it gave the illusion that blocks had been the only thing holding it together. They could see searchlights lighting the night sky and not to mention---They noticed the long line of people.
"... What the fuck?" Kai---Or rather Gunslinger said looking at the scene before him.
"The shack---Turned into a museum?!" Haruto---Or Crescent said shocked.
"These people---it's just like before! But how?" Dide or rather Dayzer asked.
"Don't you pay attention?" Morgana--Or Mona said as he rolled his eyes, "Like I mentioned before. A person has to have a strong distorted desire in order to have a Palace of their own."
"That place---" Shiro or Wolf said as he looked at the building, though he couldn't help but make a face, "---Looks really gross."
"You said it." Ann or Panther said, "It's so extravagant---To the point that it's gaudy."
"I think it's meant to represent ego." Ren---Joker said.
"In that case---He's overcompensating." Ryuji---Skull said.
"Huh---" Dayzer said, "---It ain't that different from how people purchase cars back home. Even if it was in the 5 mullions fucks."
"... Is that for real?" Skull asked.
"I can't confirm or deny." Dayzer simply replied.
"... Is this really supposed to be a museum?" Kiku said stunned, "Honestly I didn't think it would pick it up on the Meta-Nav."
"But Madarame's artwork is on display at museums in reality too though." Panther pointed out.
"You're right---" Haruto said, "---His exhibit was popular and people respect him. Why would he fantasize about this?"
"Yeah, this doesn't even represent plagiarism or abuse." Gunslinger pointed out.
"Let's go investigate." Joker said to the group, "It might help us shed some light."
"Right---" Crescent said, as he looked at the line, "---I don't suppose standing in line is an option?"
"For us thieves? Obviously not." Mona said, "I was thinking something a little less conspicuous."
The group looked over as they looked to the wall, as they each had the same idea. They quickly scaled over the wall, finding a courtyard before they snuck through the garden before they quickly climbed up one of the buildings before they looked over the scenery before them.
"Crap---They're way too many guards." Gunslinger said.
"Yeah---They're just all over the front entrance." Crescent said.
"How are we gonna get inside?" Panther pondered aloud.
Kiku looked around the rooftop they were on before she noticed something. "Look there!" She said to the group before she ran over to it which was---
"A skylight!" Mona said, "And it looks unlocked too!"
"We can use this to get in then." Joker said.
"But it looks a little high." Crescent said.
"There's gotta be a rope somewhere." Mona said as he looked around.
Dayzer looked around with his ocular part of his mask as he soon found the rope as he nodded. "Leave this to me."
"Huh?" Panther said. "How are you--"
To the shock, Dayzer jumped high in the air at light speed, unnoticed by the guard as he took the rope behind his back before jumping back onto the building. "Will this work?" Dayzer asked as the group looked stunned.
"How---Did you do that?" Skull asked stunned.
"I guess it came with the Persona.." Dayzer said with a shrug. "It increased my jumping ability as well as my kicking ability."
"... Lucky, I wanted to do a high jump like my favorite Kamen Rider character." Crescent said as he pouted.
Dayzer patted his shoulder as he said, "Chin up! I'm sure you'll get a Kamen Rider inspired ability like me some day."
"Well, that's one way to make progress." Mona said. "Not bad!"
"Good work, Dayzer." Joker said as he took the rope.
He soon tied it to a pipe before they each slid down the rope with ease. Thus they had found their entrypoint of the Palace. Once they had reached the ground floor, they began to look around; keeping on guard in case there were shadows nearby. They journeyed further in the museum until they came across a gallery.
"It's quiet here… Eerily so." Mona said.
"Yeah--Though at least we don't have to worry about fighting Shadows." Wolf said.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Joker said.
Kiku soon stopped in her tracks as the others soon took notice. "What is it?" Joker asked before he looked to where she was looking.
There they could see a strange painting of a persona; it was oddly moving.
"I don't know much about art---" Skull said, "---But I'm pretty sure it doesn't move like that."
"Could it be possessed?" Crescent asked.
"Unlikely, it must be one of the cognitions of this palace." Mona said.
"It almost looks… Alive." Wolf said as he couldn't help but tap the paint as it seemed to ripple, "It's kind of weird."
"There's the info board." Gunslinger said, noticing the plaque. Upon closer inspection however, he saw something shocking. "What the hell is this?! It just says the name and age!"
"Huh?!" The group said shocked.
"But that doesn't make sense." Joker said, "It shouldn't have that kind of description at all."
"Yeah--Or at the very least a signature." Dayzer added.
"Uh---Guys?" Crescent said before he pointed in a certain direction.
They looked and gasped at the sight of a dozen or more so paintings just further in the gallery. It had various women and men alike, all which were moving like the painting before them.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is all of this?!" Skull said.
Panther soon went ahead checking the closest painting. "Hey---This one has the name and age too!" Panther said.
The group looked stunned before they each spread out and looked at each of the paintings thoroughly. "So does this one!" Crescent said, finding another.
"And this one!" Wolf said finding one of the teenage girl.
"What is all of this?!" Gunslinger said, "Is this supposed to be a part of the old man's cognition?!"
"This is insane!" Dayzer said as he looked through one painting after another, "How many are there in here?!"
Mona soon noticed a painting in particular as they looked to be nearing the end of the gallery. "Guys! You gotta check this out!" Mona called out.
They went over to where Mona was as he pointed to the painting. They saw in the painting a familiar man with a bowl haircut and suit and glasses. They looked at it in mere shock.
"Hold on---" Skull said, "---Ain't this the guy we saw in Mementos? Y'know, the one who was shit-talking Madarame."
"Natsuhiko Nakanohara." Joker clarified.
"Yeah, that's it!" Skull said.
Wolf soon looked to the information board, inspecting it closely. "He has his name and age here too, like the others." Wolf said.
"None of this makes sense---" Gunslinger said, "---Why is there even a painting of him here? Hell why is his name written under it?!"
"You're right…" Panther said, "... Doesn't art usually have like, the title of the piece or the artist's name?"
"Let's keep looking around." Joker said, "There might be something else here."
"I'm with Joker." Mona said, "Besides we're almost at the end of the gallery."
The group continued onward, finding the exit and leading them back to the lobby. However---Kiku soon stopped as she looked at one painting in particular. Her eyes widened in shock and horror and found herself saying only one name.
"... Kitagawa-kun…?"
Joker and the others looked over and saw it. It had been a tall painting of the young man they had met. Yusuke Kitagawa; they couldn't help but gasp at the sight.
"There's a painting of him here too?!" Skull said shocked.
"It says Yusuke Kitagawa." Mona said, "There's no mistaking it."
"W-Wait a second---" Panther said, "---What do you think these paintings are?"
"If they're supposed to be cognitions---What are they meant to represent?" Crescent said.
Joker began to ponder before one thought came to him. "Could it be…" He soon said before it clicked as he took one glance at Yusuke's painting, "... They're Madarame's Pupils!"
At this--the group was stunned.
"All of them!?" Skull said as he looked at the paintings they passed before, "All of them here!? But, it was only Yusuke when we went to his place before…!"
"... Are you sure about that?" Gunslinger said, getting Skull's attention. He gestured over to an empty space that looked to have string making the shape of a rectangle. All that there was a small white sign and a plaque like the other paintings they passed.
Kiku stepped over to it, as she read both the sign and plaque. "Reserved space; Painting to be displayed." She read aloud before she read in horror at the name that was written, "Mirai Kazuyuki?!"
"That guy from your class?! That Kazuyuki?!" Crescent said, shocked.
"Now I get it---" Mona said, "---Every single one of these paintings represent everyone that Madarame's supposedly taught, that includes former pupils. And now---Only one, or rather two remain."
"Good God---" Dayzer said, "---Their must be a hundred paintings in this gallery."
"A hundred students is more like it." Gunslinger said.
"This is Horrible!" Crescent said, "Is this really how he sees them!?"
"Then---Why isn't there a painting of Kazuyuki-san?" Panther asked.
"It must mean he hasn't met the conditions---Yet." Joker said.
"That's exactly right." Mona said, "If all of these pupils actually lived in the Shack---It would stand to reason that Kazuyuki isn't living there now."
"But Kitagawa-kun said he's a student of Madarame too---" Kiku said, "---Why wouldn't he be living there with him?"
"Not sure---" Mona said, "---But given what we've seen and what Nakahora told us, things are becoming clearer. We should keep investigating. We need something to further confirm our deduction."
The group nodded before they proceeded through the lobby, keeping watch in case there were any shadows nearby. Upon looking around they soon found another exhibit room. At the center of it looked to be a golden statue that reached the ceiling. There they saw people in what appeared to be a golden twister; they appeared to be reaching the sky.
"What is this?" Panther said, "It looks really tacky."
"Look at this---" Mona said before he read a description, "---The Infinite Spring. A conglomerate work of art that the great director Madarame created with his own funds. These individuals must offer their ideas to the director for the rest of their lives? Those who cannot do so have no worth living?!"
"The hell is this?" Gunslinger said shocked.
"Offer their ideas?" Dayzer asked. "For the rest of their lives? This is highway robbery!"
"This---Is talking about plagiarism isn't it?" Crescent said.
"Dammit! What a phony geezer!" Skull said.
"This is awful---" Kiku said, "---It must mean he only sees his pupils as his property and nothing else."
"That crook!" Mona said, "He doesn't qualify as an artist if this is all true!"
"He's stealing ideas from the talent of others---" Joker said as his hand shook, "---All in exchange for securing their livelihood."
Dayzer couldn't help but have a look of anger just as steam emitted from leg. "bastard---He's just like-!"
"... You good?" Gunslinger asked, noticing his tone.
"... No---I'm pissed!" Dayzer said honestly.
"All those paintings we saw---" Crescent said, "---And now this statue saying those who have no worth, have no living---Could that be referring to the abuse?"
"I think you're right." Wolf said, "If this is the representation of the abuse---Then he'll keep them around as long as they have a use. But when he's done with them…"
"He's treating them like slaves or tools!" Panther said.
"Then this means---Kitagawa-kun and Kazuyuki-kun are in danger!" Kiku said with worry.
"Why's that Yusuke guy keepin' quiet about this anyway?!" Skull said angrily, "He's got no reason to cover this up!"
"Yeah, he has to know the kind of shit that's been happening!" Gunslinger said.
"Didn't he say he owes Madarame everything since he took him in?" Crescent said, "Could that be why he didn't say anything in the first place?"
"Even so---" Gunslinger said as he gritted his teeth as his hand shook.
"Calm down." Joker said, "Let's confirm this with Kitagawa, so we can have our confirmation."
"What?!" Gunslinger and Skull said shocked.
"This Palace is damning---" Joker explained, "---But it won't be enough. If we're going to move forward, then we have to be sure they're actually happening."
"But this ain't any different from Kamoshida!" Gunslinger argued, "Everything that's happening here is happening in reality too!"
"Gunslinger…" Panther said with worry.
"Don't you remember the risk we had to take when we were changing his heart?" Joker said, "We all witnessed his crimes, even Kiku-san and Crescent. This time we haven't seen it. Yes, his desires are warped, but whose to say he actually acted on them?"
At this, Skull and Gunslinger had been stumped. They both tried to find their arguments until Dayzer spoke up.
"... Joker's right." Dayzer said, "We need confirmation on his actual crimes rather than jump the gun."
"Yeah, they're right." Panther said as her expression softened..
"I agree---" Crescent said, "---We need to make sure we're doing the right thing."
"I second that." Mona said before he turned to Kiku, "What about you Kiku? Where do you stand in all of this, since you're the one that brought it to our attention."
Kiku pondered on this as she looked at the group. True she brought it to their attention but who's to say they were… All of this? She soon sighed as she made her choice.
"I think… Joker makes a good point." Kiku said, "I know I was the one that brought it up in the first place but… Maybe we should be through, just in case."
"There you have it." Mona said, as he turned to Skull and Gunslinger, "That alright with you two?"
"... Fine." Gunslinger said with a click of his tongue.
"Yeah I guess." Skull said.
"In that case… I'll contact Kitagawa-kun." Panther said, "I might be able to get the truth out of him if I accept his modeling offer."
"YOU MEAN YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING THAT?!" Mona shouted.
"Hey, it's the only way we can actually get information." Panther said.
"Unless you have any other ideas." Wolf said.
Mona flinched before he turned his head, "F-Fine, I'll allow it then! Bu-But Lady Ann shouldn't go alone! I'll accompany her!"
"I'll go with Panther too." Kiku said, "He might talk to me too since he has an interest in me."
"How are you gonna convince him to let you inside?" Panther asked.
"I can just say I would like to observe." Kiku replied.
"Wait, we all can't go?" Skull asked.
"No way, if we all went as a group it would definitely be suspicious." Dayzer said.
"Don't worry---I got something we can look into." Joker said, "In the meantime, let's head back for now."
The group nodded before they started to head back the way they came out. Though as Kiku lagged she couldn't help but notice something… Odd. As she was about to turn to leave she noticed something peculiar in the reflection of the gold. It appeared to be a figure resting high above just where they were.
When Kiku turned to where it was however…. They were gone.
This only confused her as she tilted her head. She even rubbed her eyes, but still saw nothing.
"Was I… Imagining things?"
"Kiku-san!" She soon heard Joker call out softly. She turned over to him, "Come on, we gotta go!"
With one last glance, at the empty space, Kiku started to head back the way they came in as Joker ran with her the moment he caught up.
What she failed to notice however---Was the person she saw was now behind the statue. Whomever they were had been watching them the whole time. Or more accurately… Her.