14 May

Jessikah wasn't sure about it, but she didn't show it. She had done as Sadayo had suggested, she was joining a club. A Literature club.

But even a Phantom Thief couldn't always get the cake and eat it.

"Don't worry." Morgana smiled. "People still haven't forgotten how you beat Sensei's lore challenge. They are still talking about it."

Jessikah chuckled. She entered the club room four girls inside the room, one was yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Uh hello?"

"Huh?" A girl with long brown hair said turning to see Jessikah. "Oh hello are you here to join our club? ."

Jessikah smiled.

"Yes im here to join"

"Excellent im Monika the club present. The girl with short blonde hair thats Sayori shes the vice president, the girl with long black hair is Yuri and the pink haired girl is Natsumi Welcome to the club ."

Jesiskah chuckled.

"Nice to meet you all im Jessikah Shiomi."

"The transfer student with a criminal record ?"

"Im starting to wonder if thats all everyone knows me for." Jessikah noted.

"Yup.."

Jessikah was about to answer when a shudder crossed her spine. Sayori looked at her.

"Are you alright?"

"…Yea just a bad feeling..."

Jessikah perked up when she met Ryuji and Ann at Shibuya station

"A stalker?"

" A what?" Jessikah asked.

"I can't tell. I just… got this feeling."

"Instinct isn't something you should ignore."

Ann nodded. As they climbed the stairs, Jessikah discretely signaled Ryuji to go left at the exit. She would go right. Ryuji understood and smirked. As they left the station the two teens hid by the entrance, their eyes set on Ann. If someone was stalking her, they would get him.

They were right. A tall young man with blue hairs and a white shirt emerged from the entrance and went to grab Ann's shoulder…

"Ahem!"

The teen turned to see Ryuji and Jessikah. The ambush had worked flawlessly.

"Alright, spill." Ann growled. "What is it you want with me, stalker?"

The teen was caught aback.

"I… wasn't stalking you."

"Why were you following me, then?"

"It is… because…" The teen breathed. "You're the one I have been looking for all this time."

Ryuji and Jessikah broke into equally disbelieving faces.

" I…"

" What?"

"Your an amazing beauty…"

Jessikah couldn't help it. She leaned against the subway's entrance and doubled up with laughter. Everyone turned to her. "Excuse me." The blue-haired teen suddenly said. "But I believe this is all a gross misunderstanding. I wasn't thinking of asking your friend out. I just wished to know if she would agree to become my model."

The Shujin students looked at one another, speechless.

"You want me to be your model?"

"Yes. My art so far was lacking in inspiration, but seeing you, I felt my muse return. Please, would you accept modeling for me?"

Jessikah frowned.

"First thing first. Who are you, exactly? I don't think we've been introduced."

"Oh… I apologize for my lack of manners. My name is Yusuke Kitagawa. I am a second year in Kosei High, in the fine-arts division. I have the privilege of being a pupil of Madarame-sensei, and am striving to become an artist."

Ann frowned.

"Madarame… I heard this name. He is a world-famous Japanese master artist known for the sheer diversity of his work."

"I've heard this name too." Morgana frowned. "From Nakanohara. He was saying Madarame ruined his reputation and abandoned him."

Jessikah looked at the feline. How many Madarame were there in Japan? And if they had doubts, it was easy to find Nakanohara and ask him for details. Yusuke handed Ann several tickets.

"I doubt you have interest in fine arts, but please, take these. Madarame-sensei's exhibition will begin at the department store near the station, tomorrow. I'll be there to help on the opening day. Please, come by and give me your answer."

On this, he left. The teens looked at one another.

"I'm… not totally sure what just happened." Ryuji muttered.

"Really? Because you four have some explaining to do. You are late."

The group turned to see Sadayo, arms crossed, glaring at them from the alleyway's entrance.

"So? Care to tell me what happened?"

Jessikah couldn't help but grin. By the time he was done with the story, the teacher was doubled-over.

"S-Seriously! Oh god… That's what… I call a misunderstanding! Ahahahaha!"

Ryuji and Ann were equally embarrassed.

"Sensei, not fun!"

"Quite… the o-opposite! I am so telling the other teachers!"

"Please, don't."

"Consider it punishment for being late. This kind of story is too funny to keep."

She took the group to Shujin's entrance. Mr. Ushimaru watched them enter.

"I see you finally found them, Kawakami-san. So, what was holding them?"

As she ushered the teens to their classes, Sadayo told him the story. Ushimaru's reaction was to take off his glasses and apply both hands on his face. Sadayo shrugged.

"What do you want? Teens will be teens."

"Don't remind me…"

The tale quickly spread across Shujin. Once she was done telling it to her colleagues, Sadayo watched their reaction. Mr. Ushimaru already knew it and so simply shook his head disapprovingly. Hiruta-sensei tried and failed to stifle a laugh and ended giggling in his hands. Ms. Chouno didn't have such restrain and outright laughed her heart off. Mr. Inui rolled his eyes with a good-natured smile while Usami-sensei sighed and shrugged helplessly.

" thats something you hear everday"

After class, Sadayo went to find her students on the rooftop. They had decided to gather at their other meeting spot.

"I remember what Nakanohara told me that night." Morgana frowned. "He said Madarame was his sensei in the art world and he had a lot of respect for him, but one of his pupils committed suicide and Madarame ruined Nakanohara's reputation when he confronted him over it. The betrayal hurt him pretty deeply.

Jessikah checked her phone.

"There aren't many Madarame in Japan. The surname is uncommon. A Madarame tied to the art world? My only find is Ichiryusai Madarame. I think we need more information?"

Sadayo crossed her arms.

"This case is indeed intriguing. Investigating it, just to be sure, cannot hurt. If we're lucky, this will give us a target. Otherwise, well, nothing lost, if it turns Madarame is a wild goose chase."

Ryuji looked at the teacher.

"You should Invite Shiho to the Exhibition."

Ann smiled.

"Sensei, that is a great idea, you should come too."

"Very well. Madarame's The exhibit opens tomorrow. It's been awhile since I went to see one… I wish I had heard about it earlier, I could have arranged a school trip."

"I don't know if I should accept his offer." Ann frowned. "I'll decide once I'm there."

"Fair enough."

Ryuji danced on his feet. Ann looked at him.

"You're not keen on going, are you?"

"Not really. Art's not my thing."

Morgana nodded.

"If you're not interested by art, just hang around groups of people. Try to eavesdrop and learn what you can on Madarame."

"That, I can do."

Sadayo nodded.

"Alright. Meet tomorrow at the exhibit."

" I will call Shiho tonight."

"See you tomorrow."

As she headed home, Takemi gave her a call saying the new medicine was ready. Jessikah hoped it wouldn't make her pass out…

It did. Thats all Takemi needed she thanked Jessikah and Jessikah then headed home. The evening was spent with Sae and Makoto watching movies. Jessikah was starting to feel like the distance between her and the Niijima sisters was getting smaller.