Disclaimer: My Hero Academia and the Persona series do not belong to me. Please support the official releases.
Chapter 23
"Make sure to watch your step, Koto-san!"
Izuku expertly leaped from one pillar to the next, Ryuji and Ann just ahead of him. Izuku watched the third-year tentatively, ready to catch her in case she fell. It would be even worse if she drew the attention of the nearby Shadows patrolling the courtyard.
"Okay…" Makoto nodded, hopping along the pillars in a slow rhythm. Her skirt was restricting her movements, but she wasn't about to let something this small get in her way now.
She soon reached the other end, Izuku steadying her as she set foot on the roof. "Phew. You guys made it look so easy, but it was pretty intimidating. Especially with the Shadows below."
"Yeah, it did take some getting used to. But it'll get easier for you as we go," Izuku turned to face the rest of his team. "Do we have a way in?"
"Yeah, but… it's pretty far down," Ryuji explained as he peered over the edge of a skylight. "I don't know if we wanna jump that."
"I've got it covered," Morgana smirked, hopping over to the punk and producing a rope from nowhere. "As phantom thieves, we must always be prepared for situations like these."
"Whoa, score one for Mona!" Ann cheered.
"Where the hell'd you even get that?" Ryuji asked in disbelief.
"I made sure to have one ready. I am the tool specialist of the group, after all."
"Alright, let's rope down then. But make sure no Shadows are around to jump us the moment we touch the ground," Izuku told them. The room wasn't lit, but there was enough moonlight streaming through the skylights to illuminate the room. Nothing moved aside from the undulating colors of the gold-framed paintings on the walls.
"Looks like we're clear," Ryuji said after one last check.
"Alright. Lower the rope and I'll go in first to make sure," Izuku volunteered, earning a nod from Morgana. Pulling the window open, the cat tossed the rope down, allowing Izuku to shimmy down safely. Landing on soft blue carpet, Izuku activated his Third Eye, gaze trailing across the room cautiously. Aside from some hidden treasures in a few vases, there was nothing waiting for them.
"Okay, it's safe. Come down!"
Izuku hopped down to the floor to make room for the other thieves as they descended from the skylight. As Makoto hopped down last, the group moved slowly through the room, minding their surroundings.
"It's quiet. Almost too quiet…" Morgana muttered, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"H-Hey! Look at the picture!" Ann exclaimed as she gawked at the painting before her. "It's moving!"
"Oh, come on. That's gotta be the least bizarre thing you could expect in a Palace, now," Ryuji waved her off as he glanced at the other trembling paintings.
"Still, this is a reflection of Madarame's heart. We should check the pictures out and see if they can clue us in on anything," Morgana suggested, the group moving forward to inspect the painting.
Ann tilted her head to the side. "Strange… the painting's just a portrait. Madarame's famous for having so many different art styles, so why would something like this be here?"
"There's a plaque here. Maybe it'll give us some details?" Ryuji stepped forward to read it. "It's… just a name and date. What the hell?"
"That doesn't sound right. Maybe it's the name of the painter?" Ann suggested.
"That wouldn't make much sense. Considering Madarame's distorted desires, the painting would have to be something he's personally invested in, right?" Izuku said, holding his chin as he looked at her from the side.
Makoto nodded. "Judging from the way you explained the Palace to me, that does sound more likely."
"Come on. Let's take a look at the other paintings. Maybe we'll get some more clues as to the meaning behind this," Morgana said, the group moving toward the next hall. Izuku took note of the security system strewn around the doors and walls. It seemed to be off, but he imagined that wouldn't be the case the next time they came.
Pulling his attention away from the electronic security, he inspected the portraits with everyone else, soon discovering that they were all the same as the first: a portrait of someone none of them knew, with a plaque supposedly of their name and, considering the dates, their birthdays.
"This doesn't make sense. Madarame's known for having a multitude of artistic styles," Ann declared, rubbing her arm uncomfortably. "Why do all these portraits look the same?"
"Hey, look!" Ryuji jogged ahead of the others to study another portrait. "Ain't this the guy we saw in Mementos? You know, the one who was shit-talkin' Madarame?"
Izuku, Ann and Morgana shifted their gazes up to see the image of their previous target on the wall.
"It really is him… Natsuhiko Nakanohara," Morgana said, skipping up to the plaque by the portrait. "It has his name and everything…"
"You guys targeted him before?" Makoto asked, striding alongside the others.
"Yeah. He didn't have a Palace, but we did fight his Shadow. His desires had become twisted enough that he started stalking his ex-girlfriend," Izuku's eyes trailed from the portrait to Makoto. "After we took him down, he mentioned that Madarame had ruined his life. I guess we really do have the right guy…"
"But that don't make any sense!" Ryuji furiously scratched the top of his head. "Why's there a paintin' of this guy in here?! And why's his name under it?!"
Ann's gaze fell. "You're right… aren't the names of like, the paintings or the artist usually written here?"
"The better question would be why Madarame would want to put these people on display like this. Could it be that he values these people? Or something more devious…?" Makoto suggested, the rest of the thieves looking at one another.
"W-Well… at least no one is being tortured like in Kamoshida's castle… This might be a good sign…" Izuku's voice quivered as he said this. "But that might just mean he's not physically abusive… there could be something else going on here instead."
"Right. Let's keep pushing forward," said Morgana, The group continued on, their eyes hovering over the portraits hanging close by.
As Izuku scanned their surroundings, his eyes landed on a portrait at the end of the hall. "H-Hey, look! Isn't that Kitagawa-san?"
The others followed his gaze, confirming his inquiry with their own eyes. A portrait of Madarame's pupil stretched up against the wall, noticeably bigger than the rest so far.
"Yep. That's definitely him," Ryuji said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Well, if Nakanohara has the relationship with Madarame I think he does, this would confirm one thing," Makoto spoke up, drawing the others' attention to her. "These portraits are all of his pupils."
Izuku nodded grimly. "Yeah, I was thinking the same…"
"It does fit the bill… His pupils supposedly got the brunt of problems in the rumors," Ann pointed out in agreement.
"Whoa, for real?! But there's so many of 'em!" Ryuji took a step back. "It was only that Yusuke guy when we were there!"
"This gallery must include former pupils as well," Morgana said, placing his paws on his hips. "And now only one remains. What Nakanohara said is starting to become clearer now. Let's keep digging. We need something more to confirm our deductions."
The group nodded, heading toward the next hall together. As they entered what looked like the main entrance, Morgana's eyes lit up as he spotted a reception desk. "Oh, look! On that stand! We should be able to get a map from there."
"Great. Go ahead and grab one for us so we can find our way around," Izuku told him, the cat nodding before skipping forward and grabbing a pamphlet, Ryuji and Ann following behind and looking at the map as he laid it out for them to see.
"You know, I'm kinda surprised…" Makoto said, tugging on Izuku's coat before he could join the others. "I didn't think we'd get so far without encountering a Shadow as you said."
"Ah, I suppose not, huh?" Izuku agreed before a thought occurred to him. "Then again, we did enter the last Palace without knowing anything at the time, so we walked right into the guards. Since we were a lot more careful this time around, we haven't made any shifts to the cognition that would make Madarame wary of us just yet."
"I see. It seems I still have a bit to learn about this Metaverse."
"I'm sure you'll catch up faster than we did," Izuku said before joining the others. "So did you find a map?"
"Yeah, but it's only of half of the Museum. We'll probably have to find the rest deeper within," Morgana said, though his face was a bit concerned. "But judging from what I'm seeing here, this place is actually going to be bigger than Kamoshida's castle."
"Oh, just great. Wasn't the stupid castle big enough?" Ryuji clicked his tongue, his toe tapping the ground impatiently.
"We'll have to worry about that later. Our objective right now is to peer through Madarame's cognition," Morgana reminded him.
"Considerin' he's got a Palace, ain't that fishy enough?"
"Even so, the more details we know, the better. A Palace and what we've seen so far doesn't confirm any crimes. At least not yet," Izuku suggested. "Let's keep pushing."
"Right," the others agreed. Morgana tucked the pamphlet away for later use. Proceeding into the next room, they entered a more spacious area. Twin rows of gold banners emblazoned with Madarame's name and likeness ran along the ceiling. They danced back and forth even though there wasn't a breeze to push them. The rows met and circled around a statue at the center of the room. It was a gilded wave consisting of three rows of metal that spiraled into the air counterclockwise. The forms of people, students, were found on every level of the statue. Some were curled up in a ball of despair. Others were cowering from some unknown assailant. A few more were begging on the ground like starved dogs.
Morgana stepped closer, eyes narrowing at the design and plaque under it. "Take a look at this."
"'The Infinite Spring'," Ann raised a brow. "'A conglomerate work of art that the great director Madarame created with his own funds. These individuals must offer up their ideas up to director Madarame for the rest of their lives. Those who cannot do so have… no worth living'?! Wait, this has to do with the plagiarism, right?"
"'Offer up', hm? So the plagiarism is real, then…" said Makoto.
Izuku nodded. "I guess that means that he's just stealing his students' art and using them for fame and fortune."
Ryuji stomped the ground hard enough for it to echo through the halls. "Damnit, that phony geezer!"
"If what this statue indicates is true, he views his pupils as property. This is even worse than we thought," Morgana pointed out, turning to the rest of the team. "He's likely giving his pupils a livelihood in exchange for their art to be added to his own accolades."
"I'm guessing that all of the past pupils were just tossed aside like trash. If that's the case. Nakanohara is proof of that," Makoto pointed out. "They were either fed up with his treatment or weren't making paintings useful to him anymore and were shut out."
"He's just treating them like slaves or tools!" Ann exclaimed.
"Damn it, if this is all true, then why the hell's Yusuke keepin' a lid on it?! Why cover for that asshole?!" Ryuji snapped before stomping his foot again.
"Kitagawa-kun did say that he owed his life to Madarame for being taken in…" Ann pointed out, causing Ryuji to wince.
"But still…"
"If Madarame took him in as a child, then their relationship is still deeper than the others," Makoto added. Concern crossed her face. "Still, he was among the portraits. Even if they are 'close' in a sense, Madarame's still using him for his own ends."
"That reminds me. While we toured the exhibit, there was this one painting that Kitagawa-kun acted really strange around," said Ann. "It was a beautiful piece, but he was avoiding it like the plague. Maybe… that was plagiarized, too."
"So what's the call, Hero? Is this enough to target Madarame now?" Ryuji asked as all eyes fell on his junior. Izuku's hand was already tapping his chin as he mulled this over. If he had one of his notebooks he'd probably be scribbling in it right now.
"I… I think it is, but… we should confirm it all before we jump in," Izuku suggested, looking back up at Ryuji and the others. "We should find some solid evidence from Kitagawa-san himself. He's the only pupil left, so he might know the most about it."
"Why bother?! Isn't this all the evidence we need?!"
Morgana shook his head. "While this is all pretty damning, we still don't know enough about Madarame. We need to know how deep this goes and what exactly he's doing, especially since it involves Kitagawa."
"They're right. If you guys charge into this Museum carelessly, you might end up making a target of just some old man with nothing to show for it," Makoto added.
"I'll contact Kitagawa-kun. Since I did promise to model for him, he might just feel more inclined to talk…" Ann said, a bit of dread coloring her face. "You all better come with me! I'd be too nervous going alone."
"O-Of course, Panther! We'll help so you don't feel too alone doing it," Izuku nodded, hoping to ease her worries.
"Well, if you guys think it's best, I won't argue. Gives us a chance to prep until we get confirmation from Yusuke, at least," Ryuji shrugged in agreement before grinning at the others. "Still, a world-renowned artist, huh? This might be tougher than Kamoshida. I'm sure his ego is way~ bigger! And this will be our first job as official Phantom Thieves! We're gonna succeed no matter what!"
"You know… I've been thinking about it…" said, her hand looped in the hanging rail of the train car. After finishing their business at Madarame's Palace, the group was ready to head home. "Now this might just be some extreme thinking, but if an evil person isn't causing trouble now, should we really be stepping in?"
"Well… I guess you got a point. What do you guys think?" Ryuji asked, looking at Izuku and Makoto, the former standing next to him with the latter seated in front of them.
"I… I don't think that's okay," said Izuku. "Even if he has stopped recently, he's still hurt a lot of people. If the people in the portraits were all his pupils who all suffered under him, then he shouldn't be allowed to get away with it."
"I don't disagree, but these kinds of crimes do have statutes of limitation on them. While Madarame does deserve to be punished for what he's done to others, Kitagawa-kun's livelihood should also be considered," said Makoto. "He seemed genuinely fond of Madarame. And right now, he's the only remaining pupil."
Izuku's jaw clenched. "So… in the end, we should leave it up to Kitagawa-san whether it's worth pursuing?"
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. The guy's pretty old, and it doesn't look like he's gonna have any more students anytime soon," Ryuji sighed, scratching the back of his head. "I dunno. If it were me, I'd never forgive that bastard."
"Like they said, it really does rely on how deep their relationship is. Sure, Kitagawa might be getting exploited by the old man, but if he is volunteering it rather than being forced to do so, is it really up to us to stop him?" said Morgana. "Still, I can't say I disagree with you. How much can you forgive in that kind of situation?"
"Well, we won't know until we talk to Kitagawa-san about it again," Izuku looked out the window to see their transfer approaching. "We can figure out the rest from there."
"Yeah, good point. No use tripping over it now," Ryuji nodded, tugging his book bag tighter against his shoulder as the train started to slow to a stop. The group filed together, stepping off the train once the doors slid open.
"Well, setting aside our possible target for now, this was certainly an interesting first day as a would-be member of the team," Makoto said, turning back to the others and smiling gratefully. "Thank you guys again for letting me come along."
"So, what do you think? Ready to join the gang, Niijima-san?" Morgana asked, peeking his head out of Izuku's bag.
Makoto turned her gaze aside and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well… I can't say I'm not interested in how this is developing…"
"Come on, Koto-san! I know I was reluctant to take you into the Palace, but that was because I wasn't sure if it was wise to dive into it with you so soon!" Izuku declared, his eyes glittering. "If you join us now, it'd really help us out. We'll make sure you're properly prepared before the next time we go in, too!"
Makoto felt a pang of guilt as she surveyed the nods and smiles the others gave her. But she squashed those feelings and flashed her best smile and nodded.
"Well… I suppose if you're going to twist my arm, I can't really say no, can I?" she said with a chuckle. "Count me in."
All of the tension in her shoulders vanished as the rest of the Phantom Thieves cheered.
"Alright, then. Starting tomorrow, we'll begin work on getting our last bit of info on Madarame from Kitagawa-san. It will be our final confirmation on whether we're going to target him," Izuku reminded the others.
Ann nodded. "I'm still a bit nervous about modeling, but if it's for the team, I'll keep my cool!"
"We'll be there with you, so don't sweat it," Ryuji chuckled, patting her on the shoulder.
"I doubt that there's any sort of agenda behind his offer, so try not to think too much about it," Makoto offered in comfort.
"Hopefully he won't mind that we're all there. But I'm sure he'll do what he can to make sure Ann-senpai stays happy," Izuku said as he watched the approaching train. "Oh, and we'll add you to our group chat, Koto-san. We usually discuss plans and whatever else there."
"Thanks. I'll do everything I can to help!"
"I was under the impression that only you would be coming, Takamaki-san."
Ann swallowed a lump in her throat, giving a faint smile as she looked at her friends seated neatly together by the wall.
"W-Well, I was just nervous. Wouldn't you be with just the two of us here?"
"Plus, we're here to keep an eye on you," Ryuji added, scratching the fabric on his chest. "So don't go tryin' anything pervy, 'kay?"
Ryuji's bluntness could be grating, Ann appreciated him saying it straight out for her.
"Stop making such odd assumptions. I have no interest in her as someone of the opposite sex," Yusuke scoffed.
Ann stared wide-eyed at the artist. "Huh?"
"Is there a problem?"
Somehow that rubbed her the wrong way.
"No, not really…" she took a seat on the stool provided for her, assuming a thinker's position with one leg crossed over the other.
Satisfied, Yusuke situated himself in front of his easel, picking up the palette close by and touching the edge of his brush with paint. "Well then, let's get started."
Ann's pose made it hard for her to look at Yusuke, barely making him out at the corner of her eye. She could tell he began, at least, due to the silence and the soft strokes she could just make out.
"Hey…"
Silence was her only answer.
"Kitagawa-kun?"
Nothing.
"You hear her?"
Ryuji's voice was loud enough that Yusuke had to have heard it. But again, nothing but silence.
"Uh oh… I think he's too focused," said Makoto.
"I-I hadn't thought about what would happen in this case… he's so dedicated to his painting that he's blocking everything else out," Izuku mumbled.
"S-So what do we do?" Ann asked. She didn't dare move.
"Yeah! Wasn't the plan to catch him off guard and make him spill his beans?" Morgana's muffled voice asked from Izuku's bag.
"Considering that we're having this full conversation without him noticing, I think we'll just have to wait," Makoto sighed in resignation.
"What an effin' pain in the ass," Ryuji grumbled. Ann definitely agreed on that part. She was hoping that they could have cut her modeling short when they started questioning Yusuke.
"Well… if that's the case, perhaps I should try scouting around?" Morgana said, his voice clear enough that Ann guessed Izuku let him out.
"W-Well, it didn't look like Madarame was here… but be careful either way," their leader suggested.
"Of course. Espionage is just another one of my specialties," With that, Ann could hear the small thud as Morgana leapt from Izuku's lap. She couldn't help but feel jealous. While he scurried off to find some dirt, she was forced to sit unmoving until Yusuke was done.
Well, nothing I can do about it. Besides, how long should it take to paint a single portrait?
Long. Hours long. Izuku, Ryuji and Makoto wearily shuffled in their seats, browsing their phones for some form of distraction from the long wait. At one point, Ryuji tried to get Yusuke's attention again, but only to receive the same reaction, or lack thereof, as before. Ann had it the worst, unable to move from her spot while he was still painting.
Yusuke suddenly sighed, the group snapping their attention up to see the artist hunched over with his elbows on his knees.
"Are you done?" Ryuji asked, unable to hide his impatience behind his grin.
"It's no good…" The artist lamented.
"What?!" the spectators shouted.
"I'm sorry. Is it me?"
"No, not at all. It's just… I'm having trouble focusing today," Yusuke explained, setting his painting tools to the side.
"You were?" Izuku and Makoto asked unceremoniously.
"I'm sorry, but we'll have to pick this back up another time."
"What?! Oh, hell no!" Ryuji shot up from his seat. "We've been waiting for hours, man!"
Makoto and Izuku looked at one another with some uncertainty before getting up from their seats as well.
"Sorry, but… we had another reason for seeing you today. We really needed to talk to you," Ann explained apologetically.
"Kitagawa-san, I hate to bring this up again, but it's about the rumors regarding Madarame," Izuku began. "We know that by now it might seem apathetic to bring it up, but this is important."
"This again…" Yusuke growled, rising to his feet as he prepared to lash back.
"That painting at the exhibit… you're the one who actually painted it, right?" Ann asked before he could start.
"That's…" the artist winced, turning his head away from them and bringing a hand up to his chest. Despite wanting to dismiss the claim, it was obvious that Yusuke had been caught.
"I knew it," Ann said, taking his reaction as a 'yes'.
"Your sensei is seriously messed up. He just thinks of his pupils as tools," Ryuji spat, only for Makoto to place a hand on his shoulder to placate him.
"So you really did know about the plagiarism, Kitagawa-kun. Not only that, but you've allowed him to use your art as well. Why is that?" Makoto asked.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Yusuke answered.
Ryuji took a step forward. "Bullshit, man! Your sensei's just stealin' work from his students because he doesn't give a damn about 'em! Stop tryin' to hide it from us!"
"R-Ryuji-senpai, enough," the faux blond hesitated as he looked at his leader. "All we want is the truth, Kitagawa-san. Why are you helping Madarame despite the plagiarism?"
"You can't turn against him, can you? If you tell us everything, I'm sure we can help you out," Ann offered.
Yusuke's eyes glazed over the group in front of him, releasing a deep breath in resignation. "Just… stop it. I'll admit, it's just as you all say. We are our sensei's… 'artwork'. Don't misunderstand me, though. I offered my ideas to him myself. It can't be called 'plagiarism'. Sensei's just suffering from artist's block right now."
"But dude, still..!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Kitagawa-san. From what Ann-senpai said, you weren't happy to have that painting in his exhibit," the artist to winced again. "Are you really okay with this?"
"Yeah, and what about the other pupils?! Why're you stickin' around?!" Ryuji stomped his foot on the ground. "They all left because of what he's doin'! Why're you stickin' around?!"
"What's wrong with a pupil helping out his master?!" Yusuke demanded. The group recoiled at his sudden increase in volume. "Having that painting there was… unfortunate, but if it meant helping sensei, I was willing to part with it! There are no victims here! Stop pushing your self-centered righteousness on me!"
"But… what about his other pupils?" Makoto asked as Yusuke turned to her. "What about what they suffered?"
Yusuke went silent, his fist tightening at his side. He went back to his seat, sitting down and glowering at the group in contempt.
"Don't ever come here again. If you do, I'll sue you all for causing a disturbance," Yusuke growled. "I invited Takamaki-san here, but I do not recall inviting the rest of you over."
"Hold it! We're not done-" Ryuji started, only for Makoto to put a hand on his chest.
"Stop it! Don't forget Midori's situation!" Makoto hissed. Ryuji's mouth slammed shut, but Yusuke didn't seem convinced.
"Fine. If you won't stop, then you leave me no choice," he whipped his phone out of his pocket. "I'm calling the police."
"W-Wait! That won't be necessary!" Ann quickly said in a panic, shoving Ryuji's shoulder back toward the door.
"W-We won't cause any more trouble!" Izuku agreed, shaking his head. Getting the police involved was the worst thing that could happen to him right now.
Yusuke's eyes narrowed as his gaze drifted over them. "Fine… I won't report you. Under one condition."
"Wh-What's that?" Ann asked, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"I want you to continue being my model," Yusuke said, looking directly at Ann with a smile.
"Y-You do? But you said it didn't work out today…"
"That's because I was being unconsciously modest for your sake," Yusuke admitted. The group raised a brow. "However, I no longer have anything to worry about. If you're willing to bare everything to me… I am willing to pour my heart and soul into creating the greatest nude painting ever!"
.
.
.
"WHAT?!" Ryuji, Izuku and Makoto blurted out, the green-haired teen's face turning a shade of pink at the mere mention of it.
"N-Nude?!" Ann stammered out, the one word throwing her through a loop.
"Ah, to think that I would be able to create a nude painting with my most ideal model…" Yusuke sang, though it seemed to be an expressed thought more than directed at the others. Catching himself, he cleared his throat before turning to the others. "Of course, you three will not be allowed in and I ask that you forget about our discussion today. I might make an exception for Niijima-san to ease Takamaki-san's worries. That aside, I need to work on this piece soon and submit it to sensei or else there will be… inconveniences."
"N-N-Nude…" Izuku stuttered. His eyes bulged out of their sockets while the film of sweat on his hands and face turned into steam.
"Sn-Snap out of it, Midori!" Makoto said, shaking his shoulders to try and wake him up.
"D-Do you mean nude-nude?! As in no clothes at all?! H-How did we escalate to that?!" Ann cried in despair.
"Because, those are my terms," Yusuke said, a pleasant smile on his face.
"W-Wait, ain't that bad?!" Ryuji blurted.
"Y-Yes! That's blackmail! Y-You can't just do that, Kitagawa-kun!" Makoto argued, her hands still on Izuku's shoulders as tried to shake him out of his stupor.
"Well, I suppose if you'd rather me report you, I can."
"B-But that's…."
"As I'm sure you'd rather I don't do so, we'll settle on Takamaki-san acting as my nude model," Yusuke said, a smile of anticipation stretching across his face. "Don't worry, sensei spends his afternoon at the exhibit while it's going, so we can use this place freely. I should buy more art supplies."
"W-Will you give me a second here?!"
"Of course, I'm willing to wait. I'll make plans according to your schedule. But please, come before the exhibit ends."
"No, that's not what I mean! Why are you not listening?!"
"Sensei will be returning home soon. We're done for today. Takamaki-san, I'll be waiting for you to contact me."
"No, no, no! We are not done talking here!"
"Hey uh… what should we do?" Ryuji whispered to Makoto and Izuku.
"At this point… I really don't know…" Makoto admitted, her right eye wincing in defeat.
"W-We'll… have to retreat for now…" Izuku managed to sputter out. He'd spontaneously combust if this conversation continued any longer.
"Yeah… damn it, he got us good this time," Ryuji relented.
"N-No! Come on! You guys can't give up that easily!" Ann complained helplessly.
"He's totally out of his mind! I'm totally going to have to pose nude if this keeps up!"
"C-Calm down, Takamaki-san. I'm sure we can figure a way out of this…" Makoto tried to reassure her.
The team had left the shack and were now loitering around on the nearby sidewalk.
"How dare that Yusuke!" Morgana growled from inside Izuku's bag.
"From the way he was puttin' it, it's not gonna be semi-nude but full on nude, too…" Ryuji grumbled.
"R-Ryuji-senpai… that's not really helping right now…" Izuku reminded him. His face was still red hot, but he somehow managed to remain conscious.
"F-F-Full nudity…? Lady Ann's going to…" Morgana stiffened at the thought.
"Drop it!" Ann snapped.
"You know, you won't have to worry about that so long as we change Madarame's heart before the exhibit ends," said Ryuji. That was enough to get everyone back on track.
"But… Kitagawa-kun thinks he owes his life to him. Is there really a need to do that?" Ann reasoned.
Morgana gasped. "S-So you're okay with baring it all Lady Ann?!"
"I am not!"
"Look, Madarame's no different from Kamoshida. He's just using Yusuke because he's got no parents," Ryuji snarled. "You're tellin' me we should just ignore how he's bein' treated horribly like the other pupils?"
"No… it is frustrating to leave it like this, even if Kitagawa-kun is okay with it himself," Ann sighed, scratching the top of her head.
"Ryuji-senpai is right. Madarame hurt so many people. Now he's abusing the trust Kitagawa-san has in him for his own gain," Izuku's eyes narrowed in thought. "It might seem like we're meddling, but… but maybe that's just what we have to do. His whole future could be taken away with all of his art being put under Madarame's name."
"I agree. Just because Kitagawa-kun doesn't see it that way, he is a victim in this," Makoto said, looking at the others. "We can't just let this go."
"Yeah. Madarame's exactly the kinda guy we've been waitin' for. And maybe, if we can, we can convince Yusuke to come to his senses, too," Ryuji said, resolved in the matter. "Before he becomes a victim like us."
With a resounding agreement from the others, the Thieves broke off for the day and headed home.
*ring ring*
"Come on, your friends can wait a bit. We'll just go over the basics, then I'll let you go."
Izuku couldn't help but give a sheepish laugh, nodding as he was forced to ignore his ringing phone.
After the group had split off and headed home, Izuku was met with a strangely eager Sojiro the moment he stepped foot in Leblanc. After allowing Izuku an hour of rest, Sojiro asked him to join him behind the bar that night, hoping to show him the ropes for working in the cafe.
"Alright, so to start, let's get the most important aspect of your job out of the way: making coffee," Sojiro said, handing Izuku an apron. "Put this on. I doubt we'll do much, but might as well be prepared just in case."
"Okay. So do you want me to try making a cup?" Izuku asked, looking at the steaming beakers on the counter.
"Not yet. While I'm sure coffee making looks easy, I'm pretty particular about what I serve," Sojiro crossed his arms over his chest. "This may not be the busiest shop around, but I certainly take pride in my coffee. That's why I won't have you making anyone coffee until you've gotten the hang of it. You serve a bad cup to anyone and I'll have your ass on a silver platter. Got it?"
"C-Crystal clear!" Izuku quickly nodded, a bead of sweat trailing down his face.
I hadn't realized how serious he was about the coffee! I-I suddenly feel really nervous about this!
Sojiro chuckled. "Oh, come on. Don't get so tense. We haven't even started!"
"I have to say though, Sakura-san definitely does right by his coffee!" The voice came from a middle-aged woman sitting in a booth with a plate of curry and a cup of coffee in front of her. "It goes so well with the curry, I can't help but order the set!"
"A-Ah, I understand that too! I've had the two together a few times now. I never would have thought they'd go so well together before," Izuku smiled at the woman.
"Heh. What can I say? Each meal is tailored to the taste of each person," Sojiro beamed with pride.
"Oh, can you tell me the ingredients, Sakura-san? I'd love to try and cook this up at home," The woman asked hopefully.
"Sorry, but that's a trade secret. But you're welcome to guess from the taste alone," Sojiro apologized with a gentle smile.
This woman let out a playful huff. "Cheapskate. Being so secretive with your recipe even though your food's already stolen my heart…"
"Heh, apologies. Why not end the meal with dessert, though? It's only 300 yen."
"Well… alright. Since I'm already in this deep, I suppose…" the woman said, her voice coy despite her supposed hesitance.
"Coming right up."
Izuku watched Sojiro serve the woman her final dish with awe. Perhaps the woman was a regular customer and this was normal, but Sojiro sure knew how to lay on the charm when he wanted someone back..
"Have a good night, ma'am," Sojiro said, waving as the woman took her leave. Once she was out the door, Sojiro turned back to Izuku as stern as ever. "Here's another thing to remember: when you run a shop, you'll get customers of all sorts. Knowing their personalities is absolutely vital. That's what being in food service is all about."
"G-Got it!"
I've gotta write this down in a spare notebook later.
Before Sojiro could continue, the cafe's doorbell chimed as the glass door swung open.
"Welcom-" Sojiro hesitated, Izuku seeing his eyes widen in alarm as he stared at the man in the door. The newcomer was a plump man wearing a black jacket and a navy blue baseball cap that poured shade over his eyes. "You…"
"Why, hello there! It's been quite a while, Sakura-san!" the man said cheerily. "I heard you set up a shop, so here I am! Though it wouldn't have hurt to inform me, you know."
The man wore a plastic smile as he glanced around the shop before looking back at Sojiro. "The location's great. Right next to the station and everything."
"Your order?" Sojiro asked. There was an edge to his voice that Izuku couldn't ignore. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke someone.
"What, no small talk? That's cold," the man laughed it off, grinning as if Sojiro had made a joke. "Oh, but this smell… still making that curry, huh? Still haven't gotten over her, I see…"
"Your order, sir?" Sojiro asked again.
"Her"..? Izuku wondered, eyes trailing to Sojiro curiously.
"Haha, so pushy. It's alright though, I just popped in to say hi. I'll be back soon though, don't worry. Bye for now!" The man laughed and waved as he took his leave.
Once the coast was clear, Sojiro breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed the back of his head. "Where the hell'd he catch wind of this place..?"
"Um… is everything alright, Sakura-san?" Izuku couldn't help but ask, concern crossing his face.
"Just fine, don't worry about it," Izuku winced as Sojiro cast his gaze on him. "Sorry about that. Things are… complicated between me and that guy. That's all I'm going to say about it."
"O-Okay… he certainly seemed suspicious enough, so I'll leave it alone," Izuku agreed.
The cafe owner chuckled. "Well, you're not wrong about that. At least you can pick up on that much," Straightening his apron, Sojiro's expression became all-business. "But if you have time to talk, you have time to learn about bean types in coffee. You're not gonna be much use to me if you don't learn the ABC's about making this stuff, got it?"
"Y-Yes sir! I'll do what I can!"
"Heh. That's more like it. Besides, this could be good for you. I'm guessing you have a hard time talking to girls, so maybe this will give you an edge. Girls like a guy who can make a good cup of coffee, after all."
"H-Huh?! You knew I'm bad with girls?!"
"Anyone could have guessed that much. Though I'd say your little talk with the doctor was a dead giveaway," Sojiro chuckled, Izuku paling as he recalled his first meeting with Takemi. "Well, women aside, I'll do my best to hammer this stuff into you. That way I'll be able to kick back and relax while you work."
"I-I'll do my best to learn. Thank you, Sakura-san," Izuku nodded in acceptance. If this is what it took to pay him back, he was willing to do it.
*SMASH*
The chains shattered in Izuku's ear, pulling him away from his musings without warning. He couldn't help but sigh when he saw the supposed "level up" of their bond.
Izuku still felt a smile spread across his lips. What was once a shaky relationship was beginning to evolve into something more.
"Boss certainly didn't miss a beat when teaching you, huh?" Morgana chuckled, watching as Izuku plopped onto his bed next to him.
"Yeah. He was really strict about the beans, too. I hadn't realized just how many different flavors and types of coffee there was. It really is a world of its own…" Izuku sighed, leaning forward on his knees tiredly.
*ring ring*
"Sounds like you don't get to rest yet."
"I guess not. They were texting in the chat for a while, too. Sakura-san almost tossed my phone away," Izuku laughed humorlessly, as he thought back to the barista's threat.
Entering his passcode, Izuku glanced through the messages to see that the others had been chatting for quite a while.
Koto-san: Just checking in to make sure that my invite to the group chat worked.
Ryuji: All good!
Ann: Same here!
Koto-san: Strange. Where's Midori?
Ryuji: Usually he answers. Must be busy or sleepin'.
Ann: We had a long day already. I hope he's not pushing himself too hard after all that.
Koto-san: Indeed. Though that does seem to be a problem of his.
Izuku couldn't help but laugh sheepishly. It was kind of funny to see that they were talking about him while he wasn't there.
Koto-san: Setting aside Midori's knack for overworking, I just want to say thank you all again for having me as part of the team. I'll do my best to keep from holding you all back.
Ryuji: Don't sweat it! We're happy to have you!
Ann: That's right! The more help we can get, the better. We're counting on you, Niijima-senpai!
Koto-san: And I'll be counting on all of you.
Izuku was happy to see that Makoto was getting along with the others. But that thought was shoved aside when he read Ryuji's latest messages.
Ryuji: So get this, there's a rumor goin' around about one of Madarame's past pupils. Apparently they, offed themselves after not bein' able to speak up about what Madarame stealing his work.
Images of Shiho flashed before Izuku's eyes. He quickly shook his head and started punching his keyboard with his thumbs.
Izuku: What?! That's terrible!
Ryuji: There you are! But yeah, I thought the same. I ain't sure if it's completely true, though.
Ann: I hope it's not. But some of the rumors I've seen online really don't help…
Koto-san: We should do a bit more digging to verify such claims. That is a very hefty accusation.
Ryuji: Ain't any news articles or anything on it… I bet it was covered up.
Izuku had to give that some thought. Suicides were not uncommon in Japan and if what Nakanohara said was true, then it wasn't impossible to say that cutting him off completely would keep his death from linking back to Madarame in the first place.
Izuku: It's not impossible… Madarame wouldn't have to do much to keep it from getting out.
Ann: I wonder if Kitagawa-kun knows anything about it…
Ann: It'd be great if he can help us out.
Ryuji: Ain't that askin' a bit much?
Ryuji: He's gonna be pretty on edge with us after today.
Izuku couldn't disagree with Ryuji there.
Ryuji: Well, anyway, Madarame's still a piece of crap!
Ryuji: Let's meet up tomorrow on the school rooftop like usual!
Koto-san: Actually, I'd advise against us meeting up there.
Koto-san: Plenty of students know it's your hangout. And since I'm still pretending to seek you all out for Kobayakawa, it wouldn't be wise for me to constantly meet you all up there either.
Izuku hadn't thought about that. It had actually been some time since they met on the roof after the Kamoshida incident. But they couldn't risk getting caught.
Ryuji: Crap. Guess we're gonna have to move the hideout then.
"Considering our line of work, I think it'd be wise for us to constantly move our hideout, anyway. It would be suspicious to meet in the same place too much, after all," Morgana said as he looked over the messages.
"Where should we move it to, though… oh!" Izuku snapped his fingers before beginning to type.
Izuku: Morgana-san said that we should keep our hideout moving, anyway. So for now, let's meet up on Shibuya's upper floor. We have to take the train over to Madarame's anyway.
Ann: Oh, t good idea! From there we can just jump into his Palace whenever we need to!
Koto-san: I agree. It should make for a good temporary spot.
Ryuji: Alright then! After school at the station hall then. See you guys there!
Ann: See you guys tomorrow.
Koto-san: Same. Good night, everyone.
Izuku: Good night.
Izuku locked his phone up and sighed before looking down at Morgana. "Well, I think that's enough for tonight. I'm going to be-
*RING RING*
Izuku blinked when he heard his phone chime this time, indicating a call rather than a text. Holding it up, he looked to see Mishima's name across the front. Letting his surprise pass, Izuku quickly answered.
"Hello? Mishima-senpai?"
"Yo! Sorry to disturb you, but I figured this was something I should tell you over the phone instead of text."
"It's fine. Is something wrong?" Izuku asked, scooting further back into his bed and pulling the blankets up.
"Not really wrong, but definitely interesting. You know that target that the Thieves took down not too long ago for a change of heart? Well, he actually contacted Shiho and me on the Phan-site."
Izuku raised a brow, holding his phone out and putting it on speaker for Morgana to hear. "I-I see. What did he want?"
"He actually wanted to make a request to change someone else's heart, too. But the problem is that he feels if he posts it on the Phan-site, it'll bring him some trouble. Instead, he wanted to see if he could meet with y-I mean the Phantom Thieves to go over the details personally."
"I-I see…" Izuku and Morgana shared a knowing look. "But just so we're clear, Mishima-senpai, what's his name?"
"His name is Nakanohara. Apparently, his target is a really terrible person."
Nakanohara's throat clenched as he took careful, measured sips from a cup of bargain bin coffee. It had the taste and consistency of battery acid, but it was all he could afford. His eyes twitched left and right, looking for the contact provided by the Phantom Thief Aficionado Website's administrator. They hadn't given him any specific details, only instructing him to wait for them inside Shibuya station.
Nakanohara had no doubt that anyone who saw him might have suspected some sort of shady business. Considering who he was meeting with, he supposed that wouldn't be incorrect. He shifted in place. He felt exposed standing here by himself on Shibuya's ground floor.
"Natsuhiko Nakanohara?"
The office worker jumped when he heard a quiet voice whisper his name. He gazed around but didn't see anyone was addressing him. He began to creep toward the corner.
"D-Don't move. We can talk like this."
The voice sounded male, but it was young and seemed just as nervous as he was. Couldn't belong to anything older than a high schooler. Still, Nakanohara obeyed, gluing his back against the wall and not daring to look back
"Um… o-okay. Are you the one I'm supposed to meet?"
"Yes. You wanted to request a change of heart in someone?"
"Y-Yes, that's right. I'm sure you've heard the name before," Nakanohara swallowed the lump in his throat. "The man I'd like you to target is the traditional Japanese artist, Ichiryusai Madarame."
Nakanohara waited for some sort of answer, but heard no response.
Unsure, he continued. "I was… once one of his pupils. I was given lodging at his home, where I only thought about art. I truly had a passion for it. I was a student alongside another who was my senior by several years. Our sensei kept tabs on him. Of course, Madarame claimed all of our works as his own."
Nakanohara took a deep breath.
"Eventually, it was all… just too much for my senior to take. In the end, he… committed suicide."
Nakanohara heard the smallest gasp. It relieved him to hear his words did not fall on deaf ears .
"I'm sure he couldn't bear to watch his work praised under Madarame's name. We all felt the same, but… I suppose it was more than he could handle. After that happened, I finally decided to quit my time under Madarame and leave his atelier for good. He tried to beg me to stay, but after I refused, he reached out to the rest of the art world. As such, my life as a painter was destroyed."
Nakanohara pushed up his glasses as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I tried to just move on and get a fresh start working as an office clerk… but it was no use. In the end, I became resentful and possessive, even stalking my ex-girlfriend after breaking up. I was… a mess, to say the least. So again, I ask, please, will you change Madarame's heart? Not only for me, but… but to also save the life of another."
"Another? I-Is someone else in danger?" His contact asked, the voice softer this time.
"Yes. Madarame's only remaining pupil. Despite everything, that boy is still there. He's young, still in high school actually. He's incredibly talented, but he also owes a lot to Madarame for taking him in as a child after his mother passed. He is the perfect target."
His fingers dug into the cup in his hand.
"I actually spoke with him a few times back when I was still under Madarame. I asked him if it was painful to stay under Madarame as he was. You know what he told me? 'If I could leave this place, I would.'" Nakanohara hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I… I don't have the right to request this after my own cowardice stopped me… but please… I don't want to see another suicide!"
His voice rose as years of desperation and longing bubbled to the surface. "I want to save this young man and… this seems like the only way left. He has such a bright future ahead of him…. So please… please stop Madarame!"
Nakanohara turned the corner and bowed until his head nearly touched the floor.
"I… I promise we will."
Nakanohara felt relief fill him, smiling as he looked up to thank the young man. But as he lifted his head, he thought he caught the slightest glimpse of green hair disappear behind a stall.
Izuku wheezed as he hunched over his knees amidst his friends. "Th-That was… a lot harder than I thought…"
"If you hadn't waited around to say that last thing to him, you probably wouldn't have had to run," said Morgana, who was leaning on his shoulder.
"W-Well, I didn't want to leave him without an answer," Izuku placed a hand on his chest. "Still, that was really nerve-racking. I just felt like we looked really suspicious…"
"The way you guys were talkin' around the corner was suspicious dude," Ryuji said with a grin.
"I'd say you performed your task well, Midori," said Makoto. "You got the information we needed."
"So, everyone on the same page?" Ryuji asked, looking at the others from his spot on the ground.
"I'm on board. Let's do this," Ann's eyes burned furiously. "There's no way I'd let something like suicide happen. Not on my watch. And now, we know exactly how Kitagawa-kun feels."
"Whatever doubts we might have had before, they're gone now," Makoto gave a determined nod. "I'm ready to do this if you guys are."
"I am. There's no more room for second-guessing. We'll put a stop to Madarame," Izuku declared, his gaze steely as he thought of Nakanohara's heartfelt pleas.
"Hell yeah! Madarame's nothin' but a piece of shit preyin' on the weak!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Alright, leader. It's your call," Morgana said, a feline smile spreading across his lips as he looked at Izuku. "What's our next move?"
"Let's stock up on anything we need for the heist. Tomorrow, I want to head to the Palace. Let's stop Madarame and save Kitagawa-san!"
To be continued…
Great work as usual goes to my beta reppuzan who, despite his busy schedule, was still able to put some hard work in on the chapter :)
Ahhhh it's good to be back. Took quite a bit to get back into the groove of things after having that problem with my internet. Thankfully, I think it's safe to say I'm back on track. Which should mean up to 1 to 2 chapters a month. Here's hoping things stay that way :)
Onto the chapter, there was actually something about this arc that was driving me crazy and that was how long it took for the group to decide that Madarame was going to be their target. I get that Yusuke's the hold out when it comes to Madarame and what he's done, but considering his previous victims, it should have been an easy decision once Yusuke made it clear that the plagiarism was real. Still, thankfully, all of that is behind us now. I was thankfully able to hammer out the last bits of it this chapter, and now we can finally dive right into the Palace!
Another thing I have to thank my beta for is the fact that he pointed out the difference between the game and the anime's meeting with Nakanohara, in which the anime actually handled it better so I decided to rewrite the last part based on that lol
Anyways, that's the end of this chapter, sorry for the long wait you were all subjected to. Just a heads up though, the UA Hang out snippet will be moved to the TCBH side stories from here on! So if you go to look for it, don't worry, it's not gone.