Miss Violet: Hello Class. It's time to start the finale of Vanity and Fraud Arc. Let the class begin!
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Sixty-Nine
[Opening Scene: Shibuya - TMS Arena (Morning)
Theme of TMS Arena: Class Change from Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE]
"Are you sure you want it to happen at the very start of your match? It could blow up on you as much as it can her."
Hifumi nodded, only to remember that Ryuji wasn't here and that he was talking to her on the phone, replied, "Yeah. Besides, Yusuke is at the exhibit with Ryuji despite his discomfort. We might as well go for maximum damage."
"Alright. Just text me when you're ready," Ryuji told her.
"Got it," Hifumi promised and then hung up her cell. She turned to Haru and said, "Well, I suppose we should get in there and break the news?"
Haru smiled and said, "This is going to be risky for us."
"It is, but this will only make mother even madder and will make the calling card even more effective," Hifumi said as she took Haru's hand. "But we don't have to go along with that part of the plan if you don't want to."
Haru smiled and leaned over to place a small kiss on Hifumi's lips, paying no mind to the shocked gasps she heard from various passersby. "I am tired of being a piece of my father's ambitions and Sugimura's lustful gaze. The time for decorum has passed, and I am happily waving goodbye to it."
Hifumi smiled and together, they walked into the stadium, keenly aware of the various camera noises from the cellphones of bystanders.
[Change Scene: Shibuya – Art Museum (Early Morning)
Theme of Art Museum: Afternoon Break from Persona 3]
Ryuji closed his phone and turned to Yusuke with a grin. "Alright, Hifumi and Haru are in position. Time for us to get these bad boys on every painting before the guards get here."
Yusuke nodded and unlocked the door to the museum. When Yusuke told Ryuji that he had access to the museum a lot earlier than even the guards, Ryuji knew he had to take advantage of this.
What made it even better was this museum did not hold any cameras in place. Apparently, from what Yusuke explained, the cameras were being switched over to new cameras, which left their identities and movements blind to the world. The two snuck into the museum, each one holding a small duffle bag.
Once the pair was inside, Ryuji looked Yusuke in the eye and asked, "Are you sure you want to do what you have planned?"
Yusuke looked at all of the paintings and for a moment, Yusuke was unsure. He, and all of those he knew, put their hearts and souls into these works.
But they did it for the love of the art, not for the money, even if that made for a nice bonus. And since most of the artists were either deceased or robbed of their passion, determination fueled Yusuke.
"I am sure," Yusuke answered. He bent down to pick up the red paint and his paintbrush. "It's time to give this place a little more color."
Ryuji grinned.
"That's my boy. Let's get our gloves on and get this shit done!"
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Café LeBlanc (Morning)
Theme of Café LeBlanc - Beneath the Mask From Persona 5]
"I can't believe so much has happened to you since you came here," Minako murmured as Ren sat across from his mother.
Ren still couldn't believe that his mother had shown up here after everything that had happened. And not only that, she wasn't anywhere near the man that had willingly betrayed him. It was like a dream.
Hopefully, one that wouldn't turn into a nightmare.
"It seems your knack of being a hero hasn't died. I'm proud of that," Minako told him with a smile on her face.
"Things are tougher here," Ren admitted. "But It would be a disservice to allow what happened in Aoharu to change me. This is who I am. Though, I'd like for the stabbings and the kidnappings to stop."
Ren laughed while Minako turned to Sojiro, who sat behind the counter, with a frown on her face. "So, what do you have planned while you're here?" Ren asked, catching the concerned expressions on his mother and caretaker's faces and wanting to change the subject.
"Well, I figured that since I'm staying here, I'll work as Sojiro's assistant here," Minako answered with a smile. "It's been a while since I've worked under him and it might be fun."
"Oh wow, that means we'll be working together," Ren noted with a smile.
"Oh? Have you been passing down your secrets to Ren, Old Man?" Minako asked with a teasing smile.
"Well, I figured I could teach him a few things," Sojiro chuckled. "Besides, I guess I'm always bound to have an apprentice."
Ren noted a secretive smile shared between his mother and his caretaker and frowned.
"You know something, I never asked how you two knew each other," Ren spoke.
"She was my apprentice a long time ago," Sojiro noted.
"For LeBlanc?" Ren asked.
"No," Minako answered. "It's from a life long gone."
Ren was even more confused than before. "T-That doesn't answer my quest—" Ren was interrupted by a familiar jingle.
(I tried hard, but where did we go wrong?
I hope we could... but I won't start all over again)
A somber smile crossed Minako's face at the familiar song.
"Amamiya's Pizza, What's your beef?" Ren asked.
"Dude, it's about that time to rock and roll," Ryuji's voice answered.
"Alright, I'll be right there," Ren said before he hung up the phone. "I better get going."
"Where are you going so soon?" Minako asked as Ren stood from the booth.
"Oh, my friends are doing a DnD session, to kind of erase the trauma Hifumi, Yusuke, and I went through. I promised I would play," Ren said. "You two don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all, Kid," Sojiro answered.
"Neither do I. I'm glad to know my son has friends," Minako said with a smile. "Just try not to get hurt."
"No promises," Ren joked.
Ren grabbed his bag and for a moment, he wanted to hug and kiss his mom on the cheek as a farewell but that familiar hurt blossomed in his chest. No, things had not gone back to normal, despite his mother making the first steps.
"I'll see you guys later," Ren said and then, he rushed out the door.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Morning)
Theme of Meeting: Paulownia Mall from Persona 3]
"Although the temperature will rise and fall I'll take it all. I never thought that you would run," Yūki sang as his fingers rapidly typed at his keyboard. "And I don't need a friend to tell me why, to tell me when hanging on to you I never thought I'm killing someone."
Yūki paused his singing to focus on breaking through a password, and when he was successful, he let out an excited, "Yes!"
Yūki then focused up and continued his work as he sang, "And I can tell you it's more. Now there's nothing in the way to show me. I didn't know you before. More than any other day it's only….. Gravity. Gravity."
"You're in the zone there, Mishima," Ann noted as Yūki bobbed his head to the music. "I didn't think you listened to American music. Never mind being able to sing along to it. Your English is pretty good."
"Thank you," Yūki smiled, his cheeks slightly reddening. "My mom used to teach English at Shijun shortly before she retired after her surgery. I spent every day after school learning it."
"I never knew that," Ann realized. "I can't wait until the heists are done. We need a day to just veg out, play more DnD, and get to know each other better."
Yūki nodded in agreement and said, "I agree. I look forward to it."
Ann smiled and then motioned to the laptop and asked, "So, what exactly are you doing?"
"Breaking through the last little bit of firewall to hack the electric billboard within the TMS stadium," Yūki explained. "It's not too hard, but it makes me wish we had a better hacker on the team."
"So that's why Ryuji asked about that last night," Ann grumbled. "He's turning you into a criminal."
"It's not that b-bad," Yūki defended. "Besides, we are vigilantes. Sometimes, we have to do a little law-breaking. And done!" Yūki pressed the enter key and immediately took out the calling card. "Now, all I have to do is type it all in and wait for Ryuji's text so I can send Mitsuyo's calling card. Meanwhile, has Shiho woken up yet?"
"Not yet," Ann replied with crossed arms. "Though, I prefer it like this. She's stayed up almost all night last night. I don't like the reason why either."
"Nightmares?" Yūki inquired.
"No. Niijima Makoto," Ann answered. "But that's something that can wait until after this is all said and done."
Yūki nodded as SuperJesus' Gravity changed to Fujifabric's Golden Time on Yūki's speakers. "Now, all we have to do is sit back and wait for Ryuji," Yūki told Ann. It was then Yūki received a text and said, "Well, that was fast. Looks like it's time."
"Mitsuyo's calling card? Talk about finishing in the nick of time," Ann noted with a grin. "I'll go wake up Shiho and Morgana."
Yūki smiled and nodded.
[Scene Change: Shibuya - TMS Arena (Main Chamber)
Theme of TMS Arena: Class Change from Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE]
"So this is where the magic happens," Haru noted as she stood by the Shogi table. "Where all the wins you've accumulated occurred. Won't you miss it?"
Hifumi smiled and shook her head. "Knowing that my mother rigged all of my games to get me to this point, I don't feel bad about shedding the identity my wins have given me. I want to be the best using my own merits," Hifumi said. "Nothing more, nothing less."
Hifumi then looked around and saw that the stadium was packed. Today was supposed to be the day she defends her championship against Fujikawa Yukimi, who was known as the best Shogi player in Kyoto.
It was a shame that it would never happen.
"Someone is coming," Haru motioned.
Hifumi turned around to see a rather tall teenage girl with short silver hair, light blue eyes, and a pair of red-rimmed glasses on her face. She wore a simple black turtleneck, black suit pants, and black heels.
And she looked displeased.
But there was something off about her. Like, there was a specific feeling that reminded her of being with her group of friends.
Weird.
"Do you feel that?" Haru asked Hifumi.
"Seems my mother got to her," Hifumi noted to Haru as the girl got closer until they stood face to face. "You must be Fujikawa Yukimi," Hifumi began as she moved her right hand in between them. "I'm Tōgō Hifumi."
"You would be correct, Tōgō-san," Yukimi answered as she looked at Hifumi's hand. Finally, the good shook her hand and said, "And it is a pleasure to meet the champion."
"I won't be champion for long," Hifumi sincerely told her opponent. Hifumi stepped close and whispered, "I know my mother must have paid you off to let me win, right?"
Yukimi's eyes widened in surprise and then nodded. "So you're aware of it?" she questioned.
"I am. And that's why I can't allow you to do that. Take the money she paid you, but I will not be a part of the scheme."
Yukimi chuckled. "Interesting. And here I thought you would be as unscrupulous as her," Yukimi commented.
"Unlike her, I have more honor than that. Fight against me like your life depends on it. We shall settle this with our own skill with nothing held back," Hifumi said as she took a step back, noticing that her mother was approaching. "Now, we should get ready."
Yukimi nodded and sat down in her chair while Mitsuyo close the distance. Hifumi turned to Haru and nodded, who immediately texted Ryuji.
"And there is my darling daughter," Mitsuyo greeted with a wide smile.
Hifumi frowned and greeted, "Hello Mother. I'm glad to see you here instead of when the police found me yesterday."
"You have to forgive me, I was busy setting up your last appointments and photoshoots before your engagement announcement," Mitsuyo said with a smile. "I do hope you are prepared to announce that after your game against Yukimi-san."
Yukimi snorted and said, "I'm going to go speak to the judge quickly. Excuse me." Yukimi quickly walked away, leaving Haru, Mitsuyo, and Hifumi near the shogi table.
"Actually, there is something that I need to announce regarding that to you. But I figured this might be a better option," Hifumi told her. "Wait, I lied. There are two things that you should know."
"Oh, is that right?" Mitsuyo asked with surprise.
Hifumi smiled and took Haru's hand. "Mother, this is Okumura Haru," Hifumi said. "And the first thing I should tell you is that I refuse to be signed over and treated like cattle to a man that is willing to purchase love instead of earning it."
Mitsuyo frowned at this and said, "I believe we discussed the other day that there was no negoti—"
"The second thing is," Hifumi interrupted as she turned to Haru and said, "I'm already in a relationship with someone I care about."
"What?!" Mitsuyo exclaimed. "You will break up with them this instant."
"I don't think I'll be doing that," Hifumi denied.
"You can't just do this, Hifumi. I have planned and sacrificed too much to have you ruin it," Mitsuyo stated under her breath. "You will break up with this person. There is no one better than him to ma—"
Haru calmly took Hifumi's face into her hands and delivered a kiss to Hifumi's lips. Hifumi was surprised that Haru jumped the gun, but hearing the strangled gasp leave her mother, and the number of gasps from the audience immediately made her grin.
Haru moved her lips away from the blushing shogi player's lips and announced, "I don't think there is anyone better than the Heiress to the Big Bang Dynasty, Mitsuyo-san."
"Y-You don't know what you've done," Mitsuyo whispered, scandalized. "You just ruined everything."
"No," Hifumi corrected as she gazed at the satisfied Haru with tender eyes. "I think I made it better."
"Something is happening to the billboard!" a voice cried from the audience.
[Theme of Calling Card: Bloom Palace From Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE]
Mitsuyo looked up at the electric billboard and saw that it was looking as if it was glitching. And then an emblem appeared.
An emblem that Yusuke had reworked last night.
The official emblem of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
"To Madam Tōgō Mitsuyo, The Mother of Fraud and Ruler of the Fifth Bolgia.
We were called to investigate your wrongdoings toward your daughter and what we have found is damning. You took advantage of your flesh and blood for your personal wealth and gain. You robbed her voice, and in turn, you have made yourself a target for our justice.
We will take your distorted desires without fail because we are the Voice of the Voiceless.
And we will make her voice heard.
Signed,
The Phantom Thieves of Hearts…"
"No…. That was supposed to be a hoax," Mitsuyo whispered with dread as she took a step back.
Haru and Hifumi smirked and quickly fled to where they were supposed to meet Mishima and Morgana.
But as Hifumi looked back at her her mother, she could hear a malevolent whisper of Madam Mitsuyo.
"How dare they? I will not allow them to take my property from me!"
[Change Scene: Shibuya – Art Museum (Morning)
Theme of Art Museum: Afternoon Break from Persona 3]
"Are you sure we should be here?" Yusuke whispered to Ryuji as the two stood in the crowd in front of the museum. They were in the middle of the crowd that was waiting to be let in but they were close to the front so they could view Madarame.
"Yeah, dude. We need to see if he reads it," Ryuji answered. "Just to get that confirmation."
Yusuke nodded. "Do you think they will let anyone in once they see what has happened?" Yusuke whispered.
"Dude, of course. People are nosy as well. They'll barge their way in to see it if they have to," Ryuji answered.
Yusuke opened his mouth, only to hear horrified screams from within the museum. The crowd around them looked around in concern, only for a museum worker to bust through the front doors and yell, "Madarame-sama! The exhibit has been ruined!"
"What?!" Madarame exclaimed as he bust through the doors.
"Showtime," Ryuji whispered.
The two moved with the crowd until they made it into the exhibit and saw their handy work. All of the paintings that Madarame "made' had the words "Justice for the Voiceless!" painted on them in red lettering.
"Who could have done this?!" Madarame yelled, furious.
Yusuke flinched but Ryuji grabbed his shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, it's almost done."
One of the exhibit directors walked up to Madarame and said, "Sir, we found this on the nameplate in front of one of the paintings. There are quite a few of them on some of the other pieces."
Madarame snatched the calling card from the man and read it.
[Theme of Calling Card: Bloom Palace From Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE]
Sir Ichiryusai Madarame, a great sinner of vanity whose talent has been exhausted.
You are an artist who uses his authority to shamelessly steal the ideas of his pupils. And when their talent is drained, you cut them loose and do all you can to silence them.
You have robbed many of their voices, often permanently, to fuel your selfish and greedy nature and it is because of this that we have decided to allow you to keep your voice, only for you to confess all your crimes to the world.
We will take your distorted desires without fail because we are the Voice of the Voiceless.
And we will make their voices heard.
Signed,
The Phantom Thieves of Hearts…"
"Whose doing is this?!" Madarame screamed.
"We don't know, sir," The director meekly answered. "These calling cards are everywhere, as I mentioned before."
"What about the security cameras?" Madarame questioned.
The director frowned and said, "We are in the process of replacing them so they weren't available last night."
"Incompetent fools. The lot of you," Madarame harshly whispered. "Remove them all at once. I have other works that I can show off to replace the damaged ones. We'll use those instead."
"Very well, Madarame-sama," The director said. He then paused and murmured, "Um…Sir?"
"Yes? Can I help you?" Madarame asked.
"W-Well. While we do believe that this is a prank, I am concerned the mass media will say about what is on this note and how this will affect the exhibit," The director started.
"Are you insinuating that this slander is true?" Madarame hissed.
"O-Of course not!" The director exclaimed.
"Then get moving," Madarame growled.
"Do you think it's done?" Yusuke asked.
"Looks done to me," Ryuji smirked. "Come on, let's jet."
As the two walked away, only Yusuke could hear the dark voice of Lord Madarame behind him.
"It's those damn brats doing, isn't it? Well, its no matter! They'll only be able to do as they please until this exhibit is over. After that….I'll make them pay!"
[Scene Change: Shibuya - Teikyu Building Accessway (Afternoon)
Theme of Final Team Meeting: Inspiration From Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE]
"It was fifteen minutes apart but we were able to get it as close as possible to delivering the cards at the same time," Morgana announced. "Well, I guess we're at the final step and that's getting the treasures."
"This will be tough," Ren said. "But we got this. We get in, get the treasure, fight their shadows, and get out. After that, we can rest for a bit."
"I'm looking forward to it," Shiho yawned.
"Mishima, Morgana, good luck and give our luck to Haru and Hifumi," Ren said.
Mishima and Morgana nodded, with Mishima adding, while looking at Yusuke, "Please be safe and don't do anything risky."
Yusuke nodded and replied, "We won't. I can assure you of that."
Mishima smiled and soon, he and Morgana were off.
"Alright, gang. Get out there and bust some skulls for me," Ryuji said as he looked at Ren, Shiho, Yusuke, and Ann. "You guys got this."
The group nodded with a grin. "For you," Ann started. "We'd do anything. Now go get some rest."
Ryuji nodded and the four ran off.
Ryuji smiled and leaned against the railing.
'Good luck, guys….'
[Scene Change: Museum of Vanity (Hallway Near Treasure)
Theme of Heist: Life will Change from Persona 5]
Joker, Panther, Lioness, and Fox exploded from the saferoom and quickly ran into the room with the switch. Despite it being a while since they've been in the Museum of Vanity, they still knew the overall plan to get Madarame's treasure.
"Alright, are we all ready?" Lioness asked.
"Can we really be ready for something like this?" Fox questioned the group.
"No," Panther answered. "But, we weren't ready before, and yet, we were able to pull it off. So hesitate?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Joker admitted. "So with that said, let's start the show."
"Alright, let's go," Lioness said to Panther as they rushed off. To the control room where they would switch off the lights.
"Alright, Fox. I'm going to get in position on the crane. The minute the lights go off, pull the switch," Joker instructed.
"You've got it," Fox said. "Good luck."
"Thanks. We'll need all of it," Joker thanked and then ran off.
"Great, there is an enemy in there," Panther grumbled as they watched the shadow of the guard pace in the room they needed to be in.
"I wonder why," Lioness pondered. "I guess it doesn't matter. I'll distract them and then you go in to flip the switch."
"Are you sure?" Panther asked.
"Skull-nii would do something like this. Since he's not here, someone has to be the risky one," Lioness joked.
"To think he would be the bad influence on you," Panther playfully sighed. "I'm not going to question your skills. We've been in many fights with these things. Just be careful, alright?"
Lioness nodded and Panther ran behind a bush.
Lioness stood up and knocked on the door. "Oh no! A Phantom Thief, out here in the open!" Lioness exclaimed and then quickly ran off. The door opened and a shadow guard ran passed the bush Panther hid behind.
She sprang out and glanced at where Lioness ran. "You better make it back, Lioness…." Panther whispered and then rushed into the room, where the console to switch off the lights sat.
"Alright, I really wish we had walkie-talkies," Panther grumbled as she looked out the window of the room and up to the ceiling, where she saw Joker. "Alright, Bro….I'm ready," she whispered.
Joker hopped on the crane's hook and let a foot dangle off of it as he held the chain. This was pretty risky but it was also exciting.
It was like they were real Phantom Thieves.
Joker looked down at the console room and saw Panther waiting. He waved at her, signaling that he was ready.
Panther saw the arm and said, "We got action."
She held her hand over the button and whispered, "No hesitation," and then pressed the button, turning off all of the lights.
The moment the lights switched off, Fox grabbed the switch and pulled it down.
"It's all you, Leader," Fox whispered.
The hook trembled and then lowered down towards the visible treasure, which was a covered painting on an easel. Joker bent down and grabbed the top of the painting and tucked it under his arm.
"Got it," Joker said to himself as he looked at the console room and saw Panther. He grinned and held up the treasure, which made her jump in excitement and run off, no doubt to where Fox was so he could lift the crane.
Moments later, the crane lifted back to the wooden planks near the ceiling. He hopped off the hook and onto the plank.
"Lord Madarame! The piece is gone!" Joker heard a voice say at the bottom. Joker looked down to see Madarame looking at the empty easel.
"How dare those vermin," Lord Madarame hissed. "No matter. We'll corner them like the rats that they are and then poison them. Lock all the doors at once! They have nowhere to run!"
Joker smirked as he heard running on the planks. He withdrew his knife, only to sigh in relief at seeing his three teammates. "Mission halfway complete," Joker announced.
"His treasure was a painting?" Lioness questioned.
"It must be because of the shape," Panther said.
"We'll have to look at it later. We need to escape now," Fox urged.
"He has a point," Joker said. "I see an opening up ahead. Let's go," Joker commanded.
[Scene Change: Brothel of Fraud – 98th Floor (The Queen's Road)
Theme of Heist: Life will Change from Persona 5]
"Another group defeated," Pawn said as she sheathed her blade within her umbrella. "That was the last one, right?"
"Looks like it," Mona said. "Alright. Let's keep going. We don't have a lot of time!"
Mona, Mage, Pawn, and Noir ran up the final leg of the stairs and into the Queen's chambers. "Mage, go!" Mona instructed.
Mage skated into the air and onto the balcony. Seconds later, The monster-sized bed creaked and then split apart as a golden stairwell with water flowing down the steps rose from the floor and stopped in front of the balcony.
The trio ran up the rather slippery stairs to the balcony, where they reunited with Mage and walked into a modest-sized room, where they noticed a cage.
But unlike before when the cage only had a glowing orb, something was within it.
"Oh no," Noir whispered.
In the cage was Hifumi, a five-year-old child, curled up in the middle of the cage, sleeping. "What is this?" Pawn asked as she knelt beside the cage. "Why am I in here?"
"This is Mitsuyo's treasure," Mona said.
"Her what?" Pawn asked.
"Her treasure," Mona repeated. "Basically, a treasure is the physical representation of the Palace owner's wicked desires/negative emotions, which is the root behind the owner's distortions. But for it take the likeness of a human….This is new."
"Sickening is more like it," Pawn whispered. "She cared so little for me, that even her treasure only sees me as an object. Just an object to lock away until she's needed to gain money….That's all she's ever seen me as…"
"I'm sorry," Mage whispered as Noir placed a tender hand on Pawn's shoulder.
"The sooner we do this, the sooner she faces the truth," Noir whispered.
Pawn nodded, swallowed, and said, "Then let's get this done."
Pawn opened the cage, grabbed the sleeping five-year-old from within it, and then stood up. "Let's go," she instructed.
The group quickly ran out of the room, down the hallway, and toward the balcony. They ran down the steps and ran toward the door when the floor began to rumble.
"What in the world?" Noir cried out.
The floor split open and the group plummeted without warning into the void.
Mage quickly shouted, "Lady Eilistraee!"
An ethereal blue moon appeared above the two shadows, only for it to quickly go through the moon phases to become a crescent moon until Eilistraee made her appearance known the light from the moon formed her body.
She quickly threw her hand out and Mona, Pawn, and Noir managed to recover and floated to the ground while Mage skated around them. "Thank you, Lady Eilistraee," Mage thanked.
The persona smiled and then vanished.
"That was terrifying," Pawn whispered as the little girl groaned and nuzzled the crook of her neck. "There, there. I got you," she promised the small child.
"Alright….Anyone knows where we are?" Mona asked.
Suddenly, a large spotlight from each corner of the room shined down on them, revealing that they were on a stage that was reminiscent of the stage that sat on the 55th floor. Except there was a large golden throne, with two gilded snakes slithering beside Madam Mitsuyo.
"That's really bad," Mage whispered.
[Theme of Impending Boss Fight: Blood of Villain from Persona 5]
"I believe you have my property," Madam Mitsuyo taunted as she lifted her right hand with her right palm facing the ceiling.
Pawn let out a sharp gasp as she was electrocuted by the sleeping child. Pawn was forced to let her go, causing the girl to be encased in a ball of lightning and whiskered into Madam Mitsuyo's right palm.
Pawn stepped forward and said, "Mother! Why?! Why do you treat me like this?! Like I'm something that can be sold like cattle?! Even your treasure reflects this!"
Madam Mitsuyo smiled down at Pawn. "I never wanted children. In truth, I actively despise them," Madam Mitsuyo admitted. "But your father wanted one so badly, and at the time, I was so in love with him. So we made a deal. If I were to have a child with him, that child would take care of me until my dying day if anything were to happen to him. The moment he passed away, I made my moves to start getting what I was owed."
Madam Mitsuyo chuckled and petted the head of the gilded snake to her left. "All you were and all you are to me is an investment. That's all you are to me. Nothing more."
Pawn looked visibly devastated while Noir grew enraged. "How could say something like that?!" Noir shouted. "She's your daughter! You would take her out to look at the stars at night to calm her down! How could say something so callous?!"
"Would you rather I lie to the girl?" Madam Mitsuyo asked. "Pretend that I care for her as a person? There were good moments, sure, but she is my nest egg. My property to use and sell to whoever I please. Per the agreement her father and I had. Even I know treating your investment well is only good business."
Madam Mitsuyo's eyes then grew venomous. "But that charity and that goodwill has gone out of the window. I worked hard and degraded myself repeatedly to put you in the spot to make me wealthy. And now that I found a worthy suitor that would pay me the big bucks for the rest of my life for someone like you, you dare try to go against me?!" Madam Mitsuyo shouted as the snakes at her side hissed.
"I will not have anyone take what is rightfully mine and break the contract that I made with my body! And that means that all of you must perish. Except for you, Hifumi. You will fulfill the contract, and you will serve me until your dying day!" Madam Mitsuyo screamed as her body began to shift and grow.
Noir, Mona, and Mage took a step back while Pawn continued to stare at the ground, the shadow of her mother's shadow growing. Finally, Pawn looked up to see a naked woman sitting on a throne created of golden snakes.
The woman also had golden scales going across her bare breasts and between her legs to hide her nipples and vagina.
There were also golden scales on her face that resembled a snake's face, with the fangs of the mask falling over her cheeks. And finally, the woman's hair morphed into golden snakes with glowing red eyes.
"You dared to take away my golden apple," Madam Mitsuyo stated. "Now I give you a new apple to feast upon. And that apple is your destruction, for I am Tōgō Lilith. And I will see you all dead."
[Scene Change: Museum of Vanity (Courtyard)
Theme of Impending Boss Fight: Blood of Villain from Persona 5]
"Meddlesome Vermin," Shadow Madarame hissed as Fox, Joker, Panther, and Lioness stood before him. "Is this what you were looking for?"
He motioned to the shadow guard, who held a painting under their left arm. "Of course, it was a fake," Panther commented. "Just like the paintings in your house of the Sayuri. All fakes."
"Counterfeits are accepted in the world of Japanese Art," Lord Madarame scoffed.
"I just don't understand," Fox said. "How could you have changed like this? Was it because you became famous? There must be an explanation for why my foster father and my hero would turn out to be the way that you are! Don't you care that it pains me to stand across from you like? To question about your crimes?!"
"Please, I did not ask to be your father, nor your hero," Lord Madarame revealed. "The only reason you stand here is because of my ties to your foolish mother."
"You keep bringing my mother up," Fox stated. "Tell me, what is the reason for this?!"
Lord Madarame chuckled and answered, "I admired your mother. She was beautiful, kind, and selfless, and she never lost her passion for art, even when her husband died. Her skills and talents were astonishing to me. It is why I took her in and looked after her. Don't you see, your mother, and the artwork she created, became my artwork and built my dynasty!"
Fox recoiled at this revelation while Lioness and Joker looked stunned at the sheer depravity of the man before them.
"How low can you sink?" Panther asked with disgust.
"You all look and sound so displeased," Lord Madarame taunted. "Ah! I know. How about I grant you all a gift before you die—a glimpse of the genuine 'Sayuri.'"
"Genuine?" Fox whispered.
"Take a nice long glimpse of it boy," Lord Madarame taunted as the guard revealed the true Sayuri. It was a painting of a woman holding a small child. "Look at it. So beautiful and heartfelt. The very thing those critics eat up."
Fox stared at the painting and he could sense the love and adoration within it. It was then he remembered it. It was faint but he remembered a woman looking down at him, with a breathtaking and heartbreak smile.
"Mom?" Fox whispered as he took a step forward.
"What?" Lioness whispered.
"Yes. The Sayuri is a self-portrait, made by a woman who knew her death was coming and painted her last wishes, for the son she would leave behind," Lord Madarame revealed. "You've always asked what the mystery of the expression she was making, Yusuke. Now feast your eyes on the reason for the expression. And that reason was you."
Fox looked down at the ground, unable to comprehend what he was told.
"From the moment I saw it, I knew that it was special. I knew it would be a huge success if I added a touch to the painting and announced it under my name," Lord Madarame revealed with a slimy tone. "I painted over you to stage it, to make people wonder what could make a woman create such an expression. It's what the public and those parasitic critics are drawn to, and I proved it!"
"You are a piece of shit," Joker whispered. "You stole something that intimate?"
"Kamoshida was bad, really bad, but I never, in my wildest dreams, expected someone to actually be worse," Lioness gasped.
"You're an absolute monster," Panther whispered. "You never cared about the art at all, did you? You only cared about the profits it got you. So much so, that you stole something so precious and pure and corrupted it!"
"Ah, and here I thought you all would understand," Lord Madarame sighed. "Yusuke, since I am your father and your hero, that makes you my work of art. And as my work of art, I am going to reap you for the sake of my future."
"You're treating both mother and son like they're objects!" Lioness yelled. "You're inhuman!"
"Fox? Are you alright?" Joker's voice rang out, which prompted Fox to look at him, and then back at the man he once worshipped.
A man that was everything that he wanted to be.
"Tell me something, Madarame…." Fox finally spoke. "I've seen you dispose of those you call "Art" once they outlive their usefulness. I've seen it and defended it as something they did wrong. Tell me….Did that include my mother as well?"
Lioness and Panther gasped, while Joker looked alarmed.
After a moment of silence, Lord Madarame chuckled. "Your mother was a lot of things, Yusuke. Beautiful, kind-hearted, talented….But she was also loyal to her late husband. So much so that no matter what I did, she would never bend to my will. Add to that her painting, I knew I needed to have it. One day, she just so happened to have a seizure in front of me. That's when a thought crossed my mind," Lord Madarame explained.
"If I don't call for help and leave her be, I may lose out on a potential concubine, but I gain her panting without any strings attached," Lord Madarame concluded. "She was physically weak. No one would doubt if she just dropped dead because of a seizure."
After that, Fox saw red. He didn't even realize he had moved until two of the guards were sliced down, and Lord Madarame was in front of him, with his right hand creating a barrier made of golden paint to block Fox's sword.
"You still defy me?!" Lord Madarame exclaimed.
"Every reason for me to forgive you has disappeared without a trace at this very moment!" Fox exclaimed as frost covered the blade of his katana. "This is more than just about art….You killed my mother, you despicable fiend! And I will make you pay for corrupting her memory!"
"If that is how you feel, you good-for-nothing freeloader! Then I will make you submit to the god of the art world! To your supreme being!" Lord Madarame screamed in Fox's face.
The golden paint barrier that held Fox's blade pushed Fox away, sending him skidding back to his group as Lord Madarame's form split apart and shifted into four paintings, with each eye as its own painting, his nose, and his mouth.
"I am Madarame Azazel! And I will use your blood and souls as the paint for my next work of art!"
Miss Violet: The next chapter will end this saga of two heists. Until then, class dismissed!