Ann couldn't explain why, but she felt uneasy. Not scared, especially since Ren and Ryuji were watching her back, but she was sure there was something off about Kitagawa-san. From the way he followed her at the train station to the way his enthusiasm died when he opened the door, she couldn't quite ditch the feeling that he wanted her alone.

She really hoped that it was just because Madarame was using him. In a way, she was worried he would be like Shiho, under too much pressure and ready to break. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to live in the same house as the person using you.

But that still didn't stop her from feeling that something was off. Ryuji had been right that he'd been willing to change plans for her to come over, but she hadn't told either of them that he'd texted back almost immediately. Maybe he hadn't had plans, and maybe he hadn't been busy when she texted him, but he was very eager for her to be here.

Or he had been before he spotted Ren and Ryuji.

They walked through Madarame's home in silence. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Ryuji looking at the painting, but Kitagawa-san hadn't said a word since he asked them to follow him. And the only thing he'd said before that was when he asked why she'd brought friends.

He opened the door to a small room and motioned them inside, closing it behind them with a click that sent the hair on the back of her neck on end. Ren and Ryuji shuffled, not quite sure about their plan as they'd seemed before, and took the seats that Kitagawa-san pointed at before taking a seat at his easel.

"So," Ann forced herself to smile, "what sort of pose did you have in mind?"

"I–" Kitagawa hesitated, "I had thought we could have done something classically occidental."

"Huh?" Ryuji asked for all four of them.

Kitagawa frowned, "Takamaki-san, you are such a natural beauty that I wished to capture your true essence on the canvas, much like a goddess."

"That–wow." Ann felt her cheeks flush. She'd been called pretty before, but she'd never been called a goddess. "I should have a really fancy kimono for that, shouldn't I? Not just my school clothes."

Kitagawa shook his head, "Quite the opposite."

Ren glanced between her and Kitagawa, "You don't mean…"

Kitagawa sighed, "It would be most appropriate if you were to disrobe."

"Disrobe?!" Ann felt the blood draining from her face even as she shook her head, "You want me to take my clothes off?!"

Kitagawa hesitated, perhaps at the anxiety in her voice, "Well, it is very traditional–"

"Nonononono!" Ann backed up towards the door, "I am not going to pose nude!"

"Y-yeah!" Ryuji stammered despite his face going beet red, he stood up alongside Ren and they quickly moved between her and Kitagawa. "And you were you just going to spring that on her?"

"It's nothing unusual for an artist." Kitagawa offered, hands up to calm them down, "It's just that her clothing will get in the way of her natural beauty."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Ryuji snapped, "Ann isn't going to want to get naked in front of some guy–"

"R-right!" She piped up.

"And you wanted her to be alone for this?" Ryuji continued, voice growing heated.

Kitagawa flinched, "Stop making such odd assumptions. I have absolutely no interest in her as someone of the opposite sex. I asked her here purely so I could paint her."

"With what? Your spunk?"

Ann slammed her eyes shut, but her imagination just made it worse. She quickly turned, grabbing at the door, "Nope! Nope! I can't! I'm leaving!"

"W-wait, please!" Kitagawa pleaded, but she was already through the door.

"I can't believe he wanted to draw me naked." Ann leaned against a wall, holding her legs. Even in her wildest dreams had she thought it wouldn't go that bad.

"I can," Ryuji admitted, cheeks going flush. "Doesn't mean he should ask you to do it."

"You would," Morgana accused him.

"Man, shut up." Ryuji snapped back, "You think she's attractive too."

"Obviously, but Lady Ann deserves more respect." He cast his head up smugly, "I happen to appreciate her without thinking about her removing her clothes."

"This really isn't making me feel any better," Ann said, trying to head off the ensuing argument. She was relieved that they both backed down for her sake. Still, she was bothered. Didn't anyone value her for more than just her body? "What do you think, Ren?" Their leader seemed deep in thought, his cell phone in his hand. "... Ren?" She pressed, and he looked up.

"I was looking through 'Madarame's artwork. There are a number of pictures of women without clothing." A frown crossed his face and he sighed, "I hate to admit it, but Kitagawa may have been telling the truth."

"For real?"

Ann sat up straight, "You can't be serious!"

Joker held his hands up and then offered his cell phone, "They apparently sell for a lot of money."

She took it and started scrolling, her stomach dropping as she passed over a number of images in different styles. Ryuji made his way over, looking over her shoulder before she turned it away. "You shouldn't be looking at these pictures!"

"Pervert." Morgana sniped.

Ryuji retreated, scratching the back of his head, "Sorry, jeeze…"

"Just trust that Ren was telling the truth." Ann shook her head and quickly passed the phone back to Ren. "Do you think Madarame asked him to make a nude painting?"

Ren shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe."

Ann shivered at the thought, and accepted Mona onto her lap, petting him. It was nice, even if she knew he didn't actually like being treated like a cat. Still, it helped to calm her down. And then the obvious hit her, "How are we going to try and find a way past the barrier now?"

Ryuji groaned, "We still need to get back into his house to look around." Ren bit his lip rather than agree out loud.

"You could try to put me into an open window." Mona offered, but even he seemed skeptical.

"He's going to want to paint you naked if we go back," Ren murmured, unable to meet her eye.

Ann cringed, "There has to be another way, right?" She looked between Ren and Ryuji, but they were both silent.

"It'd only be until we find what we need?" Ren offered, weakly sugarcoating it.

Ryuji just blushed, "Uh, we'd um… knock, ya know, give you privacy?"

"But I don't want to pose naked!" Ann shouted. She looked at them desperately, but neither of them said anything. She was really going to have to do this, wasn't she? Even thinking about stripping down in front of Kitagawa made her cringe. And then she'd have to stay naked for who knows how long! It wasn't like a photo shoot, he wouldn't be framing her up and pressing a button. Painting took time, minutes at least, maybe even hours! And she'd have to be naked the whole time!

"You should probably call him." Ren finally murmured after the silence grew uncomfortable, "You can say you got cold feet, but you'll come back."

Ann's stomach sank. Yes, this was their best lead, and yes, posing for a painting would be their best bet to get a look around, but they didn't seem to get how it made her feel.

She stood up straighter.

Maybe she could?

Ann turned away to hide her smile as she pulled out her cell phone.

"Ah, you're back." Kitagawa's smile faltered, just a little, "And you brought your friends back as well."

"Yup!" She chirped, all smiles, "They're kind of a package deal."

Kitagawa nodded, "I see…"

She could tell he didn't, but he didn't complain. "Well then, we should head inside and you can get ready."

"About that–" She put on her very best smile as he began to frown, "I will pose naked for you." His smile returned, and she activated her trap card, pointing over her shoulder, "But only if you paint them naked first."

Author's Note: So, this story has been brewing in the back of my head since I first played Persona 5. I already have plans and poses for Ren and Ryuji, but how they get there should be entertaining. I haven't played Royal, so I honestly don't know if that would change anything.