Part 30: 5/16-5/18: Blackmail!
Part 29: 5/16-5/18: Blackmail!Music: Beneath the Mask
I just cant forgive Madarame, but what Ann said made me think To Yusuke, are we just a bunch of thugs?
I knew it It aint like he thinks it is! Pisses me off just thinkin about it! Good people have to put up with so much crap while shitty adults do whatever they want. Makes me sick. Im not wrong am I?
Aww yeah! Dont tell Ann I called you, by the way. Seriously. Well, see you tomorrow.
Ryuji seems pumped. Good to know.
Music: So Boring
Still waiting for his response.
Can you at least try to take this seriously?
Look, you dont gotta go all out for this. Youre only doing it so you can get dirt on Madarame, remember?
That is true. It sounds like Kitagawa-kun wants this to be a private picture of his though Well, I guess Ill let you guys know when he contacts me again.
Music: Wicked Plan
Perfect. He prolly changed his plans immediately just so he could get you over there.
We need to find out from Kitagawa-kun if what we saw in the Palace was true...
Hey, quiet down. Its that student council president.
Yikes She got hold of Mishima today? Itd suck if she noticed us. Cmon, lets split up.
OK, see you later.
Cmon, lets get some dirt on Madarame. But man Anns late.
I was thinking about some things and didnt notice how much time had passed.
Thinkin about what ?
Dont you think Kitagawa-kun has to be protecting Madarame? I mean they live together, so hed have to be aware of Madarames true nature. The only reason I can think for him doing that is that Madarame has something on him
Or maybe hes in on it!
Yeah, thats weird. But thats why were goin to check it out, right? You ready to be a model?
Yeah, Im prepared.
Whaddya mean prepared? Prepared for what? Something seem different about her to you?
Ooh, nice eye!
I didnt cut them.
H-Huh. Well lets get goin.
And so this mystery will go forever unsolved.
We gotta talk to Yusuke.
Kitagawa-kun seemed really happy when I agreed to be his model. Once he finishes drawing and gets a little friendlier, we should bring up Madarame.
Music: My Homie
Its amusing that Yusuke keeps getting upset that were showing up, but he should really be realizing by now that Ann is a Power-type Stand that cant exist more than a few meters outside of our presence, and that joke was absolutely not worth the laborious effort it took to make even for the few of you who got it.
Wouldnt you get nervous too, if it was just the two of us?
Were here to keep an eye on you, so dont try anything perverted, kay?
Stop making such odd assumptions. I have absolutely no interest in her as someone of the opposite sex.
Is there a problem?
...No, not really.
Well then, lets get started.
About ten seconds later...
Kitagawa-kun?
...
You hear her?
...
Its no use.
This isnt what we planned! We were gonna catch him off guard and make him spill his beans, werent we?
How were we supposed to know this was gonna happen ? Guess we just gotta wait til hes done What an effin pain in the ass...
Perhaps I should try going outside this room...
Heh, who do you think youre talking to?
Its weird how flashy that door is And is that a lock? A door with a hefty lock What could be in there?
Its no good
...What?
Im sorry Am I the problem?
No, not at all. Its just Im having trouble staying focused today. Im sorry, but well have to resume this another time...
Im sorry We had another reason for seeing you today We needed to talk to you.
Music: Disquiet
Its about those rumors regarding your sensei.
That painting I saw at the exhibit Youre the one who actually painted it, right?
Thats
I knew it.
Your senseis seriously messed up. He just thinks of his pupils as tools. Thats why he doesnt give a damn whether he steals their work or physically beats them. Ill make this clear, theres no point in hidin stuff from us.
Hahaha I have no idea what youre talking about...
You couldnt go against him, could you? Im sure we can help you out though
Stop it...
Maakus got the !? going on too, but we cant see it due to the vignetting.
Dont misunderstand me though. I offered my ideas to him myself. As such, it cant be called plagiarism. Sensei is simply suffering from artists block right now.
Dude, still !
Kitagawa-kun...
Then whyre you stickin around!? All his other pupils ran away! Arent you the only one left!?
There are no victims here! Stop pushing your self-centered righteousness on me!
! Im supporting Sensei as his pupil. Wheres the wrong in that?
Then you leave me with no choice...
Im reporting you to the police.
I asked Takamaki-san to be my model today, but I dont recall ever calling you two here!
What the eff, man!?
Ryuji! Stop it! Calm down, OK
Dammit !
I wont report you but only under one condition.
Whats that?
I want you to continue being my model, Takamaki-san.
But you said that it wasnt working out today...
Thats because I was unconsciously being modest for your sake However, I have nothing to worry about anymore. If youre willing to bare everything to me...
Uh-oh! Seems like the Phantom Thieves have gotten themselves into yet another wacky situation!
Music: My Homie
Of course, you two wont be allowed in, and I ask that you forget about our discussion today, as well. If I dont submit a new piece to Sensei soon, there will be some inconveniences.
Because those are my terms.
Sweet blackmail, bro.
But thats--
Wait, aint that bad!?
(to himself) Sensei is out during the afternoon while the art exhibit is on, so I can use this place freely I should buy more art supplies...
Will you give me a second here!?
Of course, Im willing to wait. Ill make time according to your plans. But, please come before the exhibit ends.
No! Thats not what I mean! Why are you not listening !
Sensei will be returning home soon. Were done for today. Takamaki-san. Ill be waiting for you to contact me.
No no no! We are not done talking here!
Hey What should we do?
Maaku is getting a headache from this shit.
Yeah Dammit. He got us good this time.
Dont give up so easily!
So, to recap: currently, a teenage girl who has been previously sexually harrased, trying to protest against a situation that also makes her uncomfortable sexually, is being completely ignored by the (otherwise sympathetic) character putting her in this situation, as well as her friends. This scene is kind of a clusterfuck of weird, bad decisions. But uh, hey, comedy!
You moron!
Ryuji bends down to pick Morgana up.
Mraow!?
Music: Wicked Plan
How dare that Yusuke !
The way he said it, its not gonna be semi, but full-on nude...
F-Fu-- F-F-Full nudity ? Lady Anns gonna
Drop it!
You know, you wont have to worry about that if we make Madarame confess before the exhibit ends.
But Kitagawa-kun thinks he owes his life to him. Is there a need to make Madarame confess?
Then, Lady Ann youre fine with baring it all!?
Madarames no different from Kamoshida. That assholes usin Yusuke, who doesnt have parents. Youre tellin me we should just ignore how hes bein treated horribly like the other pupils?
No It is frustrating to leave this along, even if Kitagawa-kun is fine with it himself...
You cant leave it be because youve endured a lot yourself, with Kamoshida.
...Yeah.
Anyways, we gotta go after this guy. Madarames the kind of target weve been waiting for. Lets help Yusuke come to his senses too before he ends up like us.
...Right.
We need to look into Madarame first.
There might be tons more stuff that hasnt been exposed yet, too.
It may become easier for us to investigate his Palace if hes preoccupied with his exhibit.
Also, theres the thing about me modeling! Kitagawa-kun said thered be inconveniences unless he submits a new piece. Maybe thats going to be announced soon as Madarames next work...
We must deal with Madarame, no matter what, before his exhibit ends!
Lets start after school tomorrow. Itll be a pain if Miss President finds us on the rooftop again, so where to meet up Lets see I guess that walkway-like place in Shibuya would work. Its near Madarames place, too.
Changing our hideout periodically, huh? Thats a plan I dont mind backing.
And just like that, our hideout has changed.
...Huh?
From the looks of things, you dont seem like the ordinary, stalking fans.
Uh
Music: Suspicion
Oh, sorry. I shouldve been more clear. Im actually looking for people that know Madarames pupils. Theres this painting, Sayuri, that was supposedly stolen in the past. But theres this rumor that it was taken by one of his pupils in retaliation for being abused. Have you heard anything about that?
I dont know nothing!
I see Theres no case unless theres a victim, and if theres no proof of abuse I cant write either. Looks like Im back to square one. Sorry for taking your time.
Hey random high school student, got any hot scoops???
See you then.
The woman leaves.
...I guess we should go home for today.
Music: Beneath the Mask
Two calls in 24 hours? Geez, Maakus Mr. Popular. I just want to know what kind of sociopath still uses a phone to call people.
Oh, of course.
I have some interesting news. Someone who received a change of heart contacted me on the Phan-Site. Said he wants to meet with you to discuss another person who needs a change of heart.
Youre better off talking to him in person if you want specifics. All I know is his target is a terrible person. And that it might complicate things if he posted the name online. Ill have him wait for you at Shibuya Station after school.
Um, Mishima, why are you referring people to meet us in person? Youre new to this whole discretion thing, huh?
The guys name is Nakanohara.
Nakanohara Thats Madarames student.
Nakanohara! It seems like this can only be about one thing...
I told him to approach you. Good luck.
That journalist was looking into Madarame too. It could be real.
Someone died though. No ones talking about it I bet it was covered up.
I wonder if Kitagawa-kun has heard anything Itd be great if he could come help us out.
Aint that asking a bit much? After today, hes prolly gonna be on edge about us. Well anyway, Madarames still a piece of crap! Lets meet up tomorrow. Itll be our first time at the new hideout.
Its that passageway in Shibuya, right? Got it. See you guys tomorrow.
If the rumor Ryuji just spoke of is true, there have to be other victims...
This scandal has rocked the sports worldeveryone ever involved with him is being pressed for answers. The volleyball association is currently considering banning him permanently, and...
Drummed out of the volleyball association, eh? Well, he deserves it.
Music: Tokyo Daylight
Speaking of Shibuya, didnt Mishima say Nakanohara would be there, now, too?
Music: Suspicion
Were about to head to the hideout too. Whos that ?
Thats Nakanohara. Mishima told us to meet him here in Shibuya today.
For real ?
...My name is Nakanohara. Natsuhiko Nakanohara, the one who was posted about on the Phantom Aficionado Website.
He seems pretty nice. Doesnt seem like the stalker type. I think the change of heart must have worked.
The administrator of that website contacted me They told me to look for someone in a Shujin uniform with a cat...
So? Whaddya want?
You may have already heard, but theres someone I wish to trigger a change of heart in. ...An artist by the name of Madarame.
Music: Disquiet
Ooh, you think this is it? Is the pupil gonna confess his masters secrets?
His Shadow did mention Madarame as well...
Im one of Madarames former pupils. He gave me lodging at his home, where I thought only about art. I genuinely wanted to be an artist There was another pupil as well. A very talented man, multiple years my senior. Obviously, Madarame kept tabs on him. Everything he made was claimed as a Madarame original. He wasnt the only victim though
All right, we got some real proof of the plagiarism.
In response to Madarames actions that senior pupil committed suicide.
He must have been unable to bear seeing his work praised under Madarames name. That was when I disobeyed Madarames pleas and left. ...But he quickly pressured other parts of the art world, and my life as a painter was destroyed. I tried to turn over a new leaf working at a ward office but it was no use. My attachment to art warped my emotions. Soon I began getting attached to everything In the end, I even turned into a stalker Ha Haha
Nice supervillain origin story you got there.
...Id like to ask again. Please, make Madarame have a change of heart. Not only for me. Its to save the life of another man as well.
Even now, there is still one young man remaining under Madarames tutelage. I think hes about your age.
That has to be Yusuke.
Not only is he a talented artist, he also owes Madarame for taking him in after his mother passed He is the perfect target.
I actually spoke to him a few times back when I was still living at Madarames. I asked him if he found it painful to stay with Madarame and do you know what he said? If I could leave, I would...
Kitagawa-kun...
I have no right to say this given my prior cowardice, but I dont want to see another suicide ! Id like to find a way to save this young man. He has a bright future ahead of him Please consider that when thinking about changing Madarames heart.
Nakanohara leaves. I guess he just knows were the fucking Phantom Thieves now.
It sounds like we dont have the time to deliberate whether or not to change Madarames heart.
Yeah, lets save the dude whos blackmailing us!
Hell yeah! Madarames just a piece of shit who preys on the weak!
Plus, we finally got to hear how Kitagawa-kun really feels!
Well, since weve reached a unanimous decision, how about we continue this at our new hideout?
Music: Tokyo Emergency
We all saw that Palace. Well pay dearly if we assume its just going to be like the last one. And furthermore Lady Anns chastity is on the line!
You know, I came into this update not thinking much of this weird plotline except that it was really silly and dumb and not that great, but these jokes are actually pushing me over the edge and now all I can think about is the word regrettable.
Well need to do what we did with Kamoshida. First, we secure an infiltration route in the Palace. After that, we send our calling card. Once the Treasure has materialized, we steal it.
Oooh, I got a question! Madarame doesnt know that we were doin stuff in the Palace yet. Why are we already gettin treated like criminals in there?
Youre learning, Ryuji. Well done. It must be because he doesnt trust anyone. Any unknown person may as well be an enemy.
Or maybe hes just super salty from all those rumors that have been spreading about him
Im super salty that I just heard the words super salty in this motherfucking video game.
Then his Palace bein so crazy had nothing to do with us ?
Either way, we should stay on our best behavior. Itll be harder for us to steal the Treasure if we needlessly increase the security level.
We need to be careful of Kitagawa-kun this time too. Im sure that whatever he sees will just get passed on to Madarame.
Thats right!
Hey, what is Madarames Treasure going to look like anyway? Another crown?
Id doubt that. But my sixth sense will know when I see it.
Oh yeah, you go completely nuts, huh.
Our time limit is when the exhibit ends, right? That means June 5th.
Well carry out the plan after weve sent out the calling card. So, our infiltration route will need to be set in stone two days prior, on June 2nd.
Now listen here. We cant mess this up, NO MATTER WHAT! OK!?
Time to get to work.