(A/N: I'm gonna skip exams cuz nothing really happens during those days.)

MAY 14TH (SATURDAY 5/14)(EARLY MORNING)

Akira and I made to the platform for the train, finding Ryuji there, sulking in a way that looked a bit pathetic.

"*yawn* So sleepy... I ended up pullin' an all-nighter once I realized today's the last day of exams.", Ryuji grumbled.

"You? Staying up studying?", Morgana sounded surprised, poking out of Akira's bag to eye Ryuji.

"Nah, I gave up on the exam. I was playin' some games, then before I knew it, it was morning.", Ryuji shrugged.

"I know that feeling, heh...", Akira chuckled. I rolled my eyes at them.

"Bull. You say that, but you prolly just spent the whole night studyin'.", Ryuji mumbled with a pout.

"You guys are wasting your time. You should focus on you studies to avoid bad attention on yourselves.", I sighed. A few seconds later, Ann came along, yawning as well.

"*yawn* Morning...", Ann greeted with sleepy eyes.

"Yo, look who else is yawnin'.", Ryuji snickered.

"Exams are almost over, so I thought I'd make one last effort across the finish line.", Ann explained.

"Impressive, Lady Ann. You're quite different from this stupid monkey I know.", Morgana praised.

"Huh? Don't gimme that crap. Your brain's tiny compared to mine.", Ryuji growled.

"Size is meaningless if there's nothing inside, you know.", Morgana clapped back.

"You need ice for that, Ryuji?", I asked.

"What was that!?", Ryuji yelled at Morgana.

"Ugh, will you please shut up!? You're gonna make me forget everything I memo-", Ann went quiet when she saw something catch her eye, looking a little disturbed. "......!? Am I imagining things...?"

"What's wrong?", Akira asked.

"What, you see a groper or something?", Ryuji followed up on the question.

"No, that's not it. It's... nothing.", Ann sighed.

Sounds like something to me.

Keep an eye out.

We went on the train, and I noticed Ann's eyes darting every other way, sometimes lingering on someone I couldn't make out. All I could see was a tuft of blue hair.

Blue hair...

Once we made it to our stop, we got on the escalator to get back outside. Ann turned and gasped, looking directly at the blue haired person.

"Oh my God, that guy got off! Isn't this bad...?", Ann whispered to us. Ryuji yawned in a nonchalant manner. "Hey! At least act like you care!"

"Fine... Come on.", Ryuji went in front of us. We all followed behind. His plan was to have Ann stand in plain sight to see if someone approaches her, while the rest of us hide. We waited for a bit, until a boy with blue hair came out of the station. He stopped for a moment, then walked towards Ann slowly, reaching his hand out to her. Akira, Ryuji and I stood in front of Ann protectively, now able to see the boy clearly.

The boy had dark blue hair with parted bangs slightly covering his left eye and gray eyes. He was noticeably taller and thinner than most. The closest thing I can describe him as was a "pretty boy." He wore a white gakuran-style shirt embroidered with a fleur-de-lis, fitted black pants and black loafers. A silver ring, that held multiple keys, was attached to his belt loop. We all eyed him a little, as he didn't seem threatening, but looks were deceiving.

"Hey, uh... are you sure it's him? Or are you just that self-conscious.", Ryuji asked.

"Rgh, I'm not that—", Ann yelled, but was cut off by the boy.

"Is there something you want?", the boy asked.

"We were going to ask you the same thing.", I raised a brow at the guy.

"Yeah, that's my line! You were the one stalking me!", Ann confronted the guy while pointing at him. The boy looked at her finger for a second, then at her.

"Stalking you...? That's outrageous.", the boy mumbled while brushing his out of the way of his eyes.

"I know you've been following me! since the train!", Ann retorted.

"That's because...", the boy stopped when a car parked next to us. The tinted black windows rolled down to show an elderly man with long grey hair tied in a ponytail and had short facial hair. He wore traditional Japanese clothes as well.

"My goodness... I had wondered why you left the car. So this is where your passion led. All is well that ends well.", the old man began to laugh lightheartedly.

"I saw you from the car... and I couldn't help myself from chasing after you. I didn't even notice the calls from Sensei... But thank goodness, I caught up to you.", the boy sighed in relief, addressing Ann.

"OK...", Ann whispered, glancing at us for any context.

"What?", Ryuji raised a brow at the guy, but he didn't let up his dramatic monologue towards Ann.

"You're the woman I've been searching for all this time! Please, won't you-", the boy began. I looked between the both of them.

Well, this is getting dramatic.

"W-Wait a minute, I—", Ann tried to cut the boy off, but he didn't stop.

"--Be the model for my next art piece!?", the boy finished, looking very determined.

That was anticlimactic.

"... Model!?", Ann muttered, a little thrown off.

"All that I've drawn till now has been lacking, but I feel a passion from you unlike anyone else.", the boy explained.

"This man's highly suspicious!", Morgana chimed in. I discretely swatted Morgana back inside Akira's bag to avoid attention.

"Ain't this a recruit for some shady business?", Ryuji mumbled.

"I honestly don't know with this guy, but I think not.", I shrugged.

"Will you cooperate with me? What do you say?", the boy continued, a bit too eager.

"Hold your horses! Who're you anyways?", Ryuji interjected, a little pissed at the guy.

"Oh, where are my manners? I'm a second-year at Kosei High's fine arts division. My name is Yusuke Kitagawa.", the boy, now knows as Yusuke, shoved Ryuji aside to address Ann. " I'm Madarame-sensei's pupil, and I am being allowed residence at his place. I'm striving to become an artist."

"Huh!? Do you mean THAT Madarame? The one who was on "Good Morning Japan" the other day?", Ann gasped. (A/N: I don't know why I find Good Morning Japan as a news program funny; it just makes me chuckle every time I read it. Anyways, back to scheduled cringe fest.)

"The very same.", Yusuke confirmed.

"You know who that is?", Ryuji asked.

"He was introduced as a super-famous Japanese- style artist who's been recognized all over the world.", Ann began.

Sounds like a really cheesy line, but if he has talent, who am I to judge?

"But we heard that name the other day in Mementos...", Ann continued quietly.

She's right, but Madarame could be anyone in Japan... We need more info before we get too into it.

"Yusuke!", the old man, who I assumed was Madarame, called from his car.

"I'm sorry, Sensei. I'll be right there!", Yusuke answered, confirming my assumption.

"That old guy's Madarame...?", Ryuji mumbled.

"Yeah...", I stared at the old man, who seemed busy in his own thoughts.

World-famous artist, huh...?

"Madarame-sensei's exhibition will begin at the department store near the station tomorrow. I'll be there to help out on opening day. Please come by. It'd be great if you could give me your answer in regard to being a model then...", Yusuke gave Ann three tickets. " I bet you have no interest in the fine arts, but I'll give you tickets too.", Yusuke then looked me dead in the eye. "Civilians under the age of 16 are not allowed, so I am sorry to say you cannot join your friends."

Did... Did this guy just assume I'm a kid because I'm shorter than everyone!?

Now now, calm yourself.

Oh hell no!

Before I could pounce on the son of a gun, Akira sensed my impending anger and held me by the shoulders and smiled.

"Actually, she's my older sister. She's just petite naturally."

"Ah, I apologize. Here you are then...", Yusuke handed me a ticket, which I bitterly yanked from his hand and huffed. "Well then, I hope to see you there tomorrow!", Yusuke got in the black car and drove off. I was still pretty pissed; I was about to kill someone who looked at me for 0.5 milliseconds. Akira kept his hold on me because he practically could tell I was about to explode.

"That guy's as easy to read as a book... You're not plannin' on goin', are you?", Ryuji asked Ann.

"... I think I will.", Ann revealed, surprising the guys.

I figured she would go. She wants to confirm if this is the same Madarame from Mementos.

"Crap! Look at the time! I'll see you later.", Ann ran off towards the school.

"How dare he go after Lady Ann... I've memorized that face of yours, Yusuke!", Morgana growled.

I have too. He's gonna get his a*s whooped for insulting me like that.

It's not that serious...

Shut it, Ezio. This is personal.

??? ???TH (??? ?/?) (???) (INTERROGATION ROOM)

"You became acquainted with Madarame's pupil by chance? That's a little too convenient. It makes me wonder if you're even telling the truth. But so be it. What I want to know most is your method. It's true that Madarame was an unforgivable criminal worthy of the scorn thrown at him. He was an adult who cultivated his own fame and fortune by sacrificing the livelihood of children... But how did you discover such horrible deeds that were hidden all these years in such a short time?", Niijima-san asked. Akira and I stayed quiet, since our answer wasn't gonna change from what we have said before. "Fine. Let's suppose that people's hearts can be changed by stealing their Treasure, like you've said. If so, a different suspicion arises. People have gone mad or lost consciousness, never to recover... like the subway accident in April. Depending on how you look at it, that could be taken as a phenomenon for a sudden change of heart too... Were you related to these as well?", Niijima-san continued.

"Changing hearts is different than someone going braindead.", I stated.

"...... I see. Tch... Fine. Continue telling me about Madarame's case. Keep it concise and only of the truth.", Niijima-san sighed.