kitagawa "nudes plz" yusuke (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
artisticliberty) wrote2018-09-16 12:19 pm
artisticliberty) wrote2018-09-16 12:19 pm
[imeeji - registry]
1. Confidant Link Rank 5
2. Operation Tie-Him-Up
3. Unforeseen Boy
4. Sayuri
5. Confidant Link Rank 2 and 3
6. Gallery Exhibition
7. Living with Madarame (cw child abuse and neglect, suicide/suicidal ideation)
8. Confidant Link Rank 4
9. Ann Models
10. Persona Awakening
11. Researching Medjed
12. The Cleaner
13. Prepawsterous
14. Shadow Madarame Boss Fight
2. Operation Tie-Him-Up
3. Unforeseen Boy
4. Sayuri
5. Confidant Link Rank 2 and 3
6. Gallery Exhibition
7. Living with Madarame (cw child abuse and neglect, suicide/suicidal ideation)
8. Confidant Link Rank 4
9. Ann Models
10. Persona Awakening
11. Researching Medjed
12. The Cleaner
13. Prepawsterous
14. Shadow Madarame Boss Fight
1. CONFIDANT LINK RANK 5
Summary: the scene opens in a church, with Yusuke and Akira (Boss) standing near the front of the aisle. Yusuke explains that they're going to focus on a particular theme in order to inspire him to paint. Today's theme is anguish, as represented by the crucifixion of Christ. He asks Akira to be his model.
Akira: Do you want me to strip?
Yusuke: ... Yes, that must be it! That is what I need!
Yusuke: Only a subject naked as the day they were born can convey the true anguish of birth!
Yusuke: Now then... strip!
Yusuke: Take it all--
[pause]
Yusuke: Actually, perhaps not. Being found stark-naked in a church would be even bigger news than the Phantom Thieves.
Akira stands before the altar and poses lamely, but Yusuke doesn't feel inspired. He orders Akira to raise his hands higher, and poses dramatically (and painfully) with him. As he begins to understand the true meaning of anguish, they are interrupted by the priest, who asks them what in the world they're doing. Yusuke responds matter-of-factly: they're here to study art, and he's using the crucifixion as a point of reference to depict the concept of anguish. The priest explains that while it's true that Christ's crucifixion is a symbol of suffering, it's also a symbol of resurrection and forgiveness. Taken aback by this, Yusuke seems puzzled over the idea that hope can spring from pain. The priest also gently tells them to contain themselves so they don't trouble the congregation.
Yusuke realizes he has more to learn, and asks Akira if he thinks he'll ever truly get there. Akira expresses doubt, but Yusuke just chuckles and says that only motivates him more. He thanks Akira for his support, and wishes to repay his kindness.
THEN AKIRA GETS A RANK UP
and they pose weirdly again before saying goodbye. yusuke is pleased.
2. OPERATION TIE-HIM-UP
Summary: the scene opens in a brightly-lit casino. Yusuke and a group of other people, all of whom are in bizarre-looking costumes, are scouring the area looking for someone. Everyone is using codenames--Panther, Skull, Queen, Oracle, Mona (who is some kind of cat creature thing), Noir--and everyone does, in fact, call him 'Fox'. One of the group members is absent, an individual known as 'Joker', but nothing more is said about his absence.
In the casino, there are a bunch of shadow-type monsters that the group tries to evade, for the most part. They are not the most subtle, but they manage okay--a few times they have to fight the monsters using their Persona magic, though Fox's part in battle is blacked out in this memory.
Oracle, a girl who seems to be the group's non-combatant navigator, eventually tells them that she senses something up ahead. What she senses is... a normal-looking pleasant boy, whom everyone recognizes as Goro Akechi. (A on AlcheME!) He greets the group, totally normal and friendly, but no one quite seems to know how to respond to him.
Then Queen walks right up to him and clocks him right in the nose with her brass knuckles.
After that, it's chaos. The group collectively pins him to the ground while he's bleeding, someone yells something about rope, they end up using Panther's whip as a makeshift rope, and Fox and Skull hoist him over their shoulders to carry him away.
Eventually they find a broom closet in one of the backrooms with extra rope, and they shut him in and lock the door.
Everyone feels relieved, albeit only marginally so. They still have to wait for Joker, whatever that means.
3. UNFORESEEN BOY
Summary: Yusuke is riding on the Tokyo subway, when he sees a girl with blonde pigtails. He decides to follow her, unbeknownst to the fact that she has interpreted his behavior as stalking, which is totally fair, come on. Be less creepy, Yusuke. As he emerges from the escalator and goes to approach her, he's abruptly stopped by the two boys she was with--another blond with a punk-like demeanor (Ryuji), and Akira/Boss. Yusuke is taken aback by their open hostility.
Yusuke: Is there something you want...?
Ann: That's my line! You were the one stalking me!
Yusuke: Stalking you...? That's outrageous.
Ann: I know you've been following me! Ever since the train!
Yusuke: That's because...
At that point, they are interrupted by a car pulling up. The window rolls down, and sitting in the backseat is an older gentleman with long hair tied back, wearing a traditional kimono. He addresses Yusuke.
Madarame: My goodness... I had wondered why you left the car.
Madarame: So this is where your passion led.
Madarame: All is well that ends well... hahahaha!
Yusuke explains that he saw Ann from the car and got out to follow her, not really helping ease anyone's mind about the whole stalking thing. Passionately, he entreats her:
Yusuke: You're the woman I've been searching for all this time! Please, won't you--
Ann: W-wait a minute, I--
Yusuke: --be the model for my next art piece!?
Everyone: ???
Ann: ... Model?
Yusuke: All that I've drawn till now has been lacking, but I feel a passion from you unlike anyone else.
Yusuke continues to plead, but they're not quite buying it. They demand to know who he is, first. He introduces himself as Kitagawa Yusuke, a second-year at Kosei High's fine-arts division. He explains that he is a pupil of Madarame, the man in the car, whom he also lives with and studies under in order to become an artist. Ann recognizes the name Madarame as a famous public figure who appeared on TV, and explains to her companions that he's a Japanese-style artist with world recognition. Then she says something about 'Mementos'? That doesn't have any meaning to Yusuke...
Madarame calls Yusuke back to the car. As a parting gift, Yusuke says that there will be an exhibit at the gallery near the station tomorrow, and he invites Ann to come by and see it, and he hopes to hear an answer from her in regards to her modeling for him then. He also gives tickets to Akira/Boss and Ryuji, though he's very derisive about it.
He gets into the car and it drives off.
4. SAYURI
There's an older man in each of these memories, the same one from this memory. Yusuke always refers to him as 'Sensei'. There are art supplies all over the house, canvases, books on art, etc. Strangely, Yusuke almost never sees him using them. He says they're for his pupils, and Yusuke excitedly tells him that he wants to be his pupil when he grows up. The older man chuckles and tells him that he's sure he will.
So Yusuke spends time playing with paint supplies and sometimes makes a mess, because he is a small child, but he has fun. He learns the difference between paint types, how to care for paintbrushes, how to sharpen pencils by hand, and so on. He excitedly shows his Sensei everything he does, including some pretty adorable fingerpaintings, and occasionally his Sensei pats him on the head and tells him he did well.
It's just the two of them living in that run-down shack, but Yusuke seems happy. One day, he's looking through a book about art, and he sees a picture that captivates him. It's a portrait of a Japanese woman, a strangely serene smile on her face as she casts her gaze downward. The name of the portrait is 'Sayuri', and the description calls it one of the more successful works of art in the contemporary art world. He reads on, and discovers that the original has unfortunately been lost, though many people have discussed the mystery and reason behind the woman's smile. When Yusuke reads the name of the artist--'Ichiryusai Madarame'--he scrambles with the book to another room to show the picture to his Sensei.
Yusuke asks him if it's true, if he's the one who painted 'Sayuri'. His Sensei says yes, and Yusuke gets excited. He tells his Sensei that it's beautiful, and that he wants to paint just like him one day.
The memory ends there.
5. CONFIDANT LINK RANK 2 AND 3
Summary: Yusuke has finished painting what he hopes to be his magnum opus, an abstract piece he calls "Desire". Akira says it's, uh, novel! And Yusuke explains that he has submitted it to an upcoming gallery exhibition, feeling that it is a unique take on the human heart, and he hopes that it will revitalize his art slump. He describes the piece as a "raw, unbridled look into the depths of the human psyche", and he's really excited to show it. He hopes Akira will accompany him on the day of the exhibition. He thanks Akira for his assistance in helping him bring the painting to life.
At the gallery, Yusuke proudly displays his work, and he is excitedly glancing around to watch peoples' reactions to his painting. However, no one really seems to be taking a closer look at it... Yusuke wonders if they are afraid of facing the truth of human desire depicted in his art. A middle-aged man and woman approach, and their comments are harsh:
MIDDLE-AGED LADY: What is this supposed to be...? There's a dark, almost sinister aura emanating from it.
MIDDLE-AGED MAN: Hm, the title is... "Desire"? I see no desire here.
MIDDLE-AGED MAN: Ah, I understand now. This area is for students. The artist likely decided to paint this on a whim.
MIDDLE-AGED LADY: Indeed. There is neither elegance nor emotion in this piece.
They leave, and Yusuke is hurt, but he tries to shake it off. He dismisses their comments as unrefined drivel. An older gentlemen approaches, and Yusuke feels a little more hopeful, assessing this man as more of an art aficionado.
YUSUKE: I would like your opinion, sir... what are your thoughts on this piece?
OLDER GENTLEMAN: I can see quite clearly why it was accepted into the exhibition. The technique is excellent.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: However... the composition as a whole is mediocre at best.
Yusuke steps towards him, enraged, his hand clenched into a fist.
YUSUKE: How dare you...!
OLDER GENTLEMAN: Ah, are you the artist?
OLDER GENTLEMAN: The title is listed as "Desire"... but that idea is quite overused. Some may even call it stale. If you want to paint an abstract work with such an old theme, you must inject some individuality into it.
YUSUKE: What...?
OLDER GENTLEMAN: Take another look. Try to remove yourself from the artist's bias. These brush strokes are splendid given your age... but does this painting really tell you anything? It is empty, devoid of meaning. I suggest you take a more critical eye to your work in the future if you truly want to progress as an artist.
The older gentleman walks away. Yusuke is stunned. His work is "empty"? Akira tries to console him, and a part of Yusuke is relieved he has someone there to support him, but the man's words ring in Yusuke's ears. He worked so hard on this painting! He put his heart and soul into it! And yet... it's empty? The more he looks at the painting, the more it feels true: there's nothing in it. It's empty. There's no meaning in any of it. He hasn't captured the truth of human desire at all. Despairing, Yusuke dramatically collapses to his knees in front of the painting, lamenting his anguish.
YUSUKE: It is as though I have been forsaken by the gods of art! This grave mistake shall be the end for me...!
AKIRA: Stand up.
YUSUKE: But, I...! What is going to happen to me now...? Without art, what will remain of my being...!?
AKIRA: This isn't like you.
YUSUKE: Akira...
YUSUKE: You are correct. Surrendering myself to fate after only one failure would be very much unlike me.
He gets back up. Hearing the way people have talked about his work hurts, but now he feels determined to prove them wrong--especially that older gentleman. He must break out of his art slump and prove his ability. He has to keep painting, and properly learn how to capture "the essence of emotion". Akira gives him some supporting words, and Yusuke says something about "skill cards" and how he'll continue to offer them--something that's a bit of a mystery at this point.
They leave the gallery, Yusuke feeling shaken but still motivated.
6. GALLERY EXHIBITION
This memory takes place shortly after this one.
Joker/Akira, Ryuji, and Ann come to Madarame's gallery exhibition after Yusuke gave them tickets to the viewing. Yusuke meets them, and he's delighted that Ann decided to come--less so that Akira and Ryuji did. He's pretty disdainful of the two of them, but he's more than happy to show Ann around.
Madarame is giving an interview nearby, but Yusuke for some reason tries to steer Ann away from it. Still, they overhear him extolling the virtues of living an austere lifestyle and emptying one's mind in order to pursue true beauty in art.
Yusuke and Ann take a look at the gallery. Ann remarks that she didn't know there were so many different types of Japanese art, and Yusuke explains that Madarame's talent is that he can focus on so many different types. Madarame comes by to greet them, and Ann says the art is all really amazing. Madarame says something in regards to the painting he hopes to have Ann model for: "I hope this becomes a wonderful piece, Yusuke," before heading off. Something deeply painful pangs in Yusuke's chest, but he forcefully tries to ignore it. Anyone viewing this memory won't be able to pick up on that. However...
Ann then notices another painting, and says she really wanted to see it in person. Yusuke is surprised and hesitant to even approach it.
Ann: I guess it's the painter's anger? I'm not sure, but I sense this... strong frustration from it. To think such a cheerful and gentlemanly person could make such a piece...
Yusuke: ..........
Ann: Something wrong?
Yusuke: Don't mind me. There are better pieces than... this one. Come now, this way!
Ann: H-Hey...!
Yusuke walks off, deeply uncomfortable and trying hard not to show it. Anyone viewing this memory can pick up that he's uncomfortable, but only Yusuke will know the reason why: it's his painting, one he painted in a fit of frustration and anger, as Ann correctly identified--but it's being displayed under Madarame's name.
Later, before Ann leaves, they exchange contact info--and Ann tentatively agrees to consider being Yusuke's model for his painting.
7. LIVING WITH MADARAME (cw child abuse and neglect, suicide/suicidal ideation)
- Yusuke spends many nights by himself in the shack at a very young age when he shouldn't have been left alone, because Madarame was out. He goes hungry more than once, and when Madarame comes home, smelling strongly of sake, Yusuke tells him he's hungry, and Madarame scoffs and tells him to make something for himself.
- Yusuke, at age 6 or 7, learns how to make his own meals whenever Madarame is out... which is often.
- People come to live at the atelier with him and Madarame, but they never stay for very long. Madarame treats them--and often by extension, Yusuke--as his personal servants, and living conditions deteriorate.
- Yusuke, at age 8 or 9, learns how to prepare all meals at the atelier. He learns quickly that portion size is important; Madarame gets the largest amount, as well as the best cuts, and he and the other pupils share meager rations by comparison.
- Yusuke hears angry murmurs amongst the other pupils about Madarame stealing their art work for his own, and profiting off of it.
- Diligently, Yusuke studies art, but more often than not he does it by himself or with the other pupils. Madarame almost never actually teaches them anything.
- Yusuke spends multiple nights in winter freezing in his bed, and wills himself to endure the cold. He tells himself, shivering and stuttering, that "all true artists suffer for their art".
- Once, Yusuke confronts Madarame about the strange men who have been coming and going at the atelier, about the large sums of money he's seen them exchanging with Madarame. He demands that Madarame tell him who these men are, and what is he doing with all of that money. Madarame gets angry, angrier than Yusuke has ever seen him before, and he backhands Yusuke across the face. Madarame viciously tells Yusuke that without him, he'd be nothing--not an artist, not the pupil of a great artist, just some poor orphan the world doesn't care about. He says that Yusuke owes everything to Madarame, that he's an ungrateful child, and that he should throw him out into the street. Yusuke is so shaken and hurt that he ends up begging Madarame for forgiveness.
- Later, Madarame mentions that he's experiencing "artist's block", which strikes Yusuke as odd since he's never actually seen Madarame paint. Madarame implies in their conversation that without art to produce, he won't be able to support Yusuke anymore. Yusuke panics, and offers Madarame one of his recent paintings to use instead, even though he feels horrible about it. Madarame tells him he's doing the right thing, but Yusuke still cries in his room about it later.
- Yusuke spends many nights staring at the book from this memory just so he can gaze at the photograph of Sayuri, feeling nostalgic yet conflicted.
- Sometime when Yusuke is in junior high school, another student confronts him about certain rumors about his Sensei--rumors that Madarame steals the art work of his pupils and profits off of their talent. Yusuke feels panic and rage bubble up inside him, and loudly denies everything. "You don't know anything about Sensei!" he yells.
- Another one of Madarame's pupils, Nakanohara, tells Yusuke that he has to get out of the atelier and leave Madarame for good--for his own sake. Yusuke just shakes his head and tells him, "if I could leave, I would".
- Sometime in high school, Yusuke is in the kitchen preparing meals. He gets a text message from Nakanohara about a pupil they had both known--a girl about Yusuke's age, who had a passion for art that rivaled his own. She, like others, had been used by Madarame and lost their desire to create, and left. The text message informs Yusuke that she killed herself. Shocked, Yusuke stares at his phone like he can't believe what he's reading. As he's staring at his phone, Madarame comes by and chastises him for slacking off. Yusuke stumbles over an apology, and looks at the cutting board with the vegetables he had been chopping. He stares at the knife for a long while, until he realizes he's holding it... and angrily throws it into the sink instead.
8. CONFIDANT LINK RANK 4
Summary: Akira (Joker/Boss) and Yusuke are in a rowboat in the lake at Inokashira park. Akira is manning the oars, while Yusuke sketches. They are once again focusing on a particular theme in order to get back his inspiration. Today's theme is... love! Because it's a popular spot for couples, Yusuke is observing them in the rowboats. He waxes poetic for a while about how fleeting love is, yet full of hope and passion and endurance etc. etc. There's a man and a woman in a nearby rowboat that Yusuke is admiring, comparing them to Adam and Eve, and how palpable the romance between them is. Yusuke's really into this imagined scenario and how good a painting it will make. He even grows cross when the man and woman move out of his precise angle, demanding that they stay still so he can capture their profiles, which naturally bewilders the heck out of them.
Yusuke: Rejoice, for I shall preserve your beautiful love so that all coming generations may bask in its glory. Once I complete this painting, you will become new legends in the art world... A modern Adam and Eve!
Young woman: L-Legends? Art...?
Young man: This dude's off his rocker... come on, let's report him.
Young man: !
Young man: Hold on a sec... Are you drawing us!?
Young woman: What!? You're using us as models!?
Yusuke: A man and woman intimately swaying in a dinghy of dreams... The blush of their cheeks, the bashful looks... Yes, this is the love I was so emphatically searching for!
The man and woman then awkwardly explain that, yeah, it might be love? But it's familial love. They're siblings. Yusuke is flummoxed; was the overflowing passion he saw just something he imagined? He realizes that his own bias created a vision he wanted to see, and ignored the reality of the situation. Akira tells him, "Love comes in all forms", and Yusuke understands that he must open his eyes to understand how multi-faceted something like love can be. Despite the awkwardness, Yusuke feels like he hit a breakthrough thanks to Akira.
The young man and woman then glance at Yusuke and Akira, and begin to suspect that perhaps they're a couple--after all, there are people from all walks of life living in Tokyo. Their comments go over Yusuke's head, but Akira sweats a little.
They head home afterwards.
9. ANN MODELS
Summary: Ann contacts Yusuke and agrees to model for him. He's surprised and overjoyed--he was certain she wouldn't, after their last interaction. He's even a little suspicious at first, but she does actually show up at the atelier. Yusuke hurriedly prepares his room, as Madarame is set to return in about 20-30 minutes, but there's just one thing... well. Apparently, the modeling in question is nude, and Ann is just casually wearing like 800 layers of clothing.
Yusuke: By the way... have you gained some weight?
Ann: You think so? I weigh the same as always... maybe I'm bloated today?
This is so very obviously a ploy to avoid having to model naked that it is, indeed, comical. But Yusuke is too preoccupied to really notice, and things are about to get so much worse. Ann asks Yusuke to turn around while she takes off her clothes, and he does so; as she tosses various clothing on the floor, Yusuke starts to feel like he's getting in over his head. Ann asks him, totally innocuously, if there's somewhere else besides this room that they can do this in. Yusuke has no idea what she's talking about, and there really isn't anywhere else suitable? Ann starts to PUT ON THE CHARM and it is absolutely terrible flirt-acting and Yusuke is falling for it completely while also not understanding any of her subtle hints. God, these two. Ann suggests they move to a room with a lock--but the only room with one is Madarame's room, and he doesn't have the key anyway. He turns around and sees a massive pile of clothes on the floor, and is just flummoxed.
Yusuke: You were wearing all this?
Ann: D-don't you think it's cold today? [Side note: it's 5/21]
Yusuke: I suppose so? The sun is starting to set...
Ann: Riiight? That's why a change of location would be nice... I mean, I'm gonna take it alllllll off.
Yusuke: True... it might make for a better picture if I can brighten my model's mood...
Ann: Uh-huh! That's right!
Yusuke: She may even be willing to try out various expressive poses for use in a dynamic composition...
Ann: Wh-what kind of poses!?
(Morgana, whom Yusuke does not notice: Lady Ann! You have to act! Get back in character!)
Ann: Let's gooo... I was just starting to get in the mood.
Yusuke: Wait! If you wander around, Sensei will...
Ann is heedless and starts heading out down the hall, tossing clothing behind her as she does. Yusuke is panicking, and begs her to stop and come back. She finds Sensei's storage room, and suggests modeling in there instead, but of course it's always locked. (Yusuke just doesn't happen to notice the cat picking the lock) Ann dials the bad flirt-acting up to 11 and tells Yusuke she'd rather be alone with him~ Somewhere nobody can find them~ You know, some place quiet where they won't be interrupted~~~~ wink wink nudge nudge. Yusuke is so perplexed and has no idea how to respond. This was not at all how he imagined his afternoon going. Ann asks Yusuke if he doesn't like girls like her :( :( why won't my feelings get through to you kitagawa-kun :( Morgana is in the background judging them both.
Then, all hell breaks loose: Madarame opens the front door and announces he's home, and Morgana opens the door to the storage room. As Madarame rounds the corner and sees Yusuke standing in front of the open storage room (that's he's always been forbidden from entering), Yusuke panics and tries to explain, but Ann grabs him and drags him into the room before he can finish.
Inside the storage room, Ann turns on the lights to reveal... dozens and dozens of "Sayuri" copies. Yusuke is dumbstruck. Madarame angrily tells them to get out. Yusuke is confused--the original "Sayuri" was supposed to be lost years ago, so why are there copies in the storage room? Madarame spins a tale about how he's in severe debt and has had to make copies to sell on the black market, and has been in an artist's block ever since the original "Sayuri" was stolen, so his pupils have had to lend their ideas to him from time to time. He even implies that he needed the money from selling replicas in order to pay for Yusuke's livelihood; Yusuke feels something painful in his chest from hearing that. Madarame is very convincing at playing the poor, old artist who has suffered greatly from having his magnum opus stolen... but Ann isn't buying it.
Ann: Hold on... something doesn't add up. If the original painting got stolen, how did you make copies of it?
Madarame: I... happened to find a finely detailed photograph of it in an artbook.
Ann: So you managed to sell copies of a photo of the original? I'm not sure how this works, but... don't people who buy paintings generally have a keen eye for the fine arts?
Ann: This sounds like a lie to me.
Madarame: What would you know!?
Ann: Something just doesn't feel right!
There's a painting mounted on an easel covered in cloth, and Ann pulls the cloth off. There it is: the real, original "Sayuri". Yusuke can't believe his eyes. The painting that he loved so much, that inspired him to pursue art in the first place, the one that he believes to have been stolen by Madarame's ungrateful pupils... and it's right there. Madarame tries to pass it off as another replica, but Yusuke fights back this time.
Yusuke: This painting kept me going... it's the reason I made it this far...
Yusuke: Sensei... don't tell me...
Madarame: It's fake... yes, a counterfeit! I heard there was a counterfeit spreading around, so I bought it!
Ann: So you're telling me the actual artist behind the painting bought a counterfeit? That's pushing it.
Yusuke: You're lying, Sensei... Please just tell us the truth...
Madarame: You too...?
Madarame takes out his phone and informs them he's just called his security company. They'll be there within minutes, and yes, he intends to arrest Yusuke along with Ann. Suddenly, a cat jumps out and runs out the door, Ann quickly following. Yusuke yells after her, running after them, but as soon as he does so... the world goes strangely black, and he's falling.
10. PERSONA AWAKENING
Summary: This memory picks up immediately after the previous one. Yusuke and Ann are falling through darkness, until suddenly they land. Yusuke lands on his feet with Ann in his arms, and then Morgana lands on his head. Ow. Ann shoves Yusuke away hard and he collapses, briefly stunned. As he opens his eyes, he sees his surroundings: a strangely fantastical-looking courtyard of what looks like an art museum... but everything looks wrong, somehow, as if in a dream. He sees Joker, Skull, Panther, and Mona standing around him--all in their Phantom Thief gear, so it takes a second for him to recognize them. They explain that they're "inside Madarame's heart" and that the true self he's been hiding is that of a vain, greedy hoarder of money and wealth. Yusuke's hackles immediately rise (how dare they speak about Sensei that way, when they don't even know a shred of the truth--) but Panther (Ann) is quick to pacify him. Yusuke takes a closer look at his surroundings... the place is so gaudy, so twisted, that it immediately repulses him. But his denial is strong: even when Skull (Ryuji) tells him to snap out of it, Yusuke insists that he's grateful for Sensei looking after him after all these years.
Yusuke then DRAMATICALLY COLLAPSES to the floor because his EMOTIONS ARE OVERWHELMING HIM. Unfortunately, they have to leave as soon as possible (side note: Yusuke can hear Morgana speak now) and so the group quickly moves back through the museum. As they run, Yusuke witnesses numerous paintings, and the vanity coming off of everything is palpable. He's disheartened, especially as he sees paintings of people he knew. He stops when he sees a painting of one of Madarame's former pupils, the girl who ended up committing suicide. Morgana explains that the paintings here aren't actually paintings; they're representations of that person in Madarame's heart. Yusuke feels totally disheartened; Madarame only saw them as objects, as means to an end, and so that's the form they took inside his heart. There's a painting of Yusuke around, too.
They're almost to the exit when they're stopped by Shadow Madarame and some shadow guards. Shadow Madarame is even gaudier than the museum: he's dressed like a Kabuki-esque shogun, entirely decked out in gold. It's tacky beyond belief. Shadow Madarame explains that his usual "humble starving artist" routine is a facade. Flabbergasted, Yusuke demands to know the truth behind the "Sayuri" copies. Shadow Madarame, lacking not a shred of humility, laughs in his face and explains that he made up the whole story about it being stolen, and makes copies to sell to high-end art snobs for money. He sees art as a tool to gain money and fame, and looks down on Yusuke for his "childish" ideals. Yusuke collapses again, shaken to his core.
Yusuke: But what about the people who believe in you...? Who think you're a master artist...!?
Shadow Madarame: ... I'll tell you this alone, Yusuke. If you wish to succeed in this world, I'd advise you don't rise against me. Do you believe anyone could find success with my objection holding them down? Hahahahahahaha!
Yusuke: To think I was under the care of this wretched man...!
Shadow Madarame: You thought I took you in out of the goodness in my heart? Plucking talented, yet troubled artists allows me to find promising pupils and take their ideas... after all, it's much easier to steal the futures of children who can't fight back.
Yusuke: I can't believe this...
Shadow Madarame: Livestock are killed for their hide and meat! This is no different, you fool!
Something in Yusuke snaps. Rising to his feet, he declares he won't forgive Madarame. The shadow guards attack, but Yusuke is too angry to feel fear anymore. [I highly recommend watching the awakening sequence in the video, it's 8:05 to 11:05] A voice inside his head speaks, asking him if he's ready to face the truth, if he's ready to declare vengeance, ready to condemn the part of him that wants to run and hide. It's excruciatingly painful even to listen to, and Yusuke clutches his head in agony. He wants to scream, and ends up on all fours, shaking, clawing at the carpet until his fingers bleed--but his resolve is clear, and the voice inside him heeds it. A kitsune mask forms over his face, and he tears it off, blood spraying from his forehead, and summons his Persona, Goemon.
Fueled by the fury of vengeance, Yusuke declares the shadows surrounding the group pitiful imitations, and with a surge of power, Goemon finishes them with a wave of ice. Shadow Madarame is clearly shaken by this turn of events, and summons more shadows to fight them. Yusuke swears that he will bring Madarame to justice, in the name of Madarame's pupils, those who saw him as their father, and everyone who ever believed in him. The other Phantom Thieves join him, and they fight as a group, quickly finishing off every last shadow guard in the room. Shadow Madarame sneers at Yusuke and says he'll destroy any chance Yusuke has of becoming a true artist before fleeing. Yusuke is still running high on adrenaline, but the battle zapped his strength, and he collapses again before he can pursue. Furious, he tries to keep moving despite his aching limbs, but the Phantom Thieves coax him to take it easy and retreat for now.
Back at the museum entrance, Yusuke confesses to the group that he's known all along what kind of man Madarame truly was; known about the plagiarism, the extortion, the money-grubbing schemes. He just never wanted to admit it about the man he owed his life to. Yusuke explains about his past, about how his mother died when he was three and that's when Madarame (who had supposedly helped his mother when she was alive) took him in and raised him as his child. He apologies to the others for how he acted towards them. The Phantom Thieves are understanding, and explain to him that while they can't change the past, they can change Madarame's heart. Before they can discuss further, more shadows show up and they have to leave. Yusuke FINALLY notices that his clothing has spontaneously changed.
Back in the real world, they regroup at a diner and explain to Yusuke about Kamoshida's change of heart, and how stealing hearts works. Yusuke officially joins as a member of the Phantom Thieves.
11. RESEARCHING MEDJED
12. THE CLEANER
Summary: While inside Shido's palace, the Phantom Thieves have discovered that they need letters of introduction from cognitive Shadows in order to gain access to the treasure. One individual in particular has been giving them some trouble--a shady, scary-looking guy known only as "The Cleaner". After all the other letters have been obtained, the PTs end up crawling through an exhaust duct to try and find the engine room looking for him. Once inside, he sets his guards on them, leading to a Shadow battle. Frustrated at the elusiveness of their target, finally the PTs manage to corner him in a control room. However, confronting this "Cleaner" turns out to be a little more complicated than they anticipated. The guy scoffs at them and pulls off his shirt (?!), revealing--you guessed it--some pretty intimidating-looking tattoos.
Cleaner: What clan are you from?
Ryuji: ... clan? Does he mean like, yakuza clan?
Futaba: Wait, does he "clean up" problems by making people disappear?
Ann: Crap...! Is he really yakuza?
Yusuke: It seems that bastard Shido has close ties to the underground...
Makoto: How are we supposed to get the letter of introduction from him? Do we have to prove our worth?
Cleaner: Hey! I'm a busy man. I gotta deal with cleanin' up problems and all them mental shutdowns, after all. If you got business with me, just spit it out already.
The PTs are clearly intimidated, which is hilarious considering they all have superpowers. Asking straight-out doesn't work, but then Ann/Panther gets a brilliant idea.
Ann: Ummm... actually, we're here to suggest a tattoo design for you.
Cleaner: A tattoo?
Ann: (gesturing to Yusuke) Th-This guy is great at drawing... h-he's an artist!
Yusuke: What is the meaning of this!? I have no intention of designing a simple tattoo!
Ann: I thought you'd be able to do it, Yusuke...
Cleaner: What're you squabblin' about?
Everyone: !!
Ryuji: Yusuke, draw something! Art's art, ain't it!?
Yusuke: ....................
Yusuke: ... very well. May I at least decide what I draw?
Cleaner: Uh uh. I won't accept anything 'cept a godly phoenix fitting for my godly personality.
Yusuke: A phoenix... I'd rather something else...
Cleaner: Makin' excuses now, mister "artist"? You're all talk. People like you are a dime a dozen.
Yusuke: I am not all talk. I can draw anything you want. Bring me a brush and a piece of paper.
Yusuke starts working on his design, which doesn't look remotely like a typical yakuza tattoo, but does look pretty cool. The PTs have their doubts.
Yusuke: ... it's finished.
Ryuji: Dude, this is totally not gonna work for a tattoo...
Ann: ... is it a monster? It has some kinda crazy aura...
Haru: A truly... explosive piece...
Yusuke: This is my perception of a phoenix.
Morgana: There's no way this is gonna work...
Cleaner: I ain't seen nothing like this before! I like it!
Everyone: !?
Yusuke: Thank you.
Makoto: It seems like... it went well...?
Yusuke: Well then, I request a letter of introduction.
Cleaner: On one condition, kid. I want you to be my personal tattoo artist.
Morgana: He wants to recruit you!?
Yusuke: I decline.
Cleaner: No letter for you then.
Yusuke: I must decide my own path as an artist. I will not receive aid from others any longer. Now if you understand, hand over the letter. Otherwise we'll just have to take it by force. By the way, you're more feral pigeon than phoenix.
Cleaner: You cocky-ass bastard! I'm gonna destroy you! I'll rip you open and tear out your insides!
Ryuji: We're still gonna fight after all that!?
They fight a rough battle, and the PTs emerge triumphant. Afterwards, the Cleaner laughs at the group's toughness, commends them, and hands over the letter of introduction. He then tells them it's time to high-tail it out of there, as he can tell that the "captain" and the ship (in this case, Shido and his heart) are going down. The PTs are surprised that a cognition would let them go, knowing they plan to steal Shido's heart. Haru supposes that the real Cleaner and Shido must not be very close--a powerful politician like him must only be linked to the yakuza monetarily, so it would be easy to cut ties.
Finally, they have all five letters needed to enter the assembly hall where Shido's treasure awaits. Makoto reminds the group that this will be a highly important step: once they send their calling card, their enemies will know without a doubt that Joker is still alive. The stakes are high, and if they fail, everything will be lost. For Joker, it's even more of a personal matter. They briefly discuss how to send the calling card, and come to the conclusion that it must be flashy and spectacular and very, very public--otherwise Shido won't take notice of them.
As they head back out of the control room, the memory ends.
13. PREPAWSTEROUS
Summary: While infiltrating Shido's palace, the PTs accidentally enter a room where they suddenly are all turned into tiny mice.
Ryuji: Wait, what the shit!? We're... mice!?
Yusuke: This is prepawsterous! ... or something like that.
Futaba: Ugh, go to hell, Inari. Can you just come back here?
Futaba explains to the group that this palace has a unique affect: anytime they're in a room with these gaudy golden statues of Shido, they turn into mice. This is probably because that's how Shido sees them--as nothing more than vermin. As long as they're outside of the affected area, they're fine, but if they're in mouse form and they run into an enemy, they're in trouble.
The group moves through the maze of rooms inside the ship, finding hidden passages through the vents, running from enemies, and enduring Yusuke's mouse puns. He can't help himself. I can't find the clip but I know he says something ridiculous like "my ad-mice would be to pro-squeak cautiously" and everyone hates it, it's so good.
14. SHADOW MADARAME BOSS FIGHT
Summary: The Phantom Thieves are in Madarame's Palace and have secured his treasure, which they believe to be the original 'Sayuri' painting. They've escaped into the courtyard when Morgana proclaims he can't take it anymore and wants to have a look. However, it turns out to be a fake, which stuns the thieves. Yusuke notices a trap forming around them, and alerts the team. They quickly jump back, as Shadow Madarame and his guards approach. One of the guards holds the real treasure. It's time for a showdown.
Yusuke demands to know why Madarame has become so vain and obsessed with fortune and fame. He hates that he has to live with the knowledge that his foster father is such a terrible person. Madarame scoffs and says the only reason he took Yusuke in was due to his ties with Yusuke's mother--that her passion for art never faltered once, and that's why Madarame stuck around her. Every painting she ever made, he stole and passed off as his own. As a gift to the party before they die, Madarame allows them a glimpse of the 'real' Sayuri, which the guard holds up. When Yusuke sees it, his heart sinks. The obscured lower part of the painting is revealed: the woman is holding a baby. Everything falls into place. The woman is Yusuke's mother's self-portrait, and the baby is him. This is an EARTH-SHATTERING realization for Fox.
Shadow Madarame: A woman who knew her death was coming painted her last wishes, for the son she would leave behind. That is the truth behind the mystery of "Sayuri"'s expression!
Ryuji: You stole something THAT personal...!?
Shadow Madarame: I knew at first glance. I knew it'd be a huge success, if I added a touch to the painting and announced it under my name!
Yusuke: But the baby in the picture... why did you paint over it?
Shadow Madarame: ... it was all to stage it. If the babe is erased, the reason for the woman's expression will become a mystery...! That is what the general public is drawn to! Each of those parasitic critics wrote the same thing!
Ann: I always felt something was off about all this... now I know what it is. If you really treasured that painting, you wouldn't even think about replicating it for profit! You don't love art at all!
The Thieves are rightfully disgusted, and so is Yusuke, but a thought has occurred to him.
Fox: I've heard that you destroy your "art" once they outlive their usefulness... did that include my mother as well?
Phantom Thieves: !!!!!!!
Shadow Madarame: She just so happened to have a seizure in front of me. That's when a thought crossed my mind... If I don't call for help and leave her be, I could obtain her painting without any strings attached.
Ann: No... you let her die!?
Shadow Madarame: She was physically weak. No one would doubt if she just dropped dead because of a seizure. Above all, Yusuke, didn't you think it was odd--that I discovered your talent when you were only three? The reason why I kept you around was to keep you from realizing the truth behind 'Sayuri'.
Yusuke: You killed her...!
Shadow Madarame: The artistic talents you inherited from your mother were a delightful miscalculation, though. If I'm to steal ideas, it's much easier robbing the future of brats who won't talk back than adults. It's thanks to you that I came up with that idea. You have my gratitude.
Yusuke begins to laugh in that creepy way of his. With a snarl, he "thanks" Madarame and declares that every reason he ever had to forgive him has disappeared--and the only path forward is vengeance. He calls him a despicable fiend who wears the skin of an artist, and that's when Madarame finally gets angry. He transforms into an inhuman-looking creature made up of picture frames, and the boss fight begins.
(Boss fight is from 19:09 to 32:36)
Once defeated, Shadow Madarame clutches the 'Sayuri' painting and trembles in fear as Yusuke calmly approaches him. He stammers excuses, like how the art world only revolves around money, and the public doesn't care for true art, only easily recognizable brands, and he would never have survived if he didn't live up to those standards. He pleads for Yusuke to have mercy, playing upon Yusuke's intimate knowledge of how miserable it is being a poor artist. Yusuke's having none of it. He grabs Madarame by his coat and looms over him, telling him that he has no right to speak of art any longer. He begs for his life, and Yusuke shoves him to the ground. He tells Madarame to return to reality and confess all of his crimes, demanding he swear to do so.
Madarame mentions something odd, however--that there was another person with a black mask. The Phantom Thieves are rightfully confused; was there someone else in the Palace besides them? They don't have time to think about it, however, as the Palace begins to collapse. Morgana transforms into a car so they can get out quickly. As Yusuke retrieves the true 'Sayuri' painting, Madarame asks him what he should do now. Yusuke simply says he should put an end to his schemes and use his own art for once. He begs Yusuke, but Yusuke has no more need to listen to him, and walks away.
Back in reality, the 'Sayuri' painting has come with them: it was Madarame's treasure, after all. The team regroups at the Underground Walkway in Shibuya. The mission has been a success, but they still have to wait and see if there was a change of heart in the real Madarame. Yusuke is sort of transfixed by the painting, unable to really look away from it.
Yusuke: To think that this painting was the source of Madarame's distorted desires. The only saving grace is that my mother won't know of what transpired...
Morgana: The genuine painting at his atelier has been altered, after all... ironic as it may be, this one here is her true self-portrait now.
Ann: ... it's a wonderful painting. And... although it took some time, it's in your hands now, Yusuke.
Yusuke: ... I'm thankful for it. However, it's impossible for this painting to be acknowledged by society anymore...
Akira: Was 'Sayuri' your mother's name?
Yusuke: No. I doubt it's the name of any woman in particular. I bet it was to make it more mysterious--just a part of Madarame's foolish staging.
Morgana: Well, it would've been obvious that he plagiarized it if he had used the real name.
Yusuke: So this is my mother... there's no way that I would remember her face clearly... but I was right about the rush of emotion I felt when I saw this painting.
The memory ends here.