Click Here for Update 17
: Wait what? How is Maruki a teacher now? That doesn’t even work that way!
: “Thanks to the school, I can even talk to you outside of counseling now. I want to talk a little about how mental health and perception can affect you.”
: “Don’t worry - I don’t want to stress you out or anything. Just relax and listen.”
: “How much do you guys know about the emotional mind? See, what’s going on in your mind can affect your body pretty significantly. There’s proof it can even heal you, depending on your outlook.”
: “So, Kurusu-kun! What do we call the phenomenon where believing in a treatment’s power is enough to improve your condition?”
: “Yup! That’s correct. Some people specify that placebos don’t actually have any curative properties. But even if the medicine does nothing chemically, it can affect your perception and help you feel better.”
: “On the other hand, if you don’t trust the medicine to begin with, it might make you feel even worse.. we call that a nocebo.”
: “That’s just one example, but my point is that our minds and bodies are more connected than we think.”
: “So it’s important not to push yourself too hard. Remember, your mind needs time to rest too. And it’s my job to help with that, so… come by the nurse’s office whenever you’re feeling down.”
: “The mind affects the body, huh…? You think I’ll change back into a human if I just believe in it hard enough?”
: “The train is the fastest way to go - plus, we can bring pets on here.”
: “Hey, who’re you calling a pet!?”
: “Dude, be quiet! We didn’t pay the pet fare.”
: “I’m the one guiding you to your destination! You should be calling me ‘Master’!”
: “Er, shoot…!”
: “Yeah, it’s just a toy. It meows when you press on its head.”
: “You heard her, Akira. Press on its head.”
: “I just threw up in my mouth.”
: “Seriously?”
: “Oh, this is our stop! Well, see you later! Bye bye!”
: “Doesn’t look like there are any stations close by to that address.. if anything, this is the closest station.”
: “What!? Then we gotta walk the rest of the way!? What kinda phantom thief takes the train, and then walks to their destination!?”
: “Stop your complaining.”
: “It’s supposedly a shack, but this is the neighborhood he lives in.. as expected of a famous artist. Looks like the fastest route is to get to the station square and then go to Central Street. Let’s move!”
: “We’re at the right address.. the door plate does say Madarame.”
: “Uhh.. you ring the bell.”
: “Me!? The walls won’t collapse when I do, will they?”
: “No one sneeze or we’ll blow this house down, okay?”
: “Sensei is currently-”
: “Um, it’s Takamaki.”
: “I’ll be right out!”
: “People really do live here..”
: “Hey. Sorry, but uh.. we ain’t here to talk about the modeling thing. There’s something we gotta ask you.”
: “Is it true Madarame’s plagiarizin’ stuff? He’s abusin’ people too, yeah?”
: “Are you serious?”
: “We read about it online.”
: “Preposterous! Not only is the plagiarism impossible, but abuse? He welcomes pupils into his own home! This is no act of violence; it is charity!”
: “And I’m the one residing here and studying under him. I’m saying it’s not true, so it’s beyond doubt.”
: “You might be lyin’ about it!”
: “I had no family when Sensei took me in and raised me into what you see now! If you continue to ridicule the man I owe my life to, you will rue this day!”
: “…You really think that?”
: “Yusuke? What’s the matter? I heard you yelling.”
: “These people are slandering you with baseless rumors!”
: “…Forgive them, Yusuke. They must’ve heard some bad rumors and came in worry for their friend’s safety.”
: “…Understood, Sensei.”
: “Well, even I doubt that a cranky old man like myself could be liked by everyone.”
: “That’s not what we meant..”
: “I’m sorry to have to butt in on your conversation. However, I do have neighbors around. Won’t you please keep it down?”
: “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
: “… That was discourteous of me… I’m sorry.”
: “…I know! I think you’ll be able to believe in Sensei if you saw that painting.”
: “Sayuri…?”
: “This was the painting that inspired me to become an artist.”
: “It’s so beautiful…”
: “I don’t even know all this fine-art stuff, but even I can tell that this is impressive.”
: “When I first saw you, I felt the same powerful emotion as when I saw this painting..”
: “Me?”
: “I wish to pursue beauty like this. And I believe that drawing you will be part of that pursuit. I implore you: seriously consider my offer.”
: “I’m sorry that you took the time to come all this way, but I must assist Sensei today. I hope that we can discuss this further another time. If you’ll excuse me, then.”
: “Maybe the Madarame we heard about in Mementos is a different person.”
: “Man, right when we thought we found a new target, too..”
: “How’s the Meta-Nav?”
: “But why!?”
: “Madarame,” “plagiarism” and then “shack”, huh? These seem to be the keywords."
: For real though, what the hell’s goin’ on!? Does an old man like him really have a Palace!?
: “We have the person’s name and the location. All that’s left is the ‘what’ that Madarame mistakes this shack for to enter his Palace.”
: “You mean like how Kamoshida thought the school was his castle?”
: “That’s right. Let’s try saying some things. They can be random guesses.”
: “It’s a bit sudden, though…”
: “Why don’t we start with ‘castle’?”
: “Then, what about ‘prison’?”
: “Ugh, what a pain! ‘Jail!’ ‘Warehouse!’ And ‘guidance counselin’ office!’ Might as well add ‘farm!’”
: “Not a single hit?”
: “…Should we come back another time?”
: “A building that’s related to artists… if we think from there, what would it be?”
: “Didn’t have much of a choice. I think we just happened to get it right.”
: “What if I hadn’t noticed, and then wandered off and got caught by an enemy!?”
: “Prolly woulda figured it out once you started walkin’ on two legs.”
: “Grrr…”
: “So even you can slip into the Metaverse without realizing it, Morgana?”
: “Yes. In a place with minimal cognitive distortion, the differences can be subtle.”
: "Forget that… look!’
: “Let’s go check it out!”
: “It’s a museum… right?”
: “This is Madarame’s?”
: “Well, a Palace is a world formed by a mind twisted by desire - remember Kamoshida’s castle?”
: “Madarame’s artwork is on display at museums in reality too, though. His exhibit was popular, and people already respect him. Why would he fantasize about a museum?”
: “You got a point.. it ain’t related to plagiarism or abuse, either.”
: “Let’s try looking around. Racking our brains here won’t do us any good.”
: “…Right. That aside, ain’t a museum a must for phantom thieves!?”
: “Yeah. All those old man’s fans were super strong and all.”
: “That has nothing to do with this.”
: “But man, just look at that insane crowd…”
: “Well then, it’s time we begin our infiltration!”
: “Ugh.. are we gonna have to wait in that gigantic line?”
: “Don’t be stupid. We’re not going in the front door.”
: “But there’s a high wall around the building…”
: “We’ll just have to find our way up over it then. In any case, let’s get going!”
: “It’s just not hitting me that this is that old guy’s Palace…”
: “That’s why we’re here, right? C’mon, let’s go check it out.”
: “But it’s a pretty far drop… will we be able to get back out this way?”
: “Hehe, don’t worry.. I have a rope! I’m our tool specialist, after all!”
: “H-hey.. this… it’s.. moving…”
: “C’mon, we’re in a Palace. That ain’t anything to be freakin’ out over.”
: “Hm, the Palace reflects its ruler’s heart.. we may want to check these paintings out.”
: “It’s someone’s name and age? What the hell?”
: “That can’t be the title of the painting.. right? Do you think it’s the artist’s name?”
: “Let’s check the other paintings too. I think there might be something important about them.”
: “But all the portraits on display here look the same… this is way different from what was at the-”
: “Wait a sec!”
: “Dude, I don’t get it. Why’s there a painting of HIM in here!? And more important, why’s his name written under it?”
: “You’re right… doesn’t art usually have like, the title of the piece or the artist’s name?”
: “Hm… this is quite the mystery. All right, let’s keep looking around for now.”
: “It says ‘Yusuke Kitagawa.’ There’s no mistaking it.”
: “Huh? Wait a second.. what do you think these paintings are?”
: “I think you’re right.”
: “For real? All of them? But it was only Yusuke when we went to his place before…”
: “This must include former pupils as well. Only one remains now.. taking into account what that Nakanohara guy said earlier, things are getting clearer.”
: “We’re here to investigate, so we should check everything that catches our attention.”
: “This is gettin’ way too detailed for a freakin’ Palace… why’d he bother makin’ something like this?”
: “Oh, there’s a museum guide on here. Let’s take it with us!”
: “I see.. it says it’s one out of two.”
: “Then the two outta two’s gotta be around here somewhere, right? Just how big is this place?”
: “We can worry about that another time. Right now our objective is confirming Madarame’s cognition. We may have to reconsider our plan depending on what we find.”
: “I mean, he’s got a Palace.. seems pretty sketch to me.”
: “Look at this.”
: “The Infinite Spring?”
: “A conglomerate work of art that the great director Madarame created with his own funds. These individuals must offer their ideas to the director for the rest of their lives. Those who cannot do so have no worth living!”
: “Hey… this is most likely about the plagiarism, right?”
: “Dammit, what a phony geezer!”
: “In other words, his pupils are his property. He doesn’t even qualify as an artist if this is true. He’s stealing the ideas from talented students in exchange for securing their livelihoods.”
: “I wondered about those portraits on display… they must all be his ‘pupils’ through his cognition. This even says they have no worth. Couldn’t this be about the abuse?”
: “Madarame will keep them around as long as they’re useful to him, but the moment they’re not..”
: “He did say that he owes Madarame his life for being taken in…”
: “But still…!”
: “When we were at exhibit, I praised one of the pieces on display. But.. Kitagawa-kun acted strange. Maybe that piece was plagiarized too…”
: “What’s the call? Ain’t this enough to target Madarame!?”
: “Yeah.”
: “Confirm what, though!?”
: “It means we should get solid evidence that such crimes actually took place.”
: “What a pain in the ass…”
: “Besides, there’s too much we don’t know about Madarame yet.”
: “…Mm, you’re right. I’ll try contacting Kitagawa-kun. I might be able to get the truth out of him if I accept his modeling offer.”
: “Wait, you’re gonna do that!?”
: “You all better come with me, okay? I’m scared to go alone..”
: “Famous, renowned artist, huh? This might be tougher than Kamoshida. Well, we’ll just prep ourselves until we get confirmation from Yusuke.”
: “This is our first mission as real phantom thieves. We’re gonna succeed no matter what!”
: “I just can’t forgive Madarame, but.. what Ann said made me think.. to Yusuke, are we just a buncha thugs?”
: “I knew it… it ain’t like he thinks it is! Pisses me off just thinkin’ about it!”
: “Good people have to put up with so much crap while.. while shitty adults get to do whatever they want!”
: “Makes me sick, I-I’m not wrong, am I?”
: “Aww yeah! Don’t tell Ann I called you, by the way. Seriously. Well, see you tomorrow.”