The Treasure Room.

(A reader said it was a bit confusing when it changed from Ren's team to Makoto's, so I'll put the codename of whoever is leading the group)

— — —

[Queen]

With the guardian of the will seed defeated, the group advanced, hearts pounding with anticipation. Before them lay the final seed, radiating a captivating emerald glow.

After receiving Makoto's approving nod, Yusuke cautiously approached and touched the seed. Instantly, the surroundings transformed dramatically, bursting into vibrant colors adorned with gold and silver highlights, as if crafted by a master painter.

As they witnessed this vivid world, they saw an interview with Madarame about his newest work, the Sayuri. As the praise mounted, so did his ego. His initial guilt was gradually replaced by a growing sense of vanity and pride.

'I am a true artist,' Madarame's thoughts resounded in the air, 'I sculpt pupils who will continue to eclipse my own skills. That is my true art.'

The scenes continued to unfold, showing Madarame's rise in popularity and wealth, enough to even purchase his own museum. With each accolade, his ego swelled, he believed since he had taught his pupils, their artworks were extensions of his own genius.

Everything shifted when Madarame encountered Yusuke's latest creation, a piece rivaling the Sayuri itself.

He had vowed to Sayuri to care for her son in exchange for her life and her artwork, thus he had never pressed Yusuke to surrender his paintings. Yet, after seeing him take the paintings of other students, Yusuke had offered some of his own, grateful for the guidance.

However, before this masterpiece, Madarame resolved to claim it as a final tribute from the student he viewed almost as a son. 

But Yusuke resisted…

"I taught you everything! You are nothing without my teachings! I raised you! I…" Madarame's voice boomed, his fury escalating as the confrontation dragged on.

As the argument intensified, Yusuke's resolve wavered. With a heavy heart and eyes cast downward in defeat, he finally relinquished his painting.

The new announcement was met with widespread acclaim. Praise poured in from all corners, hailing him as the greatest painter alive. Riding this wave of praise, Madarame decided to buy a gift for Yusuke, a gesture meant as an apology.

However, as he entered the house, a chilling silence greeted him.

The art room, where Yusuke had devoted countless hours, was in ruins. The paintings that Yusuke had cherished were shredded, their remnants strewn about. Paint splattered the walls in a chaotic display, and brushes lay snapped in two.

As the vibrant colors of the memory began to dim, Madarame's voice broke the silence, soft yet tinged with disbelief. 

"Yusuke…" He whispered, but there was no response.

Stepping further into the room, he picked up the first piece Yusuke had ever completed. A tumult of anger and loss overwhelmed him, and in a fit of mixed emotions, he flung the painting aside, the small gift he had bought falling to the floor beside it. 

Just as the memory threatened to reveal more, the scene abruptly halted, and the world snapped back to its original state, the golden walls enclosing the team once again.

— — —

[Joker] 

Despite Ren being embraced by the shadows as one of their own, his companions weren't afforded the same courtesy.

Navigating through the bustling market, cloaked to conceal their outfits, the team noticed the shadows stop and stare, their gaze intense and unsettling. Unlike with Ren, their presence brewed immediate hostility, with the shadows readying themselves to attack.

Ren, summoning his charm to its fullest extent, stepped forward to divert their attention.

"I apologize, but these individuals have been cursed by the gods," he announced, his voice carrying across the crowded space. "Gaze upon them, and you shall turn to stone. They challenged the divine and now seek redemption at the temple by offering gifts," he explained, drawing all eyes to himself and stirring whispers among the crowd.

Shiho, shrouded in her cloak, felt a surge of anxiety as she watched Ren draw all the attention to himself. The thought of him resorting to drastic measures, such as using the scalpel again, after witnessing the toll it had taken on him previously filled her with dread.

"Do you need assistance? It would be a true tragedy for our lover to perish. You could learn a thing or two from him. Would you like to learn how a puppeteer maneuvers her strings?" Circe's voice, eerie yet enticing, resonated in Shiho's mind.

While some shadows nodded, seemingly convinced by Ren's tale, others remained skeptical, their suspicion evident. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and it seemed only moments away from chaos as some shadows began to lose control, their monstrous true forms nearly breaking through.

As the situation neared a breaking point, Shiho stepped forward to join Ren, her hand seeking his in a supportive gesture.

"It's true…"

Her voice, unexpectedly robust and resonant, caught Ren off guard. Though Shiho had grown significantly more confident since awakening her persona, this newfound assertiveness was strikingly different.

"I was young and foolish; my father was a god, so I thought myself equal to them. I was mistaken. And for that reason, both me and my family paid the price. Please, allow us to seek forgiveness for our mistakes."

Then, surprising the crowd, Shiho knelt down to the floor and bowed deeply, a sweet, enchanting scent beginning to permeate the air as she lowered her head.

Those who smelled the strange aroma began to relax, and acting as a crowd, the rest of the shadows began to murmur among each other. Noticing that they were on the brink of being convinced, Ren stepped forward, his eyes glowing with intensity.

"Please, have mercy on them. They have suffered too much. Their life's work has been taken from them. Their purpose was stolen. All they need is one more chance."

Their combined efforts gradually stabilized the crowd, with the shadows returning to their routine activities, apparently swayed by the genuine appeals. As Shiho rose, Ren caught a subtle glow emanating from her mask.

"I like you, Joker." she whispered, her mask ceasing its glow as she spoke.

With the crowd's suspicions appeased, the thieves continued their journey to the temple uninterrupted, where they spotted a painting near an altar. Seizing a moment of distraction, they leaped through the painting and landed back inside the Palace, facing a massive door that clicked open just as they approached.

[Perfect timing! Queen just disabled the security on your side. How did it go on your side…. It wasn't too bad, was it?] Futaba cracked through, a bit of static in her voice as she tried to communicate from her location. She was worried about them after she had seen the guardian of the will seed being consumed by the painting.

"No," Ren replied with a reassuring smile as he turned to Shiho. "We were able to get through without a fight."

— — —

As the two teams advanced towards the final stretch of the palace, Futaba kept both groups informed about what the other group had seen, easing their collaboration. This coordination allowed them to unlock paths for each other from their respective locations until they regrouped just outside the treasure room.

The room was grand, dominated by a massive orb of light floating amidst a network of lasers. It was here that, for the first time since their entrance into the Palace, the group encountered Shadow Madarame. Clad in a golden robe, his face adorned with traditional makeup, and his hair styled in a traditional Japanese top knot.

"Madarame..." Yusuke murmured, his voice a mix of sadness and resolve as he fixed his gaze on the shadow.

Shadow Madarame was engrossed in his task, a paintbrush in hand, working with meticulous focus on his treasure. Guards strategically positioned around him made it clear that stealthily bypassing them would be challenging.

[My scans are a bit fuzzy due to the distance, but there's a power source nearby. If we can reach it, we could turn off the lights and security long enough to snatch the painting.] Futaba's voice crackled through, tinged with static.

From their concealed position, Ren spotted an access point above the paintings. 

"I can disguise myself as a guard and walk in unnoticed. Once close enough, we can cut the power, allowing me to grab the painting and escape through the floor and window upstairs." he explained, laying out his plan.

"That sounds solid," Makoto affirmed, nodding. "Mona can maneuver to the electrical panels and shut them down. If the map that Futaba has is correct, then you two should be able to meet on the way out of the building."

"Count on me!" Mona chimed in, his voice laced with mischief as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Skull and Panther can team up, while Siren and Fox hold the fort on the other side, making sure we have a clear escape route. Let's rendezvous at the courtyard by the peacock door. If all goes to plan, we'll make our getaway in Mona's helicopter form," Ren coordinated, mapping out everyone's roles. 

Then, turning to Makoto, he added.

"Queen, you are going to keep Oracle safe in the courtyard. We need her closer to us so that Necronomicon can better analyze the situation. I'd rather not have any surprises."

After finalizing their heist strategy and practicing their routes within the Palace, the team nodded in agreement, confident in their meticulously planned exit.

They had unlocked all necessary doors during their infiltration, ensuring a smooth path for their escape following the dispatch of the calling card, without the need to navigate any more paintings.

With their plan set, they exited the Palace.

As the world shifted back to reality, Yusuke suddenly gasped and collapsed, holding his head with discomfort. Shiho and Ryuji soon followed, clutching their heads in evident pain.

Takemi, quick to respond, examined them and diagnosed them.

"It seems the effects of the glowing mask and Yusuke's persona activation have taken a toll on their bodies. Curiously, these symptoms only manifested after we left the Palace. Yusuke's condition is the most severe. He needs to stay at my clinic overnight for observation. Shiho and Ryuji, however, should recover sufficiently at home."

"I'm hungry…" Yusuke's voice was faint, the strain evident in his tone.

Ann perked up immediately, her concern evident as she leaned closer.

"What would you like to eat? I can go get something quickly and take it to the clinic for you to have."

"Sushi," Yusuke murmured, his hand clutching his head as he tried to sit up a bit more comfortably.

Without hesitation, Ann nodded to the others, her determination clear. 

"On it." she said, quickly exiting to find the nearest sushi spot with Shiho.

-

As the two of them left, the rest of the team began to disperse, each heading towards their homes. Ren and Ryuji, seeing Yusuke's struggle, each took an arm, carefully supporting him as they made their way to Takemi's clinic.

Sometime later, Ren and Ryuji gently helped Yusuke onto one of the examination tables. The clinic was quiet, save for the soft hum of medical equipment. Takemi, already prepared with her medical kit, approached with a concerned look.

"How are you feeling, Yusuke? Are you experiencing any dizziness or nausea?" Takemi asked, her professional demeanor taking over as she checked his vitals.

"Just a bit light-headed," Yusuke replied, trying to muster a smile. "Thank you, both of you."

Ren gave a reassuring nod.

"Just focus on getting better. Futaba and I will prepare for the heist, and once you recover, we can start the mission. I wasn't able to see the memories firsthand, but if you ever need to talk about it, call me, okay?"

Yusuke offered a grateful nod, appreciating the gesture.

"Thank you. I'll remember that." 

They waited next to Yusuke while Takemi did a couple more checkups, and after completing her second examination, Takemi looked up at Ren and Ryuji.

"Thanks for bringing him here. I'll take it from here. Why don't you guys head home and rest? It's been a long day."

~A/N~

Fun fact for the day. From the beginning, I have had Yusuke call Madarame Sensei or Teacher. But after seeing the memories, he no longer calls him that; instead, he just uses his name, not even his first name, but his last name. But to be fair, his first name is a mouthful.

Also, I started this a while ago, and I am sure most of you noticed, but if the word is in italics, that means that it is a persona speaking. Also, I dunno if it's obvious but sometimes I struggle with transitioning from one thing to the other, tried my best to smooth out the part from after they complete the infiltration to them leaving. Usually I would do it by ending the chapter, but it was only 1.3k words at the time, so I continued writing.