Tokyo Heart Thief's Daily Life

Countless golden and red geometric structures and staircases connected end to end float in the space, forming optical illusions that make people lose their sense of distance.

This looks a bit like the cover of an art class... or a math textbook?

High school students all have a bit of PTSD and really don’t want to learn math!

"It's okay, just follow me."

Kitagawa Yusuke did not stop at all.

Find the right path in this optical illusion world composed of countless bizarre geometric shapes.

For him, who has been immersed in art since he can remember, this level of visual trap is as easy as eating and drinking.

The efficiency of their advance was even faster than when they faced the Shadow Sea before, which surprised all the team members.

Sakamoto Ryuji suddenly spoke:

"Is this the 'basic skills' you mentioned? Did that Madarame teach you that?"

Kitagawa looked away: "I won't deny the facts."

"Barame Ichiryusai possessed a solid foundation in the fundamentals of art. He was adept at teaching beginning students, particularly cultivating their appreciation and observation of images."

"Of course, my basic skills were all taught by him. This is also the way he raises cattle and horses, precisely to raise students and feast on our flesh and blood."

...The thieves and their group didn't say anything, just listened quietly.

After passing through this winding optical illusion, the group arrived at a long corridor.

This corridor is full of doors. The geometric doors emit a strange blue light, making it impossible to see what is inside.

Futaba, An and Subaru, who were familiar with RPG games, immediately realized that this must be a type of maze.

Looking at the countless doors in this row, there is a painting placed at the door...it is "Sayuri".

Of course Luo Zhen also understood:

"Madarame has been copying Sayuri. The impression and knowledge of this painting must have been deeply ingrained in his bones."

"Among all these fakes, there is only one authentic one. Only by finding the authentic one can we find the right door."

"Ah."

Kitagawa nodded vigorously: "Leave it to me. Sayuri is the fire of my soul, I will never admit my mistake."

He walked forward and directly chopped the fake with the long knife in his hand.

It was not until he saw the real "Sayuri" among the fakes that Kitagawa stopped and walked into the right door.

This was another moment of sudden enlightenment.

The group found themselves back inside the museum space.

And it was different from the scene along the way where it had been severely twisted and deformed and melted like caramel.

This space still maintains the solemnity that an art museum should have, and can even be said to be old-fashioned.

Luo Zhen reacted immediately:

"This is the location of Madarame's first memory of the Desire Stone, the art museum where he missed out on opportunities in his youth."

For Madarame, this may be his last chance to become famous at a young age and to have his works recognized by the public.

But because of his master's contempt, Madarame didn't even have the chance to try and was rejected on the grounds of "no talent".

This unwillingness had been brewing for decades and was the origin of his madness.

And at this moment.

As countless spotlights lit up, the glaring light made everyone in the group frown and turn their heads.

The beams of light converged on the largest painting in the center of the gallery.

Without a doubt, it was Sayuri.

And that wasn't the real picture of Sayuri, the one with the lower half of the baby painted over.

But it is the "real" Sayuri who no longer exists in reality and only exists in fantasy.

"This is my thing...it belongs only to me!"

The dark shadow of Madarame was crawling under the frame of "Sayuri", stroking it obsessively.

His original attire, which looked like that of a wealthy official, had long since disappeared, and he had become just a street vagrant with disheveled hair.

His shoulders were thinner than expected, and his back was severely hunched, both of which were the aftereffects of years of high-intensity painting.

It was such a pitiful old man who caused misfortune to many children and families because of his obsession and madness.

Kitagawa took a step forward and drew his long sword:

"I'm here to kill you, Madarame."

"[...You actually understand everything, Yusuke.]"

Shadow raised his head dejectedly, looking like he didn't even have the motivation to resist.

His cloudy eyes were bloodshot, and I wonder if he looked the same in real life.

The old man faced the sharp edge of the long sword and said:

“[An artist without money is very pathetic. That hut is not just a show or a disguise, it is my hometown where I have spent the past fifty years of my life.]”

"I love painting, I love it with all my heart... but the god of art has not favored me! I can only let the mountain of talent weigh me down, making it hard for me to breathe... I don't want to go back to the days of struggling like a dead dog! You understand, Yusuke—"

Chime...!

Yusuke's long sword cut through the air, along with the loosened bun on Madarame's head.

The old man's white hair fluttered in the air, and he himself was nailed to the spot like a dead puppet.

"stand up."

Kitagawa Yusuke stretched out his long sword and lifted Shadow's throat with the tip of the sword.

The shadows' lack of blood further emphasizes their inhuman nature.

Yusuke looked down at Shadow, who was oozing black mud from his throat, his eyes showing no emotion:

"You should still have the power. You can summon those ugly vulgar creatures, or even transform yourself into that filthy monster. Reveal your true nature to me, and let me see you struggle."

"Then, I will kill you. For the art you tarnished, for the brothers and sisters you destroyed... and for the mother you murdered!!"

This must be correct.

No one in the Phantom Thieves tried to stop Yusuke, not even Nina who had previously opposed Luo Zhen.

Facing Kitagawa Yusuke, the emotions boiling beneath the surface at this moment can certainly be empathized by the already sentimental Nina.

Nina couldn't say anything to Kitagawa, and there was no way she could stop him from saying anything.

For Yusuke at this moment, only a real battle with the ugly Madarame can comfort himself a little.

"[...Please, Yusuke, spare my life!]"

What made Yusuke grit his teeth was that Madarame was too cowardly after all.

The old man didn't even have the determination to go crazy, he just prostrated himself at his feet, crying:

"[I have nowhere to go! I don't know when the police will come, and my assets have been frozen... I've also received so many calls! So many calls!!]"

"[They know where I am and what I'm doing! I begged for mercy, but they said nothing. There was only the sound of cold breathing on the other side of the microphone... Yusuke, I'm done. I can't escape..."

......Um?

Luo Zhen frowned.

Madarame's whereabouts have been unknown for the past few days, and no one knows where he has fled to.

Considering that the Special Investigation Department might also be tracking him, Luo Zhen deliberately asked Futaba not to track his whereabouts to avoid getting into trouble.

Luo Zhen guessed that he must be trying to find a way to deal with his property, hoping to get away with it as much as possible, or at least put the blame on Kitagawa.

…but in reality, he’s been bombarded with calls?

The Special Investigation Department, or Akechi Tamako who exposed his crime, has always been aware of his whereabouts?

......But why?

Why didn't she arrest Madarame or even file a case for investigation, but just bombarded him with phone calls, which was like a gangster debt collector's pressure?

"[Yusuke... I've given up resistance, Yusuke!]"

While Luo Zhen was still considering it, Madarame's shadow had already hugged his student's feet.

This white-haired old man is extremely humble, with only the desire to survive boiling in his heart:

"I will plead guilty. I will admit to all my crimes! I will reveal your mother's name and return the painting 'Sayuri' to her! ... You, you are her son. Technically, 'Sayuri' is yours!"

"[Then, I will go to jail... My reputation, property, status... everything will disappear, nothing will be left..."

The old man knelt on the ground, crying miserably:

"So please, please spare my life! For the sake of our fifteen years of father-son relationship, this precious time... please!!"

"............."

Kitagawa Yusuke was so speechless that he even wanted to laugh.

This short, hunchbacked...

The most humble, pathetic and ridiculous thing is the mentor you have admired all your life.

A personality built on greed and sin, everything accumulated over the past fifteen years, has completely corrupted into a deadly poison.

[I was shaped by this kind of thing]...Only this tragic fact remained and was engraved in Kitagawa Yusuke's heart.

"..."

Yusuke stopped talking.

As he declared, he wanted to put an end to all this ugly past, raising the long knife in his hand -

"Hey, stop it."

Sakamoto Ryuji grabbed Yusuke's wrist.

Its power is so great that it is easy for a sports student to control the delicate and tender art student.

Kitagawa put all his strength into struggling in his hands:

"Sakamoto Ryuji...what do you want? This is my grudge, I don't need you to meddle in it!"

Ryuji: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard this kind of talk so many times that it's enough."

Long Sizhen scratched his ears and turned back to explain to Luo Zhen and the others:

"Actually, these past two days, after the Palace Raid is over, I'll be asking this guy to spend the night at my house."

"My mom loves him. Leaving him alone in that shabby house wouldn't be good for his body and mind, right? And this guy didn't even eat when he was alone. When I found him, he almost fainted from hunger. Isn't that funny?"

Ah...everyone understands.

Indeed, given the dramatic changes that Kitagawa Yusuke had experienced, he had to pretend nothing had happened during the day and arrange the art exhibition for the absconded Madarame.

It would be strange if his mental state was good, he has been in a state of despair inside for a long time.

After having a heart-to-heart talk with Yusuke, Ryuji unexpectedly showed his considerate side.

He scratched his hair and said:

"Honestly, if I were in his shoes, and the person kneeling here was my alcoholic, domestic violence, and scumbag father, I would kill him too."

"Although I'm not as miserable as you, with my adoptive father being the murderer of my mother, such a bizarre experience. But I agree with your thoughts and what you want to do. This is true."

"—Then why did you stop me?!"

Kitagawa tried hard to pry Ryuji's hands apart, and his facial expression was out of control.

Sakamoto Ryuji narrowed his eyes and said, "Because we are friends, brothers. Is there any need to explain this?"

"How could I watch my brother become the murderer who killed his adoptive father? Even though it wasn't a real murder and the police won't arrest you... you'll never forget it, right?"

......Kitagawa was shocked and stopped struggling temporarily.

He must have thought so too.

To make a break with Madarame is also to make a break with himself.