Fujita visits a remote old prison to view a fresco painted on a vaulted ceiling. He recalls many years ago when he was hired to assist the prisoner and tattooist Shimoda Tappei to paint a fresco on the ceiling. Known as Tatsu the Michelangelo, Shimoda immediately gives Fujita the unpleasant job of removing the old plaster in the oppressive heat of summer. Shimoda had studied in Italy and he shows Fujita the complex steps in creating a fresco. During the painting of his design, Shimoda takes ill, but insists on finishing the work. Back in the present, Mitamura arrives with the intention of saving the fresco prior to demolition of the building, however Fujita is now the owner, and agrees to it being destroyed according to the wishes of Shimoda who has passed away. Shimoda believed that art like a tattoo has a limited life and a finite period of existence.
日本海に面してそびえ立つ刑務所。冬、雪がちらつく中、そこを訪れたフジタは、ある熱い夏の思い出をふり返る。 それは、十数年前、フジタがまだ、美術大の学生だった頃、監視台に天井画を描く作業の手伝いの為、その刑務所を訪れ時のこと。フジタは、通称・ミケランジェロの辰と呼ばれる受刑者・下田のアシスタントとして、二人で作業を行った。作業が進むにつれ、次第に二人は打ち解けていくが、突然、発作に倒れる下田。 そんな中で、下田の罪状を聞かされたフジタは、下田の過去と、今、着々と仕上げられている天井画の菩薩像に隠された意外な関係を知るのだった。
