Chapter 2
When he woke up, in an unfamiliar environment, in a jail cell, you can bet Tsukasa was a little bit freaked out.
So when Rui, his best friend walked into his cell, a feeling of relief washed over him, seeing his friend okay, being able to feel him, to hug him.
It was out of character for someone as eccentric and as loudly brave as him.
"Tsukasa."
Rui called, pulling out of the hug and looking him in the eyes.
"Where… Are we? Do you know?"
Tsukasa shrugged.
"I'll be honest, Rui. I was hoping you'd know."
Rui shook his head before his eyes widened in realization.
"Wait… Where are Nene and Emu…?"
Tsukasa ran out to look inside of every other cell.
"They're not anywhere in these cells."
Rui started walking towards him, but someone else caught his attention.
"Shinonome?"
Akito hadn't moved a single inch since Es had been there. However, this time he looked up to look at Rui.
"You… What the fuck did you get us into…?"
Akito stood up before Rui could muster up anything.
"Shinonome, I'm just as confused as you are… Both Tsukasa and I just woke up."
The ginger walked up to him and grabbed him by his collar.
"Answer me. What on Earth did you two do to get us into whatever this place is?!"
Rui did not answer.
Akito's frustration overwhelmed him as he put his hand into a fist.
But before he could do anything, a voice spoke up.
"Akito!"
An launched herself into a hug with Akito, catching him off guard and dropping them both straight into the floor.
An was in tears, glad to see a familiar face.
"Guys!!"
The four classmates watched as Mizuki ran towards them.
"Oh, thank goodness you're all here…"
"Mizuki! Oh my god you're here too!!"
Meanwhile, in the fourth cell…
Ichika slowly stood up, hearing the noise from the Kamiyama students.
She poked her head through the open jail cell, looking left and right.
She made her way out of her cell, looking to see if there was anybody she knew, like the other people making so much noise.
She didn't even have to go that far for someone to call out her name in the cell right next to her own.
"Ichika?"
She turned to where the voice came from, being met with Shizuku, who hadn't moved at all even though she could move freely.
"Shizuku? What are you doing here?"
"I… I don't know. I was looking at some of Shii's old pictures and then I… I woke up here.."
Shizuku had a sad look on her face, remembering her sister.
"I miss Shiho too, Shizuku."
"I'm sure you do." She said while getting up and looking over to the Kamiyama students.
"Wait… Isn't that…"
"Saki's brother? Yeah. He's here too."
Shizuku and Ichika both turned around.
Honami stared at them both.
"Hi, Honami."
"Ichika, Shizuku, It's good to see you."
"Honami, do you happen to know where we are?"
"Oh, no. I don't really know…"
Hearing Honami's sweet voice again made Ichika want to hug out whatever happened between them.
But they needed to get out of whatever that place was.
"I do think I heard one of our classmates' voice over here, though. I'm not entirely sure whose voice it was, though."
Honami pointed towards the other cells behind them.
Almost on clue, someone poked her head out from a jail cell.
"Minori?!"
Minori gasped in surprise, clumsily running towards the three.
"You three are also in this place? Oh, I'm really glad."
Minori then started to ramble on about how she'd miss an Idol concert.
"Shizuku!!!!"
Tsukasa shouted as the others came up to them behind him.
An and Akito were close together, Mizuki and Rui following the blond closer.
As the two groups got together, a door opened in front of them, revealing Es to the prisoners.
"Greetings, prisoners. I am the warden of this prison, and I will be conducting the interrogations."
Honami's eyes widened, and she looked around to see if anyone saw the same as her.
She looked at Shizuku, the light blue haired girl looking back at her with one of her hands covering her mouth.
Everyone was silent, when suddenly, a cell on the end of the hallway opened up.
"Huh…? What…"
Es walked towards the newly opened jail cell, being instantly met with a new prisoner.
She pushed her aside and walked towards the others, Mizuki immediately noticing who it was.
"Mafuyu?"
She didn't say anything.
"Wait, is that Asahina-senpai..?" Ichika whispered to Minori, who was also watching it all play out.
"Mhm…"
Es slowly walked over again and continued.
"...As I was saying…"
"Starting today, you will all be interrogated to find out if your sin is forgivable or unforgivable."
"Uhmm… Excuse me but… What sin are you talking about, exactly?"
An asked, holding onto both Akito and Mizuki's hands as she did.
"Milgram recognises you all as murderers, you'll be tried for taking someone else's life."
As soon as Es finished her sentence, whispers and gasps could be heard from almost everyone in the room.
"That being said, the first trial has already begun. You'll be called one by one to begin the interrogation process shortly."
She left the room once more.
Mizuki let go of An's hand and ran straight towards Mafuyu pulling her into a big hug.
"Mizuki…"
"Where have you been, Mafuyu? You haven't logged into Nightcord in ages!" They asked, sinking their face on the white fabric covering Mafuyu's shoulder.
Mafuyu, once again, didn't reply. Instead, she changed the question to another one.
"The warden said we all murdered someone… Who did you kill, Mizuki?"
Es had her doubts about the first meeting with the prisoners, and many choice words to say to Jackalope.
She shut the door behind her and turned to face Jackalope.
"You're back already?"
"What the hell was that? You didn't tell me there were 10 prisoners."
"What fun about that be, you'd just complain if I told you my opinion about certain prisoners, like the warden before you."
"Maybe because your opinion is literally just your taste in women, Jackalope."
Jackalope glared at Es.
"Amnesia sure got you into a mood, Es."
Es sighed, leaving the room to begin the interrogations.
After the warden left, the ten prisoners awaited whatever was going to happen to begin.
And sure enough, Es' voice blasted through the speakers.
"Prisoner 001, Tenma Tsukasa, please go through the door in front of you."
Tsukasa slowly let go of Rui's hand, the latter worriedly stood up behind him.
"Tsukasa… You'll be okay, right?"
He turned around to face Rui.
"Of course, Rui. I'm our troupe's leader, I'll make it."
Tsukasa turned around, a big sign of hesitation forming in his face as he opened the door.
"There you are. Let's begin, shall we, 001?"