Chapter 35
Rui didn't even know what day it was. They were in 2023, that was obvious enough, but they'd spent so much time inside Milgram he'd lost track of time.
That was, until a calendar suddenly appeared on the wall at the end of the hallway, right outside the empty cell next to Asahina's, everyone's birthdays on it. From January to December, even the Warden's birth date was put there by Hinomori.
It was July already. He'd missed his own birthday, Nene's birthday, Tsukasa's and he'd probably miss Emu's as well.
They were nearing August too, and at this point all Rui did after checking on Tsukasa with Hinomori was wander around the prison's corridors aimlessly.
However, those few days, or what seemed like it, not only him but some others had been hearing a certain someone talking to themselves inside their cell, although no one dared to go check.
Rui didn't even recognize who it was at first, until Mizuki brought it up, that's where he started paying close attention.
It wasn't Tsukasa, he knew this well, this person usually didn't exclaim loudly in excitement for whatever they were telling themselves.
It wasn't Hanasato, after the incident she usually only talked with whoever came to her cell, which wasn't a daily thing for anyone to do.
It sure as hell was not Shinonome. Or Hoshino, who one could usually hear just humming along to some song she'd have on her mind.
Hinomori was never in her cell, always busy checking on Tsukasa with him or chatting with Asahina and Hanasato, or even Shiraishi…
Mochizuki was in the prison's kitchen most of the time, preventing any abomination he and/or Shiraishi may have cooked from burning the entire prison down. Either that, or baking.
Mizuki's usual routine consisted of checking on Hanasato's health or playing the piano with Asahina as far as Rui knew. He admittedly missed skipping classes and going up to the school's rooftop just to talk with Mizuki when they decided to go to school.
But well…
And then- wait… that was it… The person he never saw anywhere.
Shiraishi.
Well, that was another pointless mystery solved. He'd just move on with his day… night? Whatever, he'd move on with his life…
…After discovering just what the hell was Shiraishi doing.
Rui was curious about what was happening over in the ninth cell. He'd expressed this to his troupe leader and even to Mizuki one time.
But that day, on a particularly quiet morning, right after Tsukasa's second interrogation, the only sound that could be heard was, as always, the former hall monitor turned prisoner, just like the rest of them.
The one responsible for the guilty prisoner's punishment, accidentally or not.
He walked down the corridor, passing the cells steadily as he made his way into the ninth one.
"Y'know, I don't really like energy drinks, they leave this weird taste in my mouth and well… one time I even found one that had the weirdest name ever--
Shiraishi was talking to… a wall.
Not even a metaphor or a saying. She was literally speaking to the wall in front of her, chatting with it like it was alive.
That was, until she noticed him standing there.
"Ah- Hey, Kamishiro-senpai…!"
She quickly glanced at the wall as she waved at him.
"Hello, Shiraishi. Long time no see."
He looked at the same wall she was talking to, trying to make sense of the situation.
Shiraishi suddenly stood up, trying to tidy up her cell as much as she could.
"So uh- what brings you here, back to my uhm… humble abode..?"
Ah, he remembered that. Back in Trial 1, visiting Shiraishi in this humble abode of hers. It was a funny name.
"Ah, you know… Just checking up on everyone… There's a calendar at the end of the hallway so… I'm just saying the belated happy birthday wishes to everyone I missed."
That was a complete lie. He knew it and he knew Shiraishi also didn't believe it.
Her birthday wasn't for 3 more days according to what he could make out of whoever put 'An's birthday' in the calendar. That excuse didn't make any sense nor did it explain why he was there.
Nevertheless, she sighed.
"Alright… you can get going now that you… did that, I guess?"
Rui nodded, not before asking something.
"So, what is the wildest thing you've ever done for your birthday..? I might need ideas for a birthday party once we get out."
That part was true. He had promised to organize a birthday party for Emu before the murder, and, if everything turned out well enough, he planned to go through with that promise.
"Oh! Last year Kohane took me to a cat cafe! It was really cute! We even got Akito and Toya to join us after a while, it was great!"
Rui took out a notepad and started writing everything down.
"Continue."
She nods and keeps going.
"Then, right after that, we went to see a musical!"
Kohane and Toya sat in Weekend Garage's bar, just as it was nearing closing time, the place was completely empty, no one there except for them and An's father.
"It's almost Shiraishi's birthday…"
Toya said, having a sip of the coffee Ken had just passed him.
"I really thought we would find them by now but… It's harder than expected…"
Ken frowned, turning to face the wall and not his daughter's friends.
"It was around this time that she…"
Kohane heard him whisper, not loud enough for her to know what he was saying though.
"Hm? Did you say anything, Mr. Shiraishi?"
Ken shook his head.
"We'll find her… right,
Azusawa…?"
Kohane looked at Toya, small tears forming, filled with determination to find her partner.
"Yeah!"