1st lookup | voice

[decideformyself]

I must admit that prison is turning out to be a much more interesting place than I had expected. I can't say I'm enthusiastic about these brutal, sadistic public displays or the necessity to scrounge up money to keep myself alive on a weekly basis, but I suppose I'll have to tolerate it for the time being.

I am looking forward to learning more about prison life and survival. Does anybody have any tips?

Comments

[decideformyself]

Is that really your biggest concern?

[tanteiotaku]

Is there something else I should be worried about?

[decideformyself]

Have you read your manual yet?

[tanteiotaku]

--Oh. I should do that.

[decideformyself]

I'll wait until you have finished.

[tanteiotaku]

[A few minutes later.] Poison?!

[decideformyself]

You should have been provided with one piece of antidote candy. Others will have to be purchased at the store.

[tanteiotaku]

Yeah I still have that. This sucks. [Frustrated kind of growly sound] One week, huh? I guess I need to drum up some clients sooner than later.

[decideformyself]

In addition to that, working two jobs five days a week would also be enough to replenish your supply. Furthermore, the so-called "events" that happen on a weekly basis apparently have a CP payout as well.

[tanteiotaku]

A regular job? I haven't done one of those in a while.

[decideformyself]

It seems you have no choice.

[ Unless that Thing the Doctor told him is true, but he wants to see it for his own eyes before he starts spreading it around. ]

Moreover, have you noticed anything strange about the map on page three?

[tanteiotaku]

Yeah, we're not on it.

[decideformyself]

There is the possibility that the G block was an addition built after these manuals were printed, but considering its placement underneath the rest of the prison that seems unlikely. I'll be seeking out and speaking with the other residents of this block, but first I have a question for you.

[ Private to Shotaro ]

After the death of Sokichi Narumi, when you and I fled that lab, you displayed physical prowess beyond that of an ordinary human being.

You are no ordinary human being, are you, Shotaro Hidari?

Aibou Private

[tanteiotaku]

No, I'm not. I'm the same you are. The Boss took me in after the earthquake killed my parents. He helped me get it under control. How to use it as a tool to protect people, and not let it define my entire existence.

Though this place seems like they're going to try to make us into a sideshow.

[decideformyself]

[ Now that he knows for sure... He's not quite so sure about his possibility of survival. It's not that he would hesitate to do what he had to in one of these events; rather, it's that he never wants to use that again. ]

"The" earthquake?

[tanteiotaku]

[Deep breath. Time for the infodump.] People call it the Red Hole Incident now. Ten years ago a huge earthquake levelled Tokyo. Afterward, people with weird abilities started showing up. The Boss started tracking them and he found a common thread with all of them. The abilities relied on the use of their own blood.

This place opened a couple years after that. Nearly every person the Boss noticed had this kind of ability ended up disappearing, only to show up in the events here not much later.

[decideformyself]

I see. Then supposing the correlation holds, I may have been a resident of Tokyo at the time.

[ This is the first hint he's ever received about his past. Thank you, Sokichi, for being such a good detective. ]

[tanteiotaku]

...I'm sorry, he didn't tell me much about you before we went in there. There was probably more in his files back at the office in Fuuto. [It's a deeply sincere apology.]

[decideformyself]

You've already provided more than I expected.

Thank you.

[tanteiotaku]

But I can tell you that someone hired him to save you. Someone else knew you were in there and cared enough about you to want you safe.

[decideformyself]

Do you know who?

[tanteiotaku]

[sigh] No. I didn't get to talk to them. [He sounds a bit frustrated, but for reasons he's not saying yet.]

[decideformyself]

Ah.

[ He's quiet, now. This is not how he expected this conversation to go. ]

[tanteiotaku]

[Well, this won't do. Time to change things around.] But we have to move forward, right? Even if we're in prison, you can live how you want to now. Find out all the things you've missed. And I'll help you with that however I can.

[decideformyself]

Yes, you're right. I have much to catch up on. [ There's no use dwelling on what might have been. ] In fact, I have been meaning to head to the library. If you don't mind, I'll contact you later.