Chapter Text
✦
“Did you hear about the newest inmate? Just arrived a week ago, but she’s already caused quite a ruckus.”
Ayaka raised a brow. “Oh, I’ve actually met her. She’s… a character, to say the least.”
Yoimiya laughed. “I heard that she’s already managed to get all of the prisoners to fall at her feet. They carry out all her orders at her beck and call.”
“I can see why. She’s gorgeous, a real shame that she ended up… here of all places.”
She sighed. “Ayaka, you really shouldn’t feel pity for her. It wasn’t like she’s here on a minor charge.”
"Then, what is she here for?"
Yoimiya looked around, eyes darting from side to side. She leaned in to the other woman, whispering furtively, “I heard from Itto that she committed homicide—not just your average murder though. There were over a hundred people at some kind of auction, all found dead. She was the only suspect, managed to escape the law for a couple of weeks, but it all caught up to her.”
Ayaka shook her head. “It really makes you wonder… Why did she do it, that is.”
“Well, if you find anything out about her motives, you know who to tell first.”
She nodded, about to comment—
—Before Ei interrupted. “Lunch break’s over. Report to your stations.”
They both jumped, then said in unison, “Understood.” They rushed to their respective positions, avoiding the woman’s harsh gaze.
Ei sighed. Who was this prisoner, and why was she causing such a stir amongst her coworkers?
✦
“Hey.”
Ei closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
“Hey, hey,” the woman repeated. “Are you ignoring me?”
She said nothing.
“That’s not very nice of you, my dear.” Ei flinched at the endearment—she hoped the inmate hadn’t noticed. “Prisons are quite boring. I think if we made idle conversation, you’d brighten my day a little. Don’t you agree, dearie?” she hummed.
“I am not supposed to be interacting with a prisoner outside of basic commands,” Ei finally relented.
Instead of falling silent, the woman laughed. She walked a bit closer to the bars, grazing her fingers against the metal. “You seem like the type to be a stickler for rules. I can tell with that steely gaze of yours,” she said with a smile. “But, I did make you talk, didn’t I?”
“Yes, I may have spoken, but I did it only to state the rules.” Ei added softly, almost childishly, “That doesn’t count.”
“Ah, of course. I won’t hold it against you since you’ve provided such solid logic.” The woman grinned.
“Are you… mocking me?”
“Why of course not. Quite the opposite, actually. In truth, I’m trying to befriend you, my dear.”
“Befriend me?”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard this from the other prison guards, but I’ve made friends with almost everyone here.” She gave Ei a pointed look. “Almost.”
Her dark lavender eyes shone under the low light. “You are an exception.”
Ei turned to face her, finally getting a better look of the woman. Her mind traitorously noted that her pink hair looked soft. She wanted to run her fingers through it. Instead, she let her arms stay rigidly to her sides, the clench in her hands causing her knuckles to turn white. “And I will stay an exception. Fraternizing with inmates is against the rules." She muttered to herself, “I’ll have to address this with the other prisoners…”
“Oh, please don’t get everyone else in trouble for my silly comment, dearie!” The woman feigned hurt. “That would sadden me deeply.”
Ei furrowed her brow. “Why are you even bothering to befriend everyone?"
She dropped the wounded act. "Isn't it obvious? I'll be staying in this prison for a while. What's the harm in making friends? It sure spices things up, don't you think?"
"That is true, but to be friendly with the guards as well?"
"It's a means of survival, my dear," the woman stated solemnly. Her expression brightened up after a second, though. "But that discussion is for another time. As I've stated before, I would like us to be friends."
"Why would I agree to that?" Ei asked seriously. "And for that matter, I simply don’t understand why everyone is enamored with you.”
“Well, for starters, I’m a great conversationalist—”
“I completely disagree with that point.”
“—an amazing listener,”
“I cannot believe that they would talk about their issues with you.”
“—and I cannot forget the most important aspect…” she said as she fluttered her lashes. Her delicate lips curved upward, and the gentlest of a smile formed, a hint of pearly white teeth peeking through. Her eyes seemed to glitter even more.
Ei’s heart beat slightly faster at the sight. She cursed her body for reacting this strongly. It was just a smile, she repeated to herself as she attempted to steady her heart. It was just a gorgeous, beautiful—
The woman laughed, a laugh akin to windchimes. “I’ll just leave it at that.”
She could only stare blankly.
“Actually, now that I think about it…” The woman tapped her chin with a finger. “I never did tell you my name. You only know me as 0092.” She pointed to the numbered tag stitched to her striped breast pocket. “But, I’d prefer you to not refer to me as a set of numbers. My name is Yae Miko; a pleasure to meet you.”
Ei’s mouth twitched. She repeated it softly, “Yae Miko.”
The name felt foreign on her tongue.
“Now that you know mine, isn’t it reasonable for me to learn yours?” Yae grinned. “A fair trade, if you will.”
Her mouth betrayed her. “Raiden Ei.”
“Raiden Ei,” Yae hummed. “The name is cute… it suits you.”
“C-Cute?!” Ei felt slightly offended. “Raiden means thunder and lightning… I don’t understand how you would find that cute.”
“Ah, but your given name, Ei, is an adorable name, my dear.”
She felt heat creep up her neck. Yae smiled. “It seems that my comment has affected you. I can see the blush even in this low lighting, dearie.”
“I am certainly not blushing. And it is impertinent for you to assume so.” Ei turned her nose up at the comment.
“Deny it all you want, I know what I saw,” she chuckled. “But alas, this conversation should come to an end; it is rather late. I think your shift is ending soon.”
Ei’s eyes widened. There wasn’t a clock in the cell block. How did she know when her shift ended? More importantly, how did she know what time it was? “Do you… count the minutes in your head?”
“Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps it’s just a lucky guess.” Yae smiled mysteriously. Ei wasn’t convinced.
“I’m going to keep an eye on you, Yae Miko,” she stated sternly. “I suspect that you are up to something.”
Yae responded, “Maybe I am up to something, maybe I am not. Raiden Ei, I feel as though you will be the first to find out.”
Ei opened her mouth to say something more, but stopped herself.
Her shift had officially ended.
She walked away from Yae’s cell with an even pace.
“Until then, Raiden Ei,” Yae called out after her.
Ei simply closed her eyes for a second, and took a deep breath.
She continued walking.
✦