Chapter Text
"Sen Michiyo, do you have anything you want to say?" The judge stared down at Michiyo with cold eyes mixed with disgust. In his eyes, this young girl's cuteness was nothing but a facade hiding something very sinister. A whole apartment building with the height of 200 meters, 54 stories tall, all the residents found dead with her as the exception. "First you killed a whole apartment's worth of people, and now you went ahead and killed everyone within the female prison you were residing in."
"I didn't do it..." The young blue haired girl with blue eyes started to cry. One person. She wanted just one person to believe her but the jury did not believe her at all. Why? Why was everyone looking at her like she's the culprit? "I really didn't do it... Please believe me..." Her pleas were ignored.
Michiyo did not know this but the police and all of the people working on this case within the court room had to implicate her as the murderer of an apartment's worth of people because everyone was paid a hefty sum by those lurking in the shadows to keep quiet and just pin all the blame on her. A good amount of money was yours but you had to send a girl you did not know to jail, of course anyone would do it; why would a stranger's life matter to you when you could get payment you will never get in a whole fiscal year or through hard work?
The judge roared in rage as he banged the gavel onto the block! "Even now you are showing no remorse! Sen Michiyo, are you THAT heartless?! You even killed your own parents! Shame on you! What do you take human lives for?!" The judge will never tell a soul but he will be granted a mansion. This will be his last and final case before retirement. He snickered behind his script of upholding justice, secretly thanking the fifteen year old girl for giving him everything.
"I didn't do it... I didn't..." Michiyo kept her head down, scared and frightened. What did she do to deserve this? She couldn't remember what happened at all. Did someone come and murder her parents and everyone in the female prison? If they did, why didn't they murder her too? Why was everyone blaming her for crimes she couldn't remember committing? She started to cry because what could she do but cry? Was it just bad luck? Or had God abandoned her? "Help me..."
Guilty.
Sen Michiyo was found guilty. Because she's too young to be given the death penalty, she will be sent to another prison and be locked up until further notice.
Michiyo had no one to rely on. It was not fair. She never had a good life at home because her parents pushed her to do better than everyone. She could never connect with people her age because her parents never allowed her to make friends with people they did not acknowledge as 'useful'. All she had was studying but her grades were average at best and she's often punished for being 'dumb'. Now without a family, no friends at all, and now she's got a sentence to spend her life in prison.
She continued to cry in silence but she stopped saying she didn't do it because no one will believe her anyway.
The gates to the prison opened and then closed once the vehicle taking her in was inside. The gate slowly closed, sealing her fate. There's no escape for her.
When she's asked to take a mugshot, she didn't struggle or ask anyone for help because this was the lowest prison of them all; all of society's worthless trash gathered here. The hope to leave was little to none because the prison guards will make your life hell because there's no one who will punish them if they do anything wrong to the inmates. There's no salvation of ever leaving once you're in here.
"This is a male prison though..."
"There isn't enough space for you." A prison guard said to her. That was a lie. All other female prisons were scared of taking her in. Since this place showed no mercy to those who came in, they welcomed her despite the massive gender difference.
"I can wear my own clothes?"
"Everyone here has their own clothes. Might as well you're all going to be in here for a long time anyway."
Michiyo felt somewhat happy she could remain in her clothes. Her clothes consisted of a white hooded cardigan over a creamy yellow sailor uniform with a pleated light blue skirt. She wore knee high socks with a pair of black Mary Jane shoes.
Another prison guard was asked to take Michiyo to where all the inmates were. It was late and this usual time meant the inmates were battling it out at Prison Rap. The inmates here should be listening to the prison guards but they all followed another hierarchy; the higher you're ranked in Prison Rap, the better privileges you get. As for the lower rank rapper... you're literally a servant to those above you.
So on top of being society's trash, you could become trash among trash. What was the point of prison rap? Perhaps it was a way for these worthless prisoners to let off steam and distract them from the unfairness placed upon their heads.
Michiyo was walking through what felt like a very long hallway that lacked light. What was that smell? The scent of the air smelled of days old urine. Michiyo couldn't see it but she's very sure there's something sticky under her shoes because the cleaner didn't bother to put elbow grease into the mopping. The only light source she had was from the guard's flashlight. The further she walked, the more she heard the roars of excitement and chants for the loser to get out of here. Michiyo was super scared, she was shaking like a leaf! She wanted to hesitate but she was scared of the prison guard who looked very impatient with her and she felt uncomfortable with the way he kept staring at the back of her skirt.
Once she's on the the stage of Prison Rap, she will be subjected to a beating-
"Senpai!" A voice called out to the prison guard who was lecherously staring at her from behind. "Senpai, the Warden said he would like me to give you this." The prison guard caught up and handed out a packet of unopened cigarettes, "He said it's for the good work you've done."
"Oh, Inukai! Good timing! Check out this little cutie here! Especially that behind."
Inukai stood between Michiyo and the prison guard! He didn't even think twice and he acted as a wall shielding her from his superior! "Senpai, she's fifteen!"
"I can't wait until she's of age." The man snickered and he went off to enjoy the cigarettes. He didn't bother to thank Inukai. Did he just leave Michiyo with Inukai?!
"Ah... there goes my cigarettes but at least he's gone." Inukai Yuto looked at Michiyo with a kind and tender smile, "Are you okay?"
Michiyo was a little hesitant but she nodded. She's not sure if she should trust anyone in this prison. This man seemed to show genuine care for her. Was it okay for her to trust him?
"Ah, I better get you away from here. Come with me, Michiyo-chan."
Michiyo wasn't sure if she should trust this prison guard called Inukai. She's scared because she didn't know who she could trust; she's scared once you trust someone, you will be betrayed.
Inukai somehow sensed her fear so he held his hand out to her and gave her a piece of candy. "If it calms you a little, how about a candy?"
She looked at it and it's orange flavored candy. She liked orange flavored sweets. She was hesitant but she did take the candy from him. She unwrapped it and she popped the candy into her mouth. The sweetness of orange touched her taste buds and it made her smile a little.
Inukai smiled and he started to introduce himself to her. "I'm Inukai Yuto. I'm one of the prison guards here. If you ever need anything, you can come to me. Come on, there's someone who wants to meet you."
Hearing someone wanted to meet her, she's confused because she didn't know any other people outside of her own family. Her parents never mentioned she had other relatives so she's not sure if she even had cousins or not.
Inukai could tell she's worried but his kind smile and the way he patted her on the head calmed her down a little, "It's not someone who will hurt you, I promise you that. I will be there when you meet them."
...
Waiting in the hospital wing was a young woman. The woman had white eyes and gradient purple hair with the tips of her hair having hues of blue and pink. She's not a staff of the prison. She's not even supposed to be here but she made Inukai bring her here no matter what. She's patiently waiting in here because Inukai said the doctor and nurse were gone for the night and they won't be here unless someone got severely injured to the point they need surgery.
"Machiko-san, here she is. As you wanted." Inukai held the door open and in came Michiyo.
"Michi..." The moment twenty-two year old Machiko saw Michiyo, she cried. Machiko was crying because Michiyo was alive in this world.
But why was this young woman crying as if this very moment was a long awaited reunion?
Tsuiteru Machiko was sleeping soundly next to her boyfriend. Was it a miracle? The very moment Michiyo entered prison, Machiko sat up immediately and she gasped out loud! She remembered! She remembered everything! Inukai, the prisoners! GokuLuck! Michiyo! Ranfa resetting the world! Everything but the lyrics and the music! She could remember the events that happened in the other world! Did she go back in time?
"Machiko-san, what's wrong?!" Inukai turned the lights on and he could see she was crying. He quickly wiped her tears away with his thumbs, gently cupping her face, "Did you have a nightmare?" The gentle thirty-two year old man with a baby face asked.
Machiko stared at Inukai's face and she cried even harder. "Yuto... Yuto...!" She embraced him tightly as she cried. She's crying because she's overwhelmed from all the memories she suddenly received at once. In the last world, the kind and gentle Inukai disappeared after Michiyo died because he asked her to save the others with her power. She spent six whole years without him and only meeting him in the space between life and death along with the child who should have lived. Machiko was happy she could see this version of Inukai Yuto. Machiko could remember Ranfa saying the world will reset... but Ranfa never said anything about anyone remembering the events from the past world. Was this a miracle? Was this a chance for Machiko to change everything for the better?
"Ahaha, why are you crying and holding onto me as if you haven't seen me for a long time?" But for some reason, Inukai cried too. "Eh? Why am I crying too?" Unlike her, he couldn't remember a thing. So why did he cry too?
Inukai spent a good few minutes staying where he was, comforting his crying girlfriend and wondering why he felt sad but happy at the same time.
Suddenly, Inukai was given a call by the Warden. He answered it and it seemed like the Warden want him to go to work immediately. "A new inmate called Sen Michiyo?"
Machiko gasped! This was the day Michiyo will go to prison?! She looked at her phone immediately and she looked up the Building X incident, in which everyone in the building died but Michiyo. "It happened..."
"Machiko-san, I need to go to work. Maybe I'll take the time to ask the Warden if the prisoners and I are permitted to enter Paradox Live while I am at it. If this delays anymore, Mikoshiba-kun will be mad at me."
"Yuto, wait." She put her gown back on, "Take me with you."
"You know someone in the prison I work in? Visiting hours are over though."
"You have to let me in."
"I can't-"
"Yuto, please."
Seeing Machiko seriously pleading, how could Inukai say no to her? "Can you at least tell me why?"
"I... it's hard to explain. Yuto, I need to get in there and I need to see Michi."
"Michi? You know this girl I just mentioned?"
"I kind of know her? But she doesn't know me." She could see Inukai found it hard to believe her. She held his hand with both of hers. "Yuto, believe me." She could try and explain but she didn't want Inukai to think she's gone mad or something.
"Alright. But you let me arrange how you can meet this girl and don't move around the prison on your own."
"Sure thing~."
'Yuto can't remember a single thing. I can only tell him what to do. I need to make sure I am not confusing him or the others when I meet them again.' She thought as she looked at Michiyo, who seemed confused. Of course Michiyo will be confused, she had never seen this beautiful woman before. 'I told him to get Michi here. In the last world, my first contact with Michi was in the bookstore and I saved her from a molester. In this world, I am meeting her here much earlier.' Machiko tried to say something but because the tears won't stop, it was hard to speak.
"Um..." Michiyo found a box of tissues and she passed it to Machiko, "Is it my fault?"
Machiko grabbed some tissues and she dabbed her eyes with them. "No, Michi. It's not your fault. I'm just happy to finally meet you." Machiko could still remember when they met properly in the last world; Michiyo was cleaning around the house on her own and Machiko came in to keep her company. Spending almost a whole day with Michiyo shopping and then eating dinner together was a precious memory to Machiko. "Michi, hold your hand out."
Michiyo held her hand out. Machiko put something light on her hand. It's a piece of orange flavored candy.
"Candy~." Seeing she's getting another candy of her favorite flavor, it made her heart feel a little more at ease. "I've never told you two this but orange is my favorite flavor."
"I know." Everything from the last world, Machiko could never forget about it...
"Hi, Michi~." Machiko wondered why Michiyo was holding a broom and shaking like a fawn about to take their first steps. "Are you okay?"
"Y-you scared me and my heart wasn't prepared."
"Poor you." Machiko locked the door behind her and then she put the grocery bags to the tea table first. She gently removed the broom from Michiyo, "Are you okay? Sorry for scaring you. I'll make it up to you with this." Machiko gave Michiyo a candy.
Michiyo took the candy, unwrapped it, and she put it into her mouth. "Hmm..." She loved orange flavored candies.
"Feel a lot calmer?"
Michiyo nodded. "You're that onee-chan who helped me in the bookstore."
"I'm actually more than that to you. Remember the box of essentials?"
How could Michiyo forget? "Y-you're the one who got me all those things in the white box?" The one who bought her all those things were Machiko. Machiko could have stopped at the pads and the pain relief tablets but she went above and beyond for Michiyo. Michiyo finally properly meet the person who splurged out on her! She didn't think she will meet Machiko like that. "You're Machi."
"Is that what you want to call me? Sure. Nice to meet you, Michi. I'm Tsuiteru Machiko. You can call me Machi if you want to. I'm your strongest ally and I'm Yuto's girlfriend."
Remembering the events from the past world meant remembering both the happy times and the unhappy times. The things that made Machiko want to cry, she wanted to forget about them. "Michi, can you come a little closer?"
"Eh? Ah, yes."
Machiko gently hugged Michiyo close to her chest, a gentle hand on her shoulder, and a warm hand on Michiyo's head. Maybe Machiko ended up remembering everything in order to save this girl from her impending doom in the near future.
Michiyo didn't know why but she felt her eyes begin to water. Michiyo couldn't remember if her own mother even hugged her like this. The embrace felt warm and she felt protected and safe.
Inukai didn't know why but seeing his girlfriend this protective over Michiyo was stirring something in him. Why did this scene seem familiar to him? It's as if he saw Machiko do this many times before. 'But where...?' He thought.
The door to the hospital wing was kicked down with brute force!
"Ah, it unlocked." Shion said as he walked in with a cigarette between his fingers. "Hm? Inukai, you never told me you're having a threesome in here. Oh? Isn't one of them underaged?"
"It isn't like that, Kaida-kun! And Tosa-kun! Why did you kick the door down?!" Inukai will have to write a report about this! Or maybe if he could fix the door, he could sort of get away with it?!
"It was locked." Ryoga answered as if it was the most appropriate choice when one came across a locked door!
"So you kicked it down?!"
"Never mind that, you stupid ass guard! Did the shitty babylons from the top say yes to us entering Paradox Live?" Mikoshiba Kenta came in and he rudely jumped onto the hospital bed without taking off his shoes. He was staining the washed sheets but he didn't care because he won't be the one cleaning it.
"Um, I haven't gone to the office yet-" Inukai couldn't even finish his sentence because Mikoshiba was snapping at him!
"THEN WHY ARE YOU WASTING TIME HERE?! YOU MISSED PRISON RAP FOR WHAT?!" Mikoshiba looked at Machiko and then at Michiyo. "Who the fuck are they?"
"Ah, yes. A babe, and a little cutie~ Hi~." Shion really liked what he's seeing right now. To him, Machiko was drop dead gorgeous. There's no reason for him to sneak out of prison and play with kittens outside when there's one right here.
Michiyo blushed when Shion said hi to her. She felt super shy when she heard Shion's voice so she hid her face against Machiko.
"Shion, stop it." Machiko said to Shion.
"Hm? Have we met before?"
"Yuto mentioned you three to me a couple of times." It was true; even though she had not met Shion, Ryoga, and Mikoshiba, she heard of their names because Inukai always confide in her how the three of them could be nice to him one minute and then be complete assholes in the very next second. Machiko thought they were just jerks but now with her memories intact, she knew Ryoga and Shion were kind people in their own way if you one took the time to listen to them. On the other hand-
"Did he tell you the part where he sucks at doing his job?" Mikoshiba snickered, "Who the hell is this woman with melons for tits, Inukai. Don't tell me she's your babysitter~!"
On the other hand, Machiko still remembered Mikoshiba as a little shit! "Michi, excuse me for one second." She was like an angel with Michiyo but the moment her eyes landed on Mikoshiba, Mikoshiba swore her face just now reminded him of the Japanese oni mask!
"Oh shit!" He leapt out of the bed and he darted away from Machiko's grasp! He grabbed Michiyo's shoulders and he used her as a human shield as if she could ward off Machiko!
"You little shit, you dare to use my Michi as a human shield?!"
"Ahhh! Machiko-san! Mikoshiba-kun is only fifteen! Please! No violence!"
"Yuto, get out of the way! I need to discipline that boy!"
"Is this woman Shibaken's mother or something?!" Ryoga shouted as he helped Inukai fend off Machiko!
"The fuck is wrong with that woman?!" Mikoshiba moved Michiyo to the side and he looked at her face, "And why is someone like you here? I didn't know field trips include prisons."
"Um... I'm a prisoner." Michiyo said to Mikoshiba.
"Small world. What did you do? Too stupid that they arrested you for it?"
When he said small world, Michiyo felt a little comforted she's not the youngest prisoner here after all if she were to assume they're the same age. "They said it's murder."
The room went quiet. Michiyo was starting to think maybe she should have just lied. Will they stop associating with her and look at her with disdain like the people in the court room?
"Pfft..." Mikoshiba filled the room with his laughter. "What the hell?! Murder?! You?! You look like you're growing flowers in your head as we speak! Hahaha!!!" He pressed his finger against her forehead, "I'm calling you flowers for brain from now on. Nice to meet you, Flowers for brain." He poked her forehead!
"Ah-!" Michiyo touched her forehead! This boy was so mean! They're probably around the same age and he's being so mean to her!
"Mikoshiba-kun, you can't treat a girl like that!" Inukai was trying to steer Mikoshiba the right way on how to talk to girls.
"Why not? What happened to gender equality?"
"That doesn't include being a little shit, you ass." Machiko joined in on the lecture.
"My assholery knows no gender."
"What a coincidence! Neither do my fists!"
"Machiko-san!" Inukai had to stop Machiko yet again!
Michiyo didn't know why but seeing Mikoshiba on the receiving end of Machiko's anger with Inukai trying to stop them both... the scene felt familiar and it made her smile a little.
Once again, the story restarted itself.
How will it end this time?
And so a blue flower was found in prison...