I've done quite a few things since I came to this world. I started a job at a store, I've begun living with an old lady that I am concerned will cut my throat in my sleep, I've started exercising, and most recently I have gone to jail!
Mom, Dad, are you proud of your son? He's finally experiencing life in all of its joy!
"You'll be staying in here. Don't cause trouble." The guard shoved me forward as he declared this.
The guard that apprehended me pushed me into a small cell, removed the device on my face, locked the door behind me, and left.
"O-Oi! Wait! I didn't do anything!" I yelled, but my voice only echoed because nobody listened.
I hung my head in defeat as I grabbed onto the metal bars. The walls are all stone, there is no window, and there is no place to sleep or sit other than the hard stone floor. The cell is cold and the bars are colder. I hope I don't freeze to death.
"Well, this is it. My life is over." I sat down and smiled.
I've had a good run. I survived in an isekai world for over 30 hours before I went to jail! I bet I did better than some people have, at least I can be proud of that.
"NO I CAN'T!" I yelled. My eyes bulged in my head as I screamed.
My shout reverberated throughout the jail.
"Shut up!" I heard from another cell.
Oh right, I'm not the only one here. I bet there's murderers and violent people with tattoos and stuff like yakuza here that will kill me if I cause trouble. I should probably stay quiet.
"What do I do…" I cupped my chin as I began to think.
I began to contemplate my situation and how I could get out of it. By all accounts, I haven't committed a crime. What should my defense be? "Sorry officers, but I chased that girl because she stole a store's money! What? Why does her having taken off her cloak matter? No I wasn't forcing her to undress!"
Ah, I'm screwed. I have no idea how the legal system of this world works. Do I have to do a trial by combat? What if they do something like a witch trial where I have to jump off a cliff? Oh god what if they make me show my memories and it shows what I was thinking at that time?
Calm down Kenji, it's going to be alright. Don't panic. If you panic you die and you don't want to die do you?
As I was thinking to myself, I heard the clanking of metal boots on the stone flooring near my cell.
"Prisoner, stand up. You're going to be questioned." The guard called out.
Ah he's talking to me.
I stood up and put my hands against the wall of my cell. I didn't want to look like I was causing trouble.
"You're coming with us." The guard walked up behind me as he grabbed my arms.
I had handcuffs placed on me and then I was dragged into another room. Inside this room there is a wooden table with a chair on either side. This is most definitely an interrogation room.
"Sit." He demanded.
I followed the guards instructions and took a seat at the closest chair.
"Wait." He went towards the door and began to stand guard.
Alright, I'll wait.
The guard stood at the door while I sat in the chair. I felt incredibly awkward and nervous. Please Guard-san, I haven't done anything wrong! Can't you tell by how innocent I look?
"Stop staring at me like that. You're freaking me out." He backed away from me a step as he said this.
"Oh, sorry…" I turned to look away from him.
I guess not everyone can tell the innocence of someone by looking at them. Such a shame.
After a few minutes of waiting, a knock came from the door.
"It's Marix. I'm here to question the prisoner." The voice behind the door announced.
The guard opened the door as a tall slender man emerged and sat at the table opposite to me. The man is wearing a cloak with no hood, a maroon undershirt, and is wearing thick glasses. The word "serious" is the most appropriate term to describe this man.
He began brushing off the dust on the table before sitting down. "My name is Marix. I apologize for making you wait so long. I was not expecting to have to come in to work right now."
Oh so he's lazy.
Marix pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.
"Well, time to start the questioning. First question: What is your name, occupation, and place of origin?" His hand sat close to the paper as he awaited my response.
Well, I may as well give him the same story I gave Biar and Reese. "My name is Kenji. I-"
"Full name, please." He leered at me.
"K-Kenji Fujima. I just started working at a store owned by a man named Biar. I'm from a far away land." I shrugged at the last part. It's probably not necessary to go into too deep of details about that.
"What is this land called?" He looked up from the paper as he asked.
"You wouldn't know it." I looked away and twiddled with my thumbs.
"Tell me what it's called. Now." He tightened his grip on his pen. I could hear an audible noise as he did so.
"Japan." I let out.
He began furiously writing on his sheet of paper. I was astounded by his lightning speed.
"I've heard people from Japan are rare and they're almost always troublemakers, it seems like this is true." He declared as he continued writing.
Despite wanting to punch this guy, I heard something amazing. Other people from Japan have been here before and they have a reputation. Do people that get reincarnated here start stealing things because they are left with no other option? I pity them. Hey wait I'm in jail too…
"Second question..." He looked up from the paper. "What were you doing prior to being apprehended?"
Okay... How do I say this? "I was chasing someone that stole money from my store." I gave the most literal answer I could.
More lightning speed writing. Honestly this is fairly entertaining to watch.
"Third question: Why were you chasing this person?" Marix didn't even bother looking up from his paper this time.
"I-I just told you!" I shouted, but Marix eyed me with contempt.
I opened and closed my mouth a few times in an attempt to find the correct words to say. After a few moments, I made my decision.
"They stole from the shop I was working at so I needed to get the money back. I am a model citizen after all!" I puffed out my chest as I tried to look as responsible as possible.
"Answer honestly." He continued to write without paying me any mind.
Fine. You want it honestly? I'll give you honestly. "That bitch stole the money that would be used to pay me. I wanted to catch her and beat her up."
Marix stopped for a moment. "A-alright." He meekly let out before he continued to write.
More fast writing but now it seemed a little slowed down. I hope Marix hasn't also formed a bad opinion of me.
"Fourth question..." He adjusted his glasses. "Why did you tell the girl to begin stripping?"
"I DID NOT!" I jumped out of my seat and slammed on the desk. The guard at the door jumped in response to my outburst.
"Be honest. Were you trying to do adult things to her?" Marix leered at me. His eyes were hidden behind the reflection in his glasses.
I hate this man I hate this man I hate this man I hate this man.
"I only told her to take off her cloak because I wanted to see what she looked like! I had no ulterior motives whatsoever! I promise!" I held my hands together as I pleaded with Marix.
With a pained expression, Marix looked back down at his paper and began writing some more.
"Fifth question..." Marix grimaced. "Did you plan on sexually assaulting the girl?"
"NO!" I jumped up again. The guard seemed to be prepared this time as he already had his hand on his sword.
"Be honest." Marix placed the paper down as he looked at me.
Marix's icy cold glare told me that I am on my last rope. I don't know how, but it seems like this man can tell when someone isn't being entirely truthful.
"I-I didn't plan on sexually assaulting her!" I began as I returned to my seat. "We were a guy and a girl alone in a back alley and she was saying all these things to a guy like me. Come on we don't really get too many opportunities to be alone in a back alley with a girl! Especially if the girl is acknowledging our presence! Come on Marix you understand where I'm coming from right? If something happened then something happened! That's all!"
Oh I just started running my mouth. Marix please stop staring at me like that, I don't think my heart can take it.
"A-alright. I... um… alright." He looked away from me.
Marix began writing on his paper once more.
We sat in silence for a little while after that.
"S-Sixth question: Is there anyone that can vouch for you?" He put the paper away as he asked.
Oh thank goodness.
"Yes!" I raised my hand. "The shopkeeper of the store I talked about, Biar-san. He was at the store when it was robbed too! He can vouch for me!"
"Hmm, very well." Marix pushed his glasses up as he stood. "I will go contact this 'Biar-san.' In the meantime you will return to your cell. Don't cause trouble."
Marix left the room and I was escorted back to my cell by the guard. I stepped back into my cage as I heard the door lock behind me. I will be here for the foreseeable future.
"Well… I might as well do my exercises while I'm here." I muttered to myself.
I began doing my routine. Planks, situps, crunches, push ups, etc.
It was probably around eight P.M. when I heard the stepping of metal boots once more.
"Alright, come on. You've caused enough problems today Tunne." The guard seemed to be struggling with whoever he was escorting.
"Hehe, alright alright. I'll be released tomorrow so I'll just have to sleep inside tonight! Teehee~." Their voice carried some inheritely disgusting part behind it. I couldn't understand exactly why, but I could feel it in the depths of my being.
A man in a leather jacket and leather pants with one eye sticking out and a hunched back was led to my cell. His hair was oily and sparse.
Hey wait, why are you taking him to my cell? Please don't make me share a cell with this guy, he looks so gross. Oh no he smells so bad. He smells like sulfur and ash! Go away!
"You're going to be sharing a cell so don't cause any problems, alright?" The guard looked to the both of us as he stepped forwards.
"Hehe, alright alright. I promise to be good. Hehe" The disgusting man waved his hand in a playful manner as he was pushed forwards.
Oh please no.
The cell door was opened and the disgusting man that was apparently named Tunne was escorted into my cell. His handcuffs were removed and the guard exited the cell as he locked it behind himself.
Well this is awkward. My second night in an isekai world and I'm spending it with a freaky guy.
We sat in silence for a little while before the man finally spoke.
"Hi there, my name is Tunne." He raised his hand towards me. "Most people just call me Tun-chan. I only let cuties call me that though! I don't mind letting you call me that!" He made a fist and bonked himself on the head like I had seen many idols on television do in the past. The only problem is that when the idols do it, they're cute. This man is disgusting.
"Please leave me alone." I turned away from him as I tried to continue doing my exercises.
"How cold! Come on young man!" He shouted out.
The man named Tunne started getting closer to me.
"Someone help me!" I backed away as the small cell became smaller and smaller.
"Nobody is coming for you now! Give me a smooch!" He puckered up. I could smell the scent of onion on his breath.
"Nooooo-! I screamed.
"Oi, Tunne, knock that out. The prisoner is being released." The guard knocked on the metal bars as he began to unlock the door.
"Fooey." Tunne crossed his arms as he turned away.
I wrestled myself away from the disgusting man and got to the door. The guard opened it and I saw two familiar figures.
"Are you alright Kenji-kun? We heard about what happened." Biar crossed his arms as he looked towards me.
"Oh goodness Kenji-kun. I hope you're alright!" Reese covered her mouth as she approached.
I got on my knees and clung to my saviors. It seems that I've started crying.
"Biar-sama, Reese-sama! Thank you so much! Thank goodness!" I cried out.
"A-aah, it's good to see that you're alright!" Biar patted me on the head reluctantly as I clung to him.
Truly I have met angels.
I was escorted out of the jail by the guard that arrested me.
"I apologize for acting so hastily. It's my fault that the true criminal got away." He bowed to me as he admitted his mistake.
"YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT IS! YOU SHOULD RESIGN!" I got up into his face as much as I could. I was beyond furious.
I was pulled back by Biar and Reese.
"Ah, thank you for your hard work, officer! Keep up the good work!" Reese smiled as she helped take me away.
Biar and Reese led me back to Ania's home.
"We're glad you're alright Kenji-kun. Chasing that thief was very… brave of you. They took the accomplices into custody so the thief should be found soon. Good work today. See you tomorrow!" Biar held Reese's hand as they turned away from me.
With that, Biar and Reese went home. I entered Ania's home and knocked on the door to be let inside. After a moment, the door opened and I saw Ania with an angry expression.
"Let me guess... You got arrested?" She tapped her foot in frustration.
I shrugged. "It wasn't my fault, Ania-sama."
Ania looked to be considering the situation and then let out a big sigh.
"Whatever, just come eat dinner and go to bed." She stepped to the side.
"Yes ma'am." I nodded as I stepped forwards.
I entered the house and heard the door close behind me.