As the moments stretched on, Gakuto's silence grew more peculiar, causing Kiyoshi to instinctively distance himself. Yet, the cryptic words that escaped Gakuto's lips lingered in Kiyoshi's mind, fueling a nagging suspicion that perhaps his friend harbored ill intentions towards him. The question lingered in the air, heavy with curiosity and concern.
"What happened to him? Did the two of you become enemies?" To Kiyoshi's surprise, he soon discovered that he was not the only one who had noticed it. His middle school buddies had also caught wind of the situation.
In contrast to his companions, Shingo possesses a bold claim: his keen observations and his past as a rebellious soul grant him an uncanny ability to comprehend the innermost thoughts and even the fleeting moods of those around him.
If Kiyoshi were privy to Shingo's self-perception all this time, he would find great amusement in it, bursting into laughter before delivering a contemptuous spit in Shingo's face. To Kiyoshi, it would all seem like utter nonsense.
"You think I want to get in trouble with this crazy person... Well, let me clarify, it's not just him that I'm concerned about, but every single one of you."
The predicament at hand was that, despite Kiyoshi's best efforts to distance himself from their company, a series of troubles seemed to gravitate towards him as if determined to intertwine his destiny with these individuals of less fortunate circumstances. Initially, he harbored reservations about antagonizing them, yet as their conduct deteriorated with each passing moment, he swiftly abandoned such notions.
"Haven't we all apologized to you? Besides, if President Mari hadn't found us, none of this would have happened."
Kiyoshi couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise as he observed Shingo's apparent obliviousness to the fact that their grand scheme of espionage had mostly crumbled due to him being a snitch. Nevertheless, amidst this realization, Kiyoshi's thoughts couldn't help but wander towards Mari, leaving him curious and intrigued.
'How did that woman know? Is it just because her intuition is so strong, or is it just a coincidence?'
As the much-awaited break time finally arrived, Kiyoshi found himself still unable to grasp the answer. However, amidst his frustration, there was one particular aspect that managed to irk him even more - Gakuto's behavior. As the crowd formed, eagerly awaiting their turn to deposit their collection of dry leaves and twigs into the receptacle, an unfortunate incident unfolded.
As was her custom, Meiko oversaw the prisoners' activities with an air of unwavering seriousness. After meticulously inspecting the contents of Andre and Shingo's trash, she nodded approvingly, granting them permission to dispose of it before retiring for the day.
Kiyoshi, positioned just behind Joe, observed his trembling form as though he awaited his inevitable encounter with the angel of death. Burdened by his frail body, Joe found himself woefully unable to meet the demanding quota.
Sure enough, Meiko saw the trash that Joe had collected was not satisfactory therefore, she immediately gave him the usual portion of punishment. With a relentless barrage of punches and kicks, she swiftly brought him crashing down to the unforgiving ground, leaving his face marred by the crimson stain of his own blood.
"A typical schoolgirl would struggle to venture so far with a hint of compassion, but she truly possesses a sadistic streak," Kiyoshi muttered, his throat dry as he pressed on to deliver the trash he held.
"What seems to be the matter? Are you interested in lending a hand?" Kiyoshi felt a surge of fear as Meiko's intense gaze remained fixed upon him, her emotions still in a state of unrest. The thought of becoming her next target sent a shiver down his spine, prompting him to swiftly gather his wits and respond without hesitation:
"N-No, I just don't want my rest time to be cut short."
"Kiyoshi-dono, you seem to be disregarding your friend once more. That's not good, you know…" Gakuto, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet, finally broke his silence. However, his voice was barely audible, reaching only Kiyoshi's ears.
Over the past few days, Gakuto had meticulously crafted a plan to engage Kiyoshi in a conversation about their impending escape. However, his carefully laid groundwork was met with a disheartening response from Kiyoshi, who seemed to be actively evading any interaction. This unexpected behavior left Gakuto feeling a tinge of annoyance creeping up within him.
And so...
'Don't blame me, Kiyoshi-dono. I did this to wake you up.'
Kiyoshi couldn't shake off the unease that settled in his gut when he sensed Gakuto's looming presence behind him. And just as his premonition had foretold, reality came crashing down when Gakuto staggered towards him, clumsily tripping and inadvertently propelling his body into his path. With an unexpected force, Kiyoshi got pushed into Meiko, causing a comical cascade as they tumbled into the gaping maw of a nearby trash container.
Fortunately, the lucky landing upon a bed of desiccated leaves spared Kiyoshi and Meiko from any grievous harm. Alas, the tumultuous descent through the dense vegetation left them adorned with a smattering of shallow bruises. Joe stood outside, his eyes wide with astonishment. He watched as Gakuto, filled with guilt, offered one apology after another. Joe couldn't help but think it was all just a simple mistake.
In the waning hours of the afternoon, Meiko unleashed a torrent of pent-up fury upon Kiyoshi and Gakuto. With calculated intent, she administered a sound thrashing to both of them, ensuring their rest was cut short. Thus, they were compelled to return to their duties, bearing the physical marks of their encounter and enduring the constant growling of their empty stomachs.
Kiyoshi found himself caught in the clutches of an unfortunate turn of events. The relentless madness that consumed Gakuto showed no signs of diminishing, casting a dark shadow over their shared path. The resounding echoes of agony grew more pronounced with each strike of Meiko's whip, leaving indelible marks upon their vulnerable flesh. Unyielding in her pursuit of retribution, she unleashed a relentless onslaught upon the hapless duo, unafraid to unleash the full fury of her wrath.
As the radiant orange glow of the setting sun bathed the surroundings, Kiyoshi and Gakuto wearily made their way back to the confines of the prison block. Their bodies bore the marks of their recent struggles, evidence of the trials they had endured. Their piercing gaze remained fixed ahead as if yearning to divulge the trials they had endured.
"It wasn't long ago that I realized that you rarely get punished, so it's natural that you can't relate to your comrades' feelings, Kiyoshi-dono..."
"Fuck Off!" As soon as Kiyoshi's face transformed into an icy mask, Gakuto couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. However, he quickly mustered up a smile and retorted, "Well then, I guess I'll make it my duty to keep reminding you, my friend."
'This is all so that I can make my dream come true!... I won't give up just because of this pain!...' Gakuto's determination surged within him, growing stronger than ever. However, in a sudden twist of fate, his vision blurred, and the pain etched across his face intensified, surpassing any previous agony he had experienced.