[Star P.O.V]
I slowly opened my eyes and saw the same old dark ceiling I've gotten used to. It's like the bad smell of expired food in this place.
"Hey there, Bald Tinkle. You must be twenty-seven now, huh?"
I blushed at the familiar smoky voice, knowing exactly what he was referring to.
'Ugh, kill me now...'
Ignoring my embarrassment, the voice kept on talking, "Your dad's last words were really something. Being his son, you should hear them too."
I mustered up the courage to sit up straight, but soon found myself drifting back into dreamland.
My eyes landed on the most beautiful sight. I was blinded by a heavenly light, but I couldn't turn away. It felt like I was gazing at paradise.
"Mm sommmhy mmog Myld Minkr (Is something wrong Bald Tinkle)?" The angel siting on the top bunk bed asked.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest. My cheeks quickly turned rosy again and I could feel my body heating up, like a little steam was coming out of my face.
I couldn't help but wonder, "What is this feeling? Kont has been messing with my emotions this whole time, but this is what I truly feel."
'I like this girl!' I admitted to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. 'No, it's beyond just liking her.'
Even the way she's devouring that pie looks amazing. Her chubby cheeks are so cute, I just want to squeeze them all day. Maybe I should grab a napkin and wipe those crumbs off her face.
Oh no!
'I love Encender!'
AHHHH!
No wonder why she suddenly looks so pretty. Did I approach her because I liked her, only for Kont to twist that into hurting her instead?
"Tsuyoi hates him. Why did you bring him here, Tito?"
An indifferent response was provided, "Consider him our temporary servant for the day. Furthermore, his skills are valuable in testing Rajah's limit."
'Wait, me, as a maid? Why would they want to test their friend's limit using my ability?'
I couldn't help but shiver at the thought of becoming their next victim.
Slowly turning my head to the side, my eyes widened in fear at the sight of Rajah's body performing a complete revolution, with the youngest inmate sitting on him nonchalantly playing video games.
'If she is doing that to her friend who didn't tell her that he is immortal, then what would happen to me? I spit on her boss' face and even injure her.'
I quickly dropped any sense of pride and begged for forgiveness from Encender, realizing the consequences of my previous actions, "I am sorry! I never meant to do what I did! Please find it in your heart to forgive me!"
Three voices answered, "Nope."
"Why won't you forgive me?"
"I hate you," the girls said and went back to what they were doing.
'I was dumb to think they'd forgive me. I guess I know what they'd say now.'
I sighed and turned to Tito's bunk bed.
He inquired in a drowsy tone, "Is there anything you need from me?"
'Did he really say he wanted to share my dad's last words? And why does he look like he's in a bad mood?'
He's just chilling on his bed with his eyes closed, not actually sleeping. His expression seems cool and collected, but his jaw movements suggest otherwise.
'He's probably mad at himself. What's got him feeling down like that?'
Anyway, it's not my place to pry. The important thing is that he rescued me from those creepy tentacles that pop up in the prison after lunchtime.
I bowed my thanks to him, "Thanks for saving me."
"....."
"Than—!"
Tito cut me of," It wasn't me who saved you...it was Tucky."
I looked at me and asked in a flustered tone," Why would he do that? And isn't he dead."
Tito's face scrunched up for a sec, but then he relaxed and sighed.
"Basically, she had feelings for you but couldn't say it," he explained.
My jaw dropped. "Wait, what?! Why are you calling Tucky 'she'?"
Ignoring me, he added, "Oh, and by the way, the girl behind you knows you have feelings for her. You were talking about her in your sleep. Can't hide anything from a red panda, I guess."
I felt a sudden wave of panic. I couldn't even bring myself to turn around and face the girl behind me.
"What did I say when I passed out? This is not how I wanted things to go... just end me now."
Encender chimed in, "I'm not into guys who treat girls badly, just so you know."
I realized that maybe if I showed her my true self, I might have a shot at dating her.
....
At the top floor of the Galactic Prison, the sun could be seen going back to its mother's embrace, with its rays being reflected on the silver surface.
"Hmmm, hummm, hummm, hummm..."
It sounds more like a hummingbird. However, in truth, it was a man.
Thanks to his slightly frail body, he walked past the big-ticket windows without making a sound with his feet.
"...hmmm, hmm—"
The humming suddenly came to a stop. The pale-skinned man had reached a wooden door with 'Vice Warden' written on top.
If it were any other day, he would walk straight in. However, something had caught the interest of his red eyes.
There was a small silver metal lunchbox at the entrance to his office.
He did not find it necessary to open the container, as his heightened eyesight allowed him to discern two half-heads fused together inside the metal lunch box, which belonged to Igor and Kontrolu, his previous employees.
Despite the gruesome sight, the reason for his trembling eyes was not the graphic display but rather the small white cloth sewn onto their foreheads, bearing the message "You pulled the trigger" inscribed in blood.
"Haha! Hahahaha! It appears someone has cleverly discovered the sole means of exiting this confinement! I am intrigued to know the identity of the individual behind this delightful revelation!"
He was talking about the white cloth.
Kontrolu and Igor didn't even enter his mind, not even for a second. There were all just toys for his amusement.
Now, they had really fulfilled their purpose.
....
A week went by and I completely forgot that my right arm was missing. It all happened because of my crush on Encender and me doing something dumb.
"I will instruct you on the method to capture the affection of any woman, in only ten steps. All I request is that you perform a favor for me."
So, I ended up as a book nerd, spending all my time in the library. I was surrounded by books, trying to prove I was better than everyone else.
As I grumbled to myself placing the books on my side, a guy suddenly walks in, "Can I sit here?".
I nodded in silence, and he sat quietly for a while before finally speaking up.
"Are you Star Kazuma?" he asked.
I looked up and nodded, trying to keep my cool. "Are you a professor?" I asked.
He smiled and said, "Is it weird for a respectable guy like me to wear a black? I even made this suit myself with the fabric from the textile cube."
Wrinkles started popping up on my forehead, as I say, "That so-called textile cube is a joke. It's full of nothing but rags. You can't make a suit out of that kind of fabric."
The dude with the black hair kept on grinning, saying, "If you don't believe me, just ask my buddies in cell block 7X. Name's Hain Malvado, by the way."
I rolled my eyes, thinking, 'Who in their right mind would talk to someone from block X?'
Ignoring him, I just focused on the books on my table. There was something about this guy that gave me a bad feeling.
Out of nowhere, he reached out and touched my hand. I tried to pull away.
However, when I looked into his intense red eyes, I felt this weird connection.
"Whoops, sorry about that," he said, rubbing his chin.
"It's all good," I said, mirroring his hand-on-chin move.
"Got it." His red eyes deeply stare at me, "So, Star, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, shoot."
"Do you actually like reading books?"
"Not at all."
"Then why bother reading them? Take your time and really think about it. No need to rush...just chill..."
He lightly touched my cheek, "You're a good person. I know you can't lie to me."
After a short pause, I replied, "I just want to impress Encender and look smart."
"Tsk." Hein clicked his tongue, sounding annoyed. "That's pretty pointless."
The wrinkles on his face disappeared as he put on his monocle. "Close your eyes and open them in three minutes."
I closed my eyes, but when I opened them, I felt completely disoriented.
"Oops, was I daydreaming about Encender again?"