At the prison infirmary, the nurse and doctor were taking good care of me. I wasn't the only one injured — in total there had been 11 deaths and 14 wounded, myself included. I picked up my phone and called my sisters. The moment the call connected, Hinata answered right away and cried out on the other end: « Where are you? Yesterday I was worried sick, and Mira hasn't stopped crying! »
I replied: « I'm sorry, but my job doesn't allow me to come home anymore. »
Shocked, she asked: « Why did you accept this kind of work? Do you… do you not care about us? »
She dared to say I didn't care about them, when it was because of them that I had accepted this job in the first place. I tried to calm my anger and answered: « No, I do care about you. This job will let me pay the rent, your school fees, and Mira's as well. »
Hinata's voice softened, worried: « Then when will you come home? Because Mira is really sad. »
I lied to her, saying I would try to ask the director if I could return on weekends.
Suddenly, Maku Nishi entered and sat down beside my bed. Surprised, I asked: « What do you want from me? »
He answered: « I came to visit you. »
For a moment, I was glad he thought of me and asked: « Really? »
But in a cold voice he said: « Do you really think I would visit someone as weak and pathetic as you? »
I took back what I said. This man was still as cold and arrogant as ever — I was even disgusted that he had come. I asked: « Then why are you here? »
« The director asked me to give you your salary in advance, since you've nearly died three times in a row, » he said.
He handed me an envelope. I took it, opened it, and inside was ¥500,000.
As Nishi was about to leave, I asked: « Wait — I want you to explain the hierarchy of the prison blocks to me. »
Nishi acted as if he hadn't heard, so I shouted. Annoyed, he turned back and said: « Tsk, fine, you win. I'll tell you. »
He began to explain: « The prison holds about 835 inmates, divided into four blocks.
Block C houses minor offenders who committed ordinary crimes, like killing one person.
Block B groups together more powerful criminals, but still relatively weak — they are mostly serial killers.
Block A contains extremely powerful criminals, like Isachi. These criminals have committed abominable acts.
And the last block is S. This block holds the six most dangerous criminals in the entire country. It's the one place where normal guards like you are forbidden to enter. Only the special guards and the director are authorized. »
After that, he left. I realized I had forgotten to ask him who the special guards actually were. I murmured: « I'll have to ask next time. »
Meanwhile, in the director's office, Ishiro was with Mrs. Nishi. She asked: « How did Isachi manage to escape from his cell? Where were the guards? »
The director smiled and replied: « It was simple — he destroyed the bars with a single kick and killed anyone who tried to stop him. »
Mrs. Nishi asked: « So that means other prisoners could escape too? What will you do? »
Ishiro answered: « It's simple — we can't rely only on the special guards. I've decided to create an intensive training program for the regular guards and strengthen security in every block. The program will begin once all the injured are fully recovered. »
In the courtyard, Mrs. Nishi and Nishi were training with pistols. During the session, Mrs. Nishi said: « You know, the new guy, Taro Fugoo, tried to flirt with me. »
Surprised, Nishi stopped shooting. With a brutal tone and a dark look, he murmured: « I'll kill that bastard. »
Yura just smiled and said: « It was a joke… but I must say, you're cute when you're angry. »
« Shut up, and don't ever make that kind of joke again, » he snapped.
Back in the infirmary, I paid my sisters' expenses online and thought: « Sure, this job is dangerous, but I have to admit it pays well. »