episode_0006

As the kiss came to an end,

When Creep withdrew her finger,

“Look at this. It’s the first ring you ever gave me.”

Already, there were disgustingly clear tooth marks all over it.

Both the villains and I stared at her in disbelief. Among us, only Creep smiled.

“It hurts, but I’m happy.”

Was even the pain in her crushed finger a gift to her?

I had been through a lot with the villains,

But I had rarely felt this powerless.

Creep wasn’t laughing because she couldn’t feel pain.

No, she was truly,

Feeling a joy that outweighed the pain she was experiencing.

“Okay, I’ll give you the same gift. How about that?”

Her most powerful weapon and her greatest risk was her mind, twisted beyond what anyone could bear.

“Crow, give me your finger too.”

Calling out my hero name, three syllables,

Creep held out her hand.

A pale palm appeared before my eyes, smeared with blood.

“Why are you shaking? Don’t you want to give it?”

The villains held my arm and offered it to Creep.

In that moment, I felt like an offering to an angry god, a human sacrifice for a ritual.

“…”

I tried to calm myself. My body and mind trembled, yearning for strength amidst fear.

“Are you scared?”

“…No.”

“I knew it. Ah, I love it. That’s so you.”

I couldn’t back down.

There was nowhere to run.

I couldn’t stand feeling weak in front of her, not even a little.

“Don’t look away. You understand, right?”

She adjusted her posture so I could see better,

“That’s the best part. It’s not about how much it hurts, it’s about accepting that it’s going to hurt like hell.”

Then, she placed my ring finger between her molars.

In the past, being a hero often led to injuries. No matter how careful I was, my body would inevitably bear the scars of battle.

Even with my enhanced recovery ability, I still felt the pain, so I always stayed alert during fights.

If a body part were to be completely severed or turned to ash, my power couldn’t restore it.

“…H-Huh…”

But I thought I had gotten used to the inevitable pain that came with fighting villains.

I was certain of it.

“Ugh, Ngh…!”

However, the cruel pain that surged from my fingertip was beyond comparison.

Just as Creep said,

My world seemed to shake from the constant warning signals in my head.

“Aaaah! Ngh…!”

I tried to endure, but I couldn’t help but cry out. It was beyond anyone’s sanity to bear.

The teeth tearing through flesh,

Muscles being crushed under intense pressure.

That repulsive sensation spread throughout my body.

Malicious pain.

It had no end.

“Pahap…”

The saying that you get used to it,

No talk of overcoming it.

“…I love you, darling. Let’s go to our room.”

There was only

Misery.

—————————————————-

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink, staying awake with my eyes wide open.

The lights in the common area never turned off, so I endured the slow passing of time under the bright illumination.

If I couldn’t enter a room, I would have to sleep with an eye mask or bury myself under the blanket. But I didn’t even have the luxury of a moment’s rest.

I didn’t know when or who would come for me. Perhaps Creep’s gang would quietly open the door and drag me away.

“…Ugh, huuuut!”

I never wanted to go back there.

The throbbing pain in my fingers and the fresh wounds on my body screamed in agony.

My healing ability was weakened, and my recovery was already slow, but now I had countless injuries.

Still, if I could just sleep for one night, I’d surely recover.

Surely…

“Haa, haa…”

Even breathing caused me pain.

But what tormented me the most was the fact that, as Creep said, this is only the first day.

All of this had happened in just one day.

I had no idea how long I would have to stay here.

“…It’s okay.”

I kept repeating comforting words to reassure myself.

“It’ll be okay. I’m okay.”

Since no one here would comfort me,

I had to comfort myself.

“I’ll get out soon.”

Words that weren’t even certain.

A desperate wish, a desire.

That sort of thing.

“…Someone will come to save me.”

Without that,

I couldn’t see any way to endure this.

———————————–

One by one, they wake up from their slumber,

And emerge into the common area in the order they awoke.

Those who share a bond, though in different rooms, exchange warm greetings and claim their tables.

As a result, those who come out later naturally sit with their friends. This marks the beginning of their daily routine.

Some do a quick wash, while others take a full shower,

And a few light up cigarettes even in the morning.

One guy brings out a pack of ramen and prepares to cook it. Or rather, soak it.

There is no boiling hot water inside the prison; only lukewarm water exists.

The aroma stimulates my olfactory senses. It’s been two days since I’ve eaten anything.

The day before yesterday, I refused food due to my complicated emotions,

And yesterday, I missed breakfast because of Acid and lunch and dinner due to Creep.

But there’s nothing I can do.

I remain in the same position I’ve been in all night,

Crouching quietly with a single towel draped over me.

[It’s mealtime.]

Fortunately, I hear the announcement for mealtime.

I must eat something this morning. If I don’t, my recovery will slow down even more, and the little strength I have left will drain away.

My energy is waning. In stressful situations like this, I must somehow take in nutrients.

“Hey. Good morning.”

But.

Creep won’t leave me alone.

“Darling, did you sleep well?”

Everyone lines up for their meals, but Creep squats right next to my bed, observing my reaction.

“Oh, you don’t look so good…”

She knows it’s her fault, but she wears a concerned expression and places her hand on my forehead. My body shudders, and goosebumps form.

“I’ll get it for you. Okay?”

“Wait, wait a minute…”

Before I can respond, she lightly jumps over to her gang. They don’t need to say anything; they naturally let Creep go to the front.

“Thanks, thanks! What’s on the menu today?”

“Hey, sis. It’s the same every day. Super dry hard-boiled eggs, brick-like biscuits, and cheap sausages.”

“I still like it~”

And there,

Creep says to the officer in charge of serving meals,

“Officers, I’m sorry, but my boyfriend is very sick, so I’m going to get it for him. Is that okay~?”

It’s not okay.

Tell her it’s not allowed. Maintaining order is the duty of a prison officer, right?

But,

Her reply is,

“Sure.”

My meal tray is handed over to Creep. She holds a Styrofoam tray in each hand and receives the food.

Two eggs, one biscuit, a little gravy for the biscuit, and two American-style sausages.

“Thank you~”

Then, with a joyful step, she comes to me and says,

“Let’s eat inside. It’s embarrassing to eat here.”

The four-person room shared by Creep and her three colleagues.

If I go in there, I won’t be able to leave at will.

“Don’t you want to go? Go and rest comfortably! You can’t sleep here; it’s too noisy, right?”

“…I don’t want to.”

I try to endure.

I’d rather skip more meals.

It’s not unbearable.

I can go a few more days without food.

“Really?”

But,

As always,

What scares me the most is…

“You really don’t want to go?”

The anxiety of not knowing how long this will last.

“You need to eat well and rest well to stay healthy when you get out, right?”

Creep eventually returns to the room.

The food assigned to me is carried and followed her into the room.

“Come quickly~ Don’t make me wait. It’ll get cold.”

Creep pokes her head through the door gap and says with a bright smile,

One by one, the villains who have received their meals return to their rooms or sit at the tables,

But I, like a dog on a leash with creep, am at a loss.

“Hurry up~”

The door is about to close.

Without a card key, one cannot casually enter such a room.

Each room’s members share a card key.

“…”

So, if I miss this opportunity, I won’t be able to eat.

But it’s okay.

It’s okay…

“Did this guy eat anything here ever since he came?”

“Don’t worry. Do as your sister says.”

Everyone starts eating except me.

So, the C ward is filled with the aroma of food.

I’m probably the only one not eating anything.

Twuk-

“…?”

Something falls behind me.

A bag of potato chips in a familiar package,

“Eat it if you want.”

I know who threw it without looking.

“Or throw it away. I can’t eat it; it’s tasteless.”

And once again,

I received help from Skadi.