Brothers, I'll Be Back

Chapter 8 - Empty

THE BOY'S POV

In my playground, Jyugo sat on the swing, alone and miserable.

Jyugo: "......"

Jyugo: "What are you doing?"

Jinx: "Uno said I'm supposed to push you. Lift your feet up."

Jyugo: "Jinx... why did you go...?"

Jinx: "You'd really leave us?!? Just like that...?! Why...?!"

Jyugo: "Why...?"

Uno: "Kinda figured you'd be here."

He looked up and wiped his face.

Jyugo: "Yeah..."

Nico: "Jinx's playground."

Rock: "Remember the first time we all played here together?"

Jinx: "Yeah, that was fun!"

Jyugo: "How could I forget?"

Jinx: "Hahaha, I'm flying!"

Nico: "It was so much fun. She was so happy."

Jinx: "I love slides!"

Uno: "We all were."

Jinx: "Did you see, I did it!"

The Boys: "I miss her..."

GUARD'S POV, In the breakout room...

Hajime: "Hey, Yamato, where are the cell 13 inmates?"

Yamato: "I believe they are at young 33's playground. Seitarou is with them."

Hajime: "Fine..."

Yamato: "You know, Supervisor... cell 13's been... rather docile since number 33's release date."

Hajime: "Yeah, they have..."

Yamato: "They haven't even tried to escape. They have no motivation to do anything."

Samon: "My inmates have been the same."

Kiji: "And my boys."

Yamato: "What do you mean by that?"

Samon: "My cell 8 especially. They've been lacking in their training lately. Number 71 aside, it's really not like them."

Kiji: "My boys in cell 6 begged me to cancel the meeting tour today. The poor dears have never turned that down."

Kenshirou: "Sounds like 634's current mood."

Yamato: "Your underground prisoner?"

Kenshirou: "Yes. Since he found out, he's been much less talkative, and he isn't eating nearly as much as normal."

Samon: "And all this started when 33 was released."

Kiji: "Yes, that's right."

Kenshirou: "That is the case."

Yamato: "I hadn't given it a thought that the departure of young 33 would affect the inmates in other buildings."

Kiji: "They were all rather fond of that sweet little girl."

Hajime: "Will you all shut up."

Samon: "What's your problem, Mr Ape?"

Hajime: "Nothing, that's the point!"

Yamato: "What do you mean, Supervisor?"

Hajime: "The inmates are docile. They're not trying to escape, and they're not causing trouble."

Kenshirou: "It's more than that, Hajime. They're downright depressed."

Samon: "We're concerned. It's just not healthy."

Hajime: "They're acting like the kid's dead!"

Kiji: "They know they'll never see her again. It might as well be the same thing."

Hajime: "*sigh* If you're that worried, just give it a couple days. They're just being dramatic."

THE BOY'S POV

Jyugo: "Hey, Uno."

Uno: "Mm?"

Jyugo: "What do you think Jinx meant... when she said, 'I'll be back'?"

Uno: "I've been thinking about that too... and I think it means exactly that."

Nico's face lit up for a second.

Nico: "She's coming back?"

Rock: "She did say that... but..."

Jyugo: "How?"

They sat in silence for a minute.

Uno: "Wait a minute... do you remember that time her real brother came to visit her?"

Nico: "Yeah."

Rock: "That was also the first time she told us about her real big brother."

Jyugo: "I'd never seen her like that before. She was... more than upset. She was... scared and angry..."

Nico: "Wait... Uno, you don't think she-"

Uno: "It's how she got here in the first place."

Rock: "Why would she though?"

Jyugo: "......Closure... Vengeance."

Nico: "She'd really do it?"

Uno: "I think that was her plan all along."

Seitarou: "Uh, guys? Sorry to interrupt... but free time is over for today..."

Seitarou flinched as they stood up.

Jyugo: "Alright, man."

Seitarou: "Huh? Oh... good. Let's go, then."

He walked them back to their cell.

Seitarou: "I know you guys miss 33... and to be honest... I do too. She was always really sweet and kind."

The Boys: "Yeah..."