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@heartfeltgram
「 now....... who shall be forgiven? 」
heart·felt (/ˈhärtˌfelt/) — (of a feeling or its expression) sincere; deeply and strongly felt.
an interactive ocgram featuring a brand new set of prisoners, led by a pair of twin wardens. ran by two mods (o and g).
cast | voice dramas | voting | results | songs | cws
hi! firstly, i'd like to start this post saying that we're both sorry for the delays on this project. many factors (like jobs. and convention prep. and adhd.) have led to that, but there is one major issue that is preventing me from picking up the slack and getting trial one back on track: one of the prisoners is giving me a TON of issues.
we have her voice drama completed - as we do with all of them currently - but her music video isn't, and no matter what song I choose, nothing completely fits or sparks any sort of ideas for how a video could go. not to mention that the character has language barriers and trying to find an English song or make a cover has proven rather difficult in these past months. as mods, we would like to turn to you, the audience, for help in what step to take next.
should we a) continue to find a way to work with what we have, whether that means changing the song or going back to the original one that was giving issues, or b) replace the character, even if that means restarting and reposting everything for the other characters as well? (Option A means less work for either mod and a less confusing narrative for people who already know the current cast, but Option B allows us to smooth out any existing issues in the writing, but means more work overall and basically restarting the entire project).
option a or option b?
a) work with what you have, even with the existing issues
b) replace the character thats giving issues, even if it means restarting
mod option / view results
note: currently the desktop page theme for the list of prisoners is broken. the theme is very gone and no links work. we're currently attempting to fix it ^^;;
- mod g
everything is fixed now (very quickly LOL) ! and the vd page is up to date with links now as well.
...also found out that kazuhiko has been written in as "katsuhiko" on the cast pages for months. my bad-
- mod g
note: currently the desktop page theme for the list of prisoners is broken. the theme is very gone and no links work. we're currently attempting to fix it ^^;;
- mod g
𝟎𝟎𝟔 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝟏 — 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒𝐓
Song: Shounen to Priest (Nyanyannya / DaitensaiP ft. KAITO) English translation by Releska UST by Super Dandy, tuning & mixing done by Mod G
Key: Lyrics in orange, romaji in bold, descriptions in black
CWs: Religion/Catholicism, implied child abuse, implied sexual abuse
[The opening scenes first show the outside of the church. Right before the lyrics start, we flash to the inside of the church, showing a confession booth.]
Grant your blessing, Noel. shukufuku o noeru
You seem upset. sono…… ukanu kao desuka
Is something worrying you? nayamigoto de wa?
[These three lines show one side of the booth. Inside sits an adult man, with shoulder length hair. We can tell that this is the priest, but his face is obscured by shadow. He moves through the lines as he talks with his hands.]
Forgive me, Father. oyurushi o padore
No. I’m not worthy ie yurushi nado kou
[These two lines show us Iori. He’s frowning and it looks like there are tears in his eyes. On the second line, he looks down towards his hands.]
to beg for anything anymore. shikaku wa mou nai no desu
[His hands are clasped in prayer, but we see tear drops fall on them and leave little stains.]
Does God exist? kamisama wa imasu ka?
[We see a picture of the inside of the church, away from the confession booth. Sun is shining through the stained glass windows.]
Does salvation exist? sukui wa arimasu ka?
[The video moves to a picture of one of the stained glass windows. It’s colourful ; a white cross surrounded by birds.]
That’s what everyone asks, but it doesn’t matter to me. minna tazunemasu ga kakawari naku
[We go back to see Iori in the confession booth. He is wiping at his eyes as he speaks, attempting to remove the tears.]
What’s important is being honest. daiji na no wa seijitsu de aru koto
[We see the priest again, his face in a smile and his hand on his chest.]
So then, why does everyone bloody their hands nara kono kami ga tamouta katachi de
[We see a shot of Iori’s hands again. They are no longer clasped in prayer, but instead open with palms up. We then see them flash to having blood on them, and then back again.]
and curse upon the land God gave them? minna chi ni mamire te o terashi norou no wa?
[There’s a shot of a town. We see a pretty, bustling, green town first before it changes to a down that had been burnt down as a result of war. This is did not happen to Iori ; it’s more trying to show him asking “Why do we wage wars on the land God gave us?”]
Who can be protected by those teachings? sono oshie de dare o mamoreru ka?
[At first we see Iori, and then we see Iori in a classroom with a bunch of his classmates. He wonders if the teachings he’s learning will really protect them all.]
With those slender white arms? shiroku hosoi ude de?
[The same shot greys out, only keeping Iori in colour. He’s not very tall and he’s thin - how can he protect them?]
[Instruments]
[For a bit, we see a shot of Iori sitting on his bed in his dorm room. He sighs, closes the door, and begins to walk down the hallway. It’s a different day ; when he gets to the confession booth, the priest is standing in front of it, waiting for him.]
Come again Noel, mata oide noeru
my pure-hearted door kono seijitsu no tobira wa
is open to anyone. dare ni mo hirakaretemasu
[The priest waves at him, beckons him to come over to him ; when he does, Iori is awkwardly embraced in a hug ; they seem to talk, and at the end, we see the priest offer him his hand to lead him somewhere else.]
[Instrumental break: we see the priest leading Iori down the hallway, his hand on his back. They pass by classrooms and other students, but before they know it the hallway is empty. Noticing that the hallway doesn’t have people in it, we see the priest try to hold Iori’s hand before being shoved away ; he then moves to ruffle Iori’s hair. Eventually, they end up at the priests office, and push open the door. The moment they get in, the priest pushes Iori against the wall, their faces close.]
I just want to be myself, without falsehoods. tada itsuwarazu boku de aritai
[Iori looks like he’s speaking, his expression angry, like he wants to spit the words in the mans face.]
Well then, confess. de wa zange o
[For the first time, we see the priests face. His eyes are cold and he’s smiling, wide and too happy.]
Ah, with this body God granted me aa kami ga tamouta mi de
[Once more we see Iori’s expression, angry and disgusted. After, we see the priest being knocked back, as if he was pushed by someone.]
I once more became bloody, sullying my hands and cursing. mata chi ni mamire te o terashi noroimashita
[Iori’s face again. He’s crying, he looks bitter. It flashes to the priest. He’s still trying to smile but Iori’s hands are wrapped around his throat.]
I was born as a Barber Figaro kono machi ni hitotsu no figaro de
[Iori cries as he clenches his hands around the priests neck tighter and tighter. His tears are falling onto the priests clothes, leaving wet stains.]
in this city. And then… boku wa umare soshite——
[We see the priest’s body slump to the ground.]
That’s okay, that’s enough. ii deshou mou juubun
Close your eyes and pray sotto me o toji inori o
for the sake of us sinners tsumibukaki watashitachi no tame ni
now, and at the time of our deaths. ima mo shiseru toki mo inori tamae tayumazu
[Iori collapses to his knees, crying. Throughout the lines, he puts his hands together in prayer, seemingly begging God to forgive him.]
Ah… Amen Amen Amen Amen
[Upclose shot of Iori praying. It pans down to up, ending on his face.]
Grant your blessing, Noel. shukufuku o noeru
You’re the one… kimi wa——
[On a white background, we see a happy Iori, laughing and dressed in his school uniform. Before it ends, it changes, showing us the scared, anxious Iori dressed in his MILGRAM clothing.]
𝟎𝟎𝟔 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 — 𝐏𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝟑𝟒:𝟏𝟖
CW HEAVY RELIGION / CATHOLICISM, IMPLIED ABUSE
[The only thing audible from the cell this time is the sound of radio static. It seems like this prisoner was able to obtain a radio - but they hadn’t properly adjusted the channel ; it was just white noise at this point. White noise, and silence.]
SHIKI: Oh… Is that the radio you requested? I was wondering why…
IORI: I wanted to listen to the sermons.
SHIKI: Oh, so you’re religious? Hmm, didn’t they mention something about that…?
SHIRO: They said he was a “religious nut” and to ignore him if he starts talking about God too much…
SHIKI: Riiight. You have a better memory as always, Brother! ^-^
IORI: …I’m not a religious nut. My parents are catholic, so… it’s my duty to be as well.
SHIKI: Is that what you have to do, or what you want to do? There’s a difference, you know that, right?
IORI: Isn’t it what I should do? It doesn’t matter if I want to or not.
SHIRO: [Under his breath] Talk about a loss of autonomy…
[Iori reaches over to the radio and turns it off. The static finally stops and now the room is completely silent, with the exception of breathing.]
IORI: I don’t know why they’ve sent you. I already know that I’ve been damned to hell, so what purpose does it serve to be judged by you?
SHIKI: We’re just here to ask you a few questions. No need to get so… defensive about it. Firstly, what’s your name, age, and occupation if you have one?
IORI: …My name is Iori Flynn. I’m 14. I go to a Catholic boy's school and live in the dorms for a good part of the year.
SHIKI: …Why does that kind of make sense?
SHIRO: Shiki… it’s not nice to assume things about people…
SHIKI: [Hushed] But, Brother… isn’t it kind of obvious from the way he’s acting…?
SHIRO: [Whispering] Is what obvious, exactly?
SHIKI: [Hushed] I mean, just… he seems… it feels like he’s too compliant…
IORI: You don’t have to whisper about me, you know.
SHIKI: Ah— Sorry about that, ehe… ^^;;
IORI: It’s whatever.
SHIRO: Hmm… well, uh, uum. How was dorm life? How does it compare to being here?
IORI: …It was fine. We were kept on a tight schedule. It feels… odd. To not have that here. I was hoping that I’d still be able to access some form of mass but, the radio won’t pick up any stations at all.
SHIKI: Nothing at all? It’s almost as if we’re cut off from the world… Kinda scary, huh?
IORI: It is, a little bit. But I’m supposed to believe that my faith will carry me through any hard times.
SHIKI: All this talk about “supposed to”... Is there anything that you want outside of that? Anything at all? It seems to me like you aren’t allowed to say or think anything else…
IORI: I’ve always been told to do good in the eyes of the Lord. Maybe I took it to heart too seriously.
[Quietly] It does feel like I’m not allowed to do much else, though…
SHIRO: Is this something your parents told you?
IORI: No, not really. My mother is often telling me to loosen up a bit, that what the school teaches isn’t that important. But she wasn’t catholic until she met my father, and he says I have to pay attention to my studies. If not studies, then whatever I do should be actions that a man of God would make. Even if I’m 14, and don’t understand what it means to be a man yet…
SHIKI: Wow… Your dad sounds like a lot to handle. That’s a lot of pressure he’s putting on you at your age. [She pauses for a moment, then widely grins.] Well, no need to worry, ‘cause he’s not here, right? You’re free to do whatever you want now, aren’t you? What’s holding you back?
IORI: Isn’t God supposed to be able to see me wherever I am? Know what I think and what I do?
[There’s a long pause of only silence.]
IORI: …Do you think I’d be forgiven, if I let my guard down?
SHIKI: [She opens her mouth to speak, and then promptly shuts it.] I… I don’t know.
Well… have you talked to any of the others? Made friends with them?
IORI: I tried but… Choko didn’t seem to like me much and Kaede’s too energetic for me to handle, it’s almost intimidating, and those are the only two around my age… I wouldn’t want to burden any of the adults by talking to them.
SHIKI: Hmm… Well, aren’t you using their first names, though?
IORI: …I always forget I’m not supposed to. Japanese is my second language and I don’t get to use it a lot at home.
SHIKI: Oh! You’re not from Japan, then? Then, where are you from? If you don’t mind me asking…
IORI: Ireland.
SHIKI: Oh. Interesting! So do you speak Irish, too? Do you know any other languages?
IORI: Since my grandparents can speak some, I’m able to speak a little Gaelic myself. Other than that, I’m mostly fluent in English. And before you ask - my mom moved to Ireland from Japan.
SHIRO: ...Sorry for interrupting the flow of the conversation, but does that mean you’d be able to help translate for the other prisoners? We were told one of the others doesn’t speak a lick of japanese.
IORI: …If the situation calls for it. But I’m not allowed to be present during other interrogations, so you’ll have to deal with it on your own.
SHIKI: Understandable, but… it’s kind of unfair, isn’t it? How do they expect us to interrogate someone that we can’t understand?
IORI: Maybe that's their way of making sure it isn’t. It’s not impossible that they rigged the system, right?
SHIKI: But… Why would they? Don’t they want us to find out the truth?
IORI: Who knows… I guess part of me fails to see the point in being able to be forgiven. I’ve prayed in confession time and time again but I know I’ll never be clean of what I did and there’s people way worse than me here. Who’s to say that they want us to be innocent at all?
SHIKI: Hey… Are you… alright?
IORI: ….I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be.
SHIRO: Isn’t it about time we move on to the next question? I’m not sure how much time we have left here.
SHIKI: Brother’s right. Hmm… Let me put it this way. How would you react if, and this is just an example, God were to view you as a sinner, a murderer, unforgiven in every sense?
IORI: As far as I’m concerned, he already does.
SHIKI: Uhhh… Right. Brother, you take it from here. I feel… unqualified.
SHIRO: I’m not sure I’m any more qualified than you are…
How about we phrase it differently - ignore the idea that it’s God watching you. How do you feel about being put in prison, that people know you killed someone?
IORI: I feel like… like I know that I can’t deny what I did. But I’m conflicted and can’t tell if what I did was the right thing. I did it to save myself… but I still had that intent. I feel like I made the world a better place… but I still have to take the blame for it.
SHIRO: …Was it life or death?
IORI: Sometimes it felt like it.
SHIRO: Then don’t the means justify the ends?
[The mechanical bell tolls once more, quieting all voices who hear it.]
[Shiki gives her brother a knowing look. It’s the end of the interrogation.]
SHIKI: Well, do you have anything else to say before the end?
IORI: You make it sound like I’m getting executed.
SHIKI: Who knows, really? We’ll have to see. [She clears her throat.] Prisoner Number Six…
SHIRO: Iori Flynn…
SHIKI & SHIRO: Sing your sins!
[MV: Shounen to Priest]
𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝟏 — 𝐊𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐊𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐄
Song: Kowase Kowase / Break it, Break it! (E.L.V.N ft. MEIKO) UST by Pearl Galaxy
Key: Lyrics in red, romaji in bold, descriptions in black
CWS: Domestic Abuse, Familial Abuse, Manipulation, Gaslighting, Attempted Suicide, Blood, Murder (duh), etc.
From far away comes the scent of night tooku de wa yoru no nioi ga suru
You walk into the sound of a moist breeze shimetta kaze no oto ni kimi ga aruite haitte kuru
[During this set of lines, we see a clip of Leo and a red-haired man walking together. The unnamed man has no eyes, only a smile, and he holds a lit cigarette between his fingers as he walks alongside Leo.]
Let me guess ima kimi ga omotteru koto
Every single thing you're thinking right now boku ga zenbu atetageyou ka
[Leo’s gaze turns from the camera while the man beside him is chatting away. He’s purposefully looking in the opposite direction.]
I'll grab and tear off your plastic smile tsukuri warai no uragawa o
To show you what's behind it tsukande haide misete yaru yo
[The man stops, reaches up, and tears his own face off as if it were merely a mask. And it is, as underneath it is a much more cold and lifeless expression that makes Leo’s eyes widen in shock when he turns to see.]
When you look at me sono me o boku ni muketara
[We focus on Leo’s shocked face, a closeup.]
Don't bother speaking hanashi nado shinakute ii kara
[The lifeless-looking man pulls Leo in for a rather hard kiss, which the latter attempts to pull away from.]
Throw away that chilly smile right now sono sameta egao tadachi ni suteteshimae
[Leo manages to pull away, and when he looks at the man again, he’s wearing that mask again, eyes visible this time, as he smiles at Leo.]
Your meaningless voice and your warmth imi no nai koe mo nukumori mo
[Leo subserviently allows the man to wrap his arms around him from behind, a smile curling on his lips despite his body language indicating the opposite.]
Give up everything you have omae ga motteru mono zenbu akirameyou
I'll break it all kowashite ageyou
[Leo breaks free from the man’s grasp, and when he turns to look at him, he simply smiles at Leo once more.]
Once I got to the top of the stairs kaidan noborikitta toki kara
[The man and Leo are walking up a flight of stairs to the balcony of an old building.]
I knew nothing would remain nani mo nokoranai ki ga shiteta nda
[Leo seems to be looking somewhere else than at the view from above, dread clear on his face in the way that sweat droplets fall.]
You avert your beautiful eyes ookina me naname sore te mo
[When Leo looks at the man again, that lifeless expression returns, tears falling down his cheeks. Leo’s eyes widen.]
But disdainful eyes stare back at me mukerarete iru no wa shiroime
[The man takes a step backwards towards the edge of the balcony.]
If you're going to talk, look at me hanasu nara kocchi miro yo
[The man’s expression becomes that sinister smile again as he tips over the edge.]
The screaming of the wind coils around us sakebidasu kaze no oto hikizutte
I can't hear any of your tarnished words marude kikoenai utsukushiku mo nai kotoba
[Leo grabs the man’s wrist just before he falls, and the shot freezes in that position through the second line.]
Break it, break it, break it, break it kowase kowase kowase kowase
[For each “break it” that appears, we get a new shot: first, the two men embracing each other; second, a flash of past Leo stopping the man from stabbing himself; third, a shot of Leo and the man meeting their adoptive daughter; and fourth, a shot of the man grabbing the girl’s hand painfully tightly.]
I don't need it, I don't need anything iranai nani mo iranai
[Present time, Leo grabbing the man’s hand as he drags him back down the stairs.]
Ah, it's all worthless aa nante kudaranai
[A focus shot of Leo’s face, he’s far from pleased at the situation.]
You're worthless kimi to iu hito
[A shot of the man’s smiling expression from behind Leo.]
[During the instrumental interlude, we see several shots of the two men and their teenage daughter that switch on time with the music: one happy, one abusive, one happy, one abusive. They alternate throughout this interlude.]
From far away comes the sound of rain tooku de wa ame no oto ga shiteru
[The three of them are shown packing the back of a red van for their camping trip.]
In the heavy night sky, we sit in silence omoi yozora ni futari de tada damatte suwatteru
[A shot of the three of them sitting by the fire, as if it were a picture taken by a camera.]
When I'm with you, little by little kimi to iru to sukoshizutsu
Little by little by little, I'm chipped away sukoshizutsu sukoshizutsu boku ga kezurarete
[A shot of the past, when Leo and the man were happy together. They’re sitting together in the grass, Leo leaning his head on the other man’s shoulder contentedly as their fingers interlock.]
Growing quiet, cold shizuka ni natte samuku natte
Growing white, hard shiroku naru kataku naru
Ah, freezing solid aa tsumetaku naru
[Present time at the campsite. Leo comes back from gathering supplies to see a figure obscured in shadows making his daughter cry. On the final line, the photo of the family from before reappears, but it shatters like glass.]
Break it, break it, break it, break it kowase kowase kowase kowase
Break it, break it, break it, I don't need it, break it kowase kowase kowase iranai kowase
[We see Leo murdering his victim, but it’s unknown who it is, and all we see is Leo smiling and laughing as blood splatters his face, hair, and clothing.]
All the red, red words akai akai kotoba mo zenbu
I don't need it, I don't need anything iranai nani mo iranai
[We see flashes of Leo’s memories of the red-haired man shown throughout the MV. One by one, each memory shatters, similar to the photograph from before.]
Ah, it's all worthless aa nante kudaranai
We're better off apart. aenai hou ga ii
[From behind, Leo’s MILGRAM self embraces the blood-splattered Leo, and the tension in the latter’s body releases, falling almost limp.]
𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 — 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐄
[The sound of a door creaking, as well as two sets of footfalls, can be heard as the wardens enter Leo’s cell.]
[Leo has one leg crossed idly over the other, and he’s softly humming to himself as he fidgets with his hands.]
[Oddly enough, there’s a wide smile on his face that seems rather… disconcerting, especially when compared to the prisoners from the previous interrogations.]
SHIKI: [Whispered] I have a bad feeling about this, Brother…
SHIRO: [Whispered] Maybe it’ll go better than we think it will…
LEO: Oho? What are you two whispering about? [He uncrosses his leg and rests his chin on his hand.] Does it have something to do with me, perhaps…?
SHIKI: Nothing! Nothing, heh… Let’s not worry about that. We’re supposed to be asking you the questions, remember?
LEO: Well, I suppose you’re right. Well then, let’s get on with it. [He’s still smiling, resting his hands politely in his lap.]
SHIRO: You’re fine if we just go ahead and start the questions? Not in the mood for any small talk?
LEO: Well, I mean, isn’t that why we’re here? I’m pretty sure I wasn’t thrown in here for much else.
SHIRO: That is a fair assessment … In any case, state your name, age, and occupation.
LEO: Leo Akiyama, 26, and I don’t have one. That was always… ah, nevermind. In due time.
SHIKI: You trailed off there… What were you going to say?
LEO: Ahh, be patient. I’ll come back to it later. As I said, in due time.
[He’s noticeably more fidgety now. Perhaps it was a sore subject?]
[ Shiki squeaks and hides behind Shiro. ]
SHIRO: [He turns around and gently pats Shiki on the head.] Mr. Akiyama, were you unemployed for a while? There’s nothing wrong with that, you know.
LEO: Well…. I suppose you could say that. [His smile briefly falters, but soon returns.]
But enough about that. That really isn’t important in regards to my crime, now, is it?
SHIRO: [Under his breath] Unless the murder is the reason for unemployment… [He clears his throat] Moving to a brighter topic, Ms. Hinomori said that you two were talking. How are you enjoying the company here?
LEO: Ah, Kaede. Our cells are right next door, so it isn’t surprising that she wanted to talk. Don’t tell her I said this, but… she reminds me of my own daughter.
So I suppose you could say I’m enjoying the company here. Better than the alternative.
SHIRO: Oh, so you’re a father?
LEO: I am, indeed. My…. friend and I adopted a girl after she was kicked out of her old home. Poor girl… I hope she’s doing okay now…
I ended up losing custody of her after… Well, I’m sure you can guess.
SHIRO: I’m really sorry to hear about that… I’m curious though - I’ve never heard of a pair of friends adopting a child. Were you the only one who held custody of her?
LEO: Ah, well… Due to… unfortunate circumstances, he was unable to hold custody of her. Let’s just leave it at that.
SHIRO: Dang, the courts are that harsh, huh…
Uh… has life here been alright? You seem a bit fidgety and on edge…
LEO: …………………. [He laughs nervously.] Hm? I’m fine, I don’t know what you’re talking about…
[He clearly isn’t fine, as his breathing starts to quicken.]
SHIKI: Brother? I think he’s having a—
LEO: You don’t know anything! You don’t know the hell I’ve been through! I—
SHIRO: Hey, [He steadies his voice] Hey. Take a second to breathe. Slowly.
[Leo grips the fabric of his shorts hard, and slowly but surely attempts to regain control of his breathing. His eyes gently close as he focuses on his breath as well as Shiro’s voice.]
SHIRO: Good, good. We aren’t here to hurt you - we just want to understand what got you into this place. I’m gonna take it you aren’t enjoying it here very much?
LEO: …… Not exactly. But… Honestly, I’m just glad to finally be… away from it all, so to speak.
SHIRO: Isn’t it a bit… scary? To be in a place you don’t know? Or has it come as a relief at all?
LEO: Yes and no. It has its ups and downs, but… Heh, I enjoy having something of my own, in a sense. That freedom wasn’t really… allowed, not in the situation I was in.
[He’s smiling once more, but it isn’t as lively as before. There’s a sense of melancholy to it.]
[Shiki cautiously pokes her head out from behind her brother.]
SHIKI: [Softly] Freedom, huh… Were things really that bad…? Then, why…
LEO: Hm?
SHIKI: …Why, then, did you adopt a child? If things were that bad?
LEO: Ah… [He pauses for a moment to think.] It’s… not that simple.
SHIRO: I guess… sometimes things just get handed to you, and you don’t always have much of a say. …I think it’s time we moved on from this topic.
LEO: Agreed. Aren’t there… more important things to ask about?
SHIRO: [He shakes his head in agreement, and takes a deep breath.] It’s of our knowledge that everyone here has killed someone. How does it make you feel, having that on your record? Knowing you’ve been sent here to have your “sins” judged by people you’ve never met?
LEO: I mean, yeah, sure, I did kill someone. But to have it be called sinful? I don’t see the logic in that. It was justified, I can assure you. Heh, some might say that perhaps I punished the sinful.
SHIRO: [He pauses for a brief moment before speaking.] Are you saying that… some people deserve death?
LEO: In certain situations, yes. Like, take this for example: should someone be punished for killing to protect the person they love? Or would it still be considered sinful because they committed murder? Does it not matter what circumstances led to that result?
SHIRO: …Despite everything, I don’t feel qualified to answer that…
[Once again, the mechanical bell tolls, causing Shiki to nearly jump out of her skin.]
LEO: Oh, dear… It appears time is up. Do keep what I said in mind, won’t you?
SHIRO: …I’ll try my best.
[He takes a deep breath.] Prisoner Number Five…
SHIKI: [Softly] Leo… Akiyama…
SHIRO & SHIKI: Sing your sins.
[MV: Kowase Kowase]
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR KAEDE'S MV
appearance throughout the video + her sister kanata <3 they ARE fraternal twins , brown hair comes from their mother akane
𝟎𝟎𝟒 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝟏 — 𝐀𝐁𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍' 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋
Song: Abnormality Dancin' Girl (guchiry ft. flower) English translation by Sympalissma UST by HIRATELIER, tuning done by Mod G
Key: Lyrics in purple, romaji in bold, descriptions in black
CWS: Possible bullying & isolation, chemical usage?, hospital imagery
APPEARANCE NOTES
[The opening shot shows a few locations - a hospital, a house, a staircase, a school, a classroom.]
No matter how hard I try or how much effort I put in itsumo dou ganbatte doryoku o shita tokoro de
The results are always average sashishimesareru wa heikinchi
[This part takes place in middle school. Here we can see middle school Kaede looking on at a group of about 4 or 5 girls.]
I can't go on like this yatterarenai yo
[The camera turns to focus on Kaede, who is standing all alone with a frown on her face. ]
Constantly being manipulated by useless measures of worth kudaranai hyouka ni odorasarete bakari
[The scene changes to Kaede sitting the back of a classroom. The girls in front of the camera seem to be laughing and having fun, but Kaede is still frowning while peering out the window.]
I've already come to hate this life mou iya ni nacchatta kono jinsei
[Camera brings Kaede’s face closer to the camera. Her eyes are empty, her glasses reflecting the scene in front of her. She sighs, listless.]
So, I think I'll restart my life nara umarekawarou ka
[Scene changes to show Kaede walking out and slamming the door behind her.]
My chest is completely filled with “abnormality” "ijou" ga mune o umetsukushite
[Kaede is seen walking down the street. Her expression is worried, her hand is clutching the front of her uniform shirt.]
I'm becoming a me that isn't normal futsuu ja nai jibun ni naru no
[Her hands move to her hair, pony tails between her fingers as she pulls at her hair in frustration.]
I ask myself over and over, "did I get it? jimonjitou kurikaeshi te ni ireta no
[Her gaze relaxes and she lowers her hands, but she shakes her head briefly ; thoughts she doesn’t want plague her mind, so she shakes her head to try and get rid of them]
A brand new me." atarashii watashi o
[Camera moves to an upclose shot of her face again. Thoughout the duration of the line, the camera pans out, then ends quickly with a door shutting.]
Look at me now, touch me right now hora mite yo hora furete yo
[Kaede can be seen sitting at her vanity; we are looking at her as if looking at her through the mirror. Her smile slowly shrinks into a frown throughout the line.]
I’ll throw away my ordinary clothes bon'you na fuku o sutesatte
[Kaede starts pulling out her pigtails, throwing the rubber bands to the floor. Her hair is long and a mess when she finishes.]
Now, from my chrysalis, I’ll become a butterfly ima sanagi kara chou ni naru no
[She picks up a bottle of liquid eyeliner and begins trying to do her makeup.]
I’ll show off everything as it is ari no mama subete misetsukete
[As she tries to put on her mascara, she pokes herself in the eye with the brush. This infuriates her, and she throws the makeup to the ground.]
Therе are no performers on this coolеd-off stage samekitta butai enja wa inai
[Kaede is standing now, her hands balled into fists. She looks around her room, and can be seen breathing heavily.]
So I'll beat out the steps, 1, 2, 3 nara suteppu kizande 1,2,3
[Kaede starts picking up random things in her room and throwing them around. Books, stuffed animals, pillows, etc. are all thrown around, leaving the room in disarray.]
I'm not being manipulated odorasareru nja nai
[Kaede stops throwing stuff and sinks to the floor, obviously crying.]
I'm dancing! Yeah, I'm going crazy! odoru no yo saa saa saa kurutte
[We pan to Kaede’s face. As tears stream down her face, so does her makeup, leaving long black streaks from her eyes as she continues to sob.]
[During the instrumental, we see Kaede get up; remove her makeup; go to bed ; wake up and get ready for school. The last shot we see is her leaving to walk with her sister.]
"Normality" cast a curse on me "futsuu" ga noroi o kakete kite
[We flash to highschool Kaede and her sister now. Kaede looks similar to how she does now ; her sister is a girl with light golden brown hair styled in a bob with a hime cut. They are walking down the hallway of a japanese high school.]
And I yearned for "abnormality" "ijou" ni akogareta no
[We pan to Kaede’s face as a group of girls start chatting with her sister. Her expression shows that she feels bitter and upset at the fact the girls are talking to Kanata instead of her.]
I don't have any interest in your differing opinions or pet theories; iron, jiron ni kyoumi nado nai kara
I’ve already locked the door mou kagi o kakete
[Between the two lines, Kaede’s face grows angrier ; we are given a look at the inside of her mind, where she feels like there is a “locked door” between her and her sister Kanata currently.]
I went beyond “love” and “hate” "suki" "kirai" o touni toorikoshite
[Kaede storms off from the group, running away further into the school.]
And fell deeply in love with “abnormality” a long time ago "ijou" ni koikogarete ita no
[We move to a shot of Kaede sitting underneath a stair case. Her knees are pulled close to her chest.]
And from the ruins of that warped love, it was created— yuganda ai no nare no hate tsukurareta
[Zoom in on Kaede’s face. There is still anger and sadness in her eyes, but there is some thing more - determination.]
A brand new me atarashii watashi o
[We zoom in closer, this time to Kaede’s eye. In her eye we see a reflection of whats to come - current Kaede surrounded by friends ; she is loved.]
Look at me now, touch me right now hora mite yo hora furete yo
[We move to the Hinomori family home ; Kanata, Kaede, and their parents are all seen eating dinner at the table.]
I’ll throw away my ordinary clothes bon'you na fuku o sutesatte
[Kaede abruptly gets up and pushes her chair in. We cant see it as she heads to the kitchen, but her entire family's eyes are on her as she leaves.]
Now, from my chrysalis, I’ll become a butterfly ima sanagi kara chou ni naru no
[She stares at herself in the reflection of the kitchen window. A smile is on her face, but does she like what she sees?]
I’ll show off everything as it is ari no mama subete misetsukete
[In time to the beat, we see images of her pouring herself a glass of water. The ending shot is her standing away from the sink, glass up in hand.]
There are no performers on this cooled-off stage samekitta butai enja wa inai
[She decides to do a fun little spin in the kitchen, happy about something shes thought up. But as she does…]
So I'll beat out the steps, 1, 2, 3 nara suteppu kizande 1,2,3
[The glass of water slips out of her hand. We see shots of the glass shattering in time to the “1, 2, 3]
I'm not being manipulated odorasareru nja nai
[Kaede falls to the floor, seemingly crying. She seems like shes very upset about breaking the glass.]
I'm dancing! Yeah, I'm going crazy! odoru no yo saa, saa, saa kurutte
[Instead, we see her face - she is crying, but she has a smile on her face as if shes lost it a little bit.]
[As the instrumental goes on, we see her parents and her sister enter the kitchen. Her mother puts her hand on her shoulder as her dad cleans up the glass … but Kanata stands to the side, saying nothing. There are two scene changes after - one, where we see that she hurt her knees when she fell, and the second, where we see her headed to the bathroom to clean up the cuts.]
In a dark room by myself kurai heya hitorikiri
[A shot of the bathroom sink. Water is running in it.]
Before the mirror at midnight kagami no mae gozen reiji
[A shot of the mirror - we see what still looks like middle school Kaede, her hair in pig tails.]
"Who are you?" "Who am I?" "anata dare" "watashi dare"
[The girl in the mirror changes to the Kaede we see in current times - her hair in long pig tails, with loops of hair adorning them. She has a smile on her face that tells her not only that she will be popular and happy - but that she should move on with her idea. The smile grows bigger between the two sections of the line.]
I asked, but received no reply toikakedo henji wa nakatta
[We see the sink again. The water swirls with small lines of blood from cleaning the cuts on her knees. By the end of the line, the water shuts off.]
Go crazy, go crazy, go crazy, go crazy, go crazy, go crazy, go crazy, dance kurue, kurue, kurue, kurue, kurue, kurue, kurue, odore.
[There are several different images between each word in the line. In order we see: A shot of Kaede’s feet as she walks to the kitchen. Kaede reaching into the cabinet for a glass ; the window can be seen, indicating that it is still daylight and that a day has passed. Kaede placing the opaque plastic cup on the counter. Kaede placing a white bottle of bleach on the counter. Kaede pouring the bleach into the cup. Kaede pouring juice into the cup. Kaede handing the glass to Kanata. Kaede with a wide smile on her face.]
Oh, brand new me… saa, atarashii watashi o
[Kaede’s smile grows wider. During the last couple beats of the line, we see her image flicker between middle school and current time Kaede.]
Look at me now, touch me right now hora mite yo hora furete yo
[We are back at the dinner table. This time, Kaede has a smile on her face. In the second part of the line, the scene changes - all of a sudden, Kanata has leaned over the table in pain.]
Dressed up in transparent clothes toumei na fuku de kikazatte
[Kaede’s parents hover over Kanata, unsure why she has suddenly collapsed.]
Now, from my chrysalis, I’ll become a butterfly ima sanagi kara chou ni naru no
[Kaede’s parents and Kanata have left the table now. We are left with Kaede, who is putting her hair up in long pig tails.]
I’ll show off everything as it is ari no mama subete misetsukete
[We see Kaede putting on her coat as she heads out the door.]
There are no performers on this impassioned stage nekkyou no butai enja wa inai
[We have a new scene - we are now at a hospital. First we see a shot of the hallway, then a shot of Kanata in a hospital bed.]
So I'll beat out the steps, 1, 2, 3 nara suteppu kizande 1,2,3
[A shot of the heart rate monitor - on “3” the line goes flat.]
I'm not being manipulated odorasareru nja nai
[Kaede’s parents are crying - they have just lost their little girl.]
I'm dancing! Yeah, I'm going crazy! odoru no yo saa, saa, saa kurutte
[From this point on, we see a familiar sight. Kaede is surrounded by a group of about 4 or 5 girls - but this time, Kaede is smiling and interacting with them, with no care in the world. She has the same hair as current Kaede, but it should be known that her uniform is different from the one she had in the rest of the video. The mv ends with a shot of Kaede's face, smiling.]
My chest is completely filled with “abnormality” "ijou" ga mune o umetsukushite
I'm becoming a me that isn't normal futsuu ja nai jibun ni naru no
And from the ruins of that warped love, it was created—an unfulfillable love yuganda ai no nare no hate tsukurareta kanawanu koi
My chest is completely filled with “abnormality” "ijou" ga mune o umetsukushite
I'm becoming a me that isn't normal futsuu ja nai jibun ni naru no
I ask myself over and over, "did I get it? jimonjitou kurikaeshi te ni ireta no
A brand new me." atarashii watashi o
𝟎𝟎𝟒 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 — 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐓𝐄
KAEDE: [She can be heard softly humming a pop song to herself while laying on the bed. Her feet are in the air and she’s kicking them back and forth as she hums.]
[The creaking of a metal door can be heard followed by two sets of footsteps. The door shuts with a bang and the steps stop. As the wardens settle into place, Kaede sits up and stops her humming.]
KAEDE: Hello! It feels soo early and yet it’s my turn already, huh?
SHIKI: Hello, there! Kaede Hinomori, prisoner number four. [whispered] Please tell me I got it right this time…
SHIRO: [Whispering back] You did, no worries.
SHIKI: Yes! [She clears her throat.] Whew. Anyways! How… are you doing?
KAEDE: Hm, well… [She hums a “hm” for a second] It’s been comfier than you’d expect here. At least, I always thought jail would be cold and scary, but I’ve been able to sit and read my books just fine!
SHIKI: What kind of books do you like?
KAEDE: At the moment, it’s mostly romance manga.
SHIKI: Ehh, I’m more into action and battle manga myself.
SHIRO: Not like you buy it yourself.
SHIKI: Hey! I put them back in your room when I’m done! ….When I remember to…
KAEDE: Meh, I can’t stand the nitty gritty stuff like that.
SHIKI: Meh, to each his own.
SHIRO: We shouldn’t get too carried away…
SHIKI: Fine. You’re so mean, brother. I need a little bit of a break after the last one.
[She clears her throat again.] Name, age, and occupation, please!
KAEDE: Kaede Hinomori, 16! I’m a second year highschool student and I’m part of the yearbook committee!
SHIKI: Ooh, do you do any of the photography or what?
KAEDE: I’m more into the scrapbooking part of it myself.
SHIRO: Was your school life good? Have any friends?
KAEDE: Hmm… well, this year I have tons of friends! I get good grades and try to keep my parents happy ♡
SHIKI: “This year”? What happened last year that was so different?
KAEDE: Last year I was at a different school… no one liked me at all there. And near the end of the school year I lost my sister and it.. [ She sniffles a bit as if she’s going to cry. ] it was really hard to continue going there after that.
SHIKI: That must have been hard… So what happened, exactly? How did your sister… [She trails off, not knowing how to phrase it.]
KAEDE: Oh, we don’t really know… she got sick one day and it was too late when we got to the hospital. There was nothing they could do at that point.
SHIRO: I can’t believe that something that serious would go unnoticed… and the autopsy didn’t show any clues at all?
KAEDE: [Her tone darkens.] I wasn’t allowed to see the autopsy report.
SHIKI: Hmmm… Well, moving on, since it seems like you don’t want to talk about it… How’s life here? I know you said it’s comfier here than you imagined, but are there any prisoners you get along with?
KAEDE: I haven’t had much time to talk to everyone, but Akiyama’s been nice! He jokes around with me a lot so it’s almost like I have an older brother now~
SHIKI: Aww, how sweet~
SHIRO: That’s nice, I’ll try and keep it in mind… Say, did you have any other siblings aside from your sister?
KAEDE: Nope~ It’s just me on my own now.
SHIKI: Wow… Weren’t you lonely? I couldn’t imagine losing my dear brother. [She playfully ruffles Shiro’s hair with a clearly nervous chuckle.]
SHIRO: [He makes an annoyed noise at his sister. Secretly, he’s smiling.] KAEDE: Not any more lonely than I was before her passing. Like I said, I didn't have many friends at my old school, so…
SHIKI: I see… [She pauses for… a rather long time, seemingly lost in thought. She suddenly shakes her head as if attempting to shake away a bad thought.] A-Anyways, um… You said you had lots of new friends at your current school, right?
KAEDE: Mhm! Lots and lots of friends, almost too many to keep track of~
SHIKI: Right, so… what exactly changed? What made you more likable just because you switched schools?
KAEDE: I didn’t think about that… I don’t really think anything changed. Maybe I just felt like I could finally express myself in that new environment?
SHIRO: How far away did you move? Was it a big change, like going from the country to the city, or vice versa? KAEDE: Wow, you guys sure like to pry! But… it was only a couple of towns over I think. The area looked so similar in pictures, so it’s hard to tell.
SHIKI: Was it scary, having to move so shortly after losing your sister? Surely it was super sudden. I know I would have been terrified if that happened…
KAEDE: If I’m being honest, it kind of felt like my head would burst~ but that could have been excitement instead of fear ♡
SHIKI: Ah, I see. Well, I just have one last question for you.
Everyone here has killed someone. At least, that’s what we were told.
That being said… If someone were to accuse you of being a murderer, what would your reaction be?
KAEDE: Hmm… I’d probably ask what made them think that. After all, when you're a cute girl in the public eye someone’s bound to spread rumours~ But I don’t really think I’ve done anything wrong at all.
SHIRO: But isn’t the public eye just your high school in this case…
[The mechanical bell tolls once more, signaling the end of the interrogation.]
SHIKI: Ah… Seems we’re out of time.
KAEDE: Oh! Would you look at that~
SHIRO: Without further adieu… Prisoner Number Four…
SHIKI: Kaede Hinomori…
SHIKI & SHIRO: Sing Your Sins!
[MV: ABNORMALITY DANCIN’ GIRL]
abi @ shiki during her vd:
we love language barriers this makes things fun FNDFNDFNHJ
𝟎𝟎𝟑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝟏 — 𝐆𝐄𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐀
Song: Gehenna (wotaku ft. Hatsune Miku)
Key: Lyrics in blue, romaji in bold, descriptions in black
CWS: Sui ideation, visuals of drowning, choking, pregnancy, blood, death, child death, implied attempted suicide.
[ During the instrumental intro, we see Ryuko sitting up in bed, holding her head. She turns and looks at a photo of a black-haired man sitting on the bedside table as the camera focuses on it. ]
Hey, how are you? How's it going? naa genki? choushi wa dou dai?
Yeah, well, I've quit that kind of thing already aa mou ne sou iu no yametan da
Yeah, well, I hear there's no prospect of recovery anymore un nanka mou kaifuku no mikomi wa nai sou nanda
Don't ask me anything nani mo kikanaide kure
[ Ryuko is on the phone with someone, talking away during these lyrics. On the second line, her smile turns to a frown. She moves from a sitting position to a lying-down position as she’s talking, crossing one leg over the other on the sofa. ]
Regret, estimation, a friendly talk koukai nebumi danshoukai
Caregiving, joy, sharing? I surrender all kaigo etsu kyouyuu mo sarendaa da
Yes, that's right, 100% it was my fault hai sou desu shoushinshoumei boku no sei datta
The typical story yoku aru hanashi
[ Ryuko looks down at her child, who is sitting on the floor, playing with dolls and not paying attention. During the final line, her expression darkens as she stares down at the ground, the background flashing red for a few seconds. ]
I wanted to realize plain and simple tanjunmeikai o mono ni shitakute
Killing the ideal of what it's supposed to be kaku arubeki to iu risou o koroshite
[ A shot of Ryuko and the man from the picture walking together, arms interlocked, with smiles on their faces. The sunlight quickly turns to night, and the man’s expression switches to a rather sinister one as he turns to look at Ryuko. ]
I've had it enough. I don't have the courage to leave mou sanzan datte nigeru yuuki mo nai
Hurry, deeper, falling hayaku motto ochite
[ We flash to present Ryuko, who is shaking her head aggressively. In the second line, she’s shown drowning in dark water, images of happy memories with the man playing in the background as the drowning woman hides her face in shame. ]
"I want to stay alive" "ikite itai yo"
Evеry night, transparent summary suffocates my throat maiyo nodo o fusagu toumei no gaiyou
[ The scenes in the background flash to darker imagery, bad memories Ryuko had with the man. The background begins to flash red as if splattered with blood. Ryuko’s hands move from her face to her throat as if choking herself. ]
The rеality that caves in my lungs hai o mushibamu jitsuzai mo
Irrationality and loneliness, you don't have to hate them rifujin mo kodoku mo uramanakute ii
[ The floating, drowning Ryuko rotates counterclockwise as she curls in on herself, the memories in the background alternating between good and bad memories. ]
They all mean nothing sorera subete imi wa nain da
We all have to live bokura wa ikiru shikanain da
[ We go back to reality, with Ryuko sitting up in bed once more, repeating the scene from the very start of the MV. This time, instead of looking at the picture, she looks straight at the camera with a determined expression. ]
Hey you, how are things? oi omae socchi wa dou dai?
Oh, still, you are doing that aa mada sonna koto yatten da
By the way, what happened to the one you were dating? sou iya tsukiatteta ko to wa dou nattan da?
Don't say anything anymore nani mo iwanaide kure
[ Ryuko is sitting across from a faceless blonde woman at a café, holding an infant in her arms. She’s smiling and chatting away with the other woman. On the third line, her expression darkens and her eyes widen, and on the final line, in a flash of red, the blonde woman is facing a now empty chair, dumbfounded. Where Ryuko once was now lies a puff of vanishing smoke. ]
The future, jealousy, the sense of failure shourai netami haibokukan
Wireless, I can't even hang myself up waiyaresu kubi mo tsurenai na
Yes, delightful, what a profound story hai kyouetsu taihen mi ni shimiru ohanashi deshita
Are you satisfied now? mitasareta kai?
[ Ryuko cradles the child in her arms close to her chest in a black background, red eyes watching her every move. ]
Pitch dark, clouded and broken heart makkuroku nigotte wareta kokoro o
I disinfect with alcohol to sleep arukooru de shoudoku shite nemuru
I become the gloomy water of the big ocean mou antan taru taiga no mizu ni natte
Deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, falling motto motto motto motto ochite
[ Ryuko falls back into the water, only this time, it’s red. She’s less worried about drowning this time, seemingly apathetic to the situation. She’s still cradling her child close to her. Memories flash in the background, except this time, it’s memories of who she was before meeting the man. ]
"I want to stay alive" "ikite itai yo"
Every night, the air and the future grab my throat maiyo nodo o tsukamu kuuki mo mirai mo
[ One of her hands reaches up to grab at her throat while the other holds her child. The memories in the background are replaced by memories of Ryuko trying to find the man after he disappears. ]
Flesh that deceives to be the organs naizou o kataru nikukai mo
Happiness, the space, you don't have to be skeptical shiawase mo uchuu mo utagawanakute ii
[ The memories in the background show clips of Ryuko’s pregnancy up until the birth of her daughter. Ryuko is rotating counterclockwise like before. Her arm returns to its place of holding her daughter. ]
They all don't change sorera subete kawaranain da
We all don't have to know bokura wa shiranakute iin da
[ We see the Ryuko in reality holding a paper and looking over at her child. ]
"I want to stay alive" "ikite itai yo"
I don't know why, but "I want to stay alive" nande ka wakaranai kedo "ikite itai yo"
[ The drowning Ryuko switches the direction she’s rotating in. ]
The Bible called DNA DNA to iu seisho
You don't have to hate on your instinct and fears honnou mo kyoufu mo uramanakute ii
Nothing will ever change douse nani mo kawaranain da
[ The memories change to one singular image of the man’s grinning face in every bubble as the child disappears in a puff of smoke from Ryuko’s arms as the background turns black. As the child disappears, all movement freezes on the final line, Ryuko becoming a white silhouette reminiscent of a crime scene outline for a moment. ]
"I want to stay alive" "ikite itai yo"
There's no hope ahead, but "I want to stay alive" nan no kibou mo nai kedo "ikite itai yo"
My instinct thumps in red honnou wa akaku myakuutsu no
"I want to stay alive," "I don't want to stay alive" "ikite itai yo" "ikitetakunai yo"
It's so unfortunate hontou ni zannen dakedo
But we all have to live bokura wa ikiru shikanain da
[ Throughout these lines, the background flashes between red and black in time with the music. The memories in the back switch to a dark bedroom with red blood splatters, then switch to a lone window with billowing red curtains, and then back and forth until the end of the stanza. ]
I'm sorry I deceived you damashite gomen yo
[ We flash back to reality, where Ryuko lies on the floor, hugging her knees, tears streaming down her face. ]
I'm sorry I couldn't tell you ienakute gomen yo
[ The scene flashes to her sleeping child in the bed, but the child doesn’t seem to be moving anymore. ]
And this is so sad soshite hontou ni kanashii keredo
[ The camera switches back to Ryuko, who is still crying, but smiling now. ]
But only suffering is the bond kurushimi dake ga kizuna nanda
[ The scene zooms out to a now-empty room, with the same open window and billowing red curtains as shown in one of the earlier memories. ]
𝟎𝟎𝟑 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 — 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄, 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓
[ The audio opens up with the creak of a metal door followed by footsteps. ]
SHIKI: I'm sorry I'm late. I was havin' a smoke, you see. It relaxes me before times like these, ehe. Anyways, my name is Shiki. My brother and I are the wardens here.
RYUKO: Ah. I see. It's nice to meet you both. I'm guessing you guys know who I am already?
SHIKI: Of course we do, silly! Uh- [whispers] Brother, which one is she again?
SHIRO: She’s Ryuko Irie, sister. Try not to forget next time…
SHIKI: Riiight, Ryuko Irie, Prisoner Number Three! And I won’t forget next time! You’ll see!
RYUKO: ……. [She sighs.] Can we get this over with?
SHIRO: Better sooner than later I’d say.
SHIKI: I got this! Name, age, and occupation, please!
RYUKO: Ryuko Irie. I’m thirty-five years old. And… I don’t have a job.
SHIRO: So I went from the youngest prisoner to the oldest … How come you don’t have a job? Any special reason, or were job searches just failing you?
RYUKO: Oh, believe me. I tried applying. Rejection after rejection after rejection. My daughter’s restlessness didn’t paint me in a good light, either.
SHIKI: You have a daughter? SHIRO: Yeah, I forgot to tell you that. Mochizuki mentioned it to me earlier. Say, how old was your daughter?
RYUKO: Three. I miss her dearly.
SHIKI: Did anything happen to her?
RYUKO: …………………… [ She says nothing, just sighs heavily and looks down at the floor. ]
SHIRO: …Perhaps we should move on from that subject.
SHIKI: Ah, right… Say, Ryuko… How have things been around here? Any prisoners you’ve gotten along with?
RYUKO: Mmm. Choko keeps me company a lot. I’ve grown rather fond of the kid. Though I wonder what she’s been through… she seems rather mature for her age. As a mother, it worries me.
SHIRO: I did wonder if you started to see her as a daughter yourself.
RYUKO: Yes, I do, in a way… She reminds me of myself when I was younger.
SHIKI: Interesting. About before… Why were you having trouble getting hired?
RYUKO: Ah… Well, it’s… a long story. I’m not sure you want to bother with it right now.
SHIRO: I’d say that any information is good information, if you’re comfortable telling it. Maybe try and sum it up?
RYUKO: Well… Some unfortunate circumstances happened, and… my husband left me after my daughter was born. Money was tight, so I tried to apply, but… Because I had a kid, and no one to watch over her… they deemed me unacceptable. It isn’t fair.
SHIKI: Ohh… Is that why you aren’t wearing shoes?
SHIRO: I don’t think you’re supposed to make comments like that… anyways, I’m sorry the job market was so difficult for you.
RYUKO: [ There’s a long stretch of silence before she replies. She seems to be staring off into the distance. ] That……isn’t the reason, no. I… I don’t want to talk about it.
Anyways, why are we even bothering with this conversation? I’m guilty as charged, so just go ahead and sentence me already.
SHIKI: Huh? Just like that?
SHIRO: That at least answers my next question, however sad it is. But we’re having this conversation to get to know you and not make baseless assumptions.
RYUKO: You guys are wardens, right? Isn’t it your job to hand out our verdicts? Getting to know me is pointless when I’m telling you that I’m guilty. I admit it. I killed her. I killed her with my own two hands. So just… sentence me, dammit!
SHIKI: Brother, this is getting too intense…
SHIRO: As much as we’d all love to get out of here as soon as possible, it doesn’t work like that. Even when this trial is over it won’t work like that. Firstly, we still need to know what's going on … on the inside.
RYUKO: ………….. [She says nothing, just averts her gaze with tears in her eyes.]
SHIKI: I don’t think she wants to do this anymore, brother.
SHIRO: …Are we done here then?
RYUKO: …..Do what you want. I don’t care.
[ The mechanical bell tolls once more, indicating that time is up. ]
SHIKI: How about I start us off? [She clears her throat.] Prisoner number three…
SHIRO: Ryuko Irie…
SHIKI & SHIRO: Sing your sins!
[ MV: GEHENNA ]
(( hello all! thank u for the new notes and reblogs! we're sorry for the inactivity suddenly - we (both mods) got caught up in other things totally not new genshin stuff on my end, no, no way,
in other news , we'll try to get back to writing and posting first trial stuff soon, just hang on tight!
-- mod g <3
𝟎𝟎𝟑 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
CHOKO: I heard it was your birthday, Irie-san.
RYUKO: Hmm? Ah, yeah. I suppose it is, isn’t it.
CHOKO: Aren’t birthdays supposed to be…. Happy?
RYUKO: Yes, well… I don’t see the point anymore. For a while, it was hard to have enough money to eat, let alone celebrate anything. And now… Now I don’t have any way to celebrate.
CHOKO: But that isn’t true. You have all of us. [She softly smiles.] I can even sing, if you want.
RYUKO: Ah, no need, no need. Don’t force yourself. I… I don’t need such a thing.
CHOKO: When Mama feels down, I sing for her, and she cheers right up.
RYUKO: Well, I’m not a mother. Not anymore… And I’m certainly not yours. I don’t need anything like that to cheer me up. If anything… Having company like this is enough.
CHOKO: Alright, then. I’ll stay right here with you, how about that?
RYUKO: That works for me. Though really, you needn’t trouble yourself.
CHOKO: Oh, I don’t mind staying. It gets lonely here, without my family.
RYUKO: Ah, I understand. I… was alone for a while, too. So I get it.
CHOKO: But now you don’t have to be alone. You have all of us. And the wardens, too.
RYUKO: You’re right. [ She smiles, small but genuine. ] Thank you, Choko.
