I got possessed by my own Mikoto brainrot and stayed up until 5 am translating this, so here you go 😂😅 I apologize in advance for any potential mistakes, my Japanese is far from perfect agdhsvdbs
⬇️ translation under the cut ⬇️
M: (sighs) What am I doing in a place like this…?
E: Yeah, I wonder.
M: Woah!
E: Well, figuring that out is Milgram's task anyway.
M: Come on, don't startle me like that, Warden-kun…! Isn't it basic manners to knock on the door before you enter?
E: Shut up. Don't talk back.
M: You're always so bossy...!
E: (sigh) We're going to start your interrogation, inmate no.9, Mikoto.
M: No, no– you might be saying "interrogation", but I already told you, there's not really anything I'm hiding.
E: Your name and age?
M: Uh… Mikoto Kayano, 23. Wait, no! I've been wanting to talk to you this whole time, Warden-kun!
E: What is it? Make it short.
M: Alright… when is this whole thing going to end?
E: Hah?
M: No, it's obvious, isn't it?! Suddenly being dragged to a place like this, being told all this weird stuff about killers and all that– is this some kind of comedy? A reality TV show? One of those monitoring things? I've been holding on to that thought this whole time, and that was also the reason I tried to get along with the others, y'know – because that'll look better on a TV show, right?! – but look, this is stretching out for way too long…! What's up with this?
E: (sigh) You really still believe that? That Milgram is some kind of joke?
M: I do! Of course I do! I mean… I really don't remember. Even if you talk about sins or murderers– I don't know about any of that! I'm just a normal worker at a company…
E: Hmm…
M: What? Why are you smiling like that when someone's just having an honest conversation with you?
E: (huff) Now that I think about it… this is the first time I see an inmate who acts like they have no memory of what they've done.
M: it's not an act! Seriously! I seriously don't know! See? Look into my eyes! See?!
E: Don't touch me like we're friends.
M: No, really, just properly look at me!
E: (sigh) Hmm~
M: So? I'm telling the truth, right?
E: Like I know. Did you expect me to say something like "if you were lying, you wouldn't be able to meet my eyes"? My judgement of you doesn't rely on naïve ideas like that.
M: Ugh, c'mon…! (pause) Hm? No, wait a sec. Even you don't actually know what I've done, right?
E: Yeah, I have no clue.
M: What's with that?! Aren't you getting ahead of yourself then, just labelling me a murderer like that?
E: I'm not. Milgram tells me that you did it. That's enough for me.
M: Why are you just blindly believing that? There's no way of talking(/getting through) to you…! (sigh) Anyway. I really don't know anything! Nor have I killed anybody, or done anything bad! I was just living an ordinary, everyday life… and yet I got dragged into something this weird! (slamd hands on the desk) Of course I want to think of all this as a joke…! Wouldn't anyone?
E: (noncommittal hum)
M: I have my own life, you know? And I just got accepted into the company that I was aiming for… If I get fired, you'll have to take responsibility for that.
E: I see. Interesting.
M: Is that something you should find 'interesting'?!
E: (clap) Fine. I'll humor you and your view on things – all of this is just an experiment. Mikoto, you have done nothing wrong.
M: Yeah! That's exactly it, Warden-kun!
E: Just for now. For now, let's not think of you as inmate no.9 Mikoto, but… let's see… yeah, just as Mikoto-kun.
M: I like that! Let's go with Mikoto-kun! I'll also act more familiar with you by calling you Suu-kun– (?? probably as a short form of "Esu" 😂)
E: No, thank you. Don't get cocky.
M: Eh–
E: In return for my going along with you, accept every one of my words as the truth. Milgram is not a show of any kind, it is reality.
M: Mhh… like… the stuff about this being a facility full of killers and all that? And about their crimes being showcased through songs and videos?
E: Exactly. Following what you said, everyone here other than you has committed murder.
M: Being locked up in a place like that sounds too awful…! None of the others really look the part, either. Listen, there's even a primary schooler here.
E: (sigh) You'll be better off not saying that to Amane's face. That'd turn into trouble.
M: Huh? Why?
E: Well. It's not like I don't get what you mean. I'm stunned too, doing these interrogations. Your impressions of people can really pull you along. (???)
M: See? Like, Yun-chan and Mucchan are just highschool girls, Haru-kun looks like someone who can't hurt a fly, and Futa just acts worse than he really is, right? (T/N: misheard this one at first, he actually says "Futa would be an umbrella thief at worst" 🙏) Then there's Mappi, who is just a nice person– well, and well… Kazu-san and Shidou-san and… Koto-chan do kind of seem like they could do some bad things, I guess.
E: (sigh) Those are your personal impressions, Mikoto-kun. But those are the people that Milgram chose. They've all without a doubt been involved in someone else's death.
M: Hmm… well… Okay, fine. I'll believe it for now.
E: Alright, then. For someone innocent like Mikoto-kun to be chosen as well… what do you think could've been the reason for that?
M: Uhm… they got the wrong person.
E: Oh?
M: I can't imagine that they know the details of what we look like. Mistaking me for someone in terms of gender or clothing style... something along those lines.
E: So Milgram made a mistake, is what you're suggesting?
M: Yeah, exactly. There's no other option that I can think of.
E: Is that so? I have another idea. You have forgotten that you've killed someone.
M: ...Huh? 'Forgotten'? About killing someone? Is that even a thing?
E: You're not lying. Milgram is always right. If both of those statements are true, it's only natural to arrive at that conclusion, isn't it?
M: Forgotten? Me…? About killing someone?
E: To get rid of [psychological] stress, humans may repress certain memories as a coping mechanism. It's not unheard of.
M: S-stress? (laugh) No, no. (heavy breathing) Killing someone without even knowing it… there's no way…!
E: If I believe you, there's no other logical conclusion, since I still prioritize my faith in Milgram over your statements. There is no way I would question that.
M: No… no, no…!
E: As the warden, my judgement is... that you are a murderer.
M: No way, no way–! Time out, time out! Stop it! (scratches head(?)) Saying all those awful things…!
E: (sigh)
M: Becoming a murderer… without even knowing it…? There's no way, no way…
E: Let's give it some time. The threads of your memory might untangle themselves eventually.
M: (gasping / choking(?) for air)
E: A murderer without memory of killing… in which case, how should I think of you… Hey, Mikoto–
M: (screaming)
(Mikoto starts to attack Es)
E: What is–? Mikoto?
M: (heavy breathing/growling)
E: (cough) You… attacked me…? No way… That can't be…
M: (more heavy breaths) Fuck… Fuck…! Stop pissing me off!
E: There should be no way– for a prisoner to attack me–!
M: Shut your mouth!
E: (gasp)
M: You keep blabbering on and on… I'm gonna fucking kill you, you piece of shit!
(he continues to hit them)
M: Going on, and on, and on… all high and mighty… like you aren't just a kid! Serves you fucking right!
E: ...emember...
M: Huh? I can't hear you. You're no more than an unimportant brat.
E: Remember… your murder…!
M: Huh?! (laughter) You prefer it when it hurts more, huh? (Es gasps) That's fine. I'll beat you up all you want.
(Mikoto and Kotoko proceed to throw punches at each other for a while)
M: Don't fucking mess around with me…!
K: Your technique is definitely that of an amateur… (?? she adds something about his amount of muscle / how he uses it)
M: Annoying… you're annoying…! Argh…!
K: I could be saying the same.
(they continue, Kotoko eventually knocks Mikoto out)
E: Knocked him out… with one hit…?
K: Be grateful to me. You got banged up pretty badly as is. Are you okay, Warden-san?
E: (cough) Kotoko… you…
K: What?
E: Did you… sneak in before the interrogation…?
K: Huh? You don't intend to accuse me of anything, do you? If I hadn't intervened, you would've ended up dead.
E: Why… were you in the interrogation room…?
K: I've already noticed Mikoto Kayano's weird behavior a while ago, and since I'm in the room right next to his, I kept an eye on him.
E: Why did you save me…?
K: Because your existence is helpful to me.
E: That's… not an explanation…
K: I guess you're right. I'll be answering that question when it's my turn.
E: Damn it… Mikoto… Suddenly lashing out like that…
K: Warden-san, look over here.
E: What is it now, Kotoko–?
(Kotoko "tries" to punch them, but her hit gets blocked by the usual barrier)
K: The hit got blocked mid-air… So it's true that inmates can't attack you. Then why was Mikoto Kayano able to hit you…?
E: …This is bad for my heart. Stop it. Besides, that's what I'd like to know as well…
(bell rings)
E: It's time… Get out, Kotoko.
K: The song extraction thing, huh. Are you trying to say that's something I'm not allowed to see?
E: I won't acknowledge it. Get out.
K: Hmm. Either way, this has become interesting, hasn't it?
E: Kotoko…
K: You've realized it too, haven't you? Based on this confrontation, it's likely that Mikoto Kayano has dissociative identity disorder, or in other words, a split personality. Well, of course there's also the possibility that he's just putting on an act... What do you think? I've never met anyone like that in real life, but if he really does have a dual personality, should he be punished for crimes that were committed by his other side–?
E: Kotoko!! It's my job to consider that, not the prisoners'… not yours…! Only myself and Milgram have the right to… finding out what the truth is… and what their crimes are!
K: (giggle) Yeah, yeah. Alright, I'll be leaving it to you. See you.
E: ...Hey.
K: What?
E: Thank you… for saving me.
K: You're welcome.
(Kotoko leaves)
E: (sigh) There's so much that I don't get about this yet, but… I'll have to do my job anyway.
(they walk over and smack Mikoto(??))
M: Ow! What– what are you doing, Warden-kun?? When did you– Argh, my head hurts…
E: i bet it does.
M: Ugh… Wait! You're covered in bruises too! What's wrong? What happened?
E: You really… don't remember anything, huh?
M: Huh? What…? What are you talking about?
E: You're acting so clueless it still makes my blood boil… But it's fine. I've acknowledged your attitude now. Although I may not know if that attitude is actually yours… or someone else's.
