[open log] [harassment welcome]

[decideformyself]

On January 2nd, a few people are going about their everyday lives.

---

Philip can be found in the library for much of the morning. He's working there for a couple of hours but, for once, leaves immediately after his shift is over.

Around noon he stops by the shop to pick up a couple of things and gets distracted by trying on some clothes. It would be nice to have more than just the jumpsuit, he figures. He leaves the shop carrying a few bags and a humongous whiteboard, heading in the direction of G-Block.

That evening he has a shift in the cafeteria. He can be found with his nose in a book even as he shovels food onto other inmates' trays.

---

Chaplin Sukegawa is stuck on laundry duty for much of the morning and janitorial duty in the cell blocks in the evening. She can also be found in the cafeteria at meal times, and out in the courtyard for much of the afternoon. After spending so long cooped up inside, it's nice to get some fresh air. Feel free to bump into her in the halls at any point, too.

---

Kousei Kougami has cafeteria duty in the morning. After that he spends a couple of hours in the kitchen, and most of the afternoon out in one of the courtyards manning his cake stand. Various cakes are on sale, available whole or by the slice. He also takes special orders for anybody who would like a particular kind.

He's back in the cafeteria at dinnertime.

Comments

[decideformyself]

Philip didn't get distracted. He already had the maximum number of books checked out thanks to Shotaro the day before, so there was no point in lingering.

He adjusted the clips in his hair as he joined Shotaro by the door. "Is that note all you received?"

[tanteiotaku]

He smirked at Philip's hair, but didn't make a comment. "That's it." While there was a risk that it was Terui looking to finish what was started the day before, he wasn't going to avoid answering what could be a genuine cry for help.

And that possibility wasn't the only reason he decided to collect Philip. The kid had a mind like a steel trap, and he may have come across something useful. "Do you recognize the handwriting or anything?"

[decideformyself]

At that question, he reached out to take the note from Shotaro and read it again. He took a careful look, squinting and turning it sideways. Finally, though, he shook his head. "I have never seen this handwriting before."

[tanteiotaku]

He sighed a bit, and took the note back from him before tucking it back into his shirt pocket. "You feeling okay?" Because it'd be terribly rude of him to not check on him, especially after the loudness yesterday.

[decideformyself]

Philip nodded, following as Shotaro led the way. "I have more or less recovered. I appreciate your help yesterday, aside from the part where you woke me up."

[tanteiotaku]

"I'm sorry about that. I warned him that you were sleeping." Nevermind that he was probably the louder of them when it finally came down to brass tacks.

[decideformyself]

"Who was that person?" Philip asked with a sideways glance at Shotaro.

[tanteiotaku]

"Ryu Terui. Last I heard, he was the Fuuto Police Department's golden boy. He'd exceptionally driven, and for him to get to his rank at his age was unprecedented." Well, this was inevitable. "And, since he's moved into G-Block, just like us."

[decideformyself]

"...then he's like us." He tapped his chin in thought. "From the sound of things, it seemed that he knew of Sokichi Narumi."

[tanteiotaku]

"The kind of work we did was no secret from some people in the police department. A few of their detectives would come to us when there was something they couldn't handle. Inevitably, they all ended up here or they just disappeared completely." Probably being held somewhere else until their debut here was most effective. Hopefully that's all there was.

"I'll have to see what I can find out about what got him in here after we meet up with this client."

[decideformyself]

There were any number of reasons a police officer -- no, a Deadman like Ryu Terui would have been interested in Sokichi Narumi. If only Philip knew more about how the outside world operated, he would have more input here.

All he could do, though, was ask about what he'd heard. "He also seemed to be under the impression that you were the one responsible for Narumi's death."

[tanteiotaku]

And there it was. That was inevitable. He stopped walking and turned to look at Philip. "That's because I am."

[decideformyself]

Philip stopped in his tracks, staring in confusion at Shotaro.

"I was there, Shotaro. I saw what happened -- you didn't kill him."

[tanteiotaku]

"No, but there's more to it than that. When we got there to rescue you, he told me to stay put." He takes a deep breath and pushes on. He deserved to know the whole story. "He went to go take care of some of the guards. I saw you and I thought that if I could get you out of there while he had the guards distracted that he would recognize me and we could work together." That this was still a fresh wound was obvious in his voice.

"If I hadn't done that, he'd probably still be alive."

[decideformyself]

When he put it that way, it sounded like simple cause and effect. True, it was the decision of the security guards at that facility that had ultimately claimed the man's life. But there seemed to be some truth to what Shotaro was saying, too.

Still, Philip looked torn as he digested those words. "In which case I'm to blame as well."

[tanteiotaku]

"No way!" He shook his head. "None of that was your fault at all."

[decideformyself]

"He was there to save me," Philip pointed out. "I could have left on my own at any time. With my Branch of Sin it would have been simple. If Sokichi Narumi had not received that request, he would still be alive. Am I wrong?"

[tanteiotaku]

"You could barely walk when we found you. There's no way you had the strength to do it, Branch or otherwise." Of course, with what happened later, that proved untrue, but the emotional relationship to the Branch of Sin couldn't be overestimated.

[decideformyself]

"I was not an invalid!"

Shotaro was right -- physical strength aside, Philip hadn't been in any mental state to disobey the people holding him captive. But as Narumi had pointed out, that was still Philip's responsibility.

[tanteiotaku]

Okay, arguing that point was pointless. He rubbed at his temple. "I am just as responsible for the Boss's death as the guy with the gun was.

"But that was a decision I made, and I'll have to live with it." He seemed to say that to defend himself as well as to shore up his resolve. "You were left for me to take care of, and that's what I'm going to do." He clapped Philip on the shoulder.

"We have a client waiting. Let's go."

[decideformyself]

Philip just stared in confusion for a second, but then he nodded and started walking again.

Deadman Wonderland itself, the existence of G-Block, and the mysterious revival of dead inmates were bad enough on their own, but this strange detective who insisted on looking out for Philip was one of the biggest enigmas in this prison, and the one he felt least equipped to solve.