Shion: [yawning] You know, I've been thinking about that. Do we really have to keep doing this?
Yuto: Hah... well, rules are rules. Shion Kaida-kun.
Shion: Mm.
Yuto: Tosa Ryoga-kun.
Ryoga: Uh huh.
Yuto: Mikoshiba Ken... ... huh? Where's Mikoshiba-kun?
Ryoga: Who knows?
Shion: He's probably just in the bathroom.
Yuto: I'll go check to make sure.
[sfx: footsteps retreating]
[sfx: distant door opening, frantic footsteps]
Yuto: [muffled behind doors] E-e-e-e-e--!
[sfx: door being thrown open, Yuto running into the room]
Yuto: Emergency!!!
Ryoga: Ugh, so damn loud. When are we gonna get to eat?
Yuto: Mi-Mikoshiba-kun is...
Shion and Ryoga: Hm?
Yuto: Nowhere to be found!!
Ryoga: --!
Shion: Ah. If he isn't anywhere here, then that means...?
Ryoga: A jailbreak, right?
Yuto: [sigh] What am I going to do? I'm really in trouble now... Mikoshiba-kun, where on earth could you have gone...? [sigh]
Ryoga: ... alright, knock it the fuck off!! You're starting to piss me off too!!
Yuto: Eh?
Ryoga: Pacing around here and mumbling and fretting ain't gonna help at all!
Yuto: Yes, but...
Shion: I'm sure he'll be back sooner or later. Heh. It's the only place any of us have, anyway. So don't stress it.
Yuto: "Don't stress it"...? Aren't either of you worried!?
Ryoga: ...
Shion: Mm?
Yuto: I checked the security logs. It seems that he disabled the electronic field at the front door and left some time around dawn.
Shion: Well, considering it's Shibaken, I can't imagine that was terribly difficult for him.
Yuto: But why now? I can't understand why Mikoshiba-kun would do something so risky.
Ryoga: What's he risking? Isn't he locked up under some special surveillance or whatever? It's not like he's going to make his prison sentence any longer than it already is.
Yuto: That's not what I mean by risky. I mean that if Mikoshiba-kun were to be taken into police custody, it would be a serious violation of the terms of the rehabilitation program. So it wouldn't just be Mikoshiba-kun facing consequences; all of GokuLuck would face punishment as a team. And needless to say, we wouldn't be able to participate in the Paradox Live, and we may end up facing intense restrictions on all of our future activity.
Shion and Ryoga: ...
Ryoga: ... tch. Joint responsibility again?
Yuto: Mikoshiba-kun is so smart, there's no way he was oblivious to that possibility. ... but, that's not why I'm worried.
Shion: But that's the most important thing, isn't it?
Yuto: Why did Mikoshiba-kun do this? That's what worries me.
Shion and Ryoga: ...
Yuto: No matter how mature he may be or how much of a genius he is, he's still only fifteen years old-- a child. As the adult who's in de facto charge of supervising him, I should be the one protecting him.
Shion and Ryoga: ...
Ryoga: "Protecting him"? Tch. He probably ran away beacuse he thinks that stuff is a pain in the ass.
Shion: Shouldn't you worry about yourself more than Shibaken, since you'll be the one getting fired if this gets found out?
Yuto: ... well, that's not wrong, but... ... Mikoshiba-kun, where in the world have you gotten off to...?
[sfx: outside, children laughing]
Child 1: Hey, let's play together!
Child 2: Hey, stay behind me!
[sfx: footsteps]
Kenta: The Future House orphanage. Is this really that same garbage dump? It's totally changed.
Child: [laughing] Hold on!
Kenta: Tch. How much money did this take?
Man: Can I help you? Are you a friend of someone here?
Kenta: --!
Man: If there's another child you want to see, then--
Kenta: You're the bastard I want to see! Mister facility director. Or maybe should I say sensei?
Man [Director]: --!
Kenta: Oh, come on, you haven't forgotten my face, have you?
Director: O-of course not! Kenta-- it's Kenta, right? You certainly look different; you've grown a lot!
Kenta: Yeah, seven years will do that. I've gotten a lot time to train up, being locked up in that cage.
Director: ...
[sfx: two children approaching]
Child A: Sensei! Who's that big kid?
Child B: Is he gonna join the Future House?
Director: Ah, no, ah, he's, um, an old acquaintance of mine. Um, sensei has something important he needs to talk about with this big kid, so how about you guys go play over there for a while?
Children A and B: 'Kaaaay!
[sfx: children running away]
Kenta: Heh? Hah, "old acquaintance"? So are we just pretending I was never here, then?
Director: Ah, that's...
Kenta: I can't even say I'm surprised at this point, though.
Director: ... ... but, then, what are you doing here? I'd have thought your ability to walk around freely must be pretty limited by those special measures... did you get proper permission?
Kenta: ...
Director: Certainly, you didn't just go off on your own without--
Kenta: Looks like this place came into some money.
Director: A--ah, yes, we did. We received a very large anonymous donation. We were able to completely fix up the building. Take a look! Isn't it lovely?
Kenta: ...
Director: d
Kenta: Oh, yeah, you were talking about the future of all these brats with that shit-eating smile.
Director: ...
Kenta: It was all real fuckin' rich, coming out of the mouth of a scumbag who'd sell an eight-year-old out to the police! It was hard to believe.
Director: ... w-well, yes! Speaking of that, Kenta, I'd say you've done quite well for yourself, haven't you? It's that, uh, GokuLuck, isn't it? I heard you're extremely popular. It's that hiphop music, right? You took part in that major competition and the results you managed were outstanding.
Kenta: ... yeah.
Director: I knew it; you really are a genius, Kenta! Ever since you were a little kid, you've been so different from the others! You've got such talent, you've always been a really special kid!
Kenta: --!
[sfx: children playing]
[flashback begins]
[sfx: keyboard tapping]
Director: --! That's...! Did you really make this game all by yourself, Kenta?
Kenta: Mmhm.
Director: I can hardly believe it... I was just teaching you the basics of programming the other day.
Kenta: I just looked up anything I didn't understand on the internet... and then I just tried stuff until it worked.
Director: I'm impressed! I always thought there was something different about you, but...
Kenta: Everyone else is really boring. When I talk to them they don't understand anything and they're no fun. All that playing tag and throwing balls around just seems so stupid.
Director: [laughs] Now, now.
Kenta: But... this is fun. And it gives me the answers to my questions.
Director: You really are a genius, Kenta.
Kenta: "Genius"...?
Director: Yes, a genius!! Kenta, you have a gift. You're a special kid.
Kenta: ...! I'm... a special kid?
[flashback ends]
[sfx: children playing, laughing]
Kenta: "Special kid", huh? You sure did say that a lot, back then.
Director: Ah, well, I mean, you were, weren't you? I mean, you--
Kenta: I'm not gonna fall for that anymore.
Director: Huh?
Kenta: What kind of nerve do you have, to keep pulling that crap after all this time?
Director: Kenta?
Kenta: The hell did you get me to do by saying all that crap?!
Director: !?
Kenta: All that praise, all that oh, you're a special kid crap, and what was it you made me do!?
Director: A-aah, well, it was all just meant to be a bit of a joke, you know--!
Kenta: A joke? It was just a little joke, acting like all that hacking stuff like it was a game to let some dumbass kid make you money? Oh, how hysterical.
Director: I simply--
Kenta: Spare me your bullshit excuses!! I didn't know that I had been doing anything wrong until the cops caught me! The day you sold me out!!
Director: About w-what happened that day... even I didn't--
Kenta: You didn't give a fuck about me!!
[sfx: Kenta lunging at the director, the sound of physical scuffle]
Kenta: Not a damn thing has changed since then! You're still the same piece of shit!
Director: K-Kenta--! [sharp intake of breath] Got it! I apologize!! I did you wrong, and I apologize for that! If it would make you feel better to punch me, then so be it!!
[sfx: Kenta relaxing his grip]
Kenta: --!
Director: Just, please, don't tell anyone that I was involved, like you always have, okay?
Kenta: ...
Director: I'm the director of this place, and it would be a disaster if something like that came out! I wouldn't be able to protect the kids here! You understand, right?
Kenta: ...
Child A: Sensei...?
Child B: Hey, that big kid is bullying Sensei. That's against the rules!
Kenta: --!
[sfx: footsteps]
Man: What's the matter? ... ah, Director?
Director: The police! Call the police!! This boy is a criminal!
Kenta: --!
[sfx: Kenta shoving the director away]
Man: Are you okay, director!?
[sfx: Kenta running away and panting]
[sfx: birdsong, footsteps]
Nayuta: Hey.
Kanata: Hm?
Nayuta: Let's see... that "Future House" place or whatever. It's somewhere around here, right?
Kanata: Future House?
Nayuta: Yeah, it was one of the places on the list of places we donated to. There was a report about it the other day. They used the money to totally rebuild the place.
Kanata: Ah, yeah, it kinda rings a bell... you're looking up where it is?
Nayuta: I think we should sneak on over and make sure they're using the money properly.
Kanata: What is there to make sure of?
Nayuta: Ah, knew it, it's right there. We just turn on this corner, and--
[sfx: Kenta running, panting]
Nayuta: Huh?
[sfx: Kenta running smack into Nayuta]
Kanata: --! Hey, are you alright, Nayuta!? Hey, bastard, watch where you're-- ...!
Kenta: --!
Nayuta: Huh? Aren't you from GokuLuck?
[sfx: man running, panting]
Man: You there! Don't let that kid get away!!
Kanata and Nayuta: Hah?
Kenta: --! You guys! Cover me!
Kanata and Nayuta: Hah?
Kenta: Don't ask questions!!
Nayuta: Give us one good reason?
Kenta: Shut up and get me the fuck out of here!! If they catch me here then our battle with you ain't happening!!
Kanata and Nayuta: Hah???