Imprisoning the Junior
I humbly report, Father and Mother.
Is it already summer back on Earth? It's gotten so hot here that I can't move without short sleeves.
It's been over a year and a few months since I got hit by that truck and fell into this world.
I'm scraping by working for an evil organization, but sometimes I miss the days when I could just act spoiled.
I've been doing my best, devoting myself to the organization—
"Time to get up. It's wake-up time."
...and yet, for some reason, I'm living in a prison.
They confiscated my regular clothes, force me into a rigid daily routine, and it's been about three days since they threw me in this underground cell.
Up at 6 a.m., breakfast, washing up and brushing teeth... then nearly half the day spent on interrogation.
"Silver Unit's goal is world conquest? Why set such a ridiculous ambition?"
"No idea."
Of course, I can't just blab about the organization. Besides, I'm just a grunt—what useful info could I even have?
Still, to protect my body, I shared whatever I could.
"Lunchtime."
"...This feels fancier than my usual meals."
Anyway, I've gotten used to this life, and now I'm just behaving myself until they let me go—
"What have you been writing so intently since yesterday?"
I stopped my pen at the familiar voice from beyond the bars.
"Nah, nothing to do and bored out of my mind."
It's a letter, sort of. No reason to hide it, so I showed Ruri the scribbled paper.
"...You must've been really bored. But who are you even showing this letter to?"
"Three days in an underground hole with no sunlight—expecting normal behavior?"
"......"
She ignored my gripe, read it silently, then changed expression as if something caught her eye.
"I heard yesterday that you're from another world, but can I really believe that?"
"You must've dug into my background. Blank slate for the past year, right?"
"Faking info isn't hard. It's just... nagging at me."
Ruri handed the letter back, said her piece, and left. Another day passed—day four of confinement.
I was zoning out when interrogation time rolled around again, full of energy as always.
"So you weren't targeting my lady. Our boss just wanted a Silver Unit branch at Jewelry Academia."
"That branch being Cafe Eclipse, which you run. Got it."
It wasn't a brutal interrogation—just verifying my alibi to clear suspicions. Makes sense; Ruri serves Diamond, so preemptively eliminating threats to her is natural.
"Next question. Do you know about an organization called Guardian?"
"...Guardian?"
Means "protector," right? Random question.
"If you're asking me, they must be like Silver Unit—another shady bunch?"
"Close enough. Remember those monsters popping up all over the city last time?"
"Oh, that. Yeah."
It happened the day Crystal and I went out. They crashed our park suddenly—stuck in my mind.
"From what you've said, Guardian's behind creating those monster hordes."
"Can't say for sure, but that's my take."
This world has evil orgs beyond Silver Unit. If they can pull off monster terrorism like that, I'd have heard whispers... but nada.
'Maybe ask Ravi later.'
She'd know even obscure groups. She saw right through me being from another world.
Guardian, huh. If they're like us, we'll clash someday.
Interrogation wrapped up with chit-chat.
"By the way, you've never once asked to be released."
"Would saying it work?"
I'm an evil guy disrupting world order. Suspicion's natural if one approaches her lady.
'Though locking me in an underground cell is overkill.'
I'm fine with real jail anyway. Continuing Silver Unit work means this was inevitable, sooner or later.
I'd humbly accepted my fate, but surprisingly, Ruri nodded and uncuffed me.
"If you mean no harm to Lady Diamond, that's enough. Got most the info needed—I'll negotiate with Silver Unit to hand you over."
"Huh? You're really letting me go?"
Cleaner release than expected. Thought they'd squeeze more info after kidnapping me.
'She seemed the type to ignore means for ends.'
Stockholm syndrome? Kidnapped twice by her crew, but I couldn't hate Ruri.
Maybe some big reason for grabbing me...
'Poking too much won't help.'
Better not rile her up and risk changing her mind.
"Any other questions? I locked you up for days—least I can do is answer."
"Not really—"
I started to refuse, but Amber's face flashed in my mind.
"...Actually, curious about Amber. She pass the re-exam okay?"
She clung so hard for tutoring. Diamond joined later too.
She should be enjoying break now, dodging remedial hell.
"Hmm, not sure if I should say, but..."
Ruri hesitated—first time; she'd been dead serious till now.
"...Something happen?"
My tone roughened instinctively. No time to fix it—I'd jumped to worst-case.
If jealous punks went after her again, unforgivable.
"Looks like she failed the re-exam."
"Fuck."
Now it's unforgivable. For Amber.
Meanwhile, at Jewelry Academia, Class 2-A.
"...What the hell is this."
"......"
Amber flinched at Diamond's unprecedented expression.
Her hand held the re-exam results from days ago—
Score nowhere near passing.
Even the saintly Diamond couldn't accept it easily, frustration boiling over into action.
"Aaaargh!!!"
"Sorry! Sorry, just don't scream!"
Diamond started tutoring willingly, but Amber's dismal brain wore her down.
Thought the hellish study sessions ended with re-exam day—but nope, back with a 43.
"...How the hell?"
Amber's failures: two classic student mistakes.
First, fell for the teacher's trap questions hook, line, and sinker.
"Ahaha... Answers jumped out, got carried away..."
Seemed right at a glance, but needed extra calc or flipped signs.
Rush without checking? Bound to get tricked.
And the big second fail slashing her score—
"Front was okay, but back? Mostly wrong. Bad luck?"
"No, luck's got nothing—it's just..."
Front (easier parts): she got into it, high accuracy.
But neglected hard units, bombed high-point problems—score tanked.
Translation: barely studied the back.
"Haa, no helping it."
But Diamond didn't quit. Ditching a job halfway? Not her style.
"Good news: propositions and conditions are solid! More functions study, we'll make it!"
"Diamond-chan... So cool, I'm getting wet."
"Saying that means you're too relaxed..."
As they reignited resolve, Amber's smartphone rang.
"Ah, call from senpai."
"Huh? Jade?"
Jade'd vanished lately, but Amber's head was full of re-exam woes—no biggie.
Just bummed study hell restarts.
She casually pulled out her phone and answered.
"Hello? Senpai, where'd you—"
"I'm locking you in a dungeon to study starting now. Pack your shit."
"Pardon?!"
Amber's world went dark!