A Friend
While stretching her arms, Tatsumaki says, "Don't raise your hopes. You won't be able to escape from here."
How does this girl know about my escape plan?
I have underestimated her too much. It seems her insight is as high as her rudeness.
What if Tatsumaki reports my long-term escape plan to get benefits from those people, and therefore reduce its success chance?
No. I must get out of here. I can't let this happen.
Should I...?
She continues, "They have strong guards at their side to secure the area from monsters and other villains who might want to destroy this laboratory."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Tatsumaki averts her eyes from my sight as she explains, "Because we are the same."
The same...
Does that mean her parents also sold her out, just like me?
I only thought about how rude she was, not considering her situation at all.
Despite my attempt to stop caring about my family, I am still struggling to do so. Forgetting about them in a short amount of time is not that easy.
How great would it be if I could just delete my memory instantly?
This poor girl must also be suffering the same thing as me...
We have nobody to count on.
People locked us here like animals without even having any strength to fight back, like weaklings.
Not to mention our superpower making us different from normal people.
To protect yourself in this world, you can only become stronger.
Only with strength will I be safe from harm.
"I will defeat them with my power once I am powerful enough."
I know some people trained themselves to become stronger than the average person, having superhuman strength.
Even with my claws, I am not their match. I need to find a way to train myself.
This time, I will believe in Tatsumaki for keeping her mouth shut as we are the same. The only difference between us is our method.
I want to use my strength to get out of here whereas she is waiting for those people to deem her useless and let her go.
Besides, she just gave me such an important piece of information despite not gaining anything in return.
"Idiot...Do whatever you want. It's not my business anyway."
Why is Derald taking so much time?
It has only been a day that I've been lockup here but I've already had enough of it. Even if I can't go outside and smell the fresh air, I just want to get out of this jail.
How long has Tatsumaki been staying here, alone without anyone to talk to? It must have been so lonely for her all this time...
I will become your friend then.
Although there is not much hope, I ask, "Do you want to play Janken with me?"
Considering her rude behavior, it would be a miracle if she accepted my invitation.
However, it has just happened in front of my eyes as her hair moves gracefully along with her nod.
Thoughts are my perception, not my reality.
I've been doing the right thing by asking her even if I did not believe it myself. With nothing to lose. I will always try and fail rather than fail to try
"Saisho wa guu." Both of us pump our fists with a rock gesture. "Janken pon!"
Seeing that she just lost to me, Tatsumaki says, "Again!"
At first, I regretted my decision because of the awkward atmosphere.
We have not talked much to each other but suddenly started playing together like friends.
Yet thanks to her competitive spirit, time flies quicker than before.
As we play, I feel like the distance between us has shortened, both physically and emotionally.
Even by little, the closer I get, the more I realize how much I have misunderstood her.
If we ignore her rudeness, Tatsumaki is just a lonely girl abandoned by her parents who only wants a friend.
Unfortunately, our good moment is interrupted by the sound of someone unlocking the door, probably Derald.
"Thank you," I say while standing up.
To think that my first friend would be my jail's roommate.
"Hmpf!"
Tatsumaki points her finger at me, "Next time, I won't let you beat me even once."
What a competitive and short-tempered person...
She had lost to me, quite badly.
"Let's play again once we return here then." I reply with an arrogant smile meaning 'Come and Try to beat me if you can~'