Chapter 2

Looking around the room he was in, Akako didn't see much of use. There only things that stood out from the white walls, while similarly white, were his small cot, and the cup of water that he had just finished. The pristine white seemed to engulf him, reminding him that what happened here was not nearly as pure as the clean white room. It sent a slight shiver down Akako's spine.

Such thoughts took up much of Akako's time, bringing him closer to a sort of insanity while shielding him from his pain. Hours past before his main reprieve in the form of a creaking door would come.

"It's time to go outside." The person said in a monotone voice, while smiling at him warmly.

Akako followed the person to a blocked in area outside. Here other test subjects sat, between the trees and the building itself. Today, one person caught Akako's attention. She, unlike most of the subjects he saw, had a petite build with silver hair and striking red eyes. Still, her beauty was not what attracted Akako, instead it was here expressionless face staring back at him that led to him sitting down next to her.

Akako and the girl ended up stuck in a staring match, both somewhat confused at why they were even bothering to look at each other when they would likely die or be assigned to a different quadrant within days.

"What do you want?" The girl broke their silence with her uncaring voice.

"What is your name?" Akako said, feeling a bit awkward.

"Why do you want to know?" As the girl said this Akako's uneasiness grew, as he worried that she might be getting aggravated despite her unchanging tone.

"I want to be friends..." Akako paused, "I've been here for a long time yet I haven't gotten to know you, or anyone else here."

The girl continued to stare at him seeming confused.

"Mizuki... you can call me that." Mizuki said with a slight smile on her face.

"Nice to meet you Mizuki, I'm Akako." Akako had tried to smile while saying this but the best he could do was curve his lips slightly upwards.

"Nice to meet you too." Mizuki's voice continued to grow warmer.

Mizuki and Akako continued to talk to each other until they both were escorted back into their rooms, ignoring the cold eyes the other inmates glared at them with the entire way through.

As he walked back to his room, Akako felt hope for the first time in a long time. He was filled with this warm feeling for the first time in this life, and it continued into his sleep.