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Behind Closed Doors

The Public Square of the Damned

"Ahhhh, Es! You made it at last!"

Es entered the monitor room with an unamused expression, unaware of the smudged mark of very light pink lipstick on his cheek as he closed the door behind him. The air in the central hub felt colder than the interrogation room, or perhaps it was just the absence of the person he had left behind.

Jackalope was waiting for him right at the entrance, a tiny little creature but brimming with a manic sort of mischief that made the fur on his mechanical ears stand on end.

"Oh? You look a little tired, don't you? It's quite the exercise, getting a girl to grow puppy ears for you. Was it the other way around? Maybe *your* tail is wagging and she's taking advantage of it?" Jackalope’s series of questions came out with an amusement laced into them that bordered on the predatory. He hopped in a circle, his black bead eyes fixed on the Warden. "I wasn't disappointed, rather, I was trying to get you to spill something!"

Es ignored him, or tried to, as he took his seat at the central console. He stared vacantly at the flickering screens, the blue light reflecting off his spectacles and washing out the color of his face.

"Are you done spouting this nonsense?" Es asked flatly.

"W-why, that's rude to ask! Of course I am!" Jackalope exclaimed, hopping onto Es's lap. He looked up, his nose twitching. "I was just... trying to gather the details of whatever interrogation went on in there with you and Yuno! She came out all giggly. A bit uncharacteristic for a girl who just had her soul flayed, don't you think?"

Es sighed, throwing his hat to the side and onto a nearby table. The weight of the warden’s crown felt heavier than usual, especially with the ghost of Yuno’s touch still lingering on his skin. "I will not disclose anything said in the interrogation room. That's one of your rules, in case you forgot. Privacy of the prisoner during the extraction phase."

"Then... I take it back! Just for right now," Jackalope chirped, his ears swiveling. "Rules are made to be bent, especially when the Warden is the one doing the bending!"

Es leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "I thought you kept these screens on. If you were so curious, that would have given you an idea."

"Well, I had *yours* on at first," Jackalope started, making a vague gesture with his paw toward the main display. "I just decided to be the gentleman that I am and give you two privacy when you began smoothing like that. No see, no tell. Even a rabbit has a sense of decorum when things get... humid."

"No see, no tell..." Es repeated, leaning in close. His gaze turned tense, almost dangerous, the kind of look that usually preceded a harsh judgment. "Speaking of tell, you didn't *tell* anyone about this since it started, right? Not the other prisoners. Not through the intercom."

Jackalope laughed heartily, a shrill sound that echoed off the metallic walls. He avoided Es's unwavering gaze by pretending to groom his paw. "Of course not! If anything, your love is more likely to reveal itself. You aren't exactly a master of the poker face, Warden."

"...As in, Yuno," Es grumbled.

"Yes! Her! I mean, what are the chances of her keeping this a secret for long? She lives for the drama, the attention! In fact, I think that the moment you exit this room, all eyes will be on you two. The fear will start rising. The prisoners will start to think Yuno is an exception of yours and that they're doomed to biased judgment! A scandal in Milgram! How deliciously chaotic!"

"Unfortunately, she will never be anything of the sort," Es muttered, straightening up. In his irritation, he accidentally shifted his legs, kicking Jackalope off his thighs. The creature hit the floor with a soft *thump* and a huff of indignation. "The reason I asked is because I intended on notifying all the prisoners myself. It just... it feels a little disgusting right now. Maybe I'm softening and taking my job less seriously."

Jackalope tilted his head to the side, a slow movement of contemplation as he hopped back onto the desk. "Hey, Warden. I still believe you both could have pursued each other elsewhere. But... where's the fun in that? What are the chances of you both meeting anywhere else? In the real world, you're a boy who doesn't exist and she's a girl who sells a dream. Here, you're the only real thing each other has. Plus, it's fun viewing you actually show a semblance of emotion. You were starting to look like a statue."

"Shut up," Es snapped, though there was no real bite in it.

"I'm being genuine here! I have nothing against your feelings, and I'm sure—or I'll ensure that—everyone else doesn't either."

"Ensure that they don't?" Es questioned, his brow furrowing. "I believe the prisoners are allowed to think less of me for feeling this way. Especially towards someone like them. A murderer. A sinner. My duty is to remain objective."

"Well, I disagree! You're supposed to get out there and claim her in front of everyone. Show them that even in this hellhole, the Warden has a heart! It’ll keep them on their toes. Is he being kind? Is he being compromised? They’ll go mad trying to figure you out!"

"...She does not like feeling like property, Jackalope," Es said, his voice softening as he thought of Yuno’s fierce independence, the way she guarded her own autonomy even while offering herself up.

"Lovingly, of course! Anyways, there's no time to waste, is there? The cafeteria bells are about to chime. The 'family' dinner is waiting."

"Right."

Es stood up, his movements stiff and formal. He pushed his chair in with a decisive click and retrieved his hat, pulling it low over his eyes. He caught his reflection in the dark glass of a dormant monitor. He saw the smudge of pink on his cheek. With a sharp, embarrassed curse, he rubbed it away with the back of his glove until the skin was red.

He exited the monitor room and made his way toward the cell blocks. The walk felt longer than usual. Every footstep on the metal grate seemed to announce his transgression. He was the Warden. He was the one who decided who was forgiven and who was not. And yet, he was walking toward the cell of the one person who had managed to judge *him*.

The other prisoners were beginning to stir. Haruka had been granted permission to be in Muu’s cell for a scheduled "socialization block," their voices murmuring behind the reinforced glass. Shidou was standing by his bars, looking out with that weary, doctor-like patience. They were all waiting for the signal to head to the cafeteria.

Tentatively, Es reached into his pocket and fetched Yuno's cell key. It felt heavy, the cold metal biting into his palm. He slid it into the lock and twisted.

The door hissed open. Yuno had her back to him, sitting on the edge of her cot and humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like the one from her music video. She perked up immediately at the sound of the lock, spinning around with a grace that suggested she had been waiting for this exact moment.

"Es-kun! I knew you'd come for me sooner or later!" Yuno's face lit up with a brilliant, genuine smile. She jogged over to him, her eyes dancing with light. As she came face-to-face with him, she tilted her head, looking down at the shorter boy with a playful glint. "Could I kiss you here? Or is the hallway too 'ethically questionable' for the Warden?"

"Not here, Yuno!" Es hissed, his face heating up instantly. He looked left and right, making sure no one was peering through their bars. "Just... come here. We're going down to the cafeteria to take care of something. A formal announcement."

"Hmm... Okie dokie!" Yuno sang, stepping out into the hall. She didn't stay behind him like a submissive prisoner; she walked right beside him, her shoulder occasionally brushing his.

They walked in silence toward the large, communal dining area. The other prisoners were already filing in, taking their seats at the long, sterile tables. The atmosphere in the cafeteria was always tense—a mix of suppressed trauma and the forced politeness of people who knew they were being watched.

As Es and Yuno entered, the room went quiet. It wasn't the usual silence of respect; it was the silence of confusion. Yuno wasn't being led by the arm, and Es wasn't holding his baton. They looked... together.

Es walked to the front of the room, standing on the small dais where he usually delivered his mandates. Yuno stood just a step behind him, her hands clasped behind her back, looking out at the other nine prisoners with a cheerful, almost smug expression.

"Listen up," Es began, his voice projecting with a practiced authority that felt increasingly like a mask. "I have an announcement regarding the conduct of the second trial and the internal regulations of Milgram."

Haruka leaned forward, his eyes wide and twitchy. Muu narrowed her gaze, her arms crossed over her chest. Even Fuuta looked up from his tray, his expression sour.

"As the Warden, it is my duty to maintain the integrity of this facility," Es continued. He felt Yuno’s presence behind him like a physical heat. "However, the nature of the second trial has necessitated a shift in how I interact with the prisoners. To better understand the 'warmth' and 'humanity' that Prisoner Number Two claims motivated her actions, I have... engaged in a more personal form of observation."

"Personal?" Shidou asked, his voice calm but laden with concern. "Warden, what does that mean?"

Es took a breath, his heart hammering against his ribs. He looked at Yuno. She gave him a tiny, encouraging wink.

"It means," Es said, his voice steadier now, "that I have formed a bond with Prisoner Number Two. One that transcends the typical Warden-Prisoner relationship. I am telling you this because transparency is necessary to prevent rumors of bias. My judgments will remain objective, but my... feelings... are no longer a private matter."

The silence that followed was deafening. Mahiru let out a soft, surprised gasp. Amane looked confused, her head tilting like a curious bird.

"So you're saying you're dating her?" Fuuta barked, a harsh laugh escaping him. "The judge is sleeping with the defendant? This place is a joke!"

"It is not 'sleeping with' anyone, Fuuta," Es snapped, his eyes flashing. "It is a connection born of the unique circumstances of this prison. I will not tolerate any disrespect toward Yuno, nor will I allow this to interfere with your own trials. You are all still under my jurisdiction."

Yuno stepped forward then, moving to Es’s side. She didn't look like a prisoner. She looked like a queen who had just been crowned. "What Es-kun is trying to say is that he’s found something worth protecting! Isn't that sweet? We’re all just looking for a little warmth in the dark, right?"

She reached out and, in front of everyone, took Es’s hand. Her fingers slid between his, a bold, public claim.

Es stiffened, his first instinct to pull away, to maintain the distance. But then he looked at the other prisoners. He saw their shock, their envy, their fear. And then he looked at Yuno. She wasn't looking at them. She was looking at him, her eyes soft and full of a terrifying, beautiful honesty.

Es squeezed her hand back.

"The rules of Milgram have not changed," Es told the room, his voice echoing off the high ceiling. "But the Warden has. Eat your meal. We will begin the next round of extractions tomorrow."

He turned and led Yuno out of the cafeteria before anyone could find their voice to protest. They walked back toward the cell blocks, the silence between them now feeling like a shared secret rather than a burden.

When they reached her cell, Es stopped. He didn't lock her in immediately. He turned to face her, his back to the camera that he knew Jackalope was watching.

"You shouldn't have grabbed my hand like that," Es whispered, though there was no anger in it. "Now they’ll all think I’m weak."

"Let them think what they want," Yuno replied, stepping closer until her chest was brushing his. She reached up and adjusted his hat, her fingers lingering on the brim. "You aren't weak, Es. You’re brave. Most people would rather stay cold than admit they need someone. But you... you’re the bravest boy I’ve ever met."

She leaned in and kissed him, a soft, lingering press of lips that tasted of the cafeteria’s bland tea and the very real, very dangerous hope of something better.

"I love you, Warden-kun," she whispered against his mouth. "Even if you have to find me guilty one day."

Es closed his eyes, his hands finding her waist. "I haven't decided your verdict yet, Yuno. But whatever happens... I won't let you be cold again."

He stepped back and closed the door, the lock clicking into place with a finality that felt different this time. It wasn't a cage anymore. It was a sanctuary.

Es walked back to the monitor room, his head held high. He didn't care about Jackalope’s teasing or the prisoners' whispers. He was the Warden of Milgram, and for the first time in his life, he knew exactly who he was judging.

He was judging a world that tried to tell him that love was a transaction. And he had already reached his verdict.

"Not guilty," he whispered to the empty hallway.

Behind him, in the shadows of the rafters, a pair of black bead eyes watched him go, and the faint sound of a mechanical rabbit’s laughter followed him all the way home.