Mayonaka no X Giten 5

Midnight Cross Method 5

p1: ==========================================
Chapter 5: The Perfect Jailbreak
[inset]: An idol competes in her swimsuit! ♥
Written by Yamaguchi Mikoto
Art by BAREISHO

p2: ==========================================
I… want to leave the detention center. Just for one day.
There’s something I forgot on the outside.

Hey,
/ won’t one of you lend me your body?
Then, afterwards, I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.

p3: ==========================================
Lend you a body…? But how? You’re stuck behind that wall.
That’s easy.

You can switch bodies directly, just like you’re doing right now.
But you do that by putting your card on your foreheads and pressing them together…

Actually, you don’t actually have to physically touch each other.
Your foreheads just have to be within 15 millimeters.
/ By the way, this partition isn’t even a centimeter thick.

In other words…
We can exchange bodies right here!

p4: ==========================================
You’ve got to be kidding!
There’s no way we’d accept that condition‼

if we gave someone like you one of our bodies, who knows what you’d do!

And you say you’ll give us information only afterwards?
You think we’d actually trust you?!

It is certainly true that the direct method has no time limit, so if I were to flee…
your soul would be liable to perish within these walls.

And I am, of course, a heinous criminal. At the rate things are going, I could even be… executed.

p5: ==========================================
So of course, you wouldn’t hand over your body so easily…
…Then how about this?

Before the next time you two come, I’ll write down a memo containing everything I know and place it somewhere in my room…

Basically, if you want to see that memo…
/ you’ll have to become me and head over to this side.

As for my actions after I switch with you… Well…
/ Seeing as to how there are two of you, how about the other watches over me?
Then there’s no need to worry, right?

p6: ==========================================
Not a freaking chance‼
[sfx]: Slam!

Heck, why would we put any faith in you?!
You’ll put a memo in your room? That’s the same as if you told us afterwards!
/ There’s no way we’d trust you‼

In that case,
negotiations have failed.

The truth is, I have other ways to obtain a body… Surprised?
/ If you won’t accept this condition, I’ll use those methods.

p7: ==========================================
But, well…
Do you have any options other than me?

Or are my worries needless?

That memo’s going to have information I can use, right?
H—Hey!
Of course.

…Were you… the one who murdered my sister?

…………….

p8: ==========================================
You’ll know the answer to that if you see the memo.

……We’ll be back in two days.
!
[sfx]: Turn!
Have the memo ready by then.

OK.

Are you serious?!

p9: ==========================================
Are you seriously going to go along with his plan?
What else can I do?

He’s right—this is the only clue, the only option I have.
[sfx]: Peel x2

And I don’t have much time;
there’s no way I can keep my sister’s body hidden for long…

Oh… Of course,
I’ll trade bodies with him, so…

So even if he does run, I’m the only one who’ll be inconvenienced by it.
[sfx]*Stare*…

p10: ==========================================
[sfx]: Chop!
Whoa!

Wh—
What was that for?

You’re being such an idiot, I thought I’d give you a shot to the head!
Don’t block, you dunce!

But that cleared things up.

We’ll have Kirishima Sachi enter my body.
?!

p11: ==========================================
Think things through rationally. If you and he switch places,
I’d have to watch over him while he’s in your body.

However… Let me be blunt: that’s impossible.
/ I’ve been in your body, so I can tell—
Your body’s strong.

Just now, you blocked my attack easily.
So if that murderer gets in your body and really starts getting violent, there’s no way I could stop him.

However… If you switch with Kirishima, worst-case scenario, you’ll be stuck in his body for the rest of your life…
No; moreover…

Yes… Moreover, you should read the memo yourself.
/ That way, you won’t miss a single word that’s written there.
[sfx]: Scratch x2
…In other words,

p12: ==========================================
This is our best option!
[notebook] {
[upper left]: How we’ll switch places
[upper left arrow]: Wants to head outside
[upper right arrow]: Will see the memo
[bottom arrow]: Watches over her body
[upper bubble]: Sachi
[lower left bubble]: Mikuni ♡
[lower right bubble]: Hiroki
}

Can we change bodies in such an irregular way?
Easily, if we double swap.

First, you and I will switch bodies like we did this time…
[upper-right name bubble]: H
[upper-left name bubble]: M
/ Then, while you’re in my body, you’ll swtich bodies with Kirishima.
[lower-right name bubble]: H
[lower-left name bubble: S

...I—If that’s doable, it certainly makes sense…
/ However, there’s no need for you to take such risks—

You idiot.
Didn’t I tell you? I’m just paying back my debt.

p13: ==========================================
That’s just how big my debt to you is.

Besides, there’s another good reason to use my body!
…What’s that?

I have a trump card. One I’d rather not use, but…
If things go to hell, I’ll tell you then.

Two days later
/ The Detention Center
[sign]: Meeting Room
I see. What an interesting idea you’ve thought up.

p14: ==========================================
This certainly might be the best method.
[sfx]: Peel

p15: ==========================================
Kirishima… You really did write the note, right?

Of course I did. I put it under the table; you should read it quickly.
You wouldn’t want one of the guards to take it first.

Mikuriya… I’m counting on you.
It’s my body. You think I’m going to let him do whatever he wants?

Don’t worry so.
So long as I can clean up the one thing I forgot, I’ll give you back your body right away.

So then… Shall we get going?
[sfx]: Hug ♡
…..

p16: ==========================================
Hey…
/ …HEY!

Why’re you clinging to me like that?
[sfx]: Squeeze

Oh, my?
/ If you’re going to watch over me, isn’t me clinging to you like this ideal?
Th… That’s… Well…

Oh… I guess it would be “against the rules” for a current top idol to go walking with a boy like this.
You… You know who I am?
Well of course. You are famous.

p17: ==========================================
Then… well,
/ for now, how about we enter that shop?
Huh?! A COSPLAY SHOP?! Quit fooling around‼

Oh, but I suggested that for your sake.
Huh? How do you figure that?

To get costumes. Disguises.
/ The place where I’m headed is a little dangerous.

If a top idol were to be spotted there, I’m sure it would be a scandal…
/ I think a slightly more scrupulous disguise would be prudent for a place like that.
But, well, if you’re fine with me going like this, then…
Fine, I get it‼ Go get a disguise‼!

But you better not lay one finger on my underwear!
OK.

p18: ==========================================
[sfx]: *Slide*
What do you think?

With this thorough a disguise, I doubt anyone will recognize Mikuriya Mikuni.

What’s wrong? You look dazed.
…It’s nothing. I was just impressed by myself, I guess.
/ I… really do look good in anything.

p19: ==========================================
But what about money? I didn’t bring that much.
It’s fine. This shop lets any girls who look good in their clothes try them out on the streets.
[badge]: Manager

Okay, then let’s hurry and get to the place with that thing you forgot!
Yes, yes.
[sfx]: Grab!

[sign]: Karaoke R
[vertical sign]: ke Rooms

…Hey…
[sfx]: Rattle

p20: ==========================================
Is this really where you were headed?!

Of course not.
But I finally get to be a girl, so I thought I’d try singing some soprano songs.
And my voice is so professional, you know?

Oh—I forgot to mention it, but we can’t even get to my destination until nightfall.
/ So we’re just killing time until then.
You’re…

FUCKING KIDDING ME‼
[sfx]: Thwack!

p21: ==========================================
I am doing no such thing.
[sfx]: Grab
!

Isn’t this why we exchange bodies in the first place?

To become someone you aren’t…
/ and enjoy the things we can’t do ourselves.
Sto…
[sfx]: Slowly…

A woman can know a man’s desire…

p22: ==========================================
And a man can know a woman’s…
…ecstasy.

Hey, Mikuni-kun. Right now… How are you feeling?
It’s… It’s my body; why the hell would I feel anything being assaulted by it?

Oh, you shouldn’t lie. That’s not what your heart’s saying.

Shit! I maintained eye contact for too long; she read my mind.
How interesting. So this is your Cross Ability.

p23: ==========================================
Hey… Enough! Keep doing this, and staff are gonna come crashing in here!
It’s fine. Their cameras are fake. That’s why I chose this store. So…

Let’s forget about that…
/ and enjoy ourselves.
[sfx]: *Lick*

The body you’re in right now belongs to the guy you like.
I… I don’t…

And…
If I do this… to your body…
[sfx]: Zip…

Well? Any changes down below…?
[sfx]: Twitch x3
…..Sh…

p24: ==========================================
If there is, that means… that his body…
lusts for yours.
[sfx]: Puff

Shouldn’t that make you ecstatic?
Wh…
/ Why… am I…

I see… Then let’s turn this around. What do you think’s happening to your body?
Huh…?

I’m rubbing your body against his. So what do you think’s happening to your nether regions?
Wh… What are you planning?

p25: ==========================================
Look…
[sfx]: Grab
Isn’t it amazing?

S… Stop! Don’t show me that‼
[sfx]: *Slap*
Wah‼ Ahhhh‼!

p26: ==========================================
Now I’ve got you. ♡
[sfx]: Jangle

Shi…

*Clink*

p27: ==========================================
Hm? Hm?

Here it is!

I finally found it, dammit‼
This… This isn’t where you said it would be.

“Anyways, I’ll start by telling you the thing you most want to know:

p28: ==========================================
“I did not murder your sister.

“The veracity of this letter will be confirmed by my Cross Ability,
“Judgment Fake, or the Novelist Who Cannot Write Lies.

“My ability can determine if the text is truth or deceit.”
So, this is all true…

“Thus… the next question on your mind
“is, ‘Whose body did I enter?’
[lower right]: Hiroki
[middle]: Mikuni
[lower left]: Sachi

“Unfortunately, I do not know the answer.”
‼

p29: ==========================================
“In all likelihood, the owner of the body I entered was a patient.
“I could barely move my body from where it lay, perhaps because of severe debilitation.

“The location was also pitch-black; I couldn’t tell where I was.
[sfx]: *Drip*… x2
“But I could faintly—and only faintly—hear what might have been the sound of water.

“From my right hand, which I could barely move into my line-of-sight, I deduced my body to likely be an adult male’s.

“That is what I know about the Cross Act.
“To be blunt, this information alone is likely insufficient to find the next person.”

“However… There’s another way to obtain potent information.

“In actuality, those behind this series of body switches host a party every night, during which they all gather under one roof.
“Its name…

p30: ==========================================
“…is the Midnight Cross Method”?

Hey, Kirishima. You’ve got a visitor.
!

…They’re back already?
It hasn’t even been three hours.
[sfx]: Screech…

I’m impressed… That was fast.
[sfx]: Open…

p31: ==========================================
I’m sorry!
/ He got away‼

What…?
Then… I’m stuck here for the rest of my life?!

However… I’m pretty sure I know what it is he “forgot”!
What in the world is it?!

When that bastard left, he whispered something.
Just a little longer, Ai.

p32: ==========================================
And Ai’s the name of his little sister, the only survivor…
[inset]: The beast has been released from prison?!
In other words, he’s out there to finish off the sister who survived‼
[box]: To be continued in the December issue (out 10/27)!