“I can’t believe you’d go to the one place that could actually put you in jail,” your mother shrieked as you walked through the front door.
You knew it was going to be bad, but you were unprepared for this type of reaction. “Mom, Shuichi’s eighteen; I can’t get thrown in jail for being with him.”

“I don’t care! You are being charged with rape and assault! Doesn’t that alarm you in any way?”

You carelessly shrugged your shoulders as you walked past her. “Not really.”

“What has gotten into you?!”

You didn’t reply as you calmly walked to your old bedroom and closed the door. Truth be told, you were calm because of your visit with Shuichi. He had an amazing way with words and calmed your troubled soul.

“Maybe I should have Mom go see him.”

Suddenly, your cell phone went off and you casually flipped it open. “Hello?”

“Miss [Last Name], it’s Chiyo.”

“How’d you get this number?”

“My Uncle’s the principal, remember? It’s totally normal for me to snoop around his office without anyone suspecting me. I got your cell phone number from the records.”

“Alright,” you drawled out. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“As soon as I heard, I wanted to nail Jiro’s ass to the ground. If this goes to court, I’ll definitely be a witness; if you need me for anything to help clear your name, say whatever it is and I’ll do it.”

You felt tears welling in your eyes. Chiyo was being incredibly kind.

“Why,” you whispered.

“Because I’ve seen the way Shuichi looks at you. For years, I wished I was that girl, but seeing the two of you together with the same look in your eyes; Jiro’s a fucking douche bag who is going to burn in hell.”

You laughed lightly. “That’s quite a powerful statement, Chiyo.”

“Yeah well, he is. I should castrate him.”

“Chiyo, I believe that would be going too far,” you mused.

“Whatever. So, just give your lawyer my cell number and tell him to call me if he needs me, okay?”

“Sure thing, Chiyo. Thank you for everything.”

“Oh and on a side note, the whole school knows about you, Shuichi, and Jiro scandal. And everyone believes Jiro’s the liar; I don’t think he realizes what he has coming.”

“Thank you, Chiyo, for your support. I’ll be sure to tell Shuichi the next time I see him.”

“Okay! Bye!”

She hung up the phone and you shook your head in disbelief. You didn’t have much time to think about it as your father walked through your door.

“Yes? May I help you?”

“I’ve done many things in order to protect and defend you, but deliberately going against a lawyer’s advice is something I can’t defend you from. What were you thinking?”

“He was the only one who would make it okay, Dad. Mom would understand,” you whispered solemnly.

“I highly disagree. She doesn’t seem to understand why you would do such a thing.”

“Seek comfort from the man I love? Does that really sound so absurd that you can’t wrap your mind around it?”

Your father appeared flabbergasted as he opened and closed his mouth waiting for a response to come from his lips. You shook your head as you combed your fingers through your hair.

“Anyway, I just got a call from one of my students who actually witnessed Jiro coming on to me. She says she’ll be a witness if need be.”

“Did you give her your lawyer’s number?”

“No.”

“You should have them speak with one another immediately!”
“Alright! Alright! Calm down.”

“How can you tell me to calm down? My daughter may be going to jail.”

“Dad, I won’t be going to jail for lies. I have faith-”

Your cell phone cut you off and you glanced down at caller ID. It wasn’t a number that you knew so you cautiously picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Yes this is Chihiro Natsuki. I am calling to speak with [Name] [Last Name] on behalf of Shuichi Minamino.”

“This is her. What is it that Shuichi wanted you to discuss with me?”

“He said you were in need of a defense lawyer?”

“Uh… well perhaps. I have hired one-”

“What is your lawyer’s name, Miss [Last Name]?”

“Hiroshima Touma-”

“Miss, I suggest you have a meeting with me. I am confident you will feel more comfortable with me as your lawyer than Mr. Touma.”

“Very well. When are you free?”

“I have an opening now. Would you like to meet up at a café shop?”

“Sure thing.”

[][][]

Well, Chihiro Natsuki was correct. You did feel more comfortable with him as your lawyer. He had an outstanding record and was well known among the lawyers, juries, policemen, the works. His rate was expensive, but he told you he was informed not to discuss it with you. He said Mr. Minamino would be taking care of the fee.

You exited the car and made your way up to your apartment room. You had enough of your parents’ supervision and wanted to breath for a bit. However, you needed to get a hold of Shuichi and discuss with him this fee situation.

You dialed the home phone number and patiently waited for someone to pick up.

“Hello?”
“Yes may I please speak with Shuichi?”

“One moment please.”

Seconds later, you heard Shuichi’s lovely voice on the phone.

“Hello?”
“Just how expensive is Chihiro Natsuki?”

“It doesn’t matter [Name].”

“Yes it does. I’ll split half the fee with you. You can’t possibly have enough money to pay for him. You’re still in high school! He’s got to be at least two hundred an hour.”

“I have it covered, [Name].”

“How? How do you have it covered?”

“I don’t understand what you’re so upset about. We already discussed this. I said I wanted the best defense lawyer and said I’d pay for it. You agreed so why are we having a dispute now?”

“Because Shuichi, I don’t need you to be taking care of me.”

“Damnit [Name].”

You could tell Shuichi was losing his cool. It was unusual, but if he was put under enough pressure, he’d start to lose his cool.

“What Shuichi?”

He sighed on the other line before a soft chuckle left his lips. “We’re fighting.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that.”

“It’s our first fight.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. Of course he’d smooth out the tension somehow.

“You going to remember this for the rest of your life? Make an anniversary out of it?”

He chuckled louder this time. “That wasn’t part of the plan. I just thought it was a significant enough moment to bring light to the fact that we were fighting. It’s part of being a couple.”

“You have got to be the biggest dork I know.”

“You shouldn’t exclude yourself, [Name].”

“And what does that mean?”

“My personal opinion, you’re a bigger dork than I.”

“That is true. I will admit to that. But I haven’t chosen to know myself, therefore I do have to exclude me.”

“Clever.”

“Listen, I’ve got to go. Natsuki has a few things he wants me to do before we meet again tomorrow.”

“Alright. Call me afterwards. We’ll meet up and maybe I’ll take you out to dinner.”

You smiled as a gentle laugh left your lips. “Sounds good. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you,” it slipped out without you even thinking of it.

Shuichi was silent on the other end and you felt your stomach drop.

“I-I’m sorry. It just slipped, I wasn’t thinking.”

“I love you too,” Shuichi announced. “Goodbye.”

“Bye.”

You hung up the phone. That was the first time you two had openly said “I love you” to one another. You both had a moment back in Hideto’s office where you tried to say it, but it couldn’t leave your mouth. Shuichi knew what you wanted to say and he felt the same way, but you both hadn’t said it verbally.

You fell down ungracefully onto your couch and allowed your head to fall back. As of right now, you were in a jam, but you had faith in your new lawyer. Which reminded you, you had to call Touma to inform him he was fired.

You also had faith in Shuichi and Chiyo. Hopefully within this week, everything would be cleared up and you’d be in search of a new job. Perhaps Hideto could give you a recommendation.

However, for the future with Shuichi… things were still unclear. The two of you wanted to be together, but that was today. You did have a slight fear Shuichi would stop loving you, stop caring for you. But if he didn’t stop, you hoped with time, this fear would diminish.
“Well,” you sighed out as you pushed yourself off the couch. “I’ve got work to get done. No time for thinking.”

You got up and walked to your bedroom and started to do what Chihiro wished for you to do. Though occasionally you’d stop and smile, remembering the beautiful sentence Shuichi had uttered. “I love you too.”