-Six months ago-

How was it her fault? How could any of this be her fault? All she had wanted was for Komashida to stop raping her. Instead, she had been the one arrested. She had been the one tried and found guilty.

"I'll sue! Fucking bitch, I'll sue!"

The drunkard's words still rang in her ears. Jessikah curled on her futon Koromaru by her side. Why? Why had the man won? She was the one guilty!

Outside her room, her parents still argued. She could hear their voice.

"Akihiko, she just tried to do what's right! You can't blame her for that! Look, you know it wasn't even a trial –"

"I don't care,Koton! Your bitch got us in trouble! Now, we're the talk of the town as the parents of a criminal!"

"My bitch, Akihiko? Jesiskah is as much your child as she is mine, and Komashida raped her that asshole!"

"She is your bitch! Kotone! If you hadn't instilled all those stupid notions in her head, she would have left avoided that mess! In the meantime, rumors are going about us!"

Koton growled.

"Right, I am the one who instilled those so-called notions. Well, sorry for believing in complicity by inaction! I am proud of what she did! Jessikah is my daughter. What happened to her isn't fair. I will not change my mind on the matter."

Akihiko sighed.

"Fine. Keep being so bloody stubborn. But I want her out of my face or I'll fill for divorce. I am your husband, Koton. The only reason I agreed to adopt the spawn of yours."

"Keep using this tone about Jessikah and I might just take on your offer. Also, don't forget this house is mine."

"No wonder you got the manners of a bear, then. I called an old friend of mine, Sae Niijima, she is a lawyer in Shibuya, in Tokyo. She agreed to house your daughter until the end of her probation again. I also got her re-enrolled at Shujin Academy. Koton, for the sake of both of you, I hope your wildling of a bitch learns how to behave."

There was a long moment of silence, then the sound of nails scratching the wall echoed. This was Koton. Ahe often did it when she was frustrated. Eventually, the door of Jessikah's room opened. The teen looked at her mother. Koton was as slender as always. Her face was square, her eyes bright brownand her hairs deep red and kept in a buzz cut for practical purpose.

"…I heard everything." Jesiskah said weakly.

"I know. You got keen senses, one of the few things you take from me."

She knelt next to her daughter.

"You heard your father. You're going to Tokyo again next April. This is going to be a big change. Inaba isn't exactly a small town, i know you just got use to being home im sorry this happened to you again."

"I'm scared." Jessikah whined.

"I know. Me too. I trust you. You're a grown girl, and very brave at that. I don't regret what you did that night. I just regret how justice is so often thrown in the gutter these days."

"There's no justice anymore. Otherwise, Komashida would have been tried instead of me."

Koton held her daughter tight.

"You don't say…"