Chapter Twenty-One
The letterbox creaked as a letter flopped down onto the doormat. Inside the house the four girls were sleeping. On the floor, empty liquor bottles littered. Empty food plates were stacked a foot high on the crowded table. Haruna had collapsed on the sofa, with Mami slumped over an arm chair. In the spare bedroom, Rina had passed out on the child's bed with Tomomi sleeping on Mami's bed. Mami awoke slowly, her eyes gummed together with sleep. She sat up and looked around the wasteland of her house. She tried to get up, but her head hurt. She tried again, she staggered up and swayed as she got her feet.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Haruna stirred with the arrival of a noise. They knocked again.
"Yes!" said Mami. "Yes, yes. I'm coming."
She made her way over the empty bottles and reached the door. She unlocked it and her lawyer stood in the doorway.
"Good morning," she said sleepily.
"Oh Mami," he said. "I'm so glad to see you. Has the post arrived yet?"
She looked down at the floor to see an official looking letter. She picked it up and read the address on the front.
"Is this it?" she asked showing her lawyer.
He nodded.
"It's from the Tokyo City Courthouse," he replied. "You should open it."
Mami ripped open the letter and pulled out the headed paper contained within. As she read her face changed from sleepy to shocked, followed by fear.
"They want me in court this afternoon at 1pm to discuss custody of Haruka," she read out loud. "Why did it arrive so late?"
"You moved house recently, they have only just filed your new address. I'm here to make sure you get the news. If you turn up late for your hearing it will a disaster."
"Listen," he said hurriedly. "I have to get read for this afternoon. Don't worry, just stick to the facts. You'll be fine."
He turned and entered the waiting car. It drove off down the road as Mami closed the door. She was reading the letter while walking back to the kitchen. She was unaware of those around her, her attention focused on the time of the hearing this afternoon.
She was so unaware she crashed straight into Rina, who had woken up to use the bathroom.
"Watch it there Mami," she said as they collided.
She looked up from the letter.
"Oh, sorry," she apologised.
Rina watched Mami as she continued walking with her head buried in the letter.
"What are you so involved with?" asked Rina.
"It's the date for my first custody hearing," she replied. "Today at 1pm."
"What?" asked Rina. She grabbed the letter and read it carefully to make sure her ears were not deceiving her. The text confirmed Mami's story.
"Hold that thought," said Rina. She dropped the letter onto the coffee table and dashed off towards the bathroom. The sounds of urination could be heard, followed by a flushing toilet and running water. She returned moments later as if nothing had happened.
By the time she had returned Haruna and Tomomi had woken up and decided that they needed to use the bathroom too. While this was going on Mami had made herself and Rina a glass of water. They sat at the breakfast bar drinking while they waited for the other two to get themselves sorted. Several minutes passed before both Tomomi and Haruna had poured themselves water and stood at the breakfast bar.
"Good morning," said Tomomi brightly.
Mami gave her a small smile and returned to her glass of water.
"Did someone get out the wrong side of bed this morning?" joked Tomomi.
Haruna spotted the letter and pulled it towards her. She read the first line and silenced Tomomi in her soliloquy.
"When did this arrive?" she asked at once.
"This morning," said Mami. "We were discussing it before you got up."
"So why are you nervous?" asked Haruna. "This is your chance to get your daughter back."
"Last time I entered a courthouse it ended badly for me," she said. She was of course referring to the time when her ex cleaned her out of everything.
"This time is different," replied Rina. "You have a good lawyer..."
"...And you have us," said Tomomi. "We are right by your side Mamiatsu."
Mami was touched. She was speechless, she felt braver.
"We got your back Jack," joked Tomomi. "Those boys be crazy."
Mami chuckled at Tomomi's humour.
"Let's get you ready for your big entrance," said Rina. "You're going to go in there and knock 'em dead."
"Not literally," said Tomomi happily. "Cause that's murder."
"Yeah thanks Sherlock," said Mami.
At exactly 1pm the judge entered the courtroom. Mami stood with the jurors in respect to the judge.
"Please be seated," he requested as the courtroom seated itself.
"Okay," began the judge. "We are here today for the preliminary hearing for custody of Haruka Shinozaki by her mother Mami Sazaki. Does the parent have anything to say for record before the final hearing?"
He turned to Mami who in turn looked at her lawyer.
He stood up and addressed the judge.
"Your honour," he began. "I would just to mention to the court of Mami's changes since our last request. I would like to be noted that in the time she has secured stable employment, a new house suitable for a child. In short, she has made excellent preparations for the reunion of her daughter."
"It will be noted," said the judge.
"Anything from the father representative?" asked the judge.
"None your honour," she replied. "His stance has remained the same."
"So to sum up," finished the judge. "We have one parent that cares and one that doesn't. This should be an open and shut case."
He allowed himself a pause.
"Okay," said the judge. "A time will be drawn up for the final custody hearing. Court is adjured."
He banged his gavel. The lawyers made to stand up, but Mami was looking confused.
"Your honour may I approach the bench?" she requested nervously.
"Be my guest," he said.
"Your honour. I thought this was supposed to be a custodial hearing?" she asked confused.
"No Mrs. Sasazaki," said the judge. "This is a preliminary hearing. I want to assess the standing points of each party in the custody battle. The final hearing with be scheduled for a later date which will be sent to you in a letter by post in a few days time."
Mami nodded.
"Thank you your honour," she said politely.
She left the judge to his devices. He cleared his things and departed the room.
"So now what?" asked Mami.
"Now we wait," said Yuusuke. "Don't worry. You have a very strong case. The fact that you showed up today and he didn't will give you a good footing with the judge."
He smiled encouragingly at her.
"Chin up," he said. "You're almost there."
"Thanks Yuusuke," she said returning his smile but lacking the courage.
The remaining SCANDAL members stood up to greet Mami.
"I'm not sure about you but I need a drink after that," said Mami.
"Come to my place," suggested Haruna. "It's not far."
They looked at her. It was the first time that she had ever offered any of them to come to her place of residence.
"You're not going to kill us and chop us into little pieces are you?" asked Tomomi worriedly.
"Gee thanks for the idea Timo," said Haruna laughing. "You're first."
She allowed Tomomi a look of fear.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go."
She put her arm around Mami and lead them out of the courtroom to the parking lot.