12:00pm
The wind is slapping Mina Ashido in the face while she is sprinting to her small apartment in Narashino, Japan. "What am I going to do now? If Aizawa-Sensei sees mom right now we're dead"! Mina thinks to herself jumping over potholes and cones until she finally gets to the door of her apartment. Fumbling over her keyset barley pushes her way inside, tripping over a whisky bottle. A sharp pain shoots up to her knee but with no time to waste she goes to the living room to see a group of people asleep in the living room. A blonde woman was half-naked and barely covered on their pull out couch; next to another woman. Rolling her eyes, she runs to the kitchen and grabs two pots and pans, "Alright everyone! The fun is over! You ain't gotta go home but you all know the rest!"
Within minutes five people are rushing past Mina; some carrying their clothes, some carrying liquor bottle and one was wearing a rubber ducky floaty. Running to the couch she checks her mother's pulse and sees that she is still breathing. "Passed out, she's not moving anytime soon. Damn it!" Mina sneers, scrolling through her email to the most current one.
Dear, Mrs. Ashido
The Musutafu and Chiba Department of Children and Families have both received a report from Yuuei High School alleging child abuse and/or neglect involving your family. The report states that the child in question Mina Ashido has been neglected by the caregiver responsible Faith Ashido.
As a result of this report and numerous times of trying to make contact with you, we are required to determine that your child is and will remain safe and whether your family needs the Department's help to maintain the child in question's safety. We are required to do multiple home visits, speak with the child and discuss the report with the both of you present. We might also contact individuals that work with you and know both you and your family.
A mandated reporter that we feel that the child will respond best to as well as one of our social workers will be coming to your home on Saturday, April 17th at 2:00pm. If this time does not work for you, please contact us immediately to reschedule. Attached in this email is a PDF format is a booklet that will help explain the process in more detail. If you have any questions. Please contact the number below.
"Ok I have exactly two hours to clean this place, hide the money and explain to these people that nothing is wrong when technically everything's wrong. Nothing I haven't done before". Mina says to herself, throwing her mother's arm over her shoulder and dragging her to room. "Gummy" Faith slurs into her daughter's shoulder, "I see stars". "I'm sure you do mom, but you need to lay down for a while because the fuzz is coming over and I need to get you right for this show we're about to put on". Faith reaches out to her orange pillow and passes out face forward on her bed, while Mina grabs her legs and tucks her in. "I'll take care of everything" she whispers, leaning in kissing her on the forehead. "I'll take care of everything."
Running to the kitchen, she kneels down throwing the pots and pans to the side to get to several shoe boxes that are duck taped shut. Grabbing a knife she cuts the duct tape on each box to see that all nine-hundred thousand dollars are accounted for. "Good, that's one less problem I have to deal with". Rushing to her room, she goes under her bed and grabs the oversized graffiti duffel bag and her Kankin backpack and packed the money, half in each bag. Pausing for a moment, Mina closes her eyes and tries to remember everything her mother says, "In case of emergency grab half the money, give one third to Yuki and put another third in the bank accounts. Pay off everything that I owe that's minor and hide the rest in a new spot". Checking her pink, G-Shock protection watch the long hand has just passed the six and her hands start shaking. "Ok, Ok Mina get a grip, I still have time to do this." Jogging in place, she scrolls on her phone to her favorite eighties hip-hop song and reaches for her white bandana. "Let's do this!"