Yu Narukami sat in his house in the small rural town of Yasoinaba. His father, Dojima Narukami, yelling in the phone, while his sister hugged his arm tightly. Their father was arguing with a man called Sojiro Sakura. Rather loudly too.

"I don't care if you offer me every yen in your account! There's no way I'm letting a criminal near my daughter!" Sojiro yelled before hanging up. Dojima hung up, a defeated look in his eyes. Defeat that quickly turned to anger.

"Except you're not a criminal, no matter what the courts say." Dojima grumbled.

Dojima was a man with short, greyish black hair and a three day stubble. He wore a dark grey button up shirt, with a loose red tie and dark black dress pants, and a silver watch on his left wrist. For his job, Dojima was a detective, one of the best, known around Japan as someone who had busted several crime rings and stared down and beaten many Yakuza crime bosses. Which made the current situation even more infuriating. His son, Yu Narukami, was arrested for a crime he did not commit, and the courts ruled him guilty, despite Dojima's best efforts.

"I appreciate it dad, but what will we do if we can't find someone willing to take me?" Yu asked, more than worried.

"We will find someone." Dojima growled.

"But what-"

"We. Will find. SOMEONE!" Dojima exploded, making both his children flinch.

"Please don't fight." Yu's sister pleaded, making both men soften their expressions.

There was a short, tense moment of quiet before Yu spoke to his dad.

"She's right dad. Yelling at each other won't get us anywhere."

"I… I know Yu. But this shouldn't have happened."

Yu's mind flashed back to the incident. He was walking home early because kendo club had been cancelled. It was a cool, clear night, the breezes easily dulling the heat. Yu was just walking through the neighborhood, the biggest smile on his face. He was the top of his honor class, he was the star of the kendo team, he held three part time jobs and on that night, he managed to get a date with the one and only teen idol, Rise Kujikawa. All in all, a good night, and nothing could ruin it. Or so he thought. He heard voices, one male, the other female. He was always a curious man, and he had to see what it was about. He knew his father wanted him to stay out of business between adults, but he also taught Yu that if someone was in trouble, he had to help. On that night, he choose to listen to the latter.

"Let me go!" The woman pleaded.

"Get in the car!" The man ordered.

Yu's curiosity and self-righteousness got the better of him as he approached the scene. He looked closer and saw a man harassing a woman. He knew what his dad would want him to do, and ran over, intent on doing something to help.

"Please, stop!" the girl cried.

"What are you doing?" Yu demanded.

Due to a mix of adrenaline, the shock of the event, and how dark it was, Yu couldn't remember what the man looked like or sounded like. But Yu could remember what the man said and what Yu did.

"Gah. See? This happened because you were so slow."

The man looked at Yu like how one would look at an insect.

"This ain't a show. Get lost kid!"

"I-I'll call the police!" The woman threatened.

"Hehe. Really now? Sure, go ahead. The police are my bitches. Now, get in the car!"

The man went back to the woman. Yu decided it was time to show that he meant business. He gently grabbed the man's shoulder, and he turned around fiercely. Due to how drunk he was, however, the sudden force caused him to lose his balance and he toppled over and fell hard onto the sidewalk, earning a small cut on his forehead. When he looked back at Yu, his stare radiated pure fury. His next words proved to be Yu's damnation.

"Damn brat! I'll sue!"

The rest was a blur, but Yu remembered the sirens, being put in a cell, and the banging of a hammer and the yells of 'GUILTY' from the trial. He remembers how furious his father was, his little sister crying for three days, and the looks of disgust and horror on his classmates' faces as he was expelled. The sheer shock of it all along the shame and pain it brought culminated in his attempt at ending his own life to get away from it all. He failed on account of his father. Because of the court ruling, he would have spent his time in Juvie Hall, but Dojima's reputation and attitude had allowed Yu to have a second chance at a normal life. A second chance that looked like it was getting more and more difficult to grasp. If he couldn't find someone to be his probation officer, he would have to live on the streets until he could afford an apartment or some place to stay.

"Is there anyone else dad?" Yu asked, still exhausted from the grueling ordeal that hasn't even truly begun yet.

"... There is one other person. But I'm not sure she'll take you."

"Dad, we're out of options. Who is she?"

"She's the daughter of an old friend. Sae Niijima."

"Then why didn't we start with that?"

"Because the old friend is dead. And from what I've heard, she's been too busy to even have a real presence in her sister's life."

"We have to try."

Dojima simply nodded and looked through his makeshift office in the living room. Finding a note that simply said "For emergencies", he picked up the phone and dialed the number on the note. Yu and his sister both visibly tensed up as the phone continued ringing. Finally, they heard a faint noise from the phone.

"Hello?" it asked.

"Hello, uh, hi. My name is Dojima Narukami….. Yes, that Narukami. …. Well, it involves my son. Is your sister home?... Alright, I can wait."

Yu waited for what felt like years, and uneasy feeling seemed to bubble, like a kettle left on the stove too long. Dojima looked back at his oldest child with an apologetic look. His attention was turned back to the phone once another voice was heard.

"Yes, hello Sae. Yea, my son, Yu, has… been accused of a crime he didn't commit. The courts ruled him guilty, and now he has to live one year on probation. Here's the thing: He's been expelled from Yasogami and the only school that accepted him was Shujin, and that's in Tokyo. Yes, exactly. I was wondering if you'd be willing to be his probation officer. I can pay you if… WHAT?! YOU WILL?! Oh, thank you Niijima-san, thank you, I had all but given up hope. Oh? Yes, he's here. Alright then."

Dojima turned to Yu.

"Sae wants to talk to you."

Dojima handed the phone over to Yu.

"Hello?"

"Hello Yu Narukami. My name is Sae Niijima. Listen closely and be sure to write this down, I'm going to tell you where to meet me tomorrow, and how to get there." The voice on the other side sounded icy, hard, and full of drive.

After the talk with Sae, Yu had head up to his room in order to pack for the upcoming year.

Probation.

Criminal.

Guilty.

Yu felt a twinge of fear and anger in his heart, and he had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself down. This wasn't fair, this wasn't right, this shouldn't have happened. But this was how the world worked. By now, most of his other stuff, which he packed a few days prior, had already left for the address Sae had given them. Yu had finished packing up what was left when his dad knocked.

"Come in."

"Hey son. How are you holding up?"

"Honestly? Not very good. I always thought that those who do the right thing win because, well, they do the right thing. Maybe I was naive, but… I thought that if I tried to help her, it'd all work out in the end, that I'd be a hero."

Dojima just stayed silent, before placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way: But often times, it's those with influence, who can grease the most palms and pay the most bribes that come out on top. You'll find that there's a lot of scum in this world. Rich, poor, athletic, fat, there are many out there who only look out for themselves. The fight against them isn't easy, but nothing worth doing ever is."

Dojima's hand left Yu's shoulder, and he gave his son a look he only had when he was ready to give a lecture.

"Why? Why did you have to get involved?"

"Because you taught me that being good was worth it, that being good would attract people that would stand up for me, who would help me in my darkest moments. But Yosuke didn't stand up for me. None of my former bosses helped me. Everyone in kendo either run or glare across the street when they see me coming. I'm now the most hated man in town, and I've done nothing wrong."

An uncomfortable silence was shared between father and son. Yu decided it was time to change subjects before things got tense.

"Hey dad, when Sae and I were talking, she said that she was doing this to 'repay a debt'. Any idea what she means?"

"Ah… that. Sit down son, this story isn't going to be an easy one to tell. But you should probably hear it so you don't accidentally piss her off."

Yu and Dojima took a seat, the older Narukami took a deep breath in.

"This happened about five years ago, before Nanako was born."

"So mom was still alive."

"Yea. Back then, I was with the Tokyo PD. My partner was a man called Saito Niijima. One night, we were at his house, discussing a case. We heard a knock on the door, and when Saito opened it up, he just barely got out of the hail of bullets just in time. It was Yakuza hitmen. Saoto was able to kill one of them, and told me to protect his daughters, Sae and Makoto. Shortly after, they managed to kill him."

Dojima had to pause to collect himself.

"I rushed the girls upstairs, killing one of the hitmen. They then cut the power, and chased after me. There were about five left. After a tough battle, I was able to protect Saito's kids, but I took a few bullets myself. I was hospitalized and put in a coma. You know the rest. Had it not been for the coma, I would've taken in Sae and Makoto. When I got out, Sae had already just started college and Makoto refused to leave her sister's side."

Yu's eyes widened. He knew that Dojima was in a coma for about two years, and about a month after he was first put in it, his sister was born, and their mother died in childbirth. Her last words being the baby's name: Nanako. For the next two years, the Narukamis had to fend for themselves, giving Yu a good judge of character, decent fighting experience, and excellent observation skills. But these Niijimas were in the same boat as he was once. Maybe they would get along.

"And now, Sae works as a public prosecutor, and Makoto goes to Shujin." Dojima continued.

"The school I'm attending. What a coincidence."

"Heh, normally, I'd agree with your skepticism, but this looks like the first time, this really is just coincidence. I've already sent the rest of your stuff ahead. Get some sleep, ok? You've got a big day tomorrow. And remember; if you get in any trouble, your life will be over."

Yu nodded and the two said their goodnights and goodbyes, and Yu finished packing his things. Starting tomorrow, Yu had one job, and one job only: Don't get in any trouble for a full year.