Yu woke up early for today. It was finally here, the day where Sae would give some instruction on kickboxing, an instance that was feared across all in the SIU. Standing outside the SIU building with a bag containing his workout clothes, Yu took a deep breath and went in. After finding and talking to the receptionist, he was able to get directions to the training gym. He heard a 'Class dismissed' from inside, and the doors opened up, revealing several officers dressed in gym clothes march out, covered in bruises. There were various groans of pain as Yu let them by. Inside, he saw various workout machines, punching bags, and in the center was a ring. The sole occupant of that ring was Sae Niijima, who was leaning against the ropes.

Sae was not dressed in her usual black suit, but dark black short shorts and a dark black sports bra to match. On her hands were boxing gloves and wrapped around her feet were bandages, like they were ripped straight out of a fighting game. But dangling delicately around her neck was the same section sign necklace. With her midriff exposed, Yu could see her chest area was toned and chiseled with a six-pack, and her arm and leg muscles were pronounced and clear to see, the product of years of hard work. Her silver locks were no longer parted to the left, but tied up behind in a loose ponytail drooping down. Sweat glistened on her body, matted her hair, and dampened her clothes. Her ruby eyes landed on Yu, and she gave a faint smile.

"Ah, good morning Narukami. I hope you found your way here alright."

"Yea I did. Seemed I missed the instruction."

"Well, you're a beginner, and you volunteered for this, so I figured I'd give you the special treatment."

Hehehe. That's what she said.

"Now, get changed, and we'll begin the lesson."

Yu went to the locker room and emerged changed into a pair of grey sports pants and a plain white tank top. As he got into the ring, he noticed that Sae examined him thoroughly, sizing him up.

"Alright, let's start with the basics. Form a fist."

Yu did as he was told, making sure to keep his thumb outside.

"Very good. Now, I'm not going to teach you how to win tournaments or the Olympics. I'm going to teach you how to survive. The top three mistakes most people make in a street fight are: One; they assume it's going to be a fair fight, never assume that they don't have a weapon, or that they don't have friends. Your job is to get back home to your family, so you have to do whatever it takes to make it back alive. Two; they let their opponent know that they want to fight, which gives the opponent a huge advantage, so if you're about to fight someone who's completely calm, not nervous at all in body language, either run or exercise extreme caution. Three; they underestimate how much time and space they have to land an attack. I'll show you what I mean."

"Got it."

"Now, when it comes to boxing, kick or otherwise, all of the power comes from the hips."

To demonstrate, Sae put one leg back, and Yu's eyes were drawn to her hips. It was then he really started to appreciate her figure. Years of what he can only assume to be training and working for the greatest criminal investigation units in Japan had sculpted her beautifully. Her smooth skin and fair complexion complemented her body to the point she looked like something out of a model magazine, and that beauty was only further added by her silky silver hair and red wine eyes. Yu's mind started to wander, wondering if she has a boyfriend. With a body like that, even if she hid it underneath a business suit, would attract all kinds of men. Then Yu's mind jumped to sudden questions. Did she have a boyfriend? An ex?

"NARUKAMI!"

Yu snapped out of it and realized that he had been staring at Sae's posterior this entire time. He dared to make eye contact and saw and accusatory stare greet him. His guardian cocked an eyebrow.

"Now, if you'd pick your jaw off the floor, we can continue."

"Yes Sae-san. Sorry Sae-san."

"Now, where did I lose you?"

"All power comes from the hips." Yu answered, trying not to make a saucy joke from that.

"Well then, allow me to explain."

Sae explained the intricacies of kickboxing, from the different kinds of kickboxers there were, to the training exercises Yu could do in his free time, to showing him actual moves. For a good few hours they did exercises and practicing moves. Eventually, Sae decided to take a break, and the two of them slumped against a wall, sweat drenching their clothes and coating their skin. After Yu began to drink some water, he decided it was time to try and get to know Sae better.

"H-hey Sae-san?"

"What is it Narukami?"

"If you work as a prosecutor, and if that's a desk job, why do you practice kickboxing?"

A sly smirk formed on Sae's lips.

"That's a good question. I want to say it's because, since I deal mostly with wealthy criminals, it's for self-defense against their goons that try to shut me up, but that's not the truth. The truth is that, before he died, my father started to teach me kickboxing to defend myself. After we were left to fend for ourselves, I continued taking them to protect myself and Makoto. It's one of the few things left I have from him."

"Is your father also why you became a prosecutor?"

Sae looked off in a distance, a forlorn look in her eyes.

"Yes. I wanted to make him proud, to be worthy of the Niijima name."

"I know what that's like. To have people expect you to be flawless simply because your the descendant of someone great. To have high expectations placed on you because of your name. And the consequences of failing those expectations."

"Heh, I can imagine. You know, I worked with your father a few times."

"I imagine the first meeting was awkward."

"Only a little. We managed to power through it by focusing on the case."

"What case was it?"

"Drug and human trafficking. Nothing unusual. But we found out one of the victims was supposed to be you, as leverage on Dojima."

"I think I remember those guys. I remember they tried to grab me when I went to the shopping district. Probably would have grabbed me if it wasn't for Yosuke."

"Who?"

"He's a friend. Or rather, was a friend. He's the son of a manager at a local Junes store. It's running all the local stores out of business, so people always gave him the cold shoulder, or were nice to him because they wanted a discount. We became friends after I pulled him out of a trash can."

Sae let out a soft giggle, but her expression slowly turned grim.

"I take it he abandoned you after your arrest?"

"Pretty much. He told me to never talk to him again. Everyone minus Nanako and dad hate me back home. Even after everything I did for them."

"Like I said, everyone has gratitude, but when push comes to shove, people will always choose their own hides over sticking their necks out."

"I don't believe that."

"Even with the evidence you've gotten first-hand?"

"Dad and Nanako stood up for me."

Sae let out a mocking laugh at the statement.

"If they didn't, you'd be better off living without them. Family is the only group of people that should stick together, no matter what."

"Now that, I agree with."

There was a small silence between the two, and Sae turned to Yu, a solemn look on her face.

"Narukami, why did you agree to let me teach you kickboxing?"

"I want to get to know you better Sae-san. Especially since you're going to be my officer for a year."

"Want to get on my good side so that you can slide whenever you screw up?"

Yu pulled his head back and recoiled from the sudden spite. Sae cast her eyes down a grimace on her face, before looking back with a softer look.

"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. I have to keep reminding myself about our deal."

"Why do you do that? Always jump to the worst conclusions?"

"Honestly? It's because of how long I've been forced to provide for my sister and I in this back-breaking, dead-end slave job. If you aren't smart, trust your gut, and have a realistic outlook on life, you'll end up a hobo in no time. And if you were a woman forced into that position, the only alternative would be prostitution, and my dignity is one of the few things I haven't had to sacrifice to survive."

"I understand. If it makes you feel any better, I've had to fend for myself and my sister too."

"I know. I'm sorry about your mother. Great, now I feel even worse for snapping at you."

"That was then. We're past that."

"I'm glad you think that. How has school been, considering your record was leaked?"

"Well, believe it or not, I've made a few friends outside of Makoto and Akechi."

"So I've heard. Well done on stopping that girl from jumping. You could join the police force after you've graduated. Be a hostage negotiator."

"Thanks, but… I'm still getting flashbacks to when I was arrested."

"Right. Dojima never told me the details."

"He said that I should tell you myself if I feel comfortable."

"And, are you comfortable? If you aren't, then I won't pry."

"No. Maybe if I tell you, then the two of us will understand each other. That's the whole reason I came here to begin with."

"Alright. In that case, I'm ready whenever you are."

Yu nodded and took in a deep breath. Yu recalled the night he was arrested, and took a deep breath to steal himself. He told her of how he heard someone crying desperately out for help. He recounted how he was expelled and ostracized for being a good person. He regaled Sae with the rigged trial, his suicide attempt, and the ferocity of his father. It took some time, and more than a great deal of effort, but he was able to tell it start to finish without breaking down. When he was finished, Sae had a mixture of guilt and anger in her ruby eyes. She took a deep breath and spoke.

"I… I'm sorry to hear that. If I had known those events had such a devastating impact on you, I would've been a lot more… gentle during our first meeting."

"It's alright Sae-san. You at least admit when you've done something wrong, and work to undo it. Which is more than I can say for some."

"You're too kind."

Sae wiped her brow and took a swig of water, and Yu noticed something.

"Hey, are you alright? You got serious bags under your eyes."

"Yes, I am, thank you. Sadly I don't get a lot of free time. Most of the time, I have to go to bed around 11 and wake up at 7."

"That can't be healthy. How do you power through?"

"Lots and lots of coffee. Specifically the kind from a little cafe in Yongen."

"Cafe Leblanc?"

"Yes, exactly. Have you been?"

"Once. Throat was a little too dry."

"I see. Charming little place, isn't it?"

"Yea, I can see why it's so popular. Why don't you go there to work on… well, work?"

"Because it often closes by the time I get out. Besides, I take what time I can to see Makoto."

"She wants to help, you know."

"I… I know. It's just…"

Sae let out an exasperated sigh and once again rubbed her temples.

"I'm supposed to be her guardian. I can't have her distract herself with my troubles."

"I thought the same thing when dad was in a coma. I tried to take care of 'Nako, keep three jobs, and maintain my grades. I pushed away everyone who wanted to help, because I didn't want to burden them with what I thought were petty problems. I almost destroyed myself because of it. So I'll tell you what they told me. You may be Makoto's guardian, but you're also her family."

Sae looked down. This may have been the first time she was the one getting a lecture.

"And your family isn't a petty problem. Let them help you when they offer. If you don't, you'll keep going until you break. Then who's going to protect them?"

Sae let out a heavy sigh, and turned to regard Yu.

"Alright, I'll cut you a deal. Using what I've taught you, I want you to spar with me. If you manage to beat me, I'll take some time off to spend with you and Makoto. But if you lose, you'll have to do my paperwork for me. And don't worry, I'll go easy on you, since you're a beginner."

"Deal." Yu replied without any hesitation.

Sae stood to her full height and looked down on Yu. Her lips turned into a smirk, one of ice and malice, like a lion eyeing deer. She offered a hand to help him up, and he took it. The two grabbed the gear, got into the ring, and took up positions. Yu was sure that it would be fine.

It wasn't fine. It wasn't fine at all. Yu had just been launched into the ropes by another punch from Sae, which this time hit him square in the ribs. As he hit the edges of the ring and the ropes supported him, he slumped to the floor, exhausted. This was round three. In round two, his jaw almost came loose, and in round one, he got a black eye. Yu seriously doubted that this was her going easy, because, if it was, he was the emperor of China. Rubbing his now black eye, he saw Sae get a towel and sling over her shoulder, and he couldn't believe just how amazing she looked, even though she must be completely exhausted. She extended her hand and began to talk to him.

"Not bad Narukami. Not bad at all. You need to keep up your guard on your left, but if you keep at it, you might be a challenge to even me."

That's load of crap, and you know it!

"Akechi told me that training with you is considered punishment in the SIU. Now I know why." Yu grunted as he took her hand and stood up. Sae let out a soft laugh.

"I admit, I do get… carried away. Guess I have a lot of pent up anger from work."

"Speaking of work, guess you'll have to show me how to do my new job."

"True. Let's get changed, and I can show you to my office."

Yu went into the locker room and started taking off his shirt. He winced as new pain flared through his body, the bruises starting to become visible. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out Shoichi's pills and gulped one down, powering through the vile taste. He made a mental note to pick up more seeing how low he was getting. With the aching starting to subside, he got dressed in his regular clothes and walked out. Shortly after, Sae stepped out of her side, dressed in her black suit, her hair neatly parted to one side. If it wasn't for the fact that he got mauled earlier, along with the fact that her hair was wet, he would never had thought she had been in a fight. She tossed him a water bottle, and he chugged it eagerly. The two made way to the higher floors, and when they reached the one Sae worked on, Yu was expecting it to be quiet with only maybe a few phone calls to break up the tranquility. But it wasn't tranquil. At all.

This place's people were acting like a bomb went off. There was yelling, frantic shoving, people trying to move stacks of paper without being pushed, and failing. It must be a nightmare to work here. But the moment people noticed that Sae was here, the chaos seemed to just evaporate. As she walked, any bystander watching would swear that she was a military colonel by how the others reacted. People looked at her with both fear and awe, tried their best to force themselves out of her way, and whenever they made eye contact with her, they, would quickly break it and stare at their desk. Suddenly, Yu felt like he was back in Shujin Nation.

"Ah, good evening Sae-san. It's unusual for you to come back so late. Did a recruit get lucky?' A pleasant voice asked, and Yu was relieved to see Akechi.

"No, but you will have a rookie to show the ropes to. Someone you're familiar with." Sae answered, gesturing to Yu.

"Narukami-san? You actually went through with the sparring practice." Akechi said.

"You sound surprised."

Akechi reached out and grabbed Yu's jaw, forcing it open and examining it.

"Well, you still have all of your teeth, so I'm guessing Sae-san went easy on you."

Yu let out an involuntary shiver at the mental image of himself if Sae didn't hold back. The three made their way over to Sae's desk.

"Now Akechi, Narukami and I made a bet before we spared, and now he will help you with being my assistant."

"Is he getting paid for that?"

"No. He made a bet with me and lost. Besides, if I had to pay you and him, there'd be almost nothing left of my paycheck."

"I see. Will he be starting today?"

"No. Next Sunday however, I expect you to work hard, understood?"

"Understood."

"Good to hear. Now, head back home and try to get some rest." Sae ordered, and Yu nodded in agreement. As he was about to head out, he heard Sae call out to him.

"And Narukami."

"Yes Sae-san?"

"Thanks for the spar. You've given me a lot to think about."

"Anytime Sae."

I am thou. Thou art I.

Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall become the wings of freedom that will lead thee to the truth.

With the birth of the JudgementArcana,

Thou hast obtained the blessing that will grant thee new power.

Yu smiled as he walked down the stairs. He may have a few bruises, and is now a legal slave to his probation officer, but at least he accomplished what he set out to do. He felt like he got an increase in guts thanks to that match with her. He smiled and made his way back to the apartment.

After working on some lockpicks to increase his proficiency, he got a text from Akechi. It was about four in the afternoon.

Akechi: 'Narukami-san, think you could come over to the SIU? Sae-san has gone to run some errands, and I think I should get to work on teaching you how your new job works.'

Yu: 'Sure. I think I could impress Sae-san.'

Yu grabbed his key, his phone, and walked to the train station, Akechi sent him another text.

Akechi: 'I'll get started on some of it while I wait. How long until you get here?'

Yu: 'about 5 minutes.'

Akechi: 'Understood. I'll be waiting.'

By now, Yu had arrived back to the SIU building, and walked up to Akechi's desk, and the detective looked up to him with a warm smile, and a fat stack of paperwork.

"There you are Narukami-san. Let's get to work, shall we?"

Yu gave a nod, and the two went to work, Akechi showing the rookie the ropes to slaying the vile stacks of paperwork.

Hours had gone by, and with two pairs of hands, the paperwork laid in different stacks, and according to Akechi, such as task would have usually taken six hours. They got it done in two. Leaning back with a heavy sigh, Akechi spoke. Or rather, his stomach spoke for him with a low growl. Yu's own stomach responded with an even louder growl, as if the two digestive systems were having a hunger contest.

"I take it you haven't eaten either?" Akechi asked. Yu simply nodded to the rhetorical question.

"Well, in that case, would you care to join me for some delicious pancakes? I know a place that imitates an American diner almost flawlessly."

"Didn't know that you'd like that kind of stuff."

"Say what you want about the West, but if its food is half as good there as it is here, then they know how to cook."

"Lead the way." Yu ordered.

The diner Akechi lead Yu to was very close by, so close they didn't even have to take the train. If there ever was a place in Japan that made one feel like they were living in the United States, this diner was that place. Waitresses dressed in plaid dresses, newspaper clippings praising the restaurant were dotting the place, the tiles were in a black and white checkerboard pattern, and the pictures were in black and white. By the time they arrived, they stopped serving breakfast, much to Akechi's dismay. The two of them sat in seats along the counter, opting to instead order chili dogs and milkshakes. Akechi decided to strike up a conversation.

"So, and be honest, will you be able to help out with our… activities after school tomorrow?"

"Yea. The bruises are already healing." Yu answered.

"I'm still impressed you managed to walk after the brawl."

"Just how aggressive is Sae-san when she fights?"

"Hungry pack of wolves aggressive. Given how she's treated in the workspace, I'm not surprised she has a lot of pent up anger."

"What do you mean by how's she treated? Does she get abused?"

"Not in the way you're thinking. The SIU is almost completely made up of men. Because of that, Sae-san has to do twice the work for half the respect. She gets cat-called, talked down on, and always stuck with menial work fit for interns. That is, until they need her. Then they go and borderline beg her to take up the job because anyone with less talent and drive would fail the case."

"I thought the SIU hasn't lost a single case in 50 years?"

"That's because they've made many behind-the-scene deals. If you have a well-known last name, and if your family still has influence and money, you will get off with maybe nine months in jail time for human trafficking and child murder."

"I can't say I'm surprised, given my experience."

"That was the problem, until Sae-san entered the picture. First case she was allowed to take was against a wealthy and well-known surgeon. He was accused and arrested on the charges that he was being paid to fail on surgeries for high-class individuals; CEOs, Cabinet members, and so on."

"I heard of that. His name was Wei Po, right? Dad talked about him."

"Correct. Everyone expected Sae to lose. The judge was bribed, the jury, bought. For the first time, the SIU would lose, and it would've given the Director the perfect excuse to fire her."

"So how'd she do it? Makoto said that you and her met when you took Kobayakawa's predecessor down, and if this was her first case, she wouldn't have you."

"Kamoshida, yes. But to answer: Her hard work, dedication, charisma, and talents allowed her to wield an ironclad argument that trapped Wei. If the jury and judge were to let him off the hook, then people would know they were bought, and would call for their heads. And so, a nobody woman managed to best a wealthy and well-known individual, all without the backing of the SIU."

"And I take it she became rather popular because of it."

"Actually, yes, but it was very short-lived. The only reason she isn't a national celebrity is because she spends more time on work than on TV shows.'

"Jeez, and I thought dad was a workaholic."

"My friend, Sae-san is the living, breathing definition of a workaholic."

The waitress now came over and delivered their meals. As they started to dig in, they continued talking, albeit with enough food to be understandable.

"So, is Shiho good enough to head back?" Yu asked.

"Yes. She told me that Shoichi's pills have almost completely undone the damage Kobayakawa inflicted."

"I'm glad, but we should use what we have sparingly. Between getting her her little… booster, and Morgana, I've completely run dry in the money department."

"Yes, Morgana-san told me about it. Here."

Akechi fished into his wallet and pulled out three 60,000 Yen bills.

"Akechi, I can't-"

"Yes, you can. And you have to. You're in charge of getting our supplies, remember?" Akechi insisted, handing Yu the bills.

"Fine. But I'll keep these for supplies and supplies only." Yu replied, taking the bills.

"That's fine. And I would still give you them even if we weren't going to that place."

"Really?"

"Of course! What are friends for?"

Stabbing you in the back when you need them .

In spite of that thought, Yu smiled. Akechi really did consider each other friends, as opposed to just partners working to a common goal. Yu gave a curt nod at the statement.

"Alright then. You know what else friends do? Pay the check." Yu said as he finished the last of his milkshake, giving Akechi a pat on the back as he got up to leave.

Akechi opened his mouth, agast and stunned. Before Yu left, he turned one last time to the Detective Prince.

"Oh and Akechi?" Yu called.

"Yes Narukami-san?"

"Just call me Yu. Narukami-san is a bit too formal for friends."

"Alright Naruka-er-Yu."

The waitress gave Akechi the check, and the silver-eyed teen bidded his Confidant farewell.