*ding-dong*
I answered the door, and got a nasty shock. Standing there were two people. One was a woman with gray hair, a gray skirt-suit, and a black briefcase. The other was a middle aged male police officer. Both looked deadly serious.
"Are you Kousaka-san?" The policeman asked.
"Uh... yes. What is this about?"
"I'm here regards to... another Kousaka-san. Kirino Kousaka. Is she here?"
"...Yes." I really didn't like where this was headed, but I also didn't want to lie to a police officer.
"May we come in please? We'd like to talk to her?" The policeman asked.
"Don't let them!" That was Kirino yelling from the other room. She came running in and stood next to me, holding my arm, guarding the entrance with an aggressive pose. "We can talk right here."
"Are you Kirino Kousaka then?" The woman in the suit asked. Kirino nodded. "My name is Tanaka, I work for Child Protective Services. I'm glad we found you. We've come to help you."
"Yeah? Help me how? I'm just fine." Kirino didn't seem to be intimidated by them at all.
"Your parents have asked us to bring you home. They're very worried about you, Kirino." The woman, Tanaka-san, explained.
"Why should I be worried? I'm just fine right here. I'm staying with him, my brother."
"Ah yes. They were specifically concerned about him. They want you to stay away from him."
"Well, too bad, I like him, and I'm going to stay here with him! So buzz off!" I was amazed at how bold she was, talking like this to a policeman and a government agent. I was also touched that she would stick up for me like that. I gripped her arm tighter. "Yeah, leave us alone!" I added, lamely.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple" The Tanaka woman said, very sternly. "You, Kyousuke, are 18. You can do as you wish. But Kirino is still only 16. She must obey her parents. I'm afraid I must insist that she come with us."
"No I won't!" Kirino was practically screaming now. I felt her trembling with passion as she spoke. "Yes, I'm only 16. But I've been working since I was 12, and I have a very high income. This apartment lease was signed in my name, using the funds that I earned. I also have outstanding personal conduct, and I have many witnesses who can vouch that I am very responsible and reliable. That means that I meet all the legal requirements for emancipation."
Tanaka frowned. "That... might be true. But have you really thought this through? That would mean permanently ending your legal relationship with your parents. And might I add... I think I see what's going on here. I've seen a few cases like this before, and it never ends well."
"Ha! You don't know anything! We've come this far, we'll manage just fine."
"Yeah!" That was me. "Uh, just leave it to us!"
The policeman turned to Tanaka. "What now? Should I make her come with us?"
"No. She doesn't seem to be in any immediate physical harm. And she might actually meet the requirements for emancipation. Since she's claiming it... we'll have to get a ruling from a judge."
"Very well." They turned to go.
"Yeah, get out of here! Scram!" Kirino made a rude gesture at them, pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue.
"Cmon, Kirino... don't antagonize them, please." I waited for them to leave, and then asked "How did you know all that stuff about emancipation?"
"Huh? Obviously I've been researching it. Since a year ago, actually. I mean, you know how strict Dad is. I was always afraid he'd crack down on me and ruin my life. I mean, it was a battle even to get him to let me wear makeup."
"Wow... you're amazing! When I was that age I think I was still fantasizing about being a superhero."
"I know, don't remind me. I lived with you, remember?"
"Oh... right."
"Well, it's OK. They say girls mature faster than boys, right? And I'm a genius!"
"Hmm, well, don't get too full of yourself." I tussled her hair. "We still might have to go to court."
"Yeah, but we'll win for sure! The power of our love will conquer all!"
"..Even our parents?"
"If necessary. But they'll come around too, don't worry."
***
It turned out that Kirino was right about emancipation. We had to gather a lot of documents to prove that she had money, income, and good character. Luckily they accepted her old pay stubs for modeling work (obtained from her former agency), since neither of us had a current work record. We got character references from Mikagami, her old employer Misaki Fujima, and some of her former teachers and track coaches. We didn't ask our parents, of course. We never got any more in-person visits from Child Protective Service, just a lot of form letters. It took a long time, but we eventually got a letter in the mail from the court granting her the legal status of an adult. She was now allowed to live on her own, and either drop out of school or work. Basically, she could do whatever she wanted now except for drinking alcohol and voting. She could also legally get married now- but not to me, of course.
It was such an odd thing, that letter. Just a piece of paper, which had shown up at our place after months of waiting. It represented so much- the legal right to continue our lives, and not be forced apart. But there was no ceremony for it, no magic, no music. Just a few paragraphs of text written in bland, bureaucratic language. We "celebrated" by going out to a restaurant for dinner, but neither of us felt very happy. It still didn't feel real to us.