March 27
Morning
Narukami Household - Nakano
Narukami Hikari didn't know what she expected from a call so early in the morning, and from her brother at all. Throughout the call, her worry grew and grew and grew. She put a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle her tears.
"Mom?" Yu asked, concerned. He saw his mother's worried expression increase throughout the phone call. His father was also concerned, rubbing his wife's back.
Narukami Hikari stared at the phone for a few seconds after she was hung up. She sat still for a few seconds, her eyes glassy and unfocused, before she started bawling into her husband's shoulder.
"Mom? Mom, what's wrong?" Yu asked yet again, quietly. His mother's sobs were the only sound heard in the living room. Yu stared at his mother's shaking form, his heart pounding in nervousness.
Narukami Hikari looked up from her husband's shoulder, wiping the tears from her damp face. "Your sister…" she looked down into her lap, her hands gripping her upper thighs. "She's been arrested. For assault."
Narukami Yu's world shattered.
Narukami Jun didn't know his daughter very well. The few times he and his son hung out with her, she was a delight. She always laughed at his jokes, chatting with him about anything and everything. She loved her mother, that much was obvious, but she loved her father as well. He didn't know what to think when picturing her in a cell.
Narukami Hikari loved her daughter with all her heart. She wished she could take care of both Akira and Yu, but neither she nor her husband made enough to do so. She visited Akira often and vice versa. She had to admit that she never really hung out with Akira with her husband and son. She felt so bad for that. Her daughter, one of the lights of her life, was more like a niece to her now. She wasn't the one there for every achievement in Akira's life, it was Ryotaro. She loved her brother too, but the only thing Hikari wanted was to be able to actually take care of Akira, and not be a bystander in her life. This… recent development meant that she would likely never have the chance to again. All she could do is stand by and support her to the best of her abilities.
March 27
Noon
Yongen-Jaya Backstreets
Narukami Hikari loved going to this small cafe in Yongen-Jaya. She found it relaxing, and the owner and herself became pretty good friends. She walked through the familiar streets, the air dense and moist. The puddles she stepped into made quiet splashes, the murky water no deeper than a few millimeters. She finally made it to her destination, and she opened the door. The bell on it jingled as it opened and closed behind her. There was no one in the cafe at that moment. She pulled a barstool out from the bar, and took a seat, her head in her hands as the gravity of the situation hit her.
"Hikari." Sojiro said, stepping out from the kitchen. "You ok?"
She shook her head. "Not at all. I'm very… stressed? I think that's how I'd put how I'm feeling right now."
Sojiro stepped out from the other side of the bar, flipping the open sign on the door to closed. He walked over to where Hikari was sitting, took her hand, and made her sit at a booth. He sat across from her, then spoke, "So. What's up? What happened?"
"I've told you about my daughter, right?" Hikari asked, looking into Sojiro's eyes.
"Yeah. Something happened to her?"
Hikari braced herself, still not fully wrapping her head around what happened. "Yeah. She…she was… arrested. For assault. Last night."
Sojiro's eyes widened in shock. He didn't know Hikari's daughter personally, hell, he didn't even know her name. But, he knew all the stories, the memories about her that Hikari told him about. He knew how she laughed whenever her brother was afraid to ask for help. He knew how she helped her father with chores around the Narukami's apartment. He knew how she picked up a job in that town of hers to help support her mother. He knew that it was strange. But, he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Unless…
He finally spoke, after what felt like minutes of silence, "God. Do you know anything about a trial date?"
"No. Nothing." Hikari thought for a second. "She's a minor. This would also be her first offense. Maybe a few more days?"
"I almost forgot you were raised by a bunch of cops," Sojiro chuckled. "Want some coffee? Take your mind off of things slightly?" Sojiro left the booth, stepping back behind the counter.
"Sure. You know how godly the coffee you make is." She stood from the booth, making her way back to a barstool. "It's a miracle no famous food reviewer's found this place yet. You'd be on the map!".
"We both know that that would be horrible for me." Sojiro started brewing her coffee.
"Why?" Hikari stared at him. "Because you like the cozy atmosphere here?" She tapped the counter. "Or is it because you prefer less social interaction?"
Sojiro playfully glared at her, "You know the answer to that."
"Yeah, yeah, I do."
March 27
Evening
Narukami Residence - Nakano
Narukami Yu looked up to his sister. But, now, she was arrested. For assault. How could she harm someone else? But, there was a growing seed of doubt within him, an urge to seek the truth. A desire to find out what the hell happened last night in Inaba.
His sister was always so kind to everyone. She helped their parents and him whenever she could. So, what would bring her to physical violence? Why would she go out of her way to harm another human? The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't know his sister at all. Sure, he knew how kind she was to their family, but to other people? They never went out as a family when she visited. What did she like doing? There was so much he didn't know.
So, was his sister truly a bad person? Was she falsely accused? Did she actually do it? Yu didn't know. Would he ever? That instinct, that pull at his soul, the need to find the truth of the situation was not satiated. He needed to know. What exactly could he do to find out? He didn't know.
April 4
Morning
Narukami Residence - Nakano
Today would have been Akira's sixteenth birthday. They should have been celebrating with her, ready to start a new page of her life. But she was stuck in a cell. Ryotaro didn't know what cell. He couldn't check all of them. He told Hikari that he knew she was interrogated. He didn't find the transcripts. He didn't find any case details. Her entire situation was shrouded in mystery.
The Narukami family took her birthday off. In hindsight, they were acting like Akira was dead.
Every family member important in Akira's life was there, in that tiny apartment in Nakano. Ryotaro, Nanako, Hikari, Jun, Yu. They were all there, trying to comfort each other. It had been a week since Akira was arrested. A week. Tensions in the family were brewing, wondering if what happened that night was serious and that's why they were taking so long. No one knew anything.
April 6
Evening
Narukami Residence - Nakano
They had just gotten word that Akira was put on probation. Her trial, the thing they were waiting for, was today. They weren't told anything. How was it even possible, how was it even allowed that the family of a minor who has been incarcerated were not informed of said minor's incarceration? Ryotaro was certain that wasn't even legal. They didn't even know who would be taking care of her, let alone where. God. What were they going to do?
April 6
Evening
Sakura Residence - Yongen-Jaya
Sakura Sojiro knew Narukami Hikari well. She was a regular after all. He knew all of his regulars like the back of his hand. He knew how much her daughter meant to her. He knew all of the stories she told, with such a fond look in her eyes. Yet that look that Hikari had when she told him stories of her daughter also held a small pain. A wish that she could've done more. He decided that he would do all he could for her.
And that meant(to him) becoming a temporary guardian for Akira while she was on probation. He was at the trial. He felt bad for not telling Hikari, but he didn't want to worry her. The kid looked horrible. He didn't want any of her family to see her like that. He had some semblance of how to care for a teen, after all.
Sojiro would be the one to take care of Akira. That was already set in stone. He was looking forward to getting to know the kid. He had to get something ready so that the kid would have somewhere to sleep. He didn't have any guest rooms. But, he did have the attic of Leblanc. Maybe that would work? He hoped so.
Sojiro hoped that this year would be alright. He would never forgive himself if any harm came to Akira. Little did he know what the year would have in store.