Later Isaka was still up checking over a few papers from the last meeting, both he and Asahina were trying to distract themselves until Sapphire decided she wanted to come out of her room. After waiting five hours, Isaka finally managed to convince Asahina to take a bath stating that it might be a longer wait than anticipated. Isaka sighed pinching the bridge of his nose before he heard the floor board creek and a familiar soft voice. "Daddy? Are you still awake?"
"In the living room Angel," Isaka called down the hall before straightening himself up as Sapphire walked in clutching her teddy bear. Isaka opened his arms and Sapphire immediately jumped into them. Isaka just held her for a few moments not saying anything, when she finally relaxed enough she pulled away looking down.
"I'm ready to talk now," Sapphire said softly.
"It's ok Angel," Isaka reassured her "I'm listening."
Sapphire took a deep breath. "It happened after lunch."
Sapphire was sitting by herself eating candy and reading from her horror manga when a boy who was walking past her stopped noticing what she was reading.
"Whoa! You like Jisatsu Circle?" He asked.
Sapphire looked up slightly startled but then gave a small smile. "Yeah, I can't wait for the movie to come out. I re-reading all of the books."
"There's a movie come out?" He responded confused. "I didn't know that."
"Well, it's only in pre-production, so maybe that's why " Sapphire explained.
The boy then held out his hand. "I'm Katsu. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Sapphire," Sapphire replied shaking his hand "You can sit here if you want."
Katsu sat next to Sapphire and the two talked about their favorite manga the entire lunch period before the bell rang. Before Katsu had to go back to his class he handed her a flyer for the manga club at their school.
"You'd like it, we bring our books from home and talk about events coming up," Katsu told her.
Sapphire took the flyer before she noticed how red Katsu was getting. "Sure, I check it out."
"You will?" Katsu seemed surprised at her answer "Thanks! I…um…gotta go! Bye!"
Sapphire waved goodbye to Katsu and started to head in the opposite direction. Before she re-entered the school building, Sapphire was suddenly shoved down harshly from behind causing her to scrape her knee on the pavement. Sapphire tried to get up thinking she tripped but was sudden grabbed by two girls while another one snatched her backpack and dumped out the content in front of her. Suddenly a girl in walked in front of her face before saying "Hey American pig, you understand Japanese, right?"
Sapphire just nodded afraid, the girl in front of her sneering. "Good, now listen closely, I don't want you talking to my future boyfriend American. And don't even think about stealing him from me or else your reputation is going to the toilet."
"He invited her to his manga club," the girl going through her backpack said before hold up Sapphire horror manga.
The girl in front of her snatched the book from the other's hand before flipping through it with her sparkly pink nails. "Ha, she's just a stupid freak. Let her go."
The two girls let go of Sapphire but threw her down to the ground in the process. The girl with sparkly pink nails then threw her book in her Face and said "Don't even think about going to that club pig, and I'll be watching you. Come on guys lets go."
After they left Sapphire hurriedly scrambled to get her things into her backpack before heading into the building, instead of going to class she hides in an empty classroom and cried her eyes out before waiting for the school day to be over.
"And that's what happened," Sapphire said quietly.
Isaka was furious at hearing her story but stayed calmed and comforted her the best he could. At some point, Asahina had come back into the room midway through the story and sat on the opposite side of her and it was clear he was upset as well but keep his poker face.
"Please don't try to do anything," Sapphire pleaded softly "I don't want to get hurt again."
"But honey, they had no right to do that to you," Asahina said.
"I know...but it's just easier for me to do as they say," Sapphire replied hugging her teddy bear tightly still upset.
Isaka felt bad for his daughter but gave a signal to Asahina not to press the issue. "Hey Angel, what can we do to make you feel better just for tonight?"
Sapphire looked up at Isaka before saying "Could you read me a bedtime story?"
Isaka smiled softly. "Ok, you go pick out a book and I'll be right there."
Sapphire smiled before walking back to her room leaving Isaka and Asahina together. Isaka breathed through his nose. "We need to talk to the school."
"You think," Asahina said trying to stay calm "Name calling is one thing but they put their hands on her."
"No one lays a hand on my child," Isaka said before getting up "I'm going to tuck Sapphire in, could you…"
"Don't worry I've got it," Asahina replied.
Isaka then headed for Sapphire's bedroom where she was putting out her uniform for tomorrow morning. Sapphire having heard the door open looked up before smiling seeing her dad. "Hi, Daddy."
"Hey Angel, ready for your story," Isaka asked as Sapphire hopped into bed.
"Hmm," Sapphire said holding up a book "I want you to read this one."
"Fahrenheit 451?" Isaka asked, "I had to read this when I was in college for American Lit class."
"Really?" Sapphire asked her interest peaked.
"Yeah, it's been ages since I've read this," Isaka replied looking over to Sapphire before ruffling her hair "You, my darling, have impeccable taste."
"I get it from the best dad in the world," Sapphire chirped smiling brightly.
Isaka smiled down at her before sitting next to her and started reading, he made it to page thirty before noticing Sapphire was fast asleep. Isaka bookmarked the page before kissing the little girl's forehead. "Have sweet dreams my little Angel."
Isaka quietly exited the room before heading to his and Asahina's bedroom to find Asahina sitting in bed reading Usagi's latest novel. Isaka just flopped onto the empty space next to him with a groan. "She's finally asleep."
Asahina looked over to Isaka. "What did she want to read tonight?"
"Fahrenheit 451," Isaka said getting under the covers "Remember that book from college?"
"Yes, I do," Asahina said putting a bookmark to hold the page he'd just been reading "I remember because I had to do both of our papers since you were too lazy to do yours."
"Hey! I did my report…I just lost it when I spilled coffee on my computer," Isaka retorted. "And look at me now, I'm president of my father company, I have a hot secretary with benefits and wonderful daughter. I couldn't ask for more."
"Really, Hot secretary with benefits," Asahina said but he was trying to hide a smile.
Isaka smirked looking over to Asahina. "Wanna get naughty?"
"Are you serious?" Asahina asked eyes darting to the door.
"What!? Sapphire sleeps through the night now, and it's been forever since we've done anything that isn't a hand job." Isaka whined.
Asahina bites his bottom lip thinking for a moment. "Fine…but only this one time…and we need to set some ground rule about this late…hmm!"
Isaka was already kissing Asahina to silence him. "Ground rules later. Sex now."