Chapter 59

As often on days of great importance, sleep was almost impossible. It was 4 AM, and I lay wide awake in my bed. Today was finally the day that would change everything. Saphir's trial was scheduled for 11 AM, and after that, Diamond had finally agreed to a conversation. After 153 days, I had finally achieved it, or rather, Kaori had achieved it, but I didn't care. We would finally talk to each other sensibly, or at least I hoped so, and that was the main thing.

Yet at the same time, there was this dull, uncomfortable feeling in my chest. I would have to face Saphir again today. He had taken Seiya from me, irreversibly. The pain that had overwhelmed me that night suddenly felt so present that it almost took my breath away. All the exercises from my therapist didn't help. The images of him lying motionless kept playing in my mind's eye. I turned my head to my nightstand, where a picture of both of us stood. His smile radiated at me. He was gone and wouldn't come back, I kept telling myself.

Would he be okay with me getting involved with Diamond now? I was sure that Seiya would have wanted me to be happy. Even though I couldn't quite explain it to myself, I had the feeling that Diamond would do just that. Yes, he was clearly an emotional autistic, but somehow, I would manage. After all, Kaori had managed with Kunzite, who was obviously wired the same way. But first, I had to crack this nut.

But the carousel of questions kept spinning in my head. How would Yaten and Taiki react? After Yaten's outburst, I hadn't spoken to him anymore. Minako said he had calmed down, but somehow, I believed there was more to come. Especially once I got Diamond on board... that would certainly lead to new arguments.

Oh dear, my head was already buzzing with so much. I needed a coffee to wake up properly. Just before 10 AM, I reached the Crown. Due to the early wake-up, I still felt a bit worn out. Minako, Yaten, and Taiki were already sitting at one of the tables, waiting for me. I didn't miss Yaten's glowering gaze, but as soon as Minako noticed it, she gave him a light kick under the table. "Ouch. Do you want to sit at this end of the table so you're closer to your feet?" Yaten irritably asked in her direction. His tension wasn't just about me, I knew that. I was feeling it too. "Behave yourself," Minako hissed at him, trying to defuse the situation. "I didn't do anything," Yaten muttered, but his words already sounded somewhat more conciliatory. I sat down next to Minako and took a sip of my shake, which Toki had already placed in front of me as a precaution.

Time passed quickly; we had barely finished our drinks when we had to leave. The way to the court was marked by an unusual silence. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts, and no one dared to break the silence. The uncertainty was palpable in the air, and I could feel it straining my nerves.

When we reached the courthouse, we found ourselves amidst a crowd of people. Reporters, spectators, and lawyers rushed back and forth. We entered the courtroom and immediately felt the tense atmosphere that filled the room. The benches were already full of people who had come to witness the trial. The trial against Saphir Prince for the murder of Seiya Kou.

My heart raced in my chest as I took my seat. Beside me sat Haruka, who was also called as a witness. Yaten and Taiki took their places as co-plaintiffs, and Minako had to find a seat among the reporters and onlookers, although I would have preferred her to be closer to me. My gaze scanned the room, but I couldn't spot Diamond anywhere. There was also no sign of Kaori and Kunzite. However, Prince Senior sat a few seats away from me, glaring steadfastly at me. The trial was about to begin.

Just a few minutes before the judge opened the proceedings, the three of them rushed past me and took their seats, their expressions remaining unchanged.

Every glance, every word, and every movement was closely observed. Saphir sat in the dock, and I could practically feel his cool and indifferent demeanor. It seemed as though the events around him didn't really affect him.

The prosecution presented their evidence against Saphir, and one by one, witnesses took the stand. Kunzite, Kaori, and Prince Senior vividly described how much Saphir's mental state had deteriorated and how much he had changed after Rina's loss.

Then it was Diamond's turn. He maintained his composure, his gaze fixed firmly ahead. His poker face was perfect, and although I could well imagine that turmoil was brewing inside him, he remained surprisingly calm. His account was well-considered and factual. He began with Rina's accident and described in detail the events that had taken place. He mentioned the threat he had made after Rina's death and how Saphir had ambushed me at work months earlier, and how he had already suspected that Saphir was planning something back then. Diamond recounted the security measures he had taken regarding me and the car accident that Saphir had demonstrably caused to eliminate me. Finally, he recounted the evening of the Winter Gala.

While Diamond spoke, I noticed Yaten's gaze shifting between Diamond and me. It was evident that all of this was hard for him to comprehend, especially considering he had only known about him and me for a few days. Taiki, on the other hand, hid his face behind large sunglasses and listened without displaying any visible emotion. It was hard to gauge what was going on in his mind.

When it was my turn to speak, I felt a mixture of fear and determination. "Ms. Usagi Tsukino, please tell us what happened on the night of December 8th to 9th," the judge instructed me after the standard admonition.

I closed my eyes and focused, trying to resurrect the evening in my mind's eye. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and then began to speak. "My life partner, Seiya Kou, and I were invited to the Winter Gala. Due to the events that had preceded it, I was aware that Saphir Prince had indeed targeted me. For this reason, when Diamond informed me that his brother was in town, I decided that we should leave the event immediately. Seiya suggested taking a taxi, but I had concerns. Given that, at that point, I only associated Saphir with traffic accidents, it seemed unwise to get into a car. So, I persuaded Seiya that we should walk instead." I paused briefly to organize my memories. Up until that moment, the evening had been nearly perfect, and now the dark images were pressing back into my consciousness. I swallowed and forced myself to continue telling the story, feeling tears welling up. "We took a shortcut through Juban Park. When we stopped briefly to talk, I was suddenly pulled to the ground. A shot rang out. It was Haruka, who had pushed me out of the path of Saphir's shot. The bullet, meant for me, instead struck Seiya. Haruka acted immediately and called for an ambulance. She showed me what I could do to help Seiya, and then she ran off to chase Saphir."

The images of the horrifying events flooded back to me, and it felt as if I were back there in the park, kneeling over Seiya, pressing on his wound. The pain and despair I had felt in that moment seemed to be present again. I fought back tears as I struggled to finish my statement.

"I... I can hardly remember what happened afterward. It was all a nightmare."

As I concluded my statement, I felt overwhelmed by the memories and emotions. The images of Seiya's injury, the fear I had felt in that moment, all of it came rushing back with full force. I grew dizzy, and I felt my body begin to tremble. It was as if the ground beneath me was giving way.

Suddenly, I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. Haruka stood beside me, silently offering me her hand. With trembling fingers, I grasped it and allowed her to guide me back to my seat. It took me some time to collect myself.

Meanwhile, the verdict against Saphir was delivered. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and the witness testimonies had confirmed his guilt. After a brief deliberation, the judge announced the verdict: Saphir Prince was sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple attempted murders on me and for the murder of Seiya.

A relieved sigh swept through the courtroom.

I felt Saphir's dark gaze on me, which I couldn't bear. At the moment of the announcement, he suddenly turned his head towards me, his eyes clearly telling me that he wasn't finished with me yet. Panic gripped me. I needed to get out of here. With weak knees, I pushed past Haruka and rushed outside for some fresh air. I sank down on the steps of the courthouse and took deep breaths. It was done. Saphir would spend the rest of his life behind bars. He wouldn't pose a threat to me anymore, I tried to reassure myself. I buried my head in my hands and took deep breaths.

A hand on my shoulder suddenly made me turn around; I expected to see Diamond's black eyes, but it was only Minako, who had followed me. "Usa? Are you okay?" she asked concernedly.

I straightened up and nodded gratefully at her. "Yes, I just didn't expect everything to feel so vivid again."

She compassionately stroked my back. People were gradually streaming out of the building now, and I knew what I had to do next. I looked around, searching for Diamond. He was among the last to leave the court. Diamond caught my gaze, but he was engrossed in a conversation with his father and Kunzite. Kaori was a few steps behind them and smiled when she saw me. "He'll be along shortly, once the important world domination stuff is sorted out. I'm rooting for you," she whispered as she passed by, prompting Mina to nudge me inquisitively.

"He finally agreed to a conversation. And before you ask, yes, I'm sure," I said without taking my eyes off Diamond.

He was bidding farewell to his father and Kunzite. It was time, and the exciting flutter in my stomach intensified as he turned towards me and walked directly towards me. His black eyes caught my gaze and held it, a slight twitch of his mouth forming a telling grin.

When he stopped in front of me, I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. We stood silently facing each other, locked in a gaze.

But suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Saphir being escorted by two guards, and before I could react, events took another unexpected turn. Saphir suddenly broke free, swiftly grabbed his guard's weapon, and aimed it at us.

"Boss!" Massaru's loud voice echoed. Diamond abruptly turned around and shoved me aside. Then, two gunshots rang through the air, sending shivers down to my core. No! Panic gripped me. Not again! I struggled to my feet, but before I could even look around, Minako, Kaori, and Haruka were already around me, ushering me away. Over my shoulder, I could see Saphir on the ground, my gaze then shifting to Diamond.

My heart raced as I saw Massaru kneeling before Diamond. "Boss!" he exclaimed loudly. What had happened to Diamond? Alarm bells were ringing in my head; I needed to reach him. However, Haruka's strong arms held me in a kind of cage, and there seemed to be no way out.