Here's chapter 6! Sorry this fanfic is getting kinda long, ^_^; I personally enjoy reading longer fanfics that are usually at least 10k+ words to truly get engaged in the story, so I try to make mine as developed and fleshed out as I can! Anyways, here we go with the next one! :D


Finally, after 8 hours that seemed never-ending, Yumi and Naeko were finished patrolling for the day. They only had a few minor traffic violators to deal with, so now they were heading up to HQ to file their reports. By the time they finished, Yumi was at her absolute limit. Her exhaustion and hunger were ultimately all caught up to her. Despite Naeko offering to pay for Yumi during their lunch break since she'd accidentally forgotten her purse at home, Yumi insisted she was fine, but now she couldn't deny it anymore. She was lightheaded, starving, and felt at any moment she'd collapse.

After several minutes of sitting at her desk, Yumi tried to hold her head up as she filed her reports. Despite her best efforts, her body just couldn't fight the urge to fall asleep any longer.

She passed out.

…..


"mi! …Yu…. umi?! ….YUMI!"

"…eh?" Yumi uttered snapping out of her daze with half her face covered in drool as she awoke to someone shaking her and calling her name desperately. It was her best friend, Miwako Sato.

"Ah! M-Miwako! S-sorry! I was just- ."

"Yumi, Miike-chan told me a little bit about it. She said you barely slept last night and haven't had a thing to eat all day. Geez, you really need to take better care of yourself, you know? We all were really worried about you. Not to mention you've been passed out for about an hour and a half now. The inspector told us all to just let you sleep at your desk, but now it's getting too late, so I offered to take you home."

Yumi looked at Sato in disbelief. Could she really have actually passed out that long with everybody watching and worrying? She felt terrible.

"Oh my gosh, Miwako I'm so sorry. I just had a really late night last night and-"

"Yumi, it's okay don't apologize. I just want to make sure you're okay. How about we go out somewhere and get you something to eat?" Sato said with an enthusiastic wink.

Yumi wiped the drool from her face. "If you don't mind, I'm really tired and I don't think I'm up for going- hey- wait where's Takagi-kun?" Yumi interrupted herself mid-sentence and looked around instinctively since she was used to dinner dates being with couples.

Sato smiled and folded her arms. "Ah, I told him to go home without me. I figured maybe this would be more comfortable for you if it was a girl's only thing."

Yumi chuckled. "Say, that doesn't happen to have anything to do with the fact I didn't want to be a part of your double date the other day does it?"

Sato folded her hands together while pleading. "M-maybe! I just didn't want you to say no! Anyways, please will you come? I'll cover you this time!"

For some reason Yumi couldn't shake the feeling that Naeko told Sato all about the drama with Shukichi. Maybe that was why Sato seemed so adamant on taking her out for dinner. Then again, Sato was her best friend after all, so she may have just been genuinely worried since it was true that she really hadn't had a thing all day.

"Alright, Miwako I'll go." Yumi smiled knowing she had no choice either way.


Yumi and Sato arrived at the usual restaurant that most of their circle of friends amongst the police force would go to after work. Yumi felt a bit refreshed from her nap earlier, so she wasn't as tired as she'd been all day. Plus, now that she was finally getting something to eat, she definitely felt more alert and functioning. After a while, Yumi noticed Sato occasionally glancing at her with a not so subtle expression, as if she really wanted to address the obvious.

"So, how much did Naeko tell you?" Yumi cut to the chase before Sato got a chance.

"Eh. W-what do you mean? She told me-"

"It's okay if you're curious, you're my best friend. I was planning on confiding in you about it anyways, I just didn't want to repeat myself if she told you everything already." Yumi said with a soft smile.

Sato's face of uncertainty quickly disappeared and was now overcome with enthusiasm. "Alright, I confess she told me! Your boyfriend is Taiko-Meijin! I can't believe it Yumi! I remember when you two first started dating back when we were in college! Who would've thought he was Taiko-Meijin of all people!"

Yumi's eyes opened wide. "W-wait a minute, did you know about that?"

Sato looked at Yumi with a puzzled expression. "No, I promise, I really had no idea! I mean, I know who Taiko-Meijin is, but I had no idea he was your boyfriend. I mean, after all you only ever called him 'Chukichi'. How was I to know?"

Yumi sighed in relief and tried to push back her defensive demeanor. "Oh, okay. I wasn't blaming you or anything, I just didn't know if you knew.."

"It's okay, Yumi I understand. So, what are you going to do? Do you think you're going to take him back?"

Yumi sighed with a hesitant expression and swallowed as she fought the urge to make excuses like she normally would.

"To tell you the truth, I've always wanted to get back together with Chukichi."

"Aw, Yumi!" Sato overenthusiastically exclaimed with her hands on her cheeks in fangirl-like fashion.

"B-but, it's so hard to put into words! Like, he's so different from the man I thought I loved back then. It's like he kept his true self a secret to me all those years and I'm only now getting to see the real him. Is it too much of a coincidence if I take him back now? Now that I know he's famous I mean. He's not going to think I only took him back because-"

"Yumi. I know you. You really have been faithful to him this whole time. You had so many opportunities to move on, but yet you never did. You may try to deny it, but I've noticed. Anytime anyone hit on you during karaoke or on the job, you never gave the idea of finding a new boyfriend a moment's thought. Haneda-san has been your only serious boyfriend in all the years I've known you, and despite all the single parties, you stayed true to him." Sato smiled knowingly.

Yumi blushed profusely. Was it that obvious? Then again Sato has been her best friend since they were children. She really knew how to read Yumi like the back of her hand.

"Yeah..well it was hard for me because towards the end of our relationship I just felt so ignored and uncared about, but I guess at least now I know why he was always so busy. I just hope he'll have time for me." Yumi uttered with a hint of hurt in her eyes.

Sato placed a hand on Yumi's shoulder in reassurance. "Yumi, just because he's busy doesn't mean he ever meant to ignore you. If anything, he's been busy because of how desperately he wants to be with you. If his resolve was to win the seven shogi titles to impress you, then doesn't that mean he never really ignored you all these years?" Sato smiled hoping her words would be effective.

Yumi felt her heart flutter. She'd never thought of it that way. "I..I suppose you have a point. Gah, that does it! I'm going to call him right now!" Yumi indecisively pulled out her smartphone and began dialing Shukichi's number without even formulating an idea of what she'd say.

Sato retracted her arm from Yumi's shoulder "W-wait, Yumi do you even know what you're-"

It was too late; the phone had begun ringing. It rang several times before going to voicemail.

"Hello, you've reached Shukichi Haneda. I'm sorry I couldn't come to the phone. Please leave a message." *beep*

"CHUKICHI! Ah, I-I mean, you bald headed rat you! I..I've done some thinking and-" she paused to look at Sato who shrugged in confusion unsure of what to say. "I..um. I think we should.." She started to feel anxious. Now that she was thinking a bit clearer, this definitely wasn't the kind of thing to say over the phone. Why did she have to jump into these kinds of situations with an empty head? "D-DAMMIT LEARN HOW TO PICK UP YOUR PHONE!" Yumi shouted before abruptly hanging up.

Well that was a major fucking disaster.

Sato's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Yumi! What were you thinking?! Why did you do that?!"

"I don't know! I wasn't thinking!" Yumi shouted while throwing her phone in her purse. "I just want to talk to him about all this, but I'm so used to being ignored anyways, so I felt calling was the only way to do it, but of course he doesn't even have the time to answer!" Yumi pouted.

Sato lowered her tone and tried to be rational. "Don't take it so much to heart, Yumi. It's possible he's playing a game right now or doing an interview. I'm sure he has his reasons. Regardless, now you've made a fool of yourself for when he hears your message." She couldn't help but bluntly mention that fact.

Yumi face palmed and hit her head on the table. "Dammit, I'm so stupid. I just don't even know what to do anymore."

Sato put her hand on Yumi's chin and pulled her up. "Yumi, I think you just need to give yourself time."

"Time?" Yumi repeated.

"Yeah, you're letting everything from one night consume you to the point you're not thinking clearly or taking care of yourself. You need to just think things through and let it take its course. I know everything will work out for you in the end, but you need to let things happen naturally. That's how things went for Takagi-kun and I. I'm really happy we took our time. I wouldn't change that for the world. I think you need to do the same, Yumi." Sato smiled softly.

Yumi smiled and regained her posture. "Yeah, you're right..Ah, but what should I do if he calls me back?" She asked now feeling anxious again.

"Do what feels right to you, Yumi. It's your life and you need to do what's best for you."

"Alright, I'll try." Yumi said with a level of uncertainty.


Okay and that's chapter 6! Sorry if this chapter is kinda redundant, but I really love Yumi and Sato's friendship, so I felt like Sato needed to be included in helping Yumi out even if it may be rehashing what Yumi and Naeko talked about. I do like Yumi and Naeko's friendship too, but still Sato is Yumi's best friend. XD lol. Any review are deeply appreciated! Thanks! :D I'll try to upload a new chapter soon!