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Title: Kako no Sakura
Author: Andy-chan (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
antimiya88)
Special thanks for all of her help and advice:chrysiida_tori Love you!!! <3
Pairings: Sakuraiba (main), Ohmiya, Junba (side), Aimiya (Friendship), Yama (Friendship)
Genre: AU, Angst, Drama, Romance, School
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Aiba Masaki's a high school student who seems to be the bullying obsession for his classmate Sakurai Sho... Is it just an obsession or there's something more behind this treatment? In what way has fate brought them together in the past?
Warning: In certain chapters, there will be violence, bullying and bad language. So if you are not ok with these things you could just pass... /// It's the end!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the boysunfortunately
“Sho… are you ready? I’m waiting outside”
“Yes Satoshi. Let’s go!” Sho answered his friend’s call and climbed down the stairs but before he could open the door he heard the voice he wished the least.
“You’re going to the trial?”
Sho smirked and his hand clenched in fist. “Why is there a problem? I have thought to become a lawyer and attending a trial can help me decide whether I have taken the right decision or not… father…”
“I’m not stupid you know… do you wish to be boarded in the next plane with destination the United States?” Sakurai Shun’s voice was more than angry; it was threatening.
Sho laughed. “That will happen in your dreams and don’t provoke me. I do everything you want; I follow your instructions but please… stop saying bullshit”
He didn’t even have the chance to realize what was happening when a sharp slap landed on his cheek. He tried desperately not to lose his temper. “Now that we have greeted each other I should go. Satoshi is waiting for me” Sho advanced to the door.
As he opened it he turned a bit his head to look at his stepfather. “And don’t even think to do something because there are a lot of little secrets that could literally burn you my dear father… secrets named Yuko-chan or Satomi-chan or Sakura-chan… you know there are many people who know them… if I say so, these secrets will be revealed to the world of media, that you so love, and then you can simply say goodbye to your political career. So you better back off and stop messing with me… Now I take my leave… with your permission… dad!” the irony was more than obvious in Sho’s tone.
He couldn’t feel happier seeing the surprised and shocked face of his stepfather. As he closed the door behind him, he took a deep breath of fresh air.
“How stupid… you don’t even know that once I turn 20 and get rid of your surname I will destroy you and your career anyway… dad” he laughed as he headed to Satoshi who was leaning on the outside wall of Sakurai’s residence.
“What happened? You’re late…”
“Just a little chat with daddy… nothing serious. Let’s go…”
Satoshi grabbed his hand, forbidding him to make another step. “Sho are you alright?”
Sho turned around and a reassuring smile portrayed on his face. “Don’t worry Satoshi. I’m more than ok. And this is the first time in my life that I can truthfully say it. Believe me…”
“Are you sure that it’s better not to say anything to Masaki-kun? I believe that he would like to be by your side right now…”
“Sho lowered his head. “Well… today his mother got discharged from the hospital… and… it would be too emotional… I don’t know how I might react… or whether Matsumoto Jun will appear or not…”
“You’re still afraid of him and Masaki-kun?! You should be more than…”
“No! It’s not that!” Sho snapped. “Two days ago when I went to his house I found him sleeping on the couch. His body was trembling... “Please mum, open your eyes!” that’s what he kept saying… I don’t want him to suffer… and attending the trial will only give way to this kind of emotions. You know that he still feels guilty no matter what… I’ve talked with Tsuyoshi-sensei. He said that he could go to a group session; it might help him release all that stress… all those negative thoughts. This wouldn’t be of any help… I just want him to smile Satoshi… I fell in love with him because of that smile and I want to cherish it as much as I can…”
Satoshi just nodded. “Ok… I understand… it’s your boyfriend, your father, your choice. But now let’s hurry because we have less than an hour since the scheduled time and it’s quite far from here!”
***
The courthouse was big and he could see that all the important channels had come to cover the trial. It was not a small deal such a scandal. He and Satoshi sat at the left corner of the room. The audience was composed mainly by journalists. He scanned the place but he didn’t see Jun anywhere. Perhaps he feels he can’t deal with it… though the moment he made that thought saw a slim silhouette that looked like Jun enter the courtroom while being held by another young man. He didn’t make a mistake. It was Jun and the other one, Sho assumed he was this friend Satoshi had spoken of. Sho bit his lower lip as he saw him. He was definitely slimmer and his face was pale, paler than ever. He wanted to go to him but the Chairman’s voice made him stay at his seat.
“Silence! Bring out the prisoner Yokoshima Tarou and the one in custody Matsumoto Hiro”
Sho’s heart clenched as he saw his father being brought into the court room, taking his place at the left of the Board between two officers. He was still weak but thankfully there was no more problem with his heart after that heart attack. Sho’s eyes met with his for one second but it was enough to make him tear up.
Satoshi squeezed his hand. “It will be fine! It’s almost over Sho! Remain strong!” Sho nodded and took some deep breaths to help him ease his rating heart beat.
After a few moments, a man around his fifties entered the room. Sho thought that he was looking at Jun, only at an older version of his. Matsumoto Hiro was looking exactly like his son. The only difference was his gaze. It was cold; perhaps colder than ice. He was taken at the dock.
“I have to announce that no lawyer wanted to voluntarily defend Matsumoto Hiro so there was one indicated by the state, Yamada Keitarou-sensei. Yokoshima Tarou’s advocate is Yamamoto Naoki-sensei. Let the trial begin! Firstly, Yokoshima-san will be questioned. The counsel of defense may speak”
“You managed to get the famous Yamamoto-sensei defend my father?! Why didn’t you tell me anything?” Sho whispered in his friend’s ear.
“I wanted it to be a surprise… Now let us enjoy the public humiliation of Matsumoto Hiro ok?!” Satoshi replied and winked to his friend. His father hated this kind of scumbags and immediately offered him all the help he could.
Sho turned his attention to the court where Yamamoto-sensei was now standing in front of his father who was ready for the trial process.
“Thank you your honor. I will be brief. I have three questions.”
“First question. Could you read for us the following words please?” Yamamoto-sensei asked Yokoshima Tarou as he showed him three cards of words written in kanji.
“Objection your honor! We’re not in a middle-school class here” Yamada-sensei’s voice echoed in the courtroom.
“Objection rejected. Continue Yamamoto-sensei”
“Thank you your honor. So, Yokoshima-san please read them for us.”
Sho’s father looked at the words intensively for a few seconds just to lower his head embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I can’t read them. I only know the basic. I stopped school after I finished my first year of middle school. I had to work because my father had died and my mother couldn’t work due to health problems…”
“You listened to him. He has stopped school after the first grade of middle school and he couldn’t read the kanji. Some of these kanji were used to form the fake name of the drugs he was transporting that afternoon. If you remember well, he was charged of changing the name on his own. Don’t you find it ridiculous?! A man who cannot read to be able to think of such a difficult combination, especially when he’s under such pressure – if we take into consideration the fact that he was behind the deal”
Sho sensed a light squeeze on his hand. His heart was beating like crazy but he knew that the end was nearing.
“Second question. Could you name us the person from whom you were given the papers that accompanied the rugs?”
Yokoshima Tarou looked at Yamamoto-sensei confused. “You mean the one that handed me the papers with the information?”
“Exactly Yokoshima-san. Could you tell us who he was?!”
“I’m afraid I cannot name him sensei”
“And that is why?” Yamamoto-sensei asked with the same serious tone.
“Simple. Because there was no one”
“No one?! What do you mean by that? You were supposed to transfer all those drugs and there was no one to give you anything?”
“The papers were already in the van. On the passenger seat”
“Isn’t it at least weird that there was no one and the papers were simply left on the passenger seat?”
“Objection! There’s no guarantee that this is what happened. It is possibly a fabrication. As you know, the same argument was mentioned at the trial ten years ago but there was no proof since the security system was problematic and didn’t have the chance to record it”
“Thank you for pointing out. It’s really a mystery why a security system that has just passed all the necessary tests for efficacy, broke down ten minutes before the presence of the defendant. At this point, I would like to call a witness. Takizawa Masato, former security guard of the M. H. Kenkou S.A.”
A tall man in his forties made his appearance in front of the board.
“Were you aware that the system was broken that day? Because there’s no evidence to prove Yokoshima-san’s claims”
“There was never a problem with the system. We were instructed to close and re-open the general system after 30 minutes because there was some kind of test of the back -up equipment”
“And why this was never mentioned in the trial ten years ago?!” Yamamoto-sensei asked looking straight at Matsumoto Hiro.
“Because we were warned not to mention anything since it would cause a fine to the company”
“And you were so dedicated to the company?”
“No. We were threatened that we would lose our job, charged with accusations for violation of safety rules. Something that would cause us our future”
“May we learn the name of this gentleman who warned you for your own good?”
“It was the vice-president himself. Nakai Masahiro-san” Immediately whispers were spread among the audience.
“Silence!” the Chairman said firmly making everyone stop at once.
“Just to remind that Nakai Masahiro is in jail right now, serving his 30 year sentence for corruption since 2004. Thank you Takizawa-san”
“May I proceed to my third question?”
“Please… Yamamoto-sensei”
“Thank you your honor. Yokoshima-san” the lawyer turned to Sho’s father. “May I ask you what did you do when you hit accidentally Aiba Yuriko-san?”
“I got out of the van and immediately tried to call for an ambulance”
“Thank you Yokoshima-san. This is actually proven by many witnesses. But I’m wondering… isn’t it weird to be the first to call for an ambulance when he knew what he was hiding in the van? Wouldn’t it be wiser to seek a way to get out of there as soon as possible? On the contrary, he stayed there trying to help. At the very least he should have panicked for his own fate but he seemed more panicked for the hit woman. I finished here”
“Thank you Yamamoto-sensei. Now, may Yamada-sensei ask his questions to the defendant” the Chairman spoke.
Yamada-sensei walked rather reluctantly towards Yokoshima Tarou. “I will only make one question. Yokoshima-san… if you were handed by no one the papers and the whole situation seemed a bit out of normal. Why didn’t you try to make any kind of contact and report it? Didn’t that make you suspicious?”
Sho’s father looked at Matsumoto Hiro who was sitting across him with his gaze blank. “I did. The first thing I did was to call the responsible of the laboratory”
“And who that might be?” Yamada-sensei continued.
“Yoshitaka Satoru-san”
“After the privacy removal for the calls, it was proved that there was no such call, Yokoshima-san. Try again and please... stop pretending the stupid one… Just tell us the truth”
“Objection your honor. The colleague is trying to put psychological pressure on the defendant”
“Objection accepted. Please, Yamada-san. Continue without such characterizations”
“I’m sorry your honor. So, Yokoshima-san, why didn’t you call?”
“I called! He must have been somewhere without good signal because his voice was heard from afar… almost robotic… How am I supposed to say it… like a voice mail?! He told me that there was an emergency and that he had left all the necessary documents in the van and that I should hurry because otherwise the company would suffer great losses and there was a great chance to lose my job. I couldn’t afford that. So I did as I was told”
“You were alone though. There was no witness to prove what you just said” Yamada-san commented.
Sho’s father lowered his head. “No… there isn’t”
“So… you want us to believe that you were given the instructions to go like that, when there’s absolutely no witness or camera to prove what you say. As for the fact that Yokoshima-san didn’t leave the spot, he might know that there was no chances of escape, so why don’t play along?!”
“He would NEVER do something like that! He’s not like that! He’s no actor!” everyone turned at the corner of the courtroom.
“Sho please sit down and relax...” Satoshi whispered trying to make Sho sit down.
“Young man… Stop disturbing the process. If you do it again I’m afraid I’ll ask you to leave the room” the Chairman replied in a warning tone.
Sho who was burning with anger sat down with difficulty. He couldn’t accept that his father was called an actor, a hypocrite.
“Everything will be fine. Trust me!” Satoshi whispered as he rubbed Sho’s back. “You’ll see…”
Sho just took a few deep breaths before turn to his friend. “I hope so Satoshi… I hope so…”
“Silence please!!!” the Chairman tried to hush the audience. “You may continue Yamada-san”
“So, as I was saying, the most presented here were based on no proves, just on conjectures. I have nothing more to add”
Yamamoto-sensei stood up. “May I present something your honor? It’s a voicemail”
“You may”
“Thank you, your honor” Yamamoto-sensei brought out a small recording device. The message was heard.
“Objection your honor. But this is irrelevant to our case”
“True explain your argument, Yamamoto-sensei, otherwise it won’t be taken into account”
“I didn’t use is because of its content. Yokoshima-san is the sound of the voice of this voicemail that we just heard similar to Yoshitaka-san’s voice?”
“Yes… It seems more or less the same. But I thought that it was due to the signal or my device…”
“What’s your point Yamamoto-san?” the chairman asked.
“May I bring one more witness your honor?”
The chairman nodded and a man in his late forties or early fifties made his appearance.
“This is Honda Yuto-san. A hi-tech specialist. He’s the one that ‘constructed’ this voice mail. It was my own voice. He managed to isolate words from different mails and create a new one, making it sound original. He was the one that was paid ten years ago to make that voicemail using Yoshitaka-san’s voice”
“Who contacted you?” this time it was the Chairman who asked the question.
“It was Nakai-san. He told me there was a case of internal theft and that the company had taken the permission of the police to entrap the thief”
“Still. Your honor this proves no involvement of Matsumoto Hiro…” was Yamada-san’s comment.
“I’m sorry to inform you that it actually does. Could you tell us under what name you were paid?”
“The transaction was under Matsumoto Hiro’s name. He was the one who ordered my payment at the bank”
“And may I ask why didn’t you come at court ten years ago?”
“I was living in the USA back then. After one month I was paid. They sent me a document informing me that everything had been revealed and the case had closed. The name they had given me though was not Yokoshima Tarou. The one who was supposed to be the thief was Okada Hikari”
“A fake name. There’s no such name in the employees’ list. Besides Yokoshima-san never called Yoshitaka-san”
“So you admit it…” Yamada-sensei snapped.
“That’s because Matsumoto had ordered Nakai to entrap Yoshitaka’s phone so that when someone called him would actually call another number… It was all planned to the latest detail. There are these documents” Yamamoto-sensei brought a big pile of documents and left them on the Board. “There’s the evidence of everything I just said. There’s the evidence that the real culprit is Matsumoto Hiro”
“We may continue now. Matsumoto-san please take your seat to be questioned” Matsumoto walked slowly as he was almost shaking.
“Yamada-sensei you may begin”
“Thank you your honor. Matsumoto-san you were enforced to work with the yakuza? Isn’t it true?”
“Yes… they had found me and made me work for them. They had threatened to kill my family. I would never accept that…”
“And Nakai-san’s nature. Were you aware of that?”
“No… I believed he was a law-abiding citizen. I had no idea who he truly was” Matsumoto’s voice was trembling.
“So you were being exploited…”
“Objection your honor. Yamada-sensei is acting like his therapist. There’s no argumentation base in his questions”
“Objection accepted”
Yamada-sensei continued. “Did you know what kind of drugs were those?”
“The one in charge was Nakai Masahiro. He told me that it was some kind of a special government program. Once I found out I tried to ask further explanation and cancel the whole thing but it was too late. I was left uncovered the last minute. I had to save myself and prove my innocence. I had to gather information but I couldn’t do that while staying in Japan. I would be killed and even more my family. I cared for my family so much” Matsumoto burst into sobs. “I loved my wife and son so much…”
“LIAR! YOU’RE A LIAR! YOU ONLY CARED FOR YOURSELF! STOP TALKING BULLSHIT! STOP TO PRETEND THE SAINT WHEN IN FACT YOU’RE A DEMON!” It was Jun. He was crying heavily. His body was trembling. Sho felt his stomach clench at this sight. He knew what hell had Jun passed through and he couldn’t imagine what it felt to have your father be there, after knowing the truth.
“You never cared for me or my mother! You’re a liar! I’m Matsumoto Jun, ladies and gentlemen, and I can assure you of the fact that he doesn't give a shit for his family. I hope you live long enough to pay. I hope you rot behind the bars. I hope you meet hell!” Toma managed to take him into his embrace and pull him out of the courtroom.
“Silence!!!! Everyone! I will be enforced to continue the process in camera! Please Yamada-san you may continue…”
“I have nothing more to say… you can all see his state… you already know Nakai’s nature and past and you can judge”
“Yamamoto-sensei, it’s your turn”
“Thank you your honor. First of all, I would like to comment Yamada-san’s lack of acting skills’ appreciation. If he accused my client then what am I supposed to say about Matsumoto-san’s?!”
“Objection!”
“Objection accepted… please continue without such comments Yamamoto-sensei”
Yamamoto-sensei without breaking the eye-contact with Matsumoto continued.
“So you were a victim Matsumoto-san?!”
“Yes… I was… I wish I had found out earlier…”
“And you were not aware of who Nakai truly was…”
“No… I did not… If I knew I would never put him in that post…”
“Well let me tell you that because you knew exactly who he was you put him in that post. Doesn’t the name Masatsuhiro remind you of anyone?”
Matsumoto Hiro bit his lip. The tone of his voice betrayed his nervousness. “I was forced to join the gang… I stopped talking to any of the members. How was I supposed to know that it was the same person?”
Yamamoto-sensei smiled. “First of all, I never said that Masatsuhiro was a gang… I presented it as someone’s name… so thank you for making the whole thing move on more quickly…” Matsumoto seemed to lose his color. “And you could never be forced to form a gang of which you along with Nakai were the two leaders. There are the police records along with all the settlements your father made. You also didn’t lose contact with Nakai. There are records of your meetings at Ginza and Roppongi… you were quite famous among the clubs… Matsumoto-san. So… that proves that you were working with Nakai Masahiro out of personal choice.
Secondly, you just stated that you were forced to work for the yakuza. That is not true. You were having deals with them. You thought that you had hidden all the evidence for that but unfortunately you were not that lucky. All the mails you sent them regarding the process had three failures. One: they were sent under a code so that someone wouldn’t recognize it but them. The problem is that you used algorithms that betrayed your identity. It was the same algorithm system that Nakai Masahiro had also used in another phase in the past… while your gang was active…”
“But that proves that it is Nakai the one at fault and not me!” Matsumoto said desperately.
“No if the one is actually using an account that requires an entering code that is known by anyone else but the CEO himself! Don’t worry… the police specialized department has already given its conclusion regarding this matter. Thirdly, you mentioned that you love your family. How can someone who cares about his family never tried to contact them?”
“There’s no way I could contact them… I would be discovered and they would be dead. I couldn’t risk it…”
“Yes… you couldn’t risk it being discovered… I will agree with you on that… Otherwise how would you be able to enjoy luxurious hotels, women, casinos and trips to exotic islands?!”
“You don’t have any kind of proof…”
“Actually it was yourself that gave me the proof I needed, thanks to your account activity. You never thought to change a name… you used the name under which you were sending all those mails to the yakuza. Besides you never cared for your family. You had booked your flight weeks before the day of the accident. You could have organized it so that you could have your family together but instead of that, you preferred to be a free bird”
“Objection your honor!”
“Accepted. Please Yamamoto-sensei don’t use such characterizations…”
“I’m sorry you honor. Matsumoto-san you shipped the money you received from the yakuza under the names of several off-shore companies. The mediator was found and has already confessed. You had paid him 1.5 million yen for this job” Yamamoto-sensei held out a paper. “This is the transaction of the so told amount” he handed it to the Board.
“All these documents that I have found prove, that you had full knowledge of the situation, everything was prepared carefully beforehand and that you are the one who victimized Yokoshima Tarou! I finished your honor”
Yamamoto-sensei returned to his seat.
“We will retire to study the evidence and the elements presented today and we shall announce our decision after two hours. The meeting is adjourned!”
***
“You should eat something Sho…” Satoshi in vain tried to convince Sho to eat.
“I told you I’m in no mood for…” Sho stopped talking as he saw two figures at the opposite corner of the cafeteria.
Without a second thought he advanced quickly towards it. “Matsumoto-kun…”
Jun turned up his gaze and met Sho’s. His eyes were red and a bit swollen but he looked a lot calmer than he was before in the courtroom. “Sakurai-kun… I… I believe that you must be happy… Your father will be free… and… even if you don’t believe me I’m also happy… he seems like a good person… I’m sorry about before… I just got carried away… I can’t stop myself when I listen to crap like that…” his voice was empty.
“Matsumoto-kun… you stopped coming to school…” Jun smiled.
“I couldn’t continue there. There was high chance I would be discovered that I had enrolled using a fake birth certificate and that could cause problems… But don’t worry… I have Mr. Cerberus here… There’s no way I would avoid school. I go to one specialized for adults… ”
“I’m glad you continue… I… Masaki… wanted to talk to you…” Sho said with difficulty.
“Sakurai-kun… Masaki must forget about me and focus on you…”
“But he still…”
“He will forget… Tell him that I try… that I didn’t give up…ok?”
“I will… I promise… Matsumoto-kun?” Sho asked reluctant.
“What now?!” Jun tried to sound strong.
Sho bowed really low; so low that he had never done before in his life. “I’m sorry for everything…”
Jun held him by the shoulders and made him stand up. “I will accept your apology for your behavior as I hope you’ll accept mine. But I won’t accept your apology regarding Masaki. He belongs to you. You love him and he loves you and there’s nothing to be sorry for… now let’s go… it’s time to listen the verdict”
Satoshi, who was standing a little away, came closer. “Come Sho… let’s go” he said after he bowed to Toma and Jun.
***
Everyone was back at his seat.
“On behalf of the Board I declare Yokoshima Tarou innocent of all the charges. He will also receive financial and social assistance. As for Matsumoto Hiro, the evidence that was presented to the Board was enough to declare him guilty to four felonies. His sentence is two times lifelong sentence without the right of reduction. End of trial!”
Sho couldn’t wait anymore. He ran through the crowd and fell in his father’s arms.
“You’re free… you’re free… father… you’re free…” was all he could say between his sobs. He looked deep into his eyes. “Now you can tune the guitar like you had promised me that afternoon…”
Satoshi sensed tears in his eyes but he blinked them away. He turned his gaze to Jun. He was sad but he looked more at peace, relieved. He nodded. Jun did the same smiling. He and Toma walked slowly towards the exit. Satoshi knew that Jun’s road was a harsh one but he could see that he was fighting and he felt more relieved himself. He deserved to be happy…
..........................................................
Author: Andy-chan (
antimiya88)Special thanks for all of her help and advice:
chrysiida_tori Love you!!! <3Pairings: Sakuraiba (main), Ohmiya, Junba (side), Aimiya (Friendship), Yama (Friendship)
Genre: AU, Angst, Drama, Romance, School
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Aiba Masaki's a high school student who seems to be the bullying obsession for his classmate Sakurai Sho... Is it just an obsession or there's something more behind this treatment? In what way has fate brought them together in the past?
Warning: In certain chapters, there will be violence, bullying and bad language. So if you are not ok with these things you could just pass... /// It's the end!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the boys
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8
Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15
Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15
CHAPTER 16
“Sho… are you ready? I’m waiting outside”
“Yes Satoshi. Let’s go!” Sho answered his friend’s call and climbed down the stairs but before he could open the door he heard the voice he wished the least.
“You’re going to the trial?”
Sho smirked and his hand clenched in fist. “Why is there a problem? I have thought to become a lawyer and attending a trial can help me decide whether I have taken the right decision or not… father…”
“I’m not stupid you know… do you wish to be boarded in the next plane with destination the United States?” Sakurai Shun’s voice was more than angry; it was threatening.
Sho laughed. “That will happen in your dreams and don’t provoke me. I do everything you want; I follow your instructions but please… stop saying bullshit”
He didn’t even have the chance to realize what was happening when a sharp slap landed on his cheek. He tried desperately not to lose his temper. “Now that we have greeted each other I should go. Satoshi is waiting for me” Sho advanced to the door.
As he opened it he turned a bit his head to look at his stepfather. “And don’t even think to do something because there are a lot of little secrets that could literally burn you my dear father… secrets named Yuko-chan or Satomi-chan or Sakura-chan… you know there are many people who know them… if I say so, these secrets will be revealed to the world of media, that you so love, and then you can simply say goodbye to your political career. So you better back off and stop messing with me… Now I take my leave… with your permission… dad!” the irony was more than obvious in Sho’s tone.
He couldn’t feel happier seeing the surprised and shocked face of his stepfather. As he closed the door behind him, he took a deep breath of fresh air.
“How stupid… you don’t even know that once I turn 20 and get rid of your surname I will destroy you and your career anyway… dad” he laughed as he headed to Satoshi who was leaning on the outside wall of Sakurai’s residence.
“What happened? You’re late…”
“Just a little chat with daddy… nothing serious. Let’s go…”
Satoshi grabbed his hand, forbidding him to make another step. “Sho are you alright?”
Sho turned around and a reassuring smile portrayed on his face. “Don’t worry Satoshi. I’m more than ok. And this is the first time in my life that I can truthfully say it. Believe me…”
“Are you sure that it’s better not to say anything to Masaki-kun? I believe that he would like to be by your side right now…”
“Sho lowered his head. “Well… today his mother got discharged from the hospital… and… it would be too emotional… I don’t know how I might react… or whether Matsumoto Jun will appear or not…”
“You’re still afraid of him and Masaki-kun?! You should be more than…”
“No! It’s not that!” Sho snapped. “Two days ago when I went to his house I found him sleeping on the couch. His body was trembling... “Please mum, open your eyes!” that’s what he kept saying… I don’t want him to suffer… and attending the trial will only give way to this kind of emotions. You know that he still feels guilty no matter what… I’ve talked with Tsuyoshi-sensei. He said that he could go to a group session; it might help him release all that stress… all those negative thoughts. This wouldn’t be of any help… I just want him to smile Satoshi… I fell in love with him because of that smile and I want to cherish it as much as I can…”
Satoshi just nodded. “Ok… I understand… it’s your boyfriend, your father, your choice. But now let’s hurry because we have less than an hour since the scheduled time and it’s quite far from here!”
***
The courthouse was big and he could see that all the important channels had come to cover the trial. It was not a small deal such a scandal. He and Satoshi sat at the left corner of the room. The audience was composed mainly by journalists. He scanned the place but he didn’t see Jun anywhere. Perhaps he feels he can’t deal with it… though the moment he made that thought saw a slim silhouette that looked like Jun enter the courtroom while being held by another young man. He didn’t make a mistake. It was Jun and the other one, Sho assumed he was this friend Satoshi had spoken of. Sho bit his lower lip as he saw him. He was definitely slimmer and his face was pale, paler than ever. He wanted to go to him but the Chairman’s voice made him stay at his seat.
“Silence! Bring out the prisoner Yokoshima Tarou and the one in custody Matsumoto Hiro”
Sho’s heart clenched as he saw his father being brought into the court room, taking his place at the left of the Board between two officers. He was still weak but thankfully there was no more problem with his heart after that heart attack. Sho’s eyes met with his for one second but it was enough to make him tear up.
Satoshi squeezed his hand. “It will be fine! It’s almost over Sho! Remain strong!” Sho nodded and took some deep breaths to help him ease his rating heart beat.
After a few moments, a man around his fifties entered the room. Sho thought that he was looking at Jun, only at an older version of his. Matsumoto Hiro was looking exactly like his son. The only difference was his gaze. It was cold; perhaps colder than ice. He was taken at the dock.
“I have to announce that no lawyer wanted to voluntarily defend Matsumoto Hiro so there was one indicated by the state, Yamada Keitarou-sensei. Yokoshima Tarou’s advocate is Yamamoto Naoki-sensei. Let the trial begin! Firstly, Yokoshima-san will be questioned. The counsel of defense may speak”
“You managed to get the famous Yamamoto-sensei defend my father?! Why didn’t you tell me anything?” Sho whispered in his friend’s ear.
“I wanted it to be a surprise… Now let us enjoy the public humiliation of Matsumoto Hiro ok?!” Satoshi replied and winked to his friend. His father hated this kind of scumbags and immediately offered him all the help he could.
Sho turned his attention to the court where Yamamoto-sensei was now standing in front of his father who was ready for the trial process.
“Thank you your honor. I will be brief. I have three questions.”
“First question. Could you read for us the following words please?” Yamamoto-sensei asked Yokoshima Tarou as he showed him three cards of words written in kanji.
“Objection your honor! We’re not in a middle-school class here” Yamada-sensei’s voice echoed in the courtroom.
“Objection rejected. Continue Yamamoto-sensei”
“Thank you your honor. So, Yokoshima-san please read them for us.”
Sho’s father looked at the words intensively for a few seconds just to lower his head embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I can’t read them. I only know the basic. I stopped school after I finished my first year of middle school. I had to work because my father had died and my mother couldn’t work due to health problems…”
“You listened to him. He has stopped school after the first grade of middle school and he couldn’t read the kanji. Some of these kanji were used to form the fake name of the drugs he was transporting that afternoon. If you remember well, he was charged of changing the name on his own. Don’t you find it ridiculous?! A man who cannot read to be able to think of such a difficult combination, especially when he’s under such pressure – if we take into consideration the fact that he was behind the deal”
Sho sensed a light squeeze on his hand. His heart was beating like crazy but he knew that the end was nearing.
“Second question. Could you name us the person from whom you were given the papers that accompanied the rugs?”
Yokoshima Tarou looked at Yamamoto-sensei confused. “You mean the one that handed me the papers with the information?”
“Exactly Yokoshima-san. Could you tell us who he was?!”
“I’m afraid I cannot name him sensei”
“And that is why?” Yamamoto-sensei asked with the same serious tone.
“Simple. Because there was no one”
“No one?! What do you mean by that? You were supposed to transfer all those drugs and there was no one to give you anything?”
“The papers were already in the van. On the passenger seat”
“Isn’t it at least weird that there was no one and the papers were simply left on the passenger seat?”
“Objection! There’s no guarantee that this is what happened. It is possibly a fabrication. As you know, the same argument was mentioned at the trial ten years ago but there was no proof since the security system was problematic and didn’t have the chance to record it”
“Thank you for pointing out. It’s really a mystery why a security system that has just passed all the necessary tests for efficacy, broke down ten minutes before the presence of the defendant. At this point, I would like to call a witness. Takizawa Masato, former security guard of the M. H. Kenkou S.A.”
A tall man in his forties made his appearance in front of the board.
“Were you aware that the system was broken that day? Because there’s no evidence to prove Yokoshima-san’s claims”
“There was never a problem with the system. We were instructed to close and re-open the general system after 30 minutes because there was some kind of test of the back -up equipment”
“And why this was never mentioned in the trial ten years ago?!” Yamamoto-sensei asked looking straight at Matsumoto Hiro.
“Because we were warned not to mention anything since it would cause a fine to the company”
“And you were so dedicated to the company?”
“No. We were threatened that we would lose our job, charged with accusations for violation of safety rules. Something that would cause us our future”
“May we learn the name of this gentleman who warned you for your own good?”
“It was the vice-president himself. Nakai Masahiro-san” Immediately whispers were spread among the audience.
“Silence!” the Chairman said firmly making everyone stop at once.
“Just to remind that Nakai Masahiro is in jail right now, serving his 30 year sentence for corruption since 2004. Thank you Takizawa-san”
“May I proceed to my third question?”
“Please… Yamamoto-sensei”
“Thank you your honor. Yokoshima-san” the lawyer turned to Sho’s father. “May I ask you what did you do when you hit accidentally Aiba Yuriko-san?”
“I got out of the van and immediately tried to call for an ambulance”
“Thank you Yokoshima-san. This is actually proven by many witnesses. But I’m wondering… isn’t it weird to be the first to call for an ambulance when he knew what he was hiding in the van? Wouldn’t it be wiser to seek a way to get out of there as soon as possible? On the contrary, he stayed there trying to help. At the very least he should have panicked for his own fate but he seemed more panicked for the hit woman. I finished here”
“Thank you Yamamoto-sensei. Now, may Yamada-sensei ask his questions to the defendant” the Chairman spoke.
Yamada-sensei walked rather reluctantly towards Yokoshima Tarou. “I will only make one question. Yokoshima-san… if you were handed by no one the papers and the whole situation seemed a bit out of normal. Why didn’t you try to make any kind of contact and report it? Didn’t that make you suspicious?”
Sho’s father looked at Matsumoto Hiro who was sitting across him with his gaze blank. “I did. The first thing I did was to call the responsible of the laboratory”
“And who that might be?” Yamada-sensei continued.
“Yoshitaka Satoru-san”
“After the privacy removal for the calls, it was proved that there was no such call, Yokoshima-san. Try again and please... stop pretending the stupid one… Just tell us the truth”
“Objection your honor. The colleague is trying to put psychological pressure on the defendant”
“Objection accepted. Please, Yamada-san. Continue without such characterizations”
“I’m sorry your honor. So, Yokoshima-san, why didn’t you call?”
“I called! He must have been somewhere without good signal because his voice was heard from afar… almost robotic… How am I supposed to say it… like a voice mail?! He told me that there was an emergency and that he had left all the necessary documents in the van and that I should hurry because otherwise the company would suffer great losses and there was a great chance to lose my job. I couldn’t afford that. So I did as I was told”
“You were alone though. There was no witness to prove what you just said” Yamada-san commented.
Sho’s father lowered his head. “No… there isn’t”
“So… you want us to believe that you were given the instructions to go like that, when there’s absolutely no witness or camera to prove what you say. As for the fact that Yokoshima-san didn’t leave the spot, he might know that there was no chances of escape, so why don’t play along?!”
“He would NEVER do something like that! He’s not like that! He’s no actor!” everyone turned at the corner of the courtroom.
“Sho please sit down and relax...” Satoshi whispered trying to make Sho sit down.
“Young man… Stop disturbing the process. If you do it again I’m afraid I’ll ask you to leave the room” the Chairman replied in a warning tone.
Sho who was burning with anger sat down with difficulty. He couldn’t accept that his father was called an actor, a hypocrite.
“Everything will be fine. Trust me!” Satoshi whispered as he rubbed Sho’s back. “You’ll see…”
Sho just took a few deep breaths before turn to his friend. “I hope so Satoshi… I hope so…”
“Silence please!!!” the Chairman tried to hush the audience. “You may continue Yamada-san”
“So, as I was saying, the most presented here were based on no proves, just on conjectures. I have nothing more to add”
Yamamoto-sensei stood up. “May I present something your honor? It’s a voicemail”
“You may”
“Thank you, your honor” Yamamoto-sensei brought out a small recording device. The message was heard.
“Objection your honor. But this is irrelevant to our case”
“True explain your argument, Yamamoto-sensei, otherwise it won’t be taken into account”
“I didn’t use is because of its content. Yokoshima-san is the sound of the voice of this voicemail that we just heard similar to Yoshitaka-san’s voice?”
“Yes… It seems more or less the same. But I thought that it was due to the signal or my device…”
“What’s your point Yamamoto-san?” the chairman asked.
“May I bring one more witness your honor?”
The chairman nodded and a man in his late forties or early fifties made his appearance.
“This is Honda Yuto-san. A hi-tech specialist. He’s the one that ‘constructed’ this voice mail. It was my own voice. He managed to isolate words from different mails and create a new one, making it sound original. He was the one that was paid ten years ago to make that voicemail using Yoshitaka-san’s voice”
“Who contacted you?” this time it was the Chairman who asked the question.
“It was Nakai-san. He told me there was a case of internal theft and that the company had taken the permission of the police to entrap the thief”
“Still. Your honor this proves no involvement of Matsumoto Hiro…” was Yamada-san’s comment.
“I’m sorry to inform you that it actually does. Could you tell us under what name you were paid?”
“The transaction was under Matsumoto Hiro’s name. He was the one who ordered my payment at the bank”
“And may I ask why didn’t you come at court ten years ago?”
“I was living in the USA back then. After one month I was paid. They sent me a document informing me that everything had been revealed and the case had closed. The name they had given me though was not Yokoshima Tarou. The one who was supposed to be the thief was Okada Hikari”
“A fake name. There’s no such name in the employees’ list. Besides Yokoshima-san never called Yoshitaka-san”
“So you admit it…” Yamada-sensei snapped.
“That’s because Matsumoto had ordered Nakai to entrap Yoshitaka’s phone so that when someone called him would actually call another number… It was all planned to the latest detail. There are these documents” Yamamoto-sensei brought a big pile of documents and left them on the Board. “There’s the evidence of everything I just said. There’s the evidence that the real culprit is Matsumoto Hiro”
“We may continue now. Matsumoto-san please take your seat to be questioned” Matsumoto walked slowly as he was almost shaking.
“Yamada-sensei you may begin”
“Thank you your honor. Matsumoto-san you were enforced to work with the yakuza? Isn’t it true?”
“Yes… they had found me and made me work for them. They had threatened to kill my family. I would never accept that…”
“And Nakai-san’s nature. Were you aware of that?”
“No… I believed he was a law-abiding citizen. I had no idea who he truly was” Matsumoto’s voice was trembling.
“So you were being exploited…”
“Objection your honor. Yamada-sensei is acting like his therapist. There’s no argumentation base in his questions”
“Objection accepted”
Yamada-sensei continued. “Did you know what kind of drugs were those?”
“The one in charge was Nakai Masahiro. He told me that it was some kind of a special government program. Once I found out I tried to ask further explanation and cancel the whole thing but it was too late. I was left uncovered the last minute. I had to save myself and prove my innocence. I had to gather information but I couldn’t do that while staying in Japan. I would be killed and even more my family. I cared for my family so much” Matsumoto burst into sobs. “I loved my wife and son so much…”
“LIAR! YOU’RE A LIAR! YOU ONLY CARED FOR YOURSELF! STOP TALKING BULLSHIT! STOP TO PRETEND THE SAINT WHEN IN FACT YOU’RE A DEMON!” It was Jun. He was crying heavily. His body was trembling. Sho felt his stomach clench at this sight. He knew what hell had Jun passed through and he couldn’t imagine what it felt to have your father be there, after knowing the truth.
“You never cared for me or my mother! You’re a liar! I’m Matsumoto Jun, ladies and gentlemen, and I can assure you of the fact that he doesn't give a shit for his family. I hope you live long enough to pay. I hope you rot behind the bars. I hope you meet hell!” Toma managed to take him into his embrace and pull him out of the courtroom.
“Silence!!!! Everyone! I will be enforced to continue the process in camera! Please Yamada-san you may continue…”
“I have nothing more to say… you can all see his state… you already know Nakai’s nature and past and you can judge”
“Yamamoto-sensei, it’s your turn”
“Thank you your honor. First of all, I would like to comment Yamada-san’s lack of acting skills’ appreciation. If he accused my client then what am I supposed to say about Matsumoto-san’s?!”
“Objection!”
“Objection accepted… please continue without such comments Yamamoto-sensei”
Yamamoto-sensei without breaking the eye-contact with Matsumoto continued.
“So you were a victim Matsumoto-san?!”
“Yes… I was… I wish I had found out earlier…”
“And you were not aware of who Nakai truly was…”
“No… I did not… If I knew I would never put him in that post…”
“Well let me tell you that because you knew exactly who he was you put him in that post. Doesn’t the name Masatsuhiro remind you of anyone?”
Matsumoto Hiro bit his lip. The tone of his voice betrayed his nervousness. “I was forced to join the gang… I stopped talking to any of the members. How was I supposed to know that it was the same person?”
Yamamoto-sensei smiled. “First of all, I never said that Masatsuhiro was a gang… I presented it as someone’s name… so thank you for making the whole thing move on more quickly…” Matsumoto seemed to lose his color. “And you could never be forced to form a gang of which you along with Nakai were the two leaders. There are the police records along with all the settlements your father made. You also didn’t lose contact with Nakai. There are records of your meetings at Ginza and Roppongi… you were quite famous among the clubs… Matsumoto-san. So… that proves that you were working with Nakai Masahiro out of personal choice.
Secondly, you just stated that you were forced to work for the yakuza. That is not true. You were having deals with them. You thought that you had hidden all the evidence for that but unfortunately you were not that lucky. All the mails you sent them regarding the process had three failures. One: they were sent under a code so that someone wouldn’t recognize it but them. The problem is that you used algorithms that betrayed your identity. It was the same algorithm system that Nakai Masahiro had also used in another phase in the past… while your gang was active…”
“But that proves that it is Nakai the one at fault and not me!” Matsumoto said desperately.
“No if the one is actually using an account that requires an entering code that is known by anyone else but the CEO himself! Don’t worry… the police specialized department has already given its conclusion regarding this matter. Thirdly, you mentioned that you love your family. How can someone who cares about his family never tried to contact them?”
“There’s no way I could contact them… I would be discovered and they would be dead. I couldn’t risk it…”
“Yes… you couldn’t risk it being discovered… I will agree with you on that… Otherwise how would you be able to enjoy luxurious hotels, women, casinos and trips to exotic islands?!”
“You don’t have any kind of proof…”
“Actually it was yourself that gave me the proof I needed, thanks to your account activity. You never thought to change a name… you used the name under which you were sending all those mails to the yakuza. Besides you never cared for your family. You had booked your flight weeks before the day of the accident. You could have organized it so that you could have your family together but instead of that, you preferred to be a free bird”
“Objection your honor!”
“Accepted. Please Yamamoto-sensei don’t use such characterizations…”
“I’m sorry you honor. Matsumoto-san you shipped the money you received from the yakuza under the names of several off-shore companies. The mediator was found and has already confessed. You had paid him 1.5 million yen for this job” Yamamoto-sensei held out a paper. “This is the transaction of the so told amount” he handed it to the Board.
“All these documents that I have found prove, that you had full knowledge of the situation, everything was prepared carefully beforehand and that you are the one who victimized Yokoshima Tarou! I finished your honor”
Yamamoto-sensei returned to his seat.
“We will retire to study the evidence and the elements presented today and we shall announce our decision after two hours. The meeting is adjourned!”
***
“You should eat something Sho…” Satoshi in vain tried to convince Sho to eat.
“I told you I’m in no mood for…” Sho stopped talking as he saw two figures at the opposite corner of the cafeteria.
Without a second thought he advanced quickly towards it. “Matsumoto-kun…”
Jun turned up his gaze and met Sho’s. His eyes were red and a bit swollen but he looked a lot calmer than he was before in the courtroom. “Sakurai-kun… I… I believe that you must be happy… Your father will be free… and… even if you don’t believe me I’m also happy… he seems like a good person… I’m sorry about before… I just got carried away… I can’t stop myself when I listen to crap like that…” his voice was empty.
“Matsumoto-kun… you stopped coming to school…” Jun smiled.
“I couldn’t continue there. There was high chance I would be discovered that I had enrolled using a fake birth certificate and that could cause problems… But don’t worry… I have Mr. Cerberus here… There’s no way I would avoid school. I go to one specialized for adults… ”
“I’m glad you continue… I… Masaki… wanted to talk to you…” Sho said with difficulty.
“Sakurai-kun… Masaki must forget about me and focus on you…”
“But he still…”
“He will forget… Tell him that I try… that I didn’t give up…ok?”
“I will… I promise… Matsumoto-kun?” Sho asked reluctant.
“What now?!” Jun tried to sound strong.
Sho bowed really low; so low that he had never done before in his life. “I’m sorry for everything…”
Jun held him by the shoulders and made him stand up. “I will accept your apology for your behavior as I hope you’ll accept mine. But I won’t accept your apology regarding Masaki. He belongs to you. You love him and he loves you and there’s nothing to be sorry for… now let’s go… it’s time to listen the verdict”
Satoshi, who was standing a little away, came closer. “Come Sho… let’s go” he said after he bowed to Toma and Jun.
***
Everyone was back at his seat.
“On behalf of the Board I declare Yokoshima Tarou innocent of all the charges. He will also receive financial and social assistance. As for Matsumoto Hiro, the evidence that was presented to the Board was enough to declare him guilty to four felonies. His sentence is two times lifelong sentence without the right of reduction. End of trial!”
Sho couldn’t wait anymore. He ran through the crowd and fell in his father’s arms.
“You’re free… you’re free… father… you’re free…” was all he could say between his sobs. He looked deep into his eyes. “Now you can tune the guitar like you had promised me that afternoon…”
Satoshi sensed tears in his eyes but he blinked them away. He turned his gaze to Jun. He was sad but he looked more at peace, relieved. He nodded. Jun did the same smiling. He and Toma walked slowly towards the exit. Satoshi knew that Jun’s road was a harsh one but he could see that he was fighting and he felt more relieved himself. He deserved to be happy…
..........................................................
“Nino-chan it’s too late… where are they?” Masaki whined. “I’ve sent five messages and got no reply yet…”
“Ma-kun, stop being a baby… It’s a trial… Toshi told me that it requires hours. I still can’t believe how it slipped my ton- hey! What are you giggling at?!”
“Nothing… it’s just that I admire your Toshi’s patience!”
Nino’s eyes rolled when he realized the teasing. “You… if I catch you…” as they started running around the house they froze as they heard the bell ringing.
“Sho-chan…” Masaki’s face became serious at once and he advanced to the door.
“Tell me… I know you were at the trial so tell me…” Satoshi couldn’t avoid throw a gaze to Nino that made the latter shiver but said nothing.
“He’s…” Sho started saying while trembling.
Masaki held his breath. “Sho-chan, don’t scare me… please…”
“He’s free Masaki! He’s free! He was declared innocent!”
Masaki’s eyes filled with tears as he wrapped his hands around his boyfriend’s neck bringing him close to his body. “Sho-chan… I’m sooo happy!!! I can’t believe it!!! Sho-chan… your father is free… it has ended… the nightmare has ended!”
“Yes baby… it has…” Sho said as he wrapped his hands around Masaki’s waist enjoying his boyfriend’s scent. “It has…”
Nino came closer to Satoshi, teary as well. “My Toshi…” he whispered as he tried to embrace him but he was caught in the middle.
“Leave my Toshi aside… you were supposed to keep it a secret…” Satoshi whispered as well.
“I’m really sorry my Toshiiii. It slipped…” Nino continued playfully as his left hand found its way towards Satoshi’s butt locks and squeezed them a bit. “I’ll make it up to you!” Satoshi turned his face reddened, catching Nino sending him a wink. “I know you will like it…”
Satoshi said nothing in return. He just shook his head. What am I going to do with you Kazu?! What?!
Masaki’s voice snapped him from his thoughts.
“Why didn’t he pick up at any of my calls…? I just wanted to talk with him… I just wanted to explain…” Masaki almost mumbled. He wanted to find Jun but it seemed the latter had no interest of meeting him or even talking to him ever again.
“Masaki… Jun asked me to tell you that he hasn’t given up… that he’s trying his best…”
“But yet… he’s avoiding me…” Masaki said lowering his head.
Sho knew well how guilty Masaki felt and took him in his arms.
“Masaki-kun… he needs some time… he has to find himself again… but he’s not alone… he has Ikuta-san and I saw it in his gaze that he was relieved… I’m sure that it will not be the end… we will surely meet again… but when it will be the right time for it… He wants you to be strong and fight for your own good and happiness… ” Satoshi’s voice was warm, making Masaki nod softly.
I wish you truly are fine Jun. Do your best ok?! I’m doing my best as well! We all do! And never forget that you will always be my friend… no matter how many kilometers away you might be… Masaki smiled at his thought and looked back at Sho who was staring back at him.
“What?!” Sho whispered.
“Nothing… I just realized that I will try even more to find my own happiness… As Jun-chan wants… he’s our friend right?”
“Of course he is…” Sho smiled and pecked Masaki’s lips.
Satoshi sensed the tension that was building in the room and decided to change the subject.
“Masaki-kun… today your mother returned home, right? How is she?”
Masaki’s eyes sparkled. “She’s fine Satoshi-kun. She’s better than we wished. The doctors found some improvement. We can try by the end of the year the wheel chair for a few hours per day… Would you like to meet her?”
They looked at each other a little reluctant.
“Masaki-kun. Perhaps it’s better to leave her alone to rest” Satoshi said in a low voice.
“We came this morning. She slept after lunch. Please…” Masaki said in response
“Masaki I feel… How can I meet her after all those things I have said about her… I feel somehow ashamed…” Sho said with his eyes fixed on the floor.
Masaki grabbed his hand. “Sho-chan you had said those things because you didn’t know… you didn’t mean them… if you did, you would have carried out your threat… but you didn’t… and that was your choice… and you will meet her because you’re my boyfriend!” he pulled him towards the stairs.
“Bobo-chan move aside please…” Bobo-chan, who was watching the whole scene confused moved aside as indicated by Masaki. “Let’s go!”
He opened the door carefully. “Mum?! I would like you to meet my friends!” He made a nod and everyone made his way into the room. “This is Sho-chan and this is Satoshi-kun!”
His mother nodded softly smiling a bit. Masaki went closer to her bed as he saw her writing down something.
I’m happy you decided to show me your friends. I’m happy that you decided to live your life. It gives me so much strength. I promise to fight as much as I can...
Masaki read it and fought away his tears with difficulty. “I love you so much mum!” But he saw his mother writing down something else.
And of course you can go to Kyoto for five days with your friends. But why was Nino the one to tell me about it?! I will be fine… Yamada-san will be here. Go and have fun!
Masaki read it. “Mum thanks!!!” But then he realized it. He reread the note. “Eh?! Go to Kyoto for five days?!” He looked bewildered at his friends where he met a surprised Sho, a smirking Nino and a smiling Satoshi.
“There was no point in hiding it from your mother Ma-kun…” Nino advanced to Masaki and grabbed him by his shoulders making him stand up. “Excuse us now, Aiba-san we have to go down to discuss the details… Have a nice evening!”
Once they were back to the living room Masaki couldn’t hold it anymore. “Nino what trip… what’s that supposed to mean?!”
Nino handed him an envelope. Inside there were two train tickets and a reservation of a four night stay in Kurama onsen in Kyoto in his and Sho’s name.
“It’s our gift for you! It’s for the first week of summer break!” Nino said enthusiastically. “…though it was my idea!!!”
“Yes… your idea that you almost forgot…” Satoshi said under his breath. “Anyway… you should go… relax and enjoy yourselves a bit…”
“Oh! The room I booked has a private outdoor pool… I hope you take advantage of it!” Nino said smirking making both Sho and Masaki blush.
click me: Sakuraiba's been waiting! ;-)
“Ma-kun, stop being a baby… It’s a trial… Toshi told me that it requires hours. I still can’t believe how it slipped my ton- hey! What are you giggling at?!”
“Nothing… it’s just that I admire your Toshi’s patience!”
Nino’s eyes rolled when he realized the teasing. “You… if I catch you…” as they started running around the house they froze as they heard the bell ringing.
“Sho-chan…” Masaki’s face became serious at once and he advanced to the door.
“Tell me… I know you were at the trial so tell me…” Satoshi couldn’t avoid throw a gaze to Nino that made the latter shiver but said nothing.
“He’s…” Sho started saying while trembling.
Masaki held his breath. “Sho-chan, don’t scare me… please…”
“He’s free Masaki! He’s free! He was declared innocent!”
Masaki’s eyes filled with tears as he wrapped his hands around his boyfriend’s neck bringing him close to his body. “Sho-chan… I’m sooo happy!!! I can’t believe it!!! Sho-chan… your father is free… it has ended… the nightmare has ended!”
“Yes baby… it has…” Sho said as he wrapped his hands around Masaki’s waist enjoying his boyfriend’s scent. “It has…”
Nino came closer to Satoshi, teary as well. “My Toshi…” he whispered as he tried to embrace him but he was caught in the middle.
“Leave my Toshi aside… you were supposed to keep it a secret…” Satoshi whispered as well.
“I’m really sorry my Toshiiii. It slipped…” Nino continued playfully as his left hand found its way towards Satoshi’s butt locks and squeezed them a bit. “I’ll make it up to you!” Satoshi turned his face reddened, catching Nino sending him a wink. “I know you will like it…”
Satoshi said nothing in return. He just shook his head. What am I going to do with you Kazu?! What?!
Masaki’s voice snapped him from his thoughts.
“Why didn’t he pick up at any of my calls…? I just wanted to talk with him… I just wanted to explain…” Masaki almost mumbled. He wanted to find Jun but it seemed the latter had no interest of meeting him or even talking to him ever again.
“Masaki… Jun asked me to tell you that he hasn’t given up… that he’s trying his best…”
“But yet… he’s avoiding me…” Masaki said lowering his head.
Sho knew well how guilty Masaki felt and took him in his arms.
“Masaki-kun… he needs some time… he has to find himself again… but he’s not alone… he has Ikuta-san and I saw it in his gaze that he was relieved… I’m sure that it will not be the end… we will surely meet again… but when it will be the right time for it… He wants you to be strong and fight for your own good and happiness… ” Satoshi’s voice was warm, making Masaki nod softly.
I wish you truly are fine Jun. Do your best ok?! I’m doing my best as well! We all do! And never forget that you will always be my friend… no matter how many kilometers away you might be… Masaki smiled at his thought and looked back at Sho who was staring back at him.
“What?!” Sho whispered.
“Nothing… I just realized that I will try even more to find my own happiness… As Jun-chan wants… he’s our friend right?”
“Of course he is…” Sho smiled and pecked Masaki’s lips.
Satoshi sensed the tension that was building in the room and decided to change the subject.
“Masaki-kun… today your mother returned home, right? How is she?”
Masaki’s eyes sparkled. “She’s fine Satoshi-kun. She’s better than we wished. The doctors found some improvement. We can try by the end of the year the wheel chair for a few hours per day… Would you like to meet her?”
They looked at each other a little reluctant.
“Masaki-kun. Perhaps it’s better to leave her alone to rest” Satoshi said in a low voice.
“We came this morning. She slept after lunch. Please…” Masaki said in response
“Masaki I feel… How can I meet her after all those things I have said about her… I feel somehow ashamed…” Sho said with his eyes fixed on the floor.
Masaki grabbed his hand. “Sho-chan you had said those things because you didn’t know… you didn’t mean them… if you did, you would have carried out your threat… but you didn’t… and that was your choice… and you will meet her because you’re my boyfriend!” he pulled him towards the stairs.
“Bobo-chan move aside please…” Bobo-chan, who was watching the whole scene confused moved aside as indicated by Masaki. “Let’s go!”
He opened the door carefully. “Mum?! I would like you to meet my friends!” He made a nod and everyone made his way into the room. “This is Sho-chan and this is Satoshi-kun!”
His mother nodded softly smiling a bit. Masaki went closer to her bed as he saw her writing down something.
I’m happy you decided to show me your friends. I’m happy that you decided to live your life. It gives me so much strength. I promise to fight as much as I can...
Masaki read it and fought away his tears with difficulty. “I love you so much mum!” But he saw his mother writing down something else.
And of course you can go to Kyoto for five days with your friends. But why was Nino the one to tell me about it?! I will be fine… Yamada-san will be here. Go and have fun!
Masaki read it. “Mum thanks!!!” But then he realized it. He reread the note. “Eh?! Go to Kyoto for five days?!” He looked bewildered at his friends where he met a surprised Sho, a smirking Nino and a smiling Satoshi.
“There was no point in hiding it from your mother Ma-kun…” Nino advanced to Masaki and grabbed him by his shoulders making him stand up. “Excuse us now, Aiba-san we have to go down to discuss the details… Have a nice evening!”
Once they were back to the living room Masaki couldn’t hold it anymore. “Nino what trip… what’s that supposed to mean?!”
Nino handed him an envelope. Inside there were two train tickets and a reservation of a four night stay in Kurama onsen in Kyoto in his and Sho’s name.
“It’s our gift for you! It’s for the first week of summer break!” Nino said enthusiastically. “…though it was my idea!!!”
“Yes… your idea that you almost forgot…” Satoshi said under his breath. “Anyway… you should go… relax and enjoy yourselves a bit…”
“Oh! The room I booked has a private outdoor pool… I hope you take advantage of it!” Nino said smirking making both Sho and Masaki blush.
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accomplished
accomplishedCurrent Music: Arashi - Take off!
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