Chapter 149: Mrs. Sayuri Comes to the Rescue
"Name, gender."
As soon as Eriri and Mashiro entered the police station, they were separated. Fujii Shunsuke sat across from a middle-aged officer, remaining silent and completely ignoring him.
"Sir, please cooperate with the police questioning."
"Let's wait until my lawyer arrives before discussing anything."
Fujii Shunsuke responded based on what he had seen in American TV shows. After all, Japan closely follows the footsteps of America, so it was probably the same in this regard.
The middle-aged officer suddenly felt a headache coming on. Initially, he thought this would be a simple matter of reprimanding and educating the young man, but now it turned out he had his own lawyer... Of course, a young guy accompanied by two such beautiful girls, and even being their caretaker—this was clearly a spoiled rich kid who had been misbehaving since childhood!
Calming down, the middle-aged officer broke into a cold sweat, realizing he might have accidentally stirred up trouble.
Just then, the door opened, and the young officer walked in with a troubled expression, gesturing for the middle-aged officer to step outside.
"Yamada, how's it going on your end?"
"Senior, it's not looking good. Take a look at this."
The young officer wiped his sweat and handed his phone to the middle-aged officer, showing him the information he had found online.
Being younger, after asking Mashiro's name, he had a bad feeling and decided to look it up online. Oh no, this was bad.
The middle-aged officer's face also turned pale as he read the information.
The young officer, observing his reaction, whispered, "Senior, maybe we should just let them go as soon as possible."
"Y-yes, you're right."
The middle-aged officer nodded stiffly.
...
"I refuse."
Shunsuke rejected their suggestion.
You think you can just come and go as you please? Is this police station a public restroom or something?
How dare you slander my reputation like this! This is an abuse of power, a violation of the law!
Shunsuke's words startled the two officers. Just as they were about to say something else, the door was forcefully swung open with a loud 'bang'.
Leading the way was a noblewoman dressed in a luxurious furisode kimono embroidered with cherry blossoms and adorned with her family crest. Her golden hair was tied up high, and she carried an air of elegance. Behind her followed Hiiragi Suzuna in her work attire and a formidable female lawyer wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding an intimidating aura.
"Mrs. Sayuri, why are you here?"
Shunsuke was stunned. He remembered only calling Suzuna to bring the company lawyer, not expecting Mrs. Sayuri to come as well.
For someone of Mrs. Sayuri's status, visiting this small police station was completely beneath her dignity.
Snap
Mrs. Sayuri opened her folding fan, covering half of her face, but it was still clear that she was smiling as she spoke. "Shun-kun, my Eriri stayed out all night with you, and the next day, instead of going to school, she ended up at the police station. Do you really need to ask why I'm here?"
Shunsuke stammered, unable to respond. Although he hadn't done anything inappropriate with Eriri, who would believe him if he said that?
"Suzuna was the one who informed me. I didn't tell her father, or else he would definitely lose his temper and give you a good scolding."
Seeing Shunsuke's awkward silence, Mrs. Sayuri lightly tapped his head with her fan, exuding the mature grace of an adult, though her height and youthful appearance made the scene slightly comical.
Suzuna smiled wryly and explained, "Our company's legal team was introduced by you, Mrs. Sayuri. Even if I hadn't told you, you would have found out soon enough anyway."
"But then I wouldn't have been able to see the look on Shun-kun's face right now."
Shunsuke wiped his sweat. Instead of checking on her own daughter first, she came to see me in this awkward situation? What kind of mindset is that? Are you really Eriri's biological mother?
While Shunsuke and the two women were chatting, the lawyer adjusted her glasses and walked over to the two officers, exuding an icy aura. "Hello, officers. I am Mr. Fujii's lawyer. You can call me Attorney Kuriyama."
The two officers were completely overwhelmed. In Japan, when faced with a professional lawyer, police officers are often at a disadvantage, enduring no small amount of frustration—and it was clear this would continue for the foreseeable future.
"Ms. Kuriyama, actually, this is all a misunderstanding. It's just—"
"Stop. Before we discuss the details, let me ask one thing. Before I arrived, you didn't do anything to my client, did you?"
"No, no, of course not! Look at Fujii-kun, he's completely fine! See, we even prepared tea for him!" the middle-aged officer quickly explained, raising his voice.
"Then, since my client and his classmates still need to attend school, can they leave now while I handle the rest? If there's anything, I'll listen."
Although phrased as a question, her tone left no room for negotiation.
"Uh... the procedures, the paperwork..."
"So, you're saying this isn't a misunderstanding?"
"Yes, yes, of course it is! Mr. Fujii, we apologize for our mistake this time. Please forgive us. And to you, madam, have a safe trip."
The middle-aged officer bowed repeatedly as he escorted Shunsuke and Mrs. Sayuri out. The younger officer, catching on quickly, brought Eriri and Mashiro over from the side room.
"Mom!"
Eriri was thrilled to see Mrs. Sayuri and started running toward her, but halfway there, she froze, stopping in her tracks.
Mrs. Sayuri covered her mouth with a light chuckle. "Ohoho, my Eriri has finally grown up. Tonight, come home and eat the special red bean rice I made just for you."
"I-it's not like that! I was with Mashiro the whole time yesterday!"
"Ara, then I guess I'll have to make some for Mashiro-chan too. Mashiro-chan, would you like to come to our house for dinner tonight?"
"Stop pretending to be young at your age!"
"Shunsuke..."
Mashiro didn't respond.
Ever since she came out, she had been keeping her head down, occasionally glancing up at Shunsuke like a timid little animal, only to quickly lower her gaze again, unable to meet his eyes.
Her usual calm demeanor was replaced with worry and anxiety—not for fear of being scolded, but out of concern that something might have happened to Shunsuke. Her fragile appearance was as pitiful as she clutching her heart in sorrow.
"Sigh..."
Shunsuke sighed and slowly walked over to Mashiro. Just as he was about to say something, Mashiro suddenly lunged forward, her slender, pale arms tightly wrapping around his waist. She held on with all her strength, refusing to let go.
All the words he had prepared vanished in an instant. Shunsuke paused for a moment, then gently reached out with his right hand to stroke Mashiro's soft hair, as if comforting a small, frightened cat.
Mrs. Sayuri, who had been quietly watching from the side, suddenly tapped Eriri on the head with her folding fan.
"Mom, what was that for?!" Eriri exclaimed, clutching her head.
"Nothing, just trying to knock some sense into my foolish daughter," Mrs. Sayuri replied, her words leaving Eriri completely baffled.
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