Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

"Akiyama-san."

Sayuri approached Masashi Akiyama's workstation, her voice very low.

"Murakami-senpai wants you to go to his office."

"OK."

Masashi Akiyama nodded, and just as he was about to get up, Sayuri moved closer.

She looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before speaking in an almost whispered voice:

"Akiyama-san, you..." She bit her lower lip, "Are you really going to reverse the commission?"

"Even you knew that."

"It's all over the office." Sayuri's voice was full of worry. "When Murakami-senpai came today, he looked really unwell. You... be careful later."

"Thank you." Masashi Akiyama tidied up the case files on the desk and put them into his briefcase. "I'll keep that in mind."

Just as he was about to leave, Xiaobaihe called him back.

"Akiyama-san..." She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, and after a long silence, she finally spoke, "No matter what, I believe you are not the kind of person they say you are."

"Akiyama-san, do your best!"

Masashi Akiyama paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.

He reached out and ruffled Little Lily's hair.

"Understood, Sayuri-senpai."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards his office, leaving Xiaobaihe alone in the spot, her cheeks slowly turning red, like a boiled shrimp.

"Eh...Eh?!"

She covered her burning face, staring blankly as Akiyama Masashi's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

As Sayuri said, Murakami Itsuki was indeed in a very bad mood.

Besides Murakami Itsuki, Takagi Mikoto was also in the office.

She sat on the sofa by the window, legs crossed, holding a cup of coffee in her hand, but didn't drink a drop, just quietly looking out the window.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting stripes of light and shadow on her face.

Murakami stood behind his desk, his hands resting on the surface, his back slightly hunched.

"Akiyama-san," he looked at Akiyama, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, "give up on the reverse commission."

"Feel sorry."

"My request to withdraw my representation has been approved. From now on, I will represent Kento Suzuki as his lawyer."

"You..." Murakami looked at Takagi Mikoto with difficulty. "Ms. Takagi, since Akiyama-san has already made up his mind, why don't we just let it go?"

"no."

Mikoto Takagi stood up from the sofa.

The coffee cup was gently placed on the glass coffee table, making a crisp tapping sound.

She walked up to Masashi Akiyama.

Although he was half a head shorter than him, his imposing presence was like a mountain, pressing down heavily on him.

"Akiyama-san, I've heard Murakami-san mention you. He said you're smart and quick-witted, and that he thinks highly of you."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across Qiushan's face.

"But I'm disappointed to see you today. I believe the most important quality of a qualified lawyer is not intelligence, but learning—"

She said, slowly and deliberately:

"Being pragmatic. Don't you agree?"

Masashi Akiyama remained silent.

"If you insist on defending Kento Suzuki," Mikoto Takagi continued, "then I'm sorry, the firm will fire you. We can't have a lawyer with a tainted reputation working here."

"Akiyama-san!"

Murakami Itsuki walked around from behind his desk and stood in front of Akiyama.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his voice was pleading:

"You...you should reconsider? If you just soften your stance, everything can still be salvaged. You can stay here and gradually become the head lawyer, just like all the other newcomers..."

Masashi Akiyama was not oblivious to Itsuki Murakami's anxiety.

He also understood that if Mikoto Takagi really wanted to get rid of him, she wouldn't need to stand here and say these things.

Ultimately, they didn't actually want him to leave.

but--

"Feel sorry."

Masashi Akiyama bowed slightly. "I have my own principles."

A private law firm that is independent of itself, and the defense of a wicked woman.

Even if Amaterasu were here, she would know how to choose.

Mikoto Takagi stared at him for a long time.

The office was so quiet that you could hear the hissing of the air conditioner vents and the faint sound of traffic outside the window.

Then she sighed.

"Never mind." She turned away, no longer looking at Akiyama. "In that case, please pack your personal belongings and leave before you leave work today."

Masashi Akiyama remained silent.

He bowed again to Murakami, then turned and walked towards the door.

Mikoto Takagi kept staring at his back.

She simply couldn't understand what this young man was insisting on.

He stopped the moment Akiyama Masashi grasped the doorknob.

Then, he turned around and looked at her.

Mikoto Takagi had no idea what she was expecting at that moment.

But she could feel her breath catch in her throat.

"Takagi-senpai," Masashi Akiyama said, "I forgot to ask earlier."

He paused, then adjusted his glasses.

When will I receive my internship salary?

The air freezes.

Murakami's eyes widened, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

Mikoto Takagi's breath caught in her throat for a full five seconds, and then—

"tomorrow!"

Her voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"You won't be shortchanged by a single penny!"

She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently.

She thought that Masashi Akiyama in front of her was the stupidest jerk in all of Tokyo!

And yet he actually had expectations of him—he was the second dumbest bastard in Tokyo!

Before Masashi Akiyama could ask about those damn salary details, she decisively interrupted him:

"go out!"

The door closed gently behind me.

Only Mikoto Takagi and Itsuki Murakami remained in the office.

Murakami opened his mouth, as if to say something: "Takagi-senpai..."

"Shut up!"

…………

Under Sayuri's concerned gaze, Masashi Akiyama began to organize his personal belongings.

In fact, he didn't have much to organize—besides a briefcase, a few law books, and an old mug, there was nothing else.

He put these things into the cardboard box one by one.

Masashi Akiyama looked around at his workstation, where he had spent half a year, trying to squeeze out a trace of sadness.

Unfortunately, I felt nothing but excitement.

"Hey, I'm talking to Akiyama."

Fujita's voice came from behind.

He strolled over slowly, holding a file in his hand, and waved it at Qiushan like a flag.

"I heard you were expelled. I didn't know even top students from the University of Tokyo could encounter this kind of thing."

He raised his chin triumphantly.

"Guess who will take over the Fukuda case after you leave?"

Before Akiyama could answer, Fujita continued speaking to himself:

"Of course it's me. I really didn't expect you to give up such a simple case and turn around to defend that scumbag."

He shook his head and sighed, feigning regret:

"It seems you're just like that Suzuki Kento, a self-degrading scumbag. Don't worry, Akiyama, I'll send your client to jail during the trial—and I'll take over your career."

"Fujita-senpai!"

Little Lily couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly stood up.

Her face flushed with anger, and her fingers gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

"That's going too far! Please apologize!"

"An apology?" Fujita sized Sayuri up. "Sayuri, a doomed loser, there's really nothing to see here. How about I give you a chance to 'get closer' to me?"

"you……!"

Sayuri's face turned bright red, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Fujita-senpai."

Masashi Akiyama suddenly laughed.

The smile was faint, yet it inexplicably made Fujita's heart tighten.

"You took over Fukuda's case, right?"

"certainly."

"That's wonderful..." Masashi Akiyama's smile deepened. "That's great."

He paused, adjusted his glasses, and looked directly at Fujita through the lenses:

"I look forward to meeting you in the courtroom in three days. I hope you will—as you said—defeat me decisively and cleanly."

"That was when—"

Fujita's smug words were interrupted by Akiyama Masashi.

"Otherwise," Masashi Akiyama said softly, "as you said, your career will probably come to an end here."

After saying that, he didn't look at Fujita again, picked up the cardboard box, and turned to walk towards the door.

"Baka! Masashi Akiyama! How dare you—!"

Masashi Akiyama did not turn back.