Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

After leaving the agency, Masashi Akiyama did not rush home.

He first bought a newspaper at a convenience store on the street corner, and then sat down on a bench in a nearby park.

As expected, reports about his reversal of the mandate have already been published.

Because of the enthusiastic response, it was placed in the center of the social section, making it easily visible.

Young lawyer's last-minute change of client to defend defendant, teacher, sparks controversy.

The title was relatively restrained, and the content of the article was also relatively objective, with only a hint of doubt subtly revealed between the lines.

Masashi Akiyama didn't see what he wanted to see.

He got up again and bought a newspaper at another newsstand.

This time, he specifically sought out the newspaper that employed the reporter who had shown hostility towards him outside his office—Weekly Asahi Secrets.

Once you open the newspaper, the content becomes much more straightforward.

"A scumbag lawyer defending scumbags: A disgrace to the legal profession!"

The title was printed in bold black font, like a bloody accusation.

The article portrays Kento Suzuki as an unpardonable criminal, while Masashi Akiyama is described as a "potential accomplice" and an "antisocial thug."

The words were highly inflammatory, suggesting that the author wished he could be arrested immediately on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Masashi Akiyama flipped through the previous issues of this gossip tabloid.

The style is completely different—usually it's mostly celebrity gossip and political scandals, and although the wording is exaggerated, it's nowhere near as intense as this one.

Obviously, someone paid for it.

Some people tried to overwhelm him with public opinion before the trial even started.

Masashi Akiyama bought a red bean bread from a vending machine and ate it with extra relish, accompanied by the insults in the Weekly Asahi Secret News.

The sweetness of the bread mingled with the aroma of ink, melting on the tip of the tongue.

Then he took out his phone and dialed Maki Suzuki's number.

The phone was answered after only one ring.

"Akiyama-san!" Suzuki Maki's voice came through, with rapid breathing. "I've obtained information about Fukuda Runa and Fukuda Ayakako... Fukuda Runa's colleagues and neighbors around the Fukuda family can all testify that the mother and daughter have indeed been entertaining various strange men for a long time."

She paused, then took a breath:

"Sometimes Fukuda Runa would deliberately bring her daughter to meet certain important figures... to facilitate a deal."

"As for Ayakako Fukuda..." Maki Suzuki's voice lowered, "I'm still not sure what role she played in all of this. Whether she accepted it voluntarily or was forced to go along with it, we'll have to ask her."

"But now, Fukuda-san probably won't pay any attention to us, right?" Akiyama Masashi interjected.

A bitter laugh came from the other end of the phone:

"Yes. The Fukuda family is quite resentful towards us now. Before, you could still contact them, Akiyama-san, but now that the news of the reversed commission has been exposed... they probably won't agree to meet."

"You found out too?"

"All the newspapers reported on this today," Suzuki Maki said wearily. "Even our newspaper's manager personally inquired about it. He didn't know Kento was my brother... If he had known, he would have forced me to write the article myself."

She was silent for a few seconds, then her voice lowered even further:

"I'm sorry, I really don't want to make a fuss about Kento's tragic experiences."

"I understand," Masashi Akiyama said. "Ms. Suzuki, do you have some time now? There are some things that would be easier for you to do as a journalist."

"Now?" Suzuki Maki stopped running. "Sorry, I have to go visit Kento now."

"I'll go with you." Masashi Akiyama stood up and threw the bread wrapper into the trash can.

"As the lawyer representing the client, it's unacceptable that we haven't even met the client before the trial. Besides, as Ayaka Fukuda's teacher, Kento Suzuki should know more about the Fukuda family's situation than we do."

"...That makes sense." Suzuki Maki was convinced. "Then let's meet at the detention center entrance."

…………

Tokyo Detention Center, private meeting room.

Masashi Akiyama passed through layers of checks with his lawyer's license and visitation permit, with Maki Suzuki following behind as his assistant.

The corridor was long, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling hummed softly, the walls were a monotonous off-white, and the floor was covered with gray non-slip tiles, each step producing a dull echo.

The heavy metal door clicked shut behind them, completely shutting out the faint footsteps in the corridor.

The meeting room was more cramped than I had imagined.

The four walls are covered with cold, hard, light gray panels, without even a single extra texture.

In a space of about six square meters, the air seemed to solidify into a tangible sense of oppression.

The only light source came from the pale white fluorescent light on the ceiling, its light glaring and cold.

In the very center of the room is a partition that runs north to south—a reinforced glass panel several centimeters thick, covered with a fine metal grille, clearly dividing the space in two.

A small call window, about the size of a palm, was cut into the middle of the glass. The edges were worn rough, and fine scratches could be vaguely seen.

On the opposite side, to the side of the detainees, there was a metal chair fixed to the ground.

There were no armrests, the seat was cold and smooth, and there wasn't even a cushion.

Next to it was a small table of the same material, just big enough to hold a pen and a few sheets of paper.

The door opened.

Kento Suzuki, dressed in prison clothes, was escorted in by guards.

He was thinner than in the photos, with sunken cheeks and dark circles under his eyes. But he walked with his back very straight, without any of the dejected look of someone who had been defeated.

"Kento..."

Upon seeing her younger brother, Suzuki Maki couldn't control her emotions and choked up as soon as she opened her mouth.

On the other hand, Suzuki Kento, though looking thin, seemed to be in good spirits. He even managed a forced smile when he saw his sister crying.

"Sister, don't cry. I'm fine. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Maki Suzuki took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. She knew this wasn't the time to let her emotions run wild.

After sobbing twice, she consciously took a half step back, handing over the lead in the conversation to Masashi Akiyama.

Kento Suzuki also turned his attention to Akiyama.

"You're my lawyer, right?" His voice was a little hoarse, but clear. "I'm sorry... I heard about it while I was in detention. My situation has really caused you trouble."

"It's alright," Masashi Akiyama said quickly, observing the other person through the glass. "As your lawyer, I have a few questions to ask."

He paused, his voice calm:

"How much do you know about Ayakako Fukuda?"

Kento Suzuki remained silent.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead lowered his head and stared at his clasped hands.

The cuffs of the prison uniform were worn, revealing pale wrists underneath.

During this brief moment, Masashi Akiyama carefully observed the man.

Very strange.

The man, who was falsely accused by a student and was about to face imprisonment, was surprisingly calm.

When Fukuda Ayakako was mentioned, there was no anger, resentment, or even grievance in her eyes, only a deep, almost bottomless weariness.

Seeing that her younger brother was not cooperating, Suzuki Maki stood up in frustration.

She almost hissed, "Kento! What are you thinking?! If you know anything, you have to tell me!"

Tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the table and splashing out tiny water stains.

"Mom is still waiting for you at the hospital... Is there anything more important than our family being together?!"

Kento Suzuki's body trembled slightly.

"I'm sorry..." he said softly.

Masashi Akiyama raised his hand, signaling Maki Suzuki to calm down. Then he turned to the other side of the glass and asked his next question:

"Do you know anything about Ayaka Fukuda's family? Do you know her mother, Runa Fukuda?"

This time, Kento Suzuki's reaction was very clear.

His face immediately darkened when he heard the name "Runa Fukuda".

That tranquility was shattered, replaced by a clear and undisguised disgust.

He looked up, his gaze passing through the glass and landing on Masashi Akiyama's face.

Then, he finally spoke.

"The Fukuda family..."