Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

In Masashi Akiyama's private law firm in Nerima Ward, Maki Suzuki played back the footage recorded by the miniature camera on her computer.

In the video, a group of women are sitting and talking.

As the camera panned across a corner, Saionji Ki suddenly sat up straight, her fingers trembling as she pointed at the screen.

"It's her..."

In the center of the image, a woman dressed elegantly and with a gentle appearance is looking down at documents. The curve of her profile is soft, and her expression is focused, overlapping with the image of the gentle and considerate wife in my memory.

"Rika Aiba... she really did attend this gathering."

Saionji Ki closed her eyes in anguish.

The last shred of self-deception was ruthlessly shattered in the face of irrefutable evidence.

The lies he had fabricated for himself have now shattered into countless irreparable fragments.

"etc."

Masashi Akiyama pressed the pause button.

The image freezes on the moment when Rika Aiba takes something out of her handbag; her fingertips are holding a deep red card with edges that gleam with a special luster under the indoor lights.

"What is this?"

Maki Suzuki took out a membership card of the same color from her bag and handed it to Masashi Akiyama.

"These are membership cards issued by Saori Okazaki. I've observed that the cards held by different participants are different colors, including dark red, burgundy, and dark gold. I suspect that this is based on the social class, income level, and family assets of their husbands."

She paused, then added.

"The 'young woman' I was impersonating comes from a very wealthy family. Judging by that standard, Mr. Saionji... was probably swindled out of a considerable amount of money."

"Yes..." Saionji Ki lowered her head in shame, her voice hoarse.

"The inheritance left by Rin and my parents is basically all in Aiba Rika's hands..."

He paused, his expression twisted with regret.

"Not just mine... but Rin's too..."

"elder brother……"

Rin Saionji called softly, reaching out to touch her brother's shoulder, but stopped in mid-air.

"I'm so useless." Saionji Ki laughed self-deprecatingly, a laugh that was more painful than crying.

"You can't even see through such a simple scam... How can someone like me be worthy of being your brother?"

"There's no need to say that."

Masashi Akiyama calmly interjected: "There are many scams in this world tailor-made for us. The reason you haven't fallen for them is simply because they haven't tricked you yet."

Maki Suzuki nodded in agreement.

"I work in the social news section and have seen far too many similar cases. Among the victims are many celebrities and elites. Mr. Saionji, this is not your fault."

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Saionji Kiyoshi repeated these two words over and over, her eyes red.

"This video was a great help, Maki." Masashi Akiyama turned to Maki Suzuki.

"Next, I'll need your help to streamline the video content and highlight the key points. Also, Saori Okazaki isn't just targeting the Saionji family. It's time to use your connections to interview other victims."

"No problem." Suzuki Maki nodded. "This is my job, so leave it to me."

She stood up and awkwardly tugged at the hem of the borrowed business suit she was wearing.

The bodycon design makes every movement feel restrained, a stark contrast to the loose and comfortable clothing we usually wear.

"I borrowed this from a colleague..." She lowered her eyes, her voice carrying a rare hint of shyness. "I rarely dress like this, and it always feels... a little strange when I wear it."

"How could that be?"

Masashi Akiyama looked up, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.

"This outfit is quite nice."

"Really?"

Maki Suzuki reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment as the fingertips lingered on the hair.

"If you like it, Yasi, I'll..."

"it hurts!"

Before Suzuki Maki could finish speaking, Saionji Ki suddenly jumped up from her chair and let out an exaggerated cry of pain.

He met the questioning gazes of Masashi Akiyama and Maki Suzuki with an awkward smile, rubbed his lower back, and sat down again.

"The thought that I was swindled out of all my money by such a wicked woman makes my heart ache..."

After he finished speaking incoherently, he cast a mournful glance at his sister beside him.

"Rin...it really hurts," Saionji Kiyoshi said in a breathy voice.

"Feel sorry……"

Rin Saionji met Masashi Akiyama's gaze with an innocent expression.

"What did you just say?" Masashi Akiyama turned to Maki Suzuki.

"Well, never mind." Suzuki Maki gave a gentle, slightly helpless smile. "I'll tell Masashi next time."

She stood up and bowed slightly to the Saionji siblings:

"Well then, I'll take my leave now."

"I'll contact you as soon as there's any progress, Yass."

"OK."

"Thank you!" Saionji Ki stood up and bowed deeply to Suzuki Maki. "You've really gone to a lot of trouble."

"It's alright." Suzuki Maki shook her head, then glanced at Akiyama Masashi one last time. "Well then... see you next time."

The door closed gently behind me, and the sound of high heels gradually faded away.

The office was quiet for a moment.

Saionji Ki looked left and right, her gaze shifting between her sister and the lawyer.

He cleared his throat and made the suggestion.

"Um... thank you so much for your help, Mr. Akiyama. If you don't mind, how about I treat you and Rin to some sukiyaki?"

"I know an authentic Kansai-style sukiyaki restaurant. Consider it... a way to thank Mr. Akiyama for helping my brother and me so much."

"Is this a treat?"

Masashi Akiyama's eyes lit up.

"Of course." Saionji Ki nodded vigorously.

"Walk!"

Masashi Akiyama immediately stood up and took the lead towards the entrance of the agency.

Behind her, Rin Saionji pulled down the brim of her hoodie, pulling the hat back over her head to cover most of her face. Then she jogged a few steps and reached out to grab the hem of Masashi Akiyama's suit jacket.

She followed quietly behind him, like a small shadow.

Saionji Ki sighed resignedly.

He stood up, tidied up the scattered case files on Akiyama Masashi's desk, filed them, and made sure the doors and windows of the office were locked before quickly catching up with the two people in front of him.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the three people on the street.

"Nonka Sukiyaki".

This small shop is hidden deep in the back alley of the shopping street. The storefront is not big, and the noren (traditional curtain) is made of indigo cotton cloth with the shop name embroidered on it in white silk thread.

Quite coincidentally, it is located near the firm where Masashi Akiyama once worked as an intern lawyer.

On those late nights when he was working overtime, he would occasionally pass by this place, smell the aroma wafting from the crack in the door, and think, "I must come and try it when I get paid," but he always failed to do so for various reasons.

Pushing open the noren curtain, a wave of heat, accompanied by the unique sweet aroma of sukiyaki, sweeps in.

The store was filled with smoke and bustling with noise.

Most of them are salaried workers who have finished their shifts.

With his tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he held a beer glass and laughed loudly, melting away the day's fatigue in the sizzling hot pot and the icy alcohol.

"Welcome! Are there three of you?"

The proprietress, wearing a headscarf, greeted us warmly in a loud voice.

Rin Saionji instinctively shrank behind Masashi Akiyama.

Saionji Ki stepped forward, revealing a hearty smile.

"Long time no see, boss lady!"

"Oh! It's Mr. Ji!"

The proprietress's eyes lit up, her gaze sweeping over Rin Saionji and Masashi Akiyama before she smiled kindly. "And these two are...?"

"This is my younger sister, Rin, and this is my friend, Masashi Akiyama."

"They are all very handsome and good children." The proprietress smiled as she looked them over, her eyes gentle as if she were looking at her own younger relatives.

"Come in, come in! We've saved you a good spot!"

The three were led to a location further inside the store.

The wooden partition slightly blocked out the noise from the outside world. In front of it was a small black cast iron sukiyaki pot, with the broth inside bubbling away.

Saionji Kiji rolled up his sleeves and skillfully laid out thinly sliced ​​Wagyu beef into the pot.

The slices of meat quickly curled and changed color in the boiling broth, and the aroma of the oil mixed with the sweet and salty flavors of sugar and soy sauce filled the air.

Masashi Akiyama carefully put on his apron and adjusted the chopsticks to the most comfortable angle between his fingertips.

The next second, a small bowl was gently pushed in front of him.

The bowl contains pre-mixed, sterile egg liquid.

The egg yolk and white are evenly blended, presenting a soft pale yellow color, with a few drops of amber-colored soy sauce floating on the surface, like some kind of exquisite work of art.

"Mr. Akiyama, this is for you."

Rin Saionji sat next to Masashi Akiyama, huddled in the shadows of the corner.

She seemed very uncomfortable in such a noisy place; the hood of her sweatshirt was pulled down low, revealing only her small chin and pale lips.

She didn't look up, her voice barely audible.

"This...is delicious."