Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

The aftermath of the Shiodome Sanatorium case has gradually subsided.

After the initial explosive reporting, the media shifted to discussions on deeper issues such as healthcare system regulation, the rights of mental patients, and the privileges of conglomerates.

With the support of her parents and professionals, Miyuki Nagai embarked on a long and arduous journey of psychological recovery.

Masashi Akiyama's name once again appeared in the corner of some reports as the "reversal courtroom magician," but he himself had no interest in it. He simply filed the case files, deposited a portion of the legal fees, and the firm's finances were finally a little better.

Daily life seems to have returned to normal.

Organizing case files, receiving inquiries, investigating and collecting evidence, and preparing for court appearances.

Rio Arimura remains energetic and handles both internal and external affairs with ease. Occasionally, she can be a bit impulsive due to her excessive sense of justice, but Masashi Akiyama has grown accustomed to her presence and has even begun to confidently allow her to handle some tasks independently during the initial investigations of certain cases.

Rieko Uchida continues her daily routine of lingering, her identity somewhere between a former client, an unofficial assistant, and an unexplained resident.

Unexpectedly, she displayed extraordinary patience and skill in organizing documents, making tea, and dealing with certain difficult clients, so Masashi Akiyama tacitly accepted her presence.

One weekday evening, only the three of them remained in the office.

"Um... Attorney Akiyama." Rio Arimura suddenly put down the calculator in her hand.

"Hmm?" Masashi Akiyama responded without looking up.

"My father...he heard about some of the recent cases, and about how you...have taken care of me." Rio Arimura carefully chose her words. "He...he would like to invite you to our home for a casual meal this weekend, if you're free, as a way of...expressing his gratitude."

The air fell silent for a moment.

Rieko Uchida paused in her wiping of the glass and looked over curiously.

Masashi Akiyama then raised his head and looked at Rio Arimura.

The girl's face showed anticipation mixed with a hint of trepidation.

He frowned slightly.

Socializing with the clients' families is not part of his usual work, especially invitations that carry a personal element of gratitude.

Moreover, he vaguely knew something about Rio Arimura's family situation.

She comes from a wealthy family, and her parents seem to have reservations about her career choice.

"No need for thanks. You work here because of your own abilities," Masashi Akiyama said. "Besides, I might... on weekends."

"Attorney Akiyama!" Rio Arimura interrupted him urgently, her eyes pleading. "Please! Just this once, okay? My... my father rarely invites guests to his home. Just... just do me a favor? Besides, you know, I've been working here for so long, and I haven't officially informed my family yet. If you go, it will be... it will be an explanation to my parents, putting their minds at ease."

Her voice grew softer and her face turned even redder as she spoke; clearly, her excuse was rather weak.

"Huh?" Rieko Uchida blinked and leaned closer, her face showing an innocent and curious expression.

"Sister Rio, I didn't know your family was so well-mannered? You have to formally report things? And, judging from your tone... it's hard to imagine that Sister Rio is actually a young lady from a wealthy family!"

She smiled mischievously, looking Rio Arimura up and down in her simple shirt and trousers. "Shouldn't rich girls wear designer brands, do flower arranging and tea ceremonies every day, and then wait for a prince of equal social standing to marry them?"

"Rieko!" Rio Arimura was even more embarrassed by her teasing, and glared at her reproachfully, looking somewhat helpless.

"What do you mean, 'young lady'... My family is just an ordinary family, and besides, I don't want to live that kind of life."

"Ordinary families don't usually invite people over for a casual meal to express their gratitude so readily," Rieko Uchida said with a grin, then turned to Masashi Akiyama and drawled out her words.

"Yashi~ Please go~ I also want to see what Rio-neechan's house is like! It must be very big and beautiful, right?"

Masashi Akiyama ignored Rieko Uchida's amused expression and turned his gaze back to Rio Arimura's face, which was filled with tension and anticipation.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

Rio Arimura has indeed worked for him for quite some time. Although she is nominally his assistant, the salary is meager and the workload is heavy, but she has never complained and is always full of enthusiasm.

From both a moral and logical standpoint, it seems reasonable for the employer to visit her family and give them an explanation.

Moreover... he was also curious about what kind of family had raised Rio Arimura to have a personality that was both innocent and righteous, and exceptionally resilient in certain aspects.

"Time and place," he finally admitted.

Rio Arimura's eyes lit up instantly!

"Saturday evening at six o'clock! I'll write down the address for you!" She immediately took out a sticky note, quickly wrote down an address, and handed it over with both hands.

Masashi Akiyama took it and glanced at it.

The address of the other party is in an area known for its upscale residential areas.

They are definitely not an ordinary family.

On Saturday evening, Masashi Akiyama changed into a relatively formal dark gray suit and tie and went to the address.

The closer you get to your destination, the more tranquil and elegant the surrounding streetscape becomes. Individually designed detached houses or luxury apartment buildings are nestled behind meticulously manicured trees, exuding understated luxury.

Masashi Akiyama stood in front of a grand black wrought iron gate.

Inside the gate is a winding gravel driveway leading to a well-maintained, somewhat old-fashioned, eclectic Japanese-Western building.

He rang the doorbell.

Almost immediately, a polite male voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"This is a village house. May I ask who you are?"

"Masashi Akiyama has arrived as promised."

The door slid open silently.

He walked along the driveway to the front of the main house, where a middle-aged man dressed as a butler in a black suit was already waiting.

"Attorney Akiyama, welcome. Miss is already waiting for you. Please follow me."

"Attorney Akiyama!" Rio Arimura quickly came out from the side corridor to greet him.

Today she was wearing a light beige dress with a soft knitted cardigan over it. Her long hair was draped smoothly over her shoulders, and she wore light makeup, which made her look more gentle and graceful than she usually does at the office!

"Arimura." Masashi Akiyama nodded to her.

"Was the journey smooth? This place is a bit hard to find, isn't it?" Rio Arimura led him inside, and for some reason, she seemed more reserved than Masashi Akiyama, the guest.

"It's alright," Masashi Akiyama replied briefly.

His gaze calmly swept over the artistic pieces in the room and the valuable paintings on the walls.

Everything here was completely out of place with his humble office in Nerima Ward and the everyday life he was familiar with.

"Father and Mother are in the living room," Rio Arimura said softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress.

"Um... Attorney Akiyama, before we go in, there's something I'd like to tell you."

She stopped, turned to face Masashi Akiyama, and took a deep breath, as if she had made a great decision.

"My parents... they're actually not bad people, and they're very good to me."

Rio Arimura spoke quickly and in a low voice, "But... they've never really approved of me becoming a lawyer. They'd rather I... inherit the family business, or..."

"Or, according to their arrangement, I can find a husband they deem suitable, and then the husband can take over the family business. All I need to do is be a good wife to the villagers."

She looked up at Masashi Akiyama.

"I know this sounds... very old-fashioned, and unlike anything that would happen in this day and age, but my family... is a bit special. My father built the company from scratch, and he's very traditional, and also... assertive. My mother has always been very gentle, but she always goes along with my father's wishes. They've protected me very well, maybe... too much. They've arranged many things for me and haven't let me have any contact with the outside world."

Rio Arimura gave a wry smile: "So, the sense of justice is probably so naive and intense because we've been so well protected and haven't seen real darkness. I always want to use my own strength to help others get some justice and prove that I'm not just someone who can only live under their wings. That's why I desperately wanted to become a lawyer, and even... even went to work for you for free."