Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

"Speaking of which, Akiyama-kun," Suzuki Maki said, raising her glass of red wine after a few rounds of drinks, "the cases you've been handling lately seem to be quite exciting. Don't you feel any pressure?"

Masashi Akiyama cut the lamb chops on his plate. "There's always pressure, but it doesn't affect how I handle it."

"Still so calm," Suzuki Maki said with a smile. "However, I heard that in that nursing home case last time, during the second trial, you almost made the opposing witness break down on the spot? Even our editor-in-chief remarked that Attorney Akiyama's courtroom questioning was like surgery—precise and deadly. Would you be interested in writing a column for our newspaper? Talking about courtroom debating techniques, or analyzing the legal focus of some hot cases?"

"No interest." Masashi Akiyama replied, "A courtroom is a place for evidence and logic, not a performance stage, and my job is not teaching."

"Honestly, you can't even take a joke." Suzuki Maki sighed, feigning disappointment.

"But isn't it tiring to always be so tense? You should relax occasionally, like now, having a meal and chatting with friends."

"It's time to relax." Masashi Akiyama glanced at her.

"What kind of relaxation is this?" Suzuki Maki leaned slightly closer, her faint perfume scent mixed with the aroma of red wine wafting over.

"I mean, real relaxation. Like, going to a good exhibition, attending a concert, or... taking a weekend to soak in a hot spring in the suburbs?"

Her suggestion was natural, like a casual suggestion between friends for a weekend getaway.

Kenta Suzuki glanced thoughtfully at his sister, then at Masashi Akiyama, without saying a word.

Masashi Akiyama put down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and said, "I've been busy with cases lately, so I'm afraid I won't have the time. Besides..."

He paused, his gaze calmly meeting Suzuki Maki's expectant eyes. "I'm not particularly interested in real writing."

Maki Suzuki's smile froze almost imperceptibly for half a second, but she quickly returned to normal.

"That's true, a top lawyer like you is always very busy. Let's talk about it when you have time."

In the days that followed, Maki Suzuki appeared at her agency more frequently than before.

Sometimes she would bring news leads or background information that she thought might be helpful for Masashi Akiyama's cases; sometimes she would bring coffee and snacks under the pretense of passing by; and sometimes she would simply come over as a friend to sit down and chat about the latest news and social developments.

But Masashi Akiyama clearly noticed that something seemed different.

Maki Suzuki's expression is circuitous, tentative, and full of adult restraint and caution.

She won't openly express her feelings, won't create awkward intimate contact, and won't use tears or capriciousness as weapons.

She simply used her own methods to gradually increase her presence in his life and showcase her charm.

She didn't dare take that step.

It wasn't just because of a woman's reserve, but also because she cherished the precious relationship she currently had with Masashi Akiyama, built on trust, respect, and tacit understanding.

She feared that if she made things clear, and the other person didn't reciprocate, she would lose even this precious friendship, causing everything to revert to a cold professional distance, or even worse.

However, once the tendrils of emotion begin to grow, they are difficult to control.

Especially when she witnessed young women like Rio Arimura, who were full of energy and made no attempt to hide their dependence and admiration, and Rieko Uchida, who exuded an air of paranoia and almost declared her sovereignty, a faint sense of crisis and resentment, which she herself was unwilling to admit, quietly grew.

She was more mature than them and understood his needs better.

It is not blind worship, nor suffocating possession, but understanding in fighting side by side, reliable support in times of crisis, and spiritual resonance and compatibility.

She believed that she was the most suitable person to stand by his side.

But how do we make him realize this?

The opportunity came somewhat unexpectedly.

Masashi Akiyama takes on a new case: the founder of a small tech company is being sued by his business partners for technology theft and breach of non-compete agreement.

The amount of the claim is so huge that it could bankrupt the founder.

The case involves complex patent technology details and commercial contract terms, making evidence collection and argumentation extremely difficult.

The opposing legal team is very powerful and seems to have an ambiguous relationship with certain review agencies.

Just as Masashi Akiyama was going to great lengths to find authoritative expert opinions on a key technical point, Maki Suzuki happened to call.

"I heard you took on that Minghui Technology case?" Her voice was as cheerful as ever on the phone.

"I have a college classmate who graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology. He's now a partner at a top patent agency, specializing in electronic communications. I mentioned the technical point involved in your case to him, and he seemed interested. He said if it's convenient, we can schedule a time to talk, and he can provide some technical analysis as an informal consultant. Of course, the fee is negotiable."

This was a godsend. Masashi Akiyama did not refuse.

The meeting was arranged in a quiet café, with Maki Suzuki accompanying her.

Her classmate was indeed an expert in the industry, and her analysis of the problem was incisive. She provided several argumentative angles that Akiyama Masashi had not thought of, which were extremely advantageous to the client.

More importantly, the expert also subtly mentioned that the application process for a core patent on which the other party's accusations were based might have procedural flaws, and that he knew someone at the patent office who might be able to help inquire about it.

The talks were very successful.

After the experts left, only Masashi Akiyama and Maki Suzuki remained in the café.

"Thanks so much for this, Suzuki," Masashi Akiyama said sincerely.

Without her connections and introductions, this crucial breakthrough would have taken an unknown amount of time and effort.

"Don't be so polite with me." Suzuki Maki stirred her coffee. "I'm glad I could help. Besides, my classmate said your case is very interesting and challenging, and he's happy to be involved."

She looked up at Masashi Akiyama and said, "But, Akiyama-kun, don't you find it tiring to always take on these tough cases? With your abilities, it would be much easier to take on some safer and more profitable commercial cases."

"I'm used to it."

"Habit..." Suzuki Maki repeated softly, then sighed gently, "Sometimes I really can't understand you. You seem so calm and rational, even a little... cold-hearted, yet you keep throwing yourself into these troublesome, dangerous, and potentially offensive things. What are you after, Akiyama-kun?"

Masashi Akiyama remained silent for a moment, then looked out the window at the street scene.

"It's not that complicated," he finally said. "It's just that some cases needed to be done. And since I could do them, I did them. As for the reasons..."

He turned his gaze to Suzuki Maki. "Perhaps it's like you, knowing that investigating certain news might touch upon vested interests, get you into trouble, or even be dangerous, but you still do it. Why?"

Suzuki Maki was taken aback by his question, then burst out laughing.

"How can these be the same? I am a journalist. It is my professional instinct and social responsibility to uncover the truth and monitor power."

"I am a lawyer," Masashi Akiyama said calmly. "Using the law to clarify the facts and protect the legitimate rights and interests of my clients is my professional instinct and social responsibility, nothing more."