First case
1009 Words
"You... you..." Imanishi's bloodshot eyes glared furiously as he gritted his teeth, struggling to call out for Kitahara to stop. But no words came. He could only watch helplessly as the brash young man boldly pulled his daughter by the hand and strode away.
Imanishi had never experienced such humiliation.
To him, absolute control was everything. He sought to eliminate all uncertainty, ensuring his authority remained unchallenged—not just within his company but also at home, where his dominance was to be supreme and inviolable.
But today, this insolent youth, Kitahara—a penniless lawyer saddled with five billion yen of debt—had dared to openly defy and humiliate him. It was as if someone had taken a filthy broom and swept away his dignity in plain sight. Outrageous! Unforgivable!
And then there was Miyakawa—his daughter! The girl he had raised with the utmost care, giving her everything she could ever want. Yet here she was, standing with this pauper, even siding with him against her own father.
Imanishi's face darkened, the storm of rage brewing within him palpable. Outside his office, employees exchanged uneasy glances, witnessing their usually imperious boss reduced to stunned silence by a young upstart.
"Didn't think I'd see this kind of drama today," one whispered.
"Miyakawa's boyfriend must have stirred the pot too much," another murmured.
"Young people shouldn't be so reckless."
"This will give Onoda the perfect excuse to take Miyakawa down a peg," someone added.
The whispers ceased abruptly as Imanishi's roar shattered the tense atmosphere. "ENOUGH!" Veins bulged at his temples, and his shout seemed to shake the glass walls. The crowd outside scattered like startled birds.
Imanishi seethed, his mind racing with strategies to destroy Kitahara. The lawyer owed five billion yen and had a questionable professional record. Pulling strings within the Tokyo Bar Association to suspend his license would be child's play. Perhaps even having it revoked entirely was feasible. But then, a bitter thought struck him: was it truly worth using his resources to deal with a mere twenty-something?
No, Kitahara didn't deserve that honor. Imanishi preferred a slower, more agonizing revenge—like toying with a lab mouse. If Kitahara wanted cases, he would give him one. One particularly... unique case. A sinister smile crept across Imanishi's face.
Imanishi Law Office, 32nd Floor, Conference Room
After the heated clash on the 33rd floor, Miyakawa had led Kitahara to a quieter space. The office spanned two floors; the 33rd floor served as the main hub for client interactions, while the 32nd was reserved for attorneys’ workspaces.
Inside the conference room, a bowl of candies sat on the white steel table. Two paper cups filled with steaming tea released gentle wisps of vapor. A man and a woman sat across from each other.
The man, relaxed and unbothered, unwrapped a candy and popped it into his mouth. The woman, holding her cup with both hands, sat with her head slightly bowed. A faint red mark adorned her cheek, and her feet fidgeted under the table, occasionally tapping against each other.
"I’m... I’m sorry," Miyakawa muttered, her face flushing. "I never thought things would turn out like this. I didn’t mean for this to happen."
"Don’t worry about me. Focus on yourself," Kitahara replied with a casual smile, hoping to lighten the mood. "I told you before, don’t push yourself. If your father doesn’t agree, let it go. It’s not worth it."
Kitahara hadn’t expected Miyakawa to go to such lengths for him. The thought made his heart ache. She must be under so much pressure.
Miyakawa’s hair fell over her cheeks as she lowered her head further, her lips pouting slightly. In a barely audible voice, she mumbled, "It is worth it."
Her sudden declaration caught Kitahara off guard, but before he could respond, she straightened up and leaned forward. "So, what’s your plan? Where are you going to find cases, Kitahara?" she asked, her tone earnest.
"Anywhere, I guess," Kitahara replied nonchalantly, crunching his candy. "If all else fails, I’ll hand out flyers in front of the courthouse."
Miyakawa froze momentarily, then nodded with an intense seriousness that made Kitahara nearly choke on his candy. "Good idea. I’ll help you print business cards tonight. On Monday, we can start distributing them. Should we begin at Shinjuku Court or try somewhere else? Maybe we should go straight to the High Court?"
Kitahara suppressed a laugh, his years of life experience allowing him to keep a straight face. This girl really thought he was serious! An elite graduate of Tokyo University, ready to hand out flyers like some bottom-rung lawyer? The thought amused and touched him.
"You’re really going to help as my assistant?" Kitahara teased, though his tone hinted at a subtle rejection.
"Of course!" Miyakawa’s gaze was unwavering. "I’m not joking."
Sensing his hesitation, she added with a mock pout, "If you refuse, I’ll be very upset!"
Kitahara sighed inwardly. How could he say no to such a "threat"? Smirking mischievously, he quipped, "Just so you know, I’m not an easy boss. If you’re working for me, you’ll be the one handing out flyers while I relax in the office with the air conditioning."
"You!" Miyakawa playfully slapped his hand, pouting indignantly. "Kitahara, you have to work hard too!"
"Are you my assistant or my nagging housekeeper?" he retorted, feigning exaggerated annoyance.
The word "housekeeper" made Miyakawa’s cheeks flush. Did he mean... a wife? Her mind raced at the thought. The idea of taking care of Kitahara as his wife, running his household... it didn’t seem so bad.
Embarrassed yet flustered, Miyakawa gave Kitahara’s hand another playful slap and broke into laughter. Seeing her smile lifted a weight off Kitahara’s heart. If she could laugh, then she was okay—for now.
But their lighthearted moment was shattered by approaching footsteps. Dark silhouettes crowded outside the glass walls, casting an ominous shadow over the small conference room. The once warm and cheerful atmosphere turned icy and tense.
Two loud knocks echoed on the door.
- Writer
