Chapter 26 - 26: This kid is really stubborn

Haru and Yukino were brought to the police station to assist with the investigation, while the black-haired youth, badly injured, was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Both Haru and Yukino cooperated fully with the police. The situation was straightforward, and it didn't take long for the officers to piece everything together. Just then, a middle-aged man with a large belly walked over. The young officer in charge of the inquiry quickly stood up. "Sir, what brings you here?" The man nodded and shifted his gaze toward Haru and Yukino. "Are these the suspects?" Yukino frowned slightly, while Yu remained calm and composed. "They're not suspects," the young officer quickly clarified. "It was mutual combat, but the other party initiated the confrontation, blocked their path, and threw the first punch." The middle-aged man made no comment, merely giving a small nod before walking away. The young officer looked puzzled. "Strange... This is just a common brawl. Why would the chief inspector personally take an interest?" Yukino leaned toward Haru and whispered, "That person probably has some connections. The watch he was wearing was a Blancpain 6654—a piece only wealthy families could afford." Haru nodded. "I figured as much. Though I'll admit, I couldn't tell what kind of watch it was." Yukino shot him a look, realizing he was joking even in a situation like this. Despite herself, she started to relax a little. It wasn't just because she had already called her older sister for support—it was because with Haru by her side, she felt secure. Before long, the commotion of raised voices could be heard from the station's entrance. The officer questioning them glanced up. "What's going on out there?" One of his colleagues replied, "There's a crowd of about a dozen people at the door, claiming to be witnesses." "How many?" "Fifteen or so. I didn't count exactly. They said they were here for the fight and want to testify. They're claiming the injured guy attacked first, used a knife, and forced these two kids to defend themselves." Haru and Yukino exchanged amused glances. It was obvious Koji and the others had shown up to help again. The situation at the entrance quickly escalated, and the officer questioning them left to maintain order. Haru and Yukino remained seated, waiting quietly, when a familiar figure approached, escorted by an officer. "Haruno-san," Haru greeted first. "Big sister," Yukino said in a calm tone. "You two never fail to surprise me," Yukinoshita Haruno said with a teasing smile. Her voice took on a mock-hurt tone. "Yukino, I can't believe you didn't greet me first. It seems you've grown distant from your dear big sister." Yukino pressed her lips together, choosing not to respond. Ever since Haru had entered her life and become a guiding figure, surpassing her older sister had ceased to be her goal. Now, all her efforts were focused on keeping up with him. Because of this shift, her relationship with Haruno wasn't as strained as it had been before. But given how different their personalities were, they still struggled to find common ground. Haruno thanked the officer who brought her water, then turned her attention to Haru and Yukino. "I've looked into the situation. The person you fought is the only son of the Hirano family—they run a successful business. I've met them before at social events." "Is it going to be troublesome?" Haru asked. Haruno smiled lightly. "Not really, but it might be a little tricky." She suddenly leaned closer to Haru with a playful grin. "Haru, you've always been closer to Yukino than me. You only see me as a regular friend—do you know how that hurts my feelings?" "Sister, could you refrain from making irrelevant comments in the police station?" Yukino said with a stern face. Haruno chuckled. "Oh? Getting defensive already? You're so quick to come to Haru's rescue." Yukino's face flushed slightly, but she said nothing. Haru sat there unfazed. Haruno tilted her head in curiosity. "Aren't you going to ask how I plan to handle this?" "I don't think we'll need to bother you this time, Haruno-san." "Oh? You already have a plan? Let me hear it!" Haruno's interest was clearly piqued, but their conversation was interrupted when a man in a suit approached, carrying a briefcase. He smiled at Haru. "Sorry for the delay, boss. I was gathering information and got held up." "No worries. You're just in time," Haru replied with a small smile. The man took a seat beside them and introduced himself to the Yukinoshita sisters. "My name is Takebayashi Shinya. I'm an attorney. You must be the Yukinoshita sisters?" Both sisters nodded politely, then turned to Haru for clarification. "He's a reliable lawyer who helps manage my family's business and our film company," Haru explained. The sisters exchanged a look of understanding. Haruno propped her chin on her hand, intrigued by how Haru planned to resolve the matter. Yukino, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. She had complete faith in Haru. Takebayashi opened his briefcase and began speaking. "This case is fairly straightforward. Although Hirano's family head is close friends with the chief inspector here, you currently have the upper hand." "The chief inspector's friend?" Haruno was visibly surprised. She had hurried over and hadn't gathered that piece of information. The lawyer smiled. "No need to worry, Yukinoshita-san. It's a minor detail." He pulled out a file and continued, "The Hirano boy has a history of bad behavior, including an incident where he attempted to extort money from minors. Furthermore, he initiated the confrontation, used a weapon, and sustained his injuries as a result of his own aggression." "Most importantly," he concluded with a confident smile, "both of you are minors. That's our biggest advantage." Under the Curious Gaze of the Yukinoshita Sisters, the lawyer chuckled softly, looking at the two sisters. "You're familiar with the Juvenile Law here, right? If minors commit an offense that isn't particularly severe, the law mandates correctional education before any form of punishment is imposed." Haru chimed in, "Because it reflects special care and protection for minors." "Exactly." The lawyer nodded, continuing, "This case already tilts in your favor. With the Amamiya family and the Yukinoshita family's influence, if you're willing to involve the media, we'll receive support from two key forces." He raised a finger. "The first is public opinion online. In this country, the hierarchy between seniors and juniors is overly rigid and often cruel, and bullying in schools is a widespread issue. Almost everyone who's been wronged has fantasized about exacting revenge on their tormentors." "When people online see that two minors stood up to a group of delinquents—especially ones with a criminal record—you'll become the heroes of their imagined stories. This kind of personal heroism, with a rebellious streak, will spark massive public support anywhere." Haruno, deep in thought, nodded. "That makes sense. Even if Hirano's son isn't a delinquent, the idle crowd he hangs out with might as well be." Though Yukino remained silent, she internally agreed with her sister. "The truth is," Haruno added, voicing Yukino's unspoken thoughts, "most bystanders don't care about the outcome—they're drawn in by the sheer drama of it all." Then, Haruno tilted her head, curious. "What's the second force that'll back Haru?" Yukino leaned in slightly, her eyes bright with curiosity. The lawyer exchanged a knowing glance with Haru, and they both smiled. "The Minors' Protection Association." The Yukinoshita sisters froze in place. They hadn't considered that angle at all. Under their astonished gaze, Haru explained, "These associations are non-profit organizations. But precisely because they're non-profits, they're always desperate for funding. We hold the upper hand in this situation, and if they catch wind of it, they'll seize the opportunity to milk the situation for all it's worth." He added casually, "Of course, not everyone in the association operates that way, but when money is involved, most of them will jump at the chance." Yukino stared at him, her face a mixture of shock and admiration. She couldn't help but think, So this is how the adult world plays its games? But how does Haru know so much about this? Haruno, on the other hand, wore a contemplative expression. "I've heard my mother mention something similar before, but she never broke it down like this." Her gaze flickered as she looked at Haru, her eyes gleaming with amusement and admiration, her expression akin to a smug meme face: Now, this is what you call expertise. "It seems like you really don't need my help this time," she said, her tone teasing yet warm. "You've grown up, Haru." Haru met her gaze confidently. "And you've grown up too, Haruno-san. I still remember when I dared you to climb a tree to steal bird eggs as a kid." A faint smile played on Yukino's lips. Haruno shot him a look, a mix of exasperation and charm. Flirting with a block of wood, she thought to herself. This guy really is immune to everything.