Chapter 27 - 27: Can We Reconcile?

Meanwhile, on the other side... The middle-aged man who had met Haru and the others earlier stood alone in the corridor. As a police inspector, a simple brawl usually wouldn't interest him. But today, the ones who got beaten up included the son of a friend. So, when his friend called him earlier, he had rushed over immediately. As a favor to a friend, stepping in would have been easy—a small gesture to curry favor with a businessman. That was his initial plan. But now, he had changed his mind. "Miss Yukinoshita from the prestigious family, and the only son of the Amamiya family." He pulled out his phone and dialed his friend's number. "Hey, Hirano, it's me... Yes, I'm at the station. You're at the hospital with your son, right? I've got the situation sorted—just let the procedure follow its normal course. It's just a fight between kids, nothing serious." On the other end, the man's voice was somber. "Normal procedure? But my son's in the hospital! And didn't you just say—" "I know you're upset, but hear me out. I said I'd help, but this case isn't under my jurisdiction. Besides, your son has been to the police station more than once. You really need to spend more time disciplining him... What? You're coming to the station? Fine, but I won't be here for long—I've got other things to do." Ignoring his friend's increasingly agitated tone, the man's face remained impassive. Before ending the call, he added, "And don't call me again—I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea." Disregarding the shocked response on the other end, he hung up and dialed another number. "Mr. Yukinoshita, you're acquainted with the Amamiya family, aren't you? I was just thinking it'd be nice to have a meal together sometime, get to know one another... Ah, understood. Thank you for your time." After ending the second call, a smile crept onto his face. He knew that while the Yukinoshita family was run by the women, this message would undoubtedly reach the one in charge. Putting his phone away, he turned to gaze out the window, muttering to himself, "You expect me to offend both the Yukinoshita and Amamiya families for your sake? Well, I'll have to cut ties with you for good. My career has no room for dead weight." .... On the other side... Haru's lawyer stepped out to take a call. When he returned, his face was alight with a smile. "The matter's resolved. Hirano and his wife will be coming over soon. I'll handle the negotiations, and then we can leave." The Yukinoshita sisters both exhaled in relief. Although Haru and the lawyer had maintained a calm demeanor earlier, the matter hadn't yet been settled, leaving the sisters uneasy. "The inspector didn't intervene?" Haru recalled the middle-aged man they'd encountered earlier. The lawyer nodded. "No action from him, which means the station will follow standard procedures. That gives me the freedom to file a report against them." "A report?" Yukino asked, puzzled. Haruno was equally curious. "If it's going through normal procedures, why bother filing a report?" "If the inspector had intervened and bypassed the process, it wouldn't have been a report—it'd be a formal lawsuit." The lawyer, noticing their skepticism, clarified, "When people are idle, they tend to overthink. Since we can't predict the inspector's next move, the best strategy is to keep him busy." Yukino took a deep breath. The intricacies of the adult world were proving far more complex than she had anticipated. "You're not just an ordinary lawyer, are you?" Haruno, ever perceptive, glanced between the lawyer and Haru. Haru smiled faintly. "I've already told you, Mr. Takeyama is a highly capable lawyer." "I don't doubt it," Haruno mused, her analytical mind racing. "But he seems to have mixed heritage, doesn't he?" The lawyer nodded with a professional air. "Indeed, my mother is from Kanagawa, and my father is from Manhattan, New York." Haruno's expression shifted in understanding. That explains it. Manhattan was synonymous with wealth and influence. With such a background, it made sense that this lawyer would be bold enough to "keep the inspector busy." Her mind wandered to that country's peculiarities—like the fact that it officially recognized 97 genders. Haruno's thoughts turned whimsical as she glanced at Haru. If this were America, would Haru have even more buffs stacked on his side? The thought amused her. Meanwhile, Yukino had pieced everything together and felt a mixture of emotions. The rules of the adult world... She still wasn't used to them. Just then, she felt a sudden warmth in her palm. Turning her head, she saw Haru smiling at her. "Don't think too much, our business is our own, we don't need to worry about others interfering." we don't need others to tell us what to do? Yukino's heart settled. She returned his smile. "I understand." Haruno observed the interaction quietly, choosing not to comment. Soon, a well-dressed couple hurried into the station. The man looked refined, and the woman adorned herself in luxurious jewelry—clearly, they weren't short on money. The lawyer whispered to Haru, "That's the Hirano couple." After a brief exchange with the police, the couple quickly approached them, their expressions shifting from worry to anger. The lawyer stepped forward, blocking their path. "Mr. Hirano?" The man scowled impatiently. "Who are you?" Maintaining a professional smile, the lawyer handed him a business card. "Takeyama Shinya, attorney." The man froze for a moment upon hearing the name. After glancing at the card, his expression changed drastically. He turned to his wife, who was muttering angrily, and snapped, "Quiet!" Then, he looked back at the lawyer, his tone stiff. "What do you want to discuss?" The lawyer, sensing the timing was right, spoke slowly. "Judging by your anger, it seems you're unaware that your son instigated the fight and even pulled a knife." "What? A knife? He didn't mention that when we saw him at the hospital!" The couple froze, stunned. Behind them, Haruno grinned playfully. "That's right. When I arrived, there were 15 enthusiastic bystanders ready to testify." The couple's faces turned an unsightly shade of pale as they recognized Haruno's identity. The man forced a strained smile. "Could we... discuss this privately?" The lawyer glanced at Haru, silently deferring to him. The Hirano couple quickly realized that the one in charge was not the lawyer, but the young man who had hospitalized their son. Though frustrated, the man swallowed his pride and turned to Haru. "Excuse me... Could we reach a settlement?" Haru's response was cold. "Are you joking?" That single sentence left the man feeling as though he'd been doused in ice water. From there, the process unfolded smoothly. The lawyer negotiated with the Hirano couple, and the matter was resolved with little fanfare. When Haru left, he didn't even need to pay the medical fees he'd prepared. Instead, he left behind the dejected couple standing at the station entrance. Thanking the lawyer and dismissing the group of young witnesses, Haru joined Yukino in Haruno's car. "You should teach them early," Yukino remarked before getting in. Haru nodded. "Their enthusiasm exceeded my expectations. Of course, it is also possible that they want to have a good relationship with us. Either way, they're good people." Yukino smiled, trusting Haru's judgment.