What you're name ?

Chapter 33 Take a Break

Made by @cataclysmiceve1 on Twitter!
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It's the last week in more ways than one.

It's his last week of high school. They'll have one week off before graduation ceremonies—but effectively, on Friday, he's done.It's also the last week of the trial.

And, when Chuuya should be excited, having fun with his friends, committing to a university for the fall.But that's the last thing on Chuuya's mind.Every single moment of his last three days of school seems to revolve around him trying to imagine what he does if there isn't a conviction.And he can't really wrap his brain around it.

On the last day of school, Atsushi puts a hand on his arm as they walk out of the front gates together for the last time. "Chuuya?"

His eyes flicker back, "Hmm?"

"I know it wasn't under the easiest circumstances, but..." the ivory haired student smiles at him brightly, "I'm really glad you transferred here."

Chuuya stares for a moment, surprised, but—he also can't deny that he's glad that he did too. "Well—you and Tanizaki made the whole thing...a lot easier." He bows his head, "Thank you."

Atsushi waves him off, "It's no big deal! We're friends, right?"

"...Yeah," Chuuya smiles slowly, accepting a hug from the other boy, "We are."

Taneda Santoka has worked a lot of unpleasant cases in his career. It's part of the job.Nothing—really, no other case he's tried in court has left him more exhausted .

The judge in the center of the panel gathers his papers, "We have no further questions for the state or the defense. This court will now be adjourned for deliberations."

And with one final slam of the gavel—he knows he's done all he can do. Takamura offers him one apologetic wave on his way out, but he doesn't stop to speak to him.Taneda can't really blame him.

The last few weeks of the trial were...contentious, at best.Meaning Taneda's cross examinations of the defense's witnesses had made Takamura's handling of Chuuya seem gentle .

"You look terrible."

Taneda chuckles softly, taking his glasses off so he can wipe off the lenses. "I don't know if that's something I care to hear from my intern."

Tsujimura shrugs, picking up his spare files, "Your wife is always calling and asking us to keep an eye on you."

Taneda doesn't necessarily love the idea of his law students playing babysitter— b ut after the heart attack he had last summer, he can't blame his wife for wanting to keep tabs on him either. "This was a hard one."

Tsujimura frowns. "We've worked ten homicides since Christmas."She isn't wrong—some of them were just as violent, if not more so.

Taneda shakes his head, "Sometimes, the homicides are easier."

They start moving towards the hallway, and when Tsujimura speaks again, her voice is soft, "Your wife also says you always get too attached."

"...He's a good kid," Taneda sighs, opening the doors leading out of the courtroom for her. "And when it's a homicide ..."

"You don't have to look at a victim and tell them you failed."It's a brutal way of phrasing it, but she isn't wrong .