Blossoms of the Dark

CXCIII Shouto: Cats

Trigger Warning:

- mention of abuse

- mention of sexual assault

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My fingers hover over the dial button.

Ever since Selene gave me this card, I have debated calling this man.

On one hand, my conscience pricks at the idea of taking help from someone who has been a bystander in Selene's abuse for so long.

On the other hand, he is a goldmine of information.

It is this knowledge that allows me to swallow my ego and press the button.

It rings and rings. Finally, someone picks up. A woman's voice echoes from the other end of the line. Sasaki-san's secretary, I assume.

"Hello. Can I please speak to Sasaki Reo-san?"

"Who is this inquiring? Do you have an appointment" she answers back.

Should I be honest or come up with an alias? Actually, this process is going to take some time, and I will have to talk to him on more than one occasion. Better I come clean. Maybe he'll even take me seriously because of my surname. I tell her my name and that I do not have an appointment. She tells me to arrange a time and date to meet him.

I cannot do that. Not yet, at least. I exclaim, "Wait, ma'am! Could you please tell him that I am Hanada Selene's friend." The idea of using my connections to secure a call does not sit right with me, but to hell with my morals. I promised myself I would stoop low if it meant keeping her safe. The secretary repeats the same statement from before, and I push harder. "Look, I understand that he is a busy man. Just give him my name and relation and tell him to call me back once he is free."

It is then that I hear a male voice through the call. He speaks in a soft tone. His voice is much clearer when he holds the phone. "How may I help you?" Finally. Providing the same details from the first time, I expect that things will go smoothly. However, he pauses. "Wait a minute." And he hangs up.

He hung up?!

I am still making sense of his gesture when all of a sudden my phone begins to buzz. An unknown number sending a series of texts. Hesitantly, I open the message app.

I apologize for cutting you off like that, the first message reads. But this is something that I cannot talk about on the company phone, is the second.

Oh, okay. My anger lessens at his explanation. I continue reading the following texts.

Selene informed me a few days ago that you might reach out to me. I suggest you contact me from this number from now on. I go to the phone contacts app to do just that. Meanwhile, more messages come my way. She told me that you and her are concocting a plan to arrest Hanada Asahi.

That's right, I send back. We would like your help, since your his lawyer.

Normally, I do not like the idea of juvenile children such as you putting yourselves in danger to expose someone. However, this case is such where only you two have access to incriminating evidence. The judge may question your involvement in court. Will you accept the consequences? There is no returning from this point onward.

I knew that when I first proposed this scheme.

I accept, I reply.

Sasaki-san sends me an address. He asks me to meet him there.