⚠️TW: some mentions of abuse, alcohol⚠️
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You had married your high school sweetheart about three years ago. You thought he was the sweetest guy you'd ever met, until he started developing a terrible alcohol addiction. He'd come home every other night, his body smelling like a different person's perfume every time, and his breath reeking of alcohol, and he'd get mad at you for no reason. He'd scream, and throw stuff at you. After an intense fight he started that lasted until two o'clock in the morning on a rainy Wednesday, you walked outside of your apartment to get some fresh air, and you had found a note in your designated mailbox after your husband had left for work, reading:
Dear neighbor,
It's your next door neighbor. I've heard your screaming matches for about a month now and after last night I've started to get worried. I'm at home all day today, so please meet me. I'm room 316 for reference.
Your neighbor,
Hiromi Higuruma
You looked back up at your apartment, and you decided to walk back inside. On the way up the elevator, you checked the time on your phone. 10:26. You had tons of time to talk with this new 'Higuruma' guy that happened to be your neighbor. Once you placed the mail back in your room, you went next door and knocked. A man, a handsome one, you guessed was about six feet tall, with nice brown hair, and brown eyes opened the door. "Are you Hiromi Higuruma? The one who left the note in my mailbox..?" As stoic as he first looked, his expression instantly melted into a smile, insisting you come inside.
He poured you a glass of water and he sat next to you at his nice, marble kitchen island. "What's your name..?" he asked, taking a sip of his water. "Y/n," you reply. "Hmm, y/n. Pretty name for a pretty person." he took another sip. He's making moves already?! "I called you here to talk about your.. husband. I hear you crying every night after your fights, and you're always screaming at him that you want a divorce, but he keeps throwing things at you, right?" You nod, "Yes, sir." He smiled, "Just call me Higuruma. No need for the formalities." He was.. really sweet, and charming... "I'm a lawyer. If you want, I can help finalize your divorce and get your husband locked up for abuse." Your eyes went wide, "You barely even know me, h-how can you even think of helping me.." you stammered.
"Because, neighbors are friends. That's what they're for."
Six months have gone by now, and every single day when your husband went to work, and now every day to stay up late at the bar to hook up with somebody that wasn't you, you'd go next door to Higuruma's place, and you'd work on the paperwork. You've.. even started developing feelings for him.. One time, you were even running through strawberry fields, holding his hand.. until you felt a pair of lips on your cheek. "You fell asleep." he giggled, "Your husband came by with a lady and asked if I'd seen you, and I just put a wig and a blanket on you, so he didn't know you were here, and I said you were visiting your parents for the weekend." You sighed a breath of relief, "Thank you."
A few weeks later, you and your hopefully soon-to-be ex husband were in court to finalize the divorce. Your husband walked in with another girl, which you had definitely seen him bring over, who was his lawyer! Seriously? Thankfully, you had Higuruma with you, squeezing your hand under the desk to keep your nerves at bay. The judge ordered you to speak first, and you went up to the podium, Higuruma giving you a smile to calm yourself. Your legs were shaking for the entire five minutes you testified, but when you got back, Higuruma took the opportunity to sling his arm around your shoulder. "Good job," he whispered. After all was said and done, your husband was thrown in jail, and you were free. You decided to sell your apartment, because well, you had other plans.
Once you and Higuruma got back to his house after the case, he sat you down on the couch, and he gently hugged you, and he gave you a gentle kiss. "I've loved you all this time, you know that?" You were never happier, as you replied, "Me too."
"Hey, Higuruma?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I think I've finally found where I belong."
"Where is that?"
"Right here, with you."
