Behind the Mask

Coming Home

A/N:

Before you read, I must say that I don't know much about custody battles and how long they actually take. The first part of this chapter is based on the little information I got on the internet as well. If there are any inconsistencies that you recognize, I apologize in advance.

Two weeks after the battle in Tokyo, I found myself preparing for the first court hearing. In the days leading up to it, I felt extremely nervous. I consulted with a lawyer, a woman named Yuki who had experience in family law. We spent countless hours gathering evidence, documenting every instance of Daichi's neglect, and compiling testimonies from those who knew our situation well. I combed through old photos, messages, and even social media posts, anything that could support my case.

The court hearing didn't go well. Seeing Daichi again only made me angry. He sat across the room, a blank look on his face. The mediator attempted to guide us to an agreement, but it was futile. Daichi and I were on completely different pages, and neither of us was willing to compromise when it came to Chiho. I wasn't expecting us to.

The Giants won their final game of the season - which has been postponed due to the Kaiju attacks - three weeks later. It was a home game, and although it had taken a while for it to happen, the stadium was packed. The atmosphere was electric, and the fans were cheering for Kenji and the team.

After the game, we had the final court hearing. The absence of Daichi's witnesses was a surprising turn of events, but I had Juri and Akari by my side, ready to testify on my behalf.

I took a deep breath as I stood outside the courtroom. Juri and my mother had left shortly after the trial to pick Chiho up from school. In just a few minutes, I would know the judge's decision. The waiting was the hardest part, the uncertainty, the not knowing.

I paced back and forth, trying to calm my racing heart. The door opened, and Akari stepped out. Her expression was unreadable, her lips pressed into a thin line. She was wearing a dark suit and her long hair was tied back in a neat bun. Daichi followed closely behind. He looked agitated, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"Akari, wait!" I watched as he reached out and grabbed her by the arm.

She recoiled, her eyes flashing with anger. "Let go of me, Daichi," she demanded. "Are you insane?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked as she pulled her arm away. "What gave you the fucking idea to meddle in my business?"

Her jaw clenched and she sighed heavily. "Daichi, no woman should have the misfortune of being tied to you for the rest of her life. You're a coward, a spineless bastard and I'm here because that little girl deserves better."

His eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then he scoffed. "You're upset right?" he asked. "That's it. You're upset because I'm fighting for my kid when you couldn't-"

"That's enough," I said, stepping forward.

Daichi glanced at me, his eyes filled with anger. "Ami," he spat, as if my name left a bad taste in his mouth. "This is none of your business."

"It is if you're going to disrespect her," I replied, my tone icy.

He stared at me for a moment. Then he asked, "how did you do it?"

I frowned. "What?"

"Get a fake Ultraman to fight those Kaiju. How did you do it?"

I didn't respond.

"You and I both know that your boyfriend is Ultraman. You and I both know that recording was real."

I glanced at Akari and took a deep breath. "You're still on about that?" I asked. "It's been over a month Daichi. Everyone knows the recording was fake. If you keep on saying things like that, you may come across as crazy."