NO. 29 - Free

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Himiko and I settled into a corner booth at the cozy café. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden tables. The gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of cutlery added to the inviting atmosphere.

After receiving our orders, I sipped on my black coffee while Himiko indulged in a rich mocha, its chocolatey sweetness bringing a smile to her face. Only for it to quickly melt into a nervous expression.

"Relax, Himiko. Trust me, it's all going to be fine."

"I do trust you. It's just... I can't help but be a little nervous," Himiko confessed, her eyes darting around the café, a hint of fear in them.

"Don't be," I said as I grabbed her hand. "Everything is going to be fine. I made sure of it."

[+20 SP]

Himiko nodded and took another sip of her drink. Despite my attempt to calm her down, she still looked a little nervous. The two of us continued to wait for our guest in the cafe. With each bell ring of the cafe's door, Himiko seemed to grow even more nervous.

"He's here," I said without looking up while I sipped my second coffee. Himiko let out a cute squeak as the cafe's bell chimed once again.

Entering the cafe was no other than Detective Ige Yoichi. His aged eyes scanned the cafe before falling on me and Himiko. He froze momentarily when our eyes met. A slow grin rose on my face as I watched him swallow the lump in his throat.

After taking a deep breath, Yoichi walked over to us and placed his briefcase on our table. As he sat down, Himiko slid over until her body was pressed against mine.

"Detective Ige," I said with an easygoing tone. My face was etched into one of superiority, resembling a certain king of heroes. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."

[+10 SP]

"...sorry. Getting everything in place took some time." Yoichi said as he opened his briefcase. He then looked over to Himiko. "It's nice to finally meet you, Toga-san. I'm Detective Ige Yoichi. I'm glad to see you're alright."

"Ah, yes," Himiko said without looking at the Detective, her eyes scanning the windows and doors for any uninvited guests. "Are you... the one who has been handling my case?"

"Indeed I am... Or at least, I was."

"Huh?" Himiko said in confusion as Yoichi slid over several sheets of paper to her.

Clicking on a pen, he held it out to Himiko. "Write down your version of events from that day. Once I receive that, I'll take care of the remaining bits of the investigation to close it. It should be but another few days before I can clear you."

"...huh?" Himiko said numbly. "Clear me? What... do you mean?"

Raising an eyebrow, Yoichi turned to me questioningly. I smiled innocently and took another sip of my drink. Sighing, Yoichi looked back to Himiko.

"Shuji Saito and Emiko Sayaka have revealed the truth about what actually happened at Corellia Junior High three months ago. Shuji Saito confessed to me that he attacked you because you rejected him. In anger, he tried to attack you. In order to defend yourself from a much larger and stronger attacker, you found a nearby box cutter and struck him. Emiko Sayaka has also admitted that she was under the influence of hallucinating drugs the day she witnessed the incident involving you and Saito. What she thought was you drinking his blood through a straw was actually a misinterpretation. Once her mind was cleared of the drugs, Sayaka was able to recall that, in actuality, you were attempting to give Saito first aid."

Himiko blinked numbly and nodded. She then turned to me with a questioning glance, only to receive a smile from me.

[+40 SP]

"...yes. That's right." Himiko said with a frown, leaning into the story. "That's... what happened."

Yoichi closed his eyes and sighed, almost as if in disappointment. "I see. I need you to retell those exact events in writing. Once I submit those, you will be cleared of any crimes and wrongdoing. You will be free to rejoin society with a clean record."

Nodding, Himiko quickly began to do what she was told, but she stopped.

"What's... what's going to happen to Saito-kun and Sayaka-chan?" Himiko whispered, a tinge of regret in her voice. I glanced at her and watched as she waited for Yoichi's response.

"Saito is currently in a Juvenile Detention Center where he will serve his time for his... crime. Sayaka's case is still being determined. My guess is that she will also face some time in a Detention Center. But that's still to be determined by a judge." Yoichi said as he then reached into his briefcase to pull out another stack of papers. "This is also for you, Toga-san."

Accepting the papers, Himiko read them over with steadily widening eyes. For the first time today, a large, bright smile broke out on her face, a clear sign of her relief and joy. "Is this... for real?"

"Indeed," Yoichi muttered and eyed me with a careful gaze, his caution evident. "Your parents have signed a private agreement stating they will have no more to do with you and that any family ties you have with them are no more. As of today, you are free to live your life as you please."

"Does that mean... that I'm free?"

"Yes, Himiko," I said, causing the happy girl to turn to me. Tears pooled in her eyes.

"You're free now."

[+250 SP]

x x x

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the park as Himiko and I strolled along the winding path. The air was fresh, scented with blooming flowers and the distant aroma of a nearby food cart, where laughter mingled with the sound of sizzling.

"Look at those ducks," Himiko pointed, giggling softly as a cluster of mallards splashed in a small pond, quacking loudly as they fought over breadcrumbs tossed by an enthusiastic child. Her face was free of any medical mask or hood to hide her identity.

I glanced over, a smile creeping onto my face. "They seem to have their priorities straight," I replied, raising an eyebrow playfully. "A perfect picture of chaos."

As we walked, the leaves danced gently in the breeze, creating a soft rustle that blended harmoniously with the distant sounds of children playing. The park was alive—couples were sprawled out on blankets, families were playing catch, and joggers zipped past, their feet thudding rhythmically against the path.

"You know," Himiko said thoughtfully, her cat-like eyes cloudy as she took in our surroundings. "The world around us feels so... magical right now. It feels like the world is slowing down just for me."

I nodded, my gaze lingering on her as she sauntered with her hands behind her. "Is that so? Makes you appreciate the little things, doesn't it?"

"Yeah... exactly."

We continued walking side by side, her fingers brushing mine occasionally. Himiko took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. "I'm so happy I met you," she abruptly said, glancing up at me. "It's thanks to you that my life's changed so much… I can finally be me."

I shook my head and watched as an older couple walked past us, hand in hand. "You don't have to thank me. I just did what I had to do to help my friend. Now, you can go back to school or do whatever you want. The sky's the limit."

[+30 SP]

Himiko's perpetual blush grew brighter, and she nodded as we approached a small gazebo surrounded by vibrant flower beds. As we stepped inside, her eyes lit up. "Let's sit for a while," she suggested, gesturing to the weathered wooden benches.

Sinking onto the bench, we shared a comfortable silence, watching the world around us. Children's laughter echoed in the distance, and for a moment, everything felt just right.

I turned to her, my expression softening.

Despite my brain telling me to shut up and enjoy the silence, a part of me wanted to open up. "You know, I really enjoy these silent moments with you, Himiko. It's nice... Growing up, I used to be all alone after Keiko left. So having someone else to share the silence makes it a little easier."

Himiko smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. "Me too, Sukuna-kun. It's nice to just be here. Together."

[+50 SP]

The two of us sat in silence as we watched the world around us without much care for anything.

Suddenly, all the terrible things I did to get to this point felt extremely worth it. Seeing Himiko's relaxed smile, I knew I would do it again.

"Hey, Sukuna-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"Can... can I continue to live with you?" Himiko whispered, a tinge of nervousness in her voice, as she slid closer to me until our shoulders were pressed together.

"Of course. You can stay as long as you want."

[+100 SP]

"Okay... then I'll stay with you forever then."

At her response, I found myself chuckling. She seemed offended by my laugh, but she quickly joined me.

For the first time since my parents died, I felt a part of my heart and soul regain itself.

-

AN:

2000 PS, Acheived!

And with that, Toga's first mini arc comes to an end. I do feel I could have done better at flushing all the real world implications on a situation like hers, but we're not here for all that real world BS.

We're here for anime shenanigan's and fights.

Anyways, let me know your thoughts and what future events or ideas you'd like to see. I'm trying to make this fic as interactive as I can. It's why I did all those past polls.

Until next time!