ILLEGALLY KEPT

"Are you saying that her entry into Japan is illegal?" Alex questioned.

Officer Shinobu didn't hide it from him.

He replied, "Yes, I am. She will be detained until further information can be gathered."

Alex furrowed his eyebrows. "Officer, you know that her situation is a bit different."

"It's not like she was harmed. She wasn't forced to do anything. Her medical records say so."

Alex started, "Even so…"

Officer Shinobu didn't let him finish his sentence.

He said, "You know how strict our law is for foreigners. If she is seeking asylum, this is the worst country to choose.

"She will be jailed for sure. Once she gets out of the country she might not be able to set her foot here for the rest of her life."

"If she doesn't have an identity, I will give her one," Alex declared.

Officer Shinobu had a headache seeing how stubborn Alex was.

"Mr. Alex…"

Alex added, "She could be locked up against her will since she was a child and somehow escaped from there. Her existence isn't illegal.

"The people who didn't take care of her properly are criminals. Didn't you notice how she was behaving around people? She is clearly not used to seeing people around her."

Officer Shinobu let out a deep sigh.

"Mr. Alex, I've checked your background. I read that your background is in Business Studies, not Psychology.

"The next time you want to talk about people's behavior, bring a license. I'll have my ears open. See you."

After Office Shinobu left, Lucas came in with some files.

"Ouch, that officer was a bit harsh, wasn't he? He is young and immature. Acting all high and mighty wearing that police uniform.

"He must have forgotten that this uniform is for heroes who protect people, not attack innocent people."

As he said that, he dropped the files on the table.

"Lucas, tell Furuya to meet me," Alex ordered. "Tell him it's urgent."

"On it." Lucas immediately sent a message.

Furuya Rei was in the Special Police Force (SPF).

He had been a good friend of Alex since he was born. Aside from being born in the same hospital in the same week, they spent their childhood together before Alex went to Argentina.

After coming back, he went to the same school as Furuya Rei. After growing up, Furuya Rei chose the Special Police Force while Alex chose business.

In the evening, Furuya Rei went to Alex's apartment.

He was a tall guy around Alex's height. His skin was darker than Alex's. His blue eyes and platinum hair were most attractive.

"Furuya-chan! It's wonderful to see you!" Lucas beamed when he saw him.

Furuya Rei frowned upon hearing the way Lucas addressed him.

"Don't address me as 'chan'*. This is so unmanly."

"I always address cute people as 'chan'. Right, Alex-chan?" Lucas looked at Alex who was coming down the stairs.

Alex's apartment was a duplex, connecting two floors in the same apartment building.

The upper floor had four bedrooms with one master bedroom and the other three, guest rooms. That floor also contained a small library with a study room.

The ground floor contained a living room, a kitchen attached to the dining room, a gaming room, storeroom and a garden.

"Were you busy, Rei?" Alex asked his childhood friend.

"No. I was free the whole day. Why did you call for me?" Furuya Rei looked around and asked, "Is someone joining you? I saw some boxes in the front."

Lucas excitedly replied, "We are having a babe living with us. Her name is Sakura-chan. Alex named her Sakura."

Lucas and Mateo lived in the same apartment, taking two guest rooms.

Gardening was Mateo's hobby and so he took care of all the plants he grew in the garden.

In the study room, the three of them worked there on holidays or if they were sick.

That's why Mateo didn't want a girl to live with them. He absolutely hated the idea.

Furuya Rei caught on quickly.

"Babe? A girl? Who is she? And why did Alex give her a name?"

Lucas narrated the whole story shortly.

"That's because we don't know her identity. Even the police couldn't get any information about her.

"She doesn't know her name either. So, Alex decided to give her a name – Sakura."

Furuya Rei was stunned when he heard the story. He looked at his friend in disbelief.

"You want to bring a strange girl to your home? Do you think it is a good idea?"

"It's the worst idea." Finally getting someone who understood his ideal, Mateo spoke. "You understand but he doesn't. This girl is hella scary.

"She screams and shatters glass. And this apartment is entirely decorated with glass.

"Do you find any corner of this apartment that doesn't have glass? I'll sue her if she breaks anything. I have no experience in babysitting. How can I deal with her?"

"I can be a good babysitter." Lucas grinned.

"We all agreed that I will take care of her. There is nothing to worry about," Alex assured Mateo.

Furuya Rei said, "All right, I get it. You are under a woman's spell. But why did you call for me?"

Alex spoke his mind, "I want you to give her an identity so that she won't be sent to prison."

Furuya Rei raised an eyebrow.

"And you think I will do that. With what power? I'm a police officer."

Alex mentioned, "But your elder brother isn't. Your brother will take care of the papers and your 'Prime Minister' father will sign the papers."

Furuya Rei couldn't believe that his friend demanded something like that without flinching.

"Are you trying to ruin my father's career?"

Alex said, "Once you see her, you will change your mind."

The next day, Alex took Furuya Rei to meet the girl he named Sakura.

Furuya Rei had a soft spot for autistic girls because he had a younger sister who was autistic.

Noticing Sakura's behavior, he agreed to help her within five minutes.

Before he left, he said to Alex, "I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing this for you. You are exceptionally gentle when you are with her. Do you know that?"

"Maybe I'm ready to have a sister."

"Just don't bed your sister."

That's how, two days later, the girl who was named Sakura moved into Alex's apartment.

And, her reaction was unpredictable.

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*In Japan, there are 4 ways to address people.

Chan: to address someone who is cute; i.e. Sakura-chan

Kun: to address someone who is more like a friend; i.e. Furuya-kun

San: to address someone respectfully; i.e. Shinobu-san

Sama: to address someone who is highly respected; i.e. Yoshida-sama