The drive there was a good time for Ayano to clear her head, it was something about the serenity and peace within the car, and maybe something to do with the scenery passing, foliage around the highway was dusted with snow. It was another half an hour before she reached her parents' house; when she pulled up to her parents she didn't go up the driveway, she just parked on the road before walking up the rest of the way.
She did not like going anywhere near these family dinners, she was just always compared to Kumiko. Something she was told her whole life, but now that she too was on her own feet they are starting to pester her about having a family, she was only 26! Ayano arrived at the door and just as she was about to knock, the door was ripped open and her mother beamed at her. Dragging her in, and announcing to her dad, Kumiko and some other relatives that everyone was present now.
"Mother slow down! You're going to make me drop the food!"
"It will be fine! Come, come!"
Ayano watched as her mother grabbed the things from her hand and scuttled off into the kitchen where she caught her father helping out as well. She quietly greeted some of her other relatives before seating herself at the table, talking to one of her younger cousins.
"Are you not even going to greet your sister?"
Ayano turned slowly and looked at Kumiko, dressed all smartly with her hair tied back, a surprisingly warm look on her face that made Ayano's skin crawl.
"How are you?"
"I am great, Tamaki has proposed to me recently and we are going to be married in one year!"
Ayano genuinely smiled this time, "Congratulations on the engagement. Is he here today?"
"No, unfortunately, he is visiting [Name]'s grave today."
Ayano's thoughts stopped running for a moment until she saw the hateful look in her eyes though her expression was pleasant, Ayano kept herself composed and just answered with an 'oh', before shrugging and made more meaningless conversation until Kumiko left in a huff as she did not get the desired reactions she wanted from Ayano.
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It was already quite late when the family dinner ended, and the adults were starting to play games. Ayano was the first out of the door, giving the excuse that she had to get to work early in the morning for an important meeting with a client.
Welcoming the chill of winter as soon as she stepped outside, only to almost scream in fright as she saw Tamaki in the darkness.
He nodded at her, grimacing slightly, "My apologies, it was not my intention to scare you."
Ayano nodded, "You're here to pick up my sister?"
"Yes."
Ayano nodded and said no more, she moved to walk past him and down the driveway to her car. But she was stopped by a firm grip on her elbow, she flicked him off, but turned around with a wary and questioning gaze.
"What are you doing, Tamaki?"
He said nothing but crushed a tiny piece of paper into her hand before stumbling towards the door, Ayano turned around and hurried to her car, this time the chill wasn't a welcomed one and it made her uncomfortably numb. She ignored her burning curiosity and drove home, as quickly as she could, the little piece of paper in her coat pocket forgotten by the next day.
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She walked into her office, greeting some of the other lawyers that also worked in the same chamber as her. Lila came up to her with a big smile, one that Ayano returned with one of her own, gratefully accepting the coffee that was given to her.
Ayano was about to settle down at her desk, prepared to start writing and answering her emails and prepare cases for the barristers to go over, until a soft thump sounded next to her accompanied by the little squeak of a spinny chair.
She gazed questioningly at Lila, "Do you need something?"
"You look really tired and slightly sad, so I thought that I should do my work with you. I know we both are going through our work loads so we don't have much to do when we get home," Lila said with a wry smile.
"Of course, thank you for keeping me company then. If you'd like, we can both go to the new boba café afterwards?"
"Oh gosh yes!"
The two women worked, preparing cases and going through emails and met with clients. It was one of the quieter days meaning that they were able to talk a tiny bit louder to each other and greet other friends within the chambers.
Time moved quickly and it did not feel long until their paid hours were over. The two packed up their things and prepared to go to the boba café before they were stopped by Luke, an extremely close friend of Lila's and a good friend of Ayano.
"Wh-where are you two going now? Straight h-home or- "
Ayano already had an idea of what the young man was going to ask and nodded, "You can come along, and judging by the wad of paper you're holding we can help with that too."
Luke's eyes brightened and started gushing out thanks whilst bowing profusely. Lila chuckled at the scene before following Ayano out.
The café was not far away, it was only a ten minute walked, a walk that felt much slower however much fun it was. When they entered it had a lovely intoxicating smell of fruit, tea and coffee all mixed together none of them clashing together. Ayano shooed Lila and Luke away after getting their orders and ignoring their protests of paying for themselves; she felt her heart wither ever so slightly, this was a common habit that [Name] had before he died. Shaking her head, Ayano went and informed the cahsier what their orders were and also ordered a few extra, three slices of cake, one strawberry and oreo, coffee and vanilla and a simple cheesecake.
Ayano walked back to their table and started helping with the reading of a recent convicted murderer. She huffed when she noticed that Luke was given this as a defendant, it was going to be difficult when there was so much evidence piling up, it was without a doubt that it was the women who murdered all 5 children and 6 adults.
She mentioned this to Luke and she can all but see him wither the responsibility, but he brightened after the two said that they would do their best to help him with this humongous case.