Chapter 19 — Celebrations & Ab*se

​「Who’s planning this…? Hold up. I never authorized this,」 Jerry frowned, his arms crossed, his Black eyes showing mild disapproval.​Shizuko grinned proudly, hands on her hips. 「I’m the second-highest authority in the house after Ms. Haruka, and she agreed too!」​Jerry exhaled, a small, genuine smile breaking through his reserved demeanor. 「Sighs. Fine… I guess we’re having a party.」​Shizuko clapped her hands, ecstatic. 「Yay! So… will you guys join us, Ms. Mei? There’ll be cake!」​Mei hesitated, her cheeks warming slightly under the direct invitation. 【How can I say no when she’s asking so politely…】 「O-okay… I’ll be there.」​Shizuko’s eyes sparkled with mischief, already planning the next event. 「Hm, Ms. Jiyeon, your birthday’s on the 20th, right?」​Jiyeon giggled, charmed. 「Yes… do you have something planned for us too?」​Shizuko nodded emphatically. 「Mhm. If we celebrate on Friday, we can party all weekend!」​Miyeon laughed lightly, shaking her head. 「Oh my… you’re too young to be a party animal.」​Jerry glanced at Shizuko, his concern mild. 「She has a point, Shizu.」​「I know… but it’ll be fun, please, Papa!」​Jerry smirked, giving her a challenge. 「You’re going to have to get Hana and Haruka’s votes too.」​Shizuko jumped down from Mei’s lap, already energized. 「Okay! Oh, and don’t forget—Friday’s school, so tomorrow we need to go buy supplies.」​「Trust me, I didn’t forget,」 Jerry said with a nod.​「Bye!」 She ran back to Haruka, skipping lightly, her mission accomplished.​Renji leaned in conspiratorially. 「So… Are you partying tonight?」​Jerry shook his head. 「Nah, just a small get-together. I don’t do large crowds on my birthday.」​Riyuka scoffed, her disdain for his complexity showing. 「Who knew you were such an introvert.」​Jerry shrugged, his expression darkening slightly. 「Well, Riyuka, I don’t like crowds or loud noises. They bring back… bad memories.」​Mei tilted her head, her curiosity overcoming her shyness. 「…Um, what type of memories… if you don’t mind?」​Jerry’s gaze met hers, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. 「The kind that make me wear noise-canceling headphones, sit in a soundproof basement, and play video games all New Year’s.」​Mei gasped softly, the image of his hidden suffering hitting her hard. 「I-I’m sorry… for asking such an inappropriate question.」​「It’s okay. I don’t like speaking on it… but my therapist said it’s good to let it out, bit by bit.」​【Who knew someone like him went to therapy…?】 Mei’s lips curved into a small, hesitant smile, a mixture of sympathy and admiration. 「You're brave to take that first step.」​Jerry nodded. 「True.」​Miyeon glanced between them, a wry look on her face. 「Could you two… subliminally trauma bond on your own?」​Mei’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and she instantly went quiet.​Jerry smirked. 「Alright, if you say so.」
​◽ Later at JJ’s house ◽
​The living room had been modestly decorated, clearly by Shizuko and Haruka.​「Err… you really outdid yourself, Shizuko,」 JJ said warmly, his Brown eyes scanning the room.​Shizuko beamed. 「Thanks, Papa.」​Masahiro Fujiwara cleared his throat, waiting for the formality. 「Well then, kid… are you going to say something?」​JJ straightened, raising his glass. 「Alright. First, I’d like to thank everyone for coming to my party today. Thank you for treating me like any other 22-year-old.」​Asahi Itadori chuckled, raising his own glass. 「I mean… you are just like any other 22-year-old.」​Laughter rippled through the small crowd.​JJ smiled. 「Second, thanks to Shizuko and Ms. Haruka for making this possible. If left to my own devices, it wouldn’t have happened. Third… let’s get this started!」​Cheers erupted.
​◽ Later that night ◽
​「Thanks for inviting me… but I should get home,」 Mei said softly to JJ as the party wound down.​JJ shook his head, his Brown eyes gentle. 「It’s past midnight and it’s bare outside. Stay in the guest room—it’s fine.」​Mei hesitated, her discomfort visible. 「I… I don’t want to inconvenience you.」​JJ grinned, playful. 「It won’t be an inconvenience. Or… do you want me to keep you warm?」​Mei’s ears instantly turned red. 「D-Don’t joke like that!」​He chuckled. 「Alright, alright. You get the guest room tonight, and tomorrow I’ll take you to uni with the twins. How’s that sound?」​Mei nodded, relieved and grateful. 【I hope he doesn’t get mad…】 「That sounds good. I’ll go to the guest room then.」​JJ watched her leave. 【Well… all the signs were there. Are you sure about this, MJ?】​【Yeah… we have to help her,】 MJ replied silently, communicating through the inner system.​JJ exhaled, surrendering to the consensus. 「Sighs. Just take responsibility if things hit the fan, alright?」​【Don’t worry, I will,】 MJ assured him.
​◽The Next Day at Kaigan Toshi Trinity (KTT) ◽ (Thursday, 14 April 2050) 
​「Good morning. How may I help you?」 the receptionist asked politely as JJ and Hana approached the desk.​「Hi, I’m JJ Samuels—father of Shizuko Samuels and sponsor of Sora Mori,」 JJ introduced, his Brown demeanor polite and professional.​「Oh! You’re the parent of the girls who scored full marks on the transfer exams. Those girls are truly something else,」 the receptionist said in awe.​JJ chuckled. 「Honestly, I didn’t expect them to get full marks—it was part of a bet we made.」​The receptionist giggled. 「The prize must’ve been something they really wanted.」​Hana nodded, smiling warmly. 「Yes, it was.」​The receptionist’s eyes widened, recognizing Hana’s protective warmth. 「I take it you’re Ms. Mori?」​Hana shook her head, giggling. 「No, I’m Hana Allen. Shizuko’s adopted mother.」​The receptionist gasped softly, realizing the family dynamics. 「Really… so you two—」​Hana laughed lightly, cutting off the speculative question. 「Not officially yet. His brother’s getting married this year, so we didn’t want to steal their thunder. But the papers were signed last week.」​JJ raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. 「Really? Who authorized it?」​Hana giggled. 「Your grandma. She said she couldn’t wait for us to make it official.」​JJ nodded knowingly. 「Sounds like her.」 He looked at the receptionist. 「Can we get a brochure?」​「Y-Yes, of course.」 She handed them each one. 「Um… where’s Ms. Mori?」​「She’s at work and sent us instead,」 JJ replied easily.​The receptionist nodded. 【Wow… if only I could find a guy like that.】
​◽At Liu Yong’s place◽
​Mei sobbed quietly on the floor, curled into a defensive ball.​Yong approached with practiced, chilling calm. 「I’ll ask you again, Zhang Mei… where were you last night?」​「I… I was at a friend’s place,」 Mei whispered, trying to hold onto the lie.
​Yong struck her across the face, and she coughed violently from the impact. 
​Yong sighed, a horrifying mix of irritation and manufactured concern in his tone. 「Mei… you know I hate lies. Where were you?」​「I… I said—」
​Yong kicked her several times in the stomach with deliberate, heavy force. She cried out in searing pain.
​He stopped, panting slightly. 「Phew… this hurts me more than it hurts you, you know that, right?」​Mei’s eyes widened in shock and fear, barely able to process the cruelty.​Yong crouched in front of her, his expression twisting into a mask of false sympathy. 「I know you may not believe me, but I don’t mean to hurt you. You do things that force my hand.」 He hugged her tightly, a perverse act of affection.​Mei trembled uncontrollably in his grasp.​「Now… I’ll ask nicely one more time. Who were you with last night?」 Yong asked gently, forcing a soft, sickening chuckle.​Tears streamed down Mei’s face, her voice cracked with pain and terror. 「I… I was with my friends…」​He exhaled, frustration mingled with disappointment at her refusal to confess. 「Maybe a week at home will change your mind.」 
He released her and left the room, locking the door.​Mei collapsed onto the cold floor, sobbing uncontrollably, the agony both physical and emotional.