Few more days passed since Haru visited Suki at home. The little girl felt better even if moving her arm was still painful.

Salvatore had introduced her to the female bodyguard that they hired for her, and even if she didn't think that it was necessary, she didn't say anything. For her, it was only a measure reassuring for her father. As Suki was still staying at home, the bodyguard worked as reinforcement to guard the house.

The previous day, Suki also met the physical therapist that would be in charge of her reeducation. The therapist was asked to come for one hour everyday. The first session was more a check-up session, to evaluate the work to do. She received the order to be careful with the little girl, as to not make things to painful for her.

In parallel, the nurse was now only coming once in the morning and once in the evening. Suki felt now really bored in the house. Her father and Gabriel tried to spend time with her during the day, but they were pretty busy, so she spent most of time alone.

It was now Thursday evening. The entire family was gathered for dinner. Suki had taken off the brace to maintain her arm, following the advice of the therapist, to little by little, let her arm finding back his mobility. Of course, she had to be careful in her movements.

The little girl was not a big fan of the school, even if she liked to study, so she found the courage to ask her father the permission to start to return to school when Salvatore asked her about her day.

Salvatore: Suki, how was your session with your therapist today?

Suki: It was good, she is very soft... euh... Otô-san... (Everyone stared at her, and she blushed, feeling their heavy gazes on her.)

Salvatore: Yes, what's wrong?

Suki: ... Nothing is wrong... it's just... I... I want to go back to school.

Vito: You're stuttering just to ask to go to school? Such an idiot...

Gabriel: Vito! (He badly glared at him.) Suki, isn't it too soon?

Dante: I agree! You arm is not healed yet.

Gianni: You can't even lift a glass of water with the state of your arm, what the rush to go to school?

Suki didn't expect to be interrogated that much by her brothers for a simple request like that. She was starring at her father, waiting for his answer. Enzo, who was usually on her side, once again pleaded for her cause.

Enzo: She is stuck at home since almost 2 weeks, none of you would have stay in place for so long!

Davide: It's not like she has anything else to do or anyone to see...

Salvatore: Suki, I am not sure that rushing your return to school is a good idea. What if someone bumps into your arm in a corridor?

Suki: I will be careful... And there is only one day left before the weekend.

Dante: A better reason to stay at home! (She looked at him and he kept his serious gaze on her until she looked away.)

Salvatore: Listen, let's wait until Monday. Depending on the therapist's opinion, you can go back to school next week. Okay?

Suki: (She nodded.) Thank you.

Vito: Everyone tries to avoid school except you... you're really weird...

The dinner continued with a silent Suki. After they were done, she directly went to her room with a piano sheet. She couldn't play for now, but she could still learn a little with theory.

Gianni: The kid's reeducation just began, what does the therapist think about the wound after-effects?

Salvatore: She is optimist that Suki will completely recover without damages. I asked her to take sufficient time to not overwork Suki.

Gianni: Good, because her usual condition is already not the best.

Dante: You mean her tiny body and complete absence of muscles? (Gianni made a "Yes" sign with his hand.) Fragile little thing...

Gabriel: (He stood up to leave the room.) At least, she is cute, not like the two of you...

Vito: Dad, are you sure that she is your daughter and not Gab's one? Sometimes, he acts like she is his offspring.

Salvatore: Yes, I am, thanks for your concerns. Vito, are you jealous that your brother doesn't pay as much attention to you as on your little sister?

Vito frowned while his brothers laughed. Since few weeks, the two youngest brothers' relationship with Gabriel was better. The fact that they stopped harassing Suki helped a lot. And that new dynamic was somehow new for them two. They were not used to that kind of complicity, but teasing each others was not so annoying.

Vito: I'm not a kid!

Salvatore: Sure. (He stood up too.) Be a good man, so your eldest brother and your old father can be proud of you. (He left.)

Dante: Vito... since when did you become a softy?

Vito: (He glared at him.) You are the soft one... because of that girl!

Davide: I agree! You all became as tender as marshmallows since that girl lives here... tough in the outside, soft in the inside...

Vito: Clearly that! At first, it was only Gab... but she somehow contaminated you too... you're lost, brothers.... (He smirked.)

Gianni: How much nonsense can come from your mouth? We only adapted ourselves, to have that weak little thing in our house, nothing more, right?

Gianni seemed to seek confirmation from Dante who stayed silent. He didn't want to admit it but what his younger brothers said was right. He changed because of Suki. He tried to reject her, but she had won her place. Enzo was also observing in silence.

Vito: Gianni, Bro', you don't need to deny it so badly...

Gianni: Shut up! (Vito and Davide laughed at his reaction.)

Enzo: I like to have a little sister... (They all looked at him.)

Davide: Yes, we know... the perfect older brother...

Enzo: (He smiled proudly.) Thank you! I'm glad that you recognize that I am a good brother because that child deserves to have good brothers. She is nice and polite, smart and really cute...

Davide: Arff... stop... you're really the worst...

Enzo: (He laughed at his twin's annoyance.) ... I still love you the most brother, twin's privilege... even if I would really appreciate if you could be nicer with Suki.

Davide: I am nice... (He smirked.)... I didn't kill her.... (He checked his phone.)... let's stop talking about that useless thing and go to party!

Enzo shook his head in front of his brother's stubbornness.

Gianni: Who goes clubbing on a Thursday night?

Davide: Girls that don't want to be bother by guys... and that's when I'm the best to play the nice guy!

Vito: Thursday nights' girls... the best ones...

Dante: Aren't you dating a new girl at school, after you dumped that bit** of blonde girl?

Vito: Mary? It's the school girlfriend... But about that, I don't have anything to teach you... (Gianni and Dante smiled.) Let's go! Bye oldies!

Enzo was dragged away by his brothers. Gianni went to the gym room for a night training session while Dante went to his office to have a video call with one of his men in charge of monitoring the Tanaka clan. With the time difference, it was already morning at Tokyo.

Dante asked his men to be very discreet to not alarm the Japanese family. If there was a suspicion regarding Suki's safety, he had to inform him immediately.

The weekend passed quietly. The little girl received the authorization from her father to go back to school. She promised to be careful and to call him or one of her brothers if she changed her mind.

Salvatore accompanied her to school, with the female bodyguard on the passenger seat. She was not allowed in the school, but she will accompany Suki on her every moves and will be in charge to protect her in her way back home.

When Suki walked threw the corridors, the other students stared at her, even more than usually. Fortunately, Haru came early, and he came to greet his friend before the beginning of the first class.

Haru: Are you sure to be alright? Isn't it too soon to come back here?

Suki: (She smiled.) You are reacting like my brothers. I am fine, really. If I don't move my arm too much, it's not painful... it's just that I lost the little strength that I had... (She laughed of herself.)

Haru: (He smiled.) Anyway, it's nice to see you back. Good luck with your classes... (He waved to her.) See you at lunch time!

The young boy left to his own classroom. Suki entered hers and she sat at her usual spot. Her classmates entered one by one, and they stared at her. Only one girl dared to ask her why she was absent for so long. Suki politely replied that she was sick, and the girl didn't ask more.

Just before the beginning of the class, the teacher checked if the little girl had received her lessons and if she needed an additional class to catch up on the lessons. Suki thanked the teacher and told him that she had worked on her own at home.

The morning went well. The bell just rang to announce the lunch time break. Most of the students rushed to the cafeteria, so Suki preferred to wait a little that the corridors were less crowded. Whenshe came out, Haru was quietly waiting for her.

Suki: Haru... sorry, you waited for long...

Haru: No, don't worry. Do you... (An announcement interrupted him.)

School Secretary: Miss Suki Tanaka-Smith is requested at the administration office. (The two children exchanged a concern gaze.)

The two children were not the only ones surprised by the sudden announcement. Vito, who was about to enter the cafeteria, stopped walking and looked around to find Suki. He quickly understood that she was not here yet. He didn't waste time and took the direction of his little sister's classroom.

He found her in the corridor with Haru. She didn't seem well. In fact, when Suki heard her name called through the speaker, her heart started to beat quickly. She felt nauseous. It reminded her the day she was called and that Mr Tanaka was there, asking to talk to her. Haru saw his friend's distress and he was trying to calm her. The loud voice of Vito echoing in the hallway caught their attention.

Vito: Eh! What's going on?!

Haru: She doesn't feel well since they called her.

Vito: (He stopped in front of her and pulled up her chin.) Eh, look at me and breath slowly.

Suki: Vito... what if... what if he is back...

Suki was staring at her brother with teary eyes. Vito frowned.

Vito: No one is back! That old man is thousand kilometers away and his son is dead! (He sighed.) Let's go!

He grabbed her right wrist and dragged her, as gently as he was capable, toward the administration office. Haru followed them, worried for his friend. They quickly reached the secretary office. Vito entered unceremoniously, that startled the woman behind her desk.

Secretary: Mr Smith, don't you know how to knock at a door?!

Vito: Why did you call her?

Secretary: As Miss Tanaka-Smith was absent for a long period, the school counselor asked to meet her. It's the usual procedure.

Vito: And you had to call her like that? Couldn't you ask her teacher to inform her?! Is my father aware of this?

Secretary: As I said, it's the usual procedure.

Vito: I don't give a sh...

Suki: Vito... if... if it's the procedure, I can do it.

Vito: No, you won't! It's your lunch break. Find another time and be sure that my father is aware! Let's go!

Secretary: Wait...

Vito didn't listen to the secretary, and he dragged back Suki outside. In the hallway, the little girl tried to stop him.

Suki: Vito... wait... (He stopped abruptly, surprising the children.)

Vito: What? Don't tell me that you want to talk with that counselor, you were freaking out few minutes ago!

Suki: But...

Vito: No "But"! Do you want my Dad to worry because you're skipping your meal? You're so little, thin and weak!

Haru: Suki, your brother is right. You can meet that person later.

Vito: Even that nerd understands what is the priority! (They both stared at him.) Something to say? (They shook their head.)

Vito walked still holding Suki's wrist until they reached the cafeteria's doors. He entered first and joined his friends without saying anything more than "Eat all your food."

Haru: Suki, are you sure to be alright?

Suki: Hum,... Sorry, I am a bit sensitive lately. (They entered.)

Haru: You should have maybe stayed at home a bit more.

Suki: Staying at home while everyone is busy, is a bit weird... my father and my brothers changed their scheduled a lot because of me and I don't want to bother them more... and that school is not that bad in fact... I even made a friend... (She shyly smiled.)

Haru: It's too bad that we don't have the same classes... except sports but obviously, you are going to skip that one for some time.

Suki: I work hard on my reeducation, so please wait for me...

Suki laughed and Haru smiled. He was glad to see her like that and not stressed like earlier. He felt Vito gaze on them, but the young boy avoided to cross his look. The two friends had their lunch and they talked during almost the entire break. They returned to their respective classrooms before the bell rung, to avoid the crowd.

The teacher entered early too, and she gave Suki a note for a new appointment with the counselor after her last class. The little girl thanked her politely. She would have to inform her new bodyguard that she will come out a bit later from school.

The afternoon passed quickly, and it was now time for Suki to meet that counselor. She presented herself at the secretary office and the lady welcomed her with a warm smile. Suki had to wait few minutes before a young woman opened the counselling office door.

Counselor: Suki? I am Lila Paris. Please, come in, take a seat.

Suki: Thank you.

Lila Paris: You are probably asking yourself why I asked to meet you, right? (Suki nodded.) It's a program put in place to have a better follow up of our students. You were absent for a long time.

Suki found that woman very smiling and she felt comfortable.

Suki: Yes, I hurt my arm and my father preferred to keep me at home, to not risk to aggravate the injury.

Lila Paris: Your father... (She looked at Suki's file.) Mr Smith. He is a very busy man, but he seems to prioritize his children in fine, that's good. (She put the file after few seconds.) We couldn't meet when you joined our school because I was abroad, I am sorry about that, but is everything alright with your class? Your classmates? Your teachers? Do you have any concerns you would want to share with me? Know that everything that you are going to say to me will stay between us.

Suki: Everything is alright... the school is good... and the teachers are nice with me.

Lila Paris: And your classmates? I know how sometimes children can be tough in our school. Did you make friends?

Suki: Yes... (The counselor smiled.) One...

Lila Paris: That's great. It's better to have one good friends that a bunch of friends that don't really consider you as a friend. (Suki smiled, happy of the woman's encouraging words.) And at home? I read your file; I know that you had to go through a lot in the past few months. (Suki's smile dropped.) Suki, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, I am just interested in you, as a counselor.

Suki: My father is a very kind man and my brothers... they all have different personalities... but they take good care of me.

Lila Paris: I'm glad to hear that. I know that it is not always easy to integrate a new environment and, in your case, a new family.

Even if Suki felt comfortable at first, after all those questions, she was way less. Every questions reminded the little girl of the different events she went through, from her mother's death to the recent attack she had to face.

Lila Paris: Suki... are you sure to be fine? I can...

She was interrupted by someone barging in her office, Gabriel. Suki startled and frowned of pain, when the door opened behind her. She turned herself and found her eldest brother standing in her back with a serious face. The counselor frowned.

Suki: Onii-san... (She stood up.)

Lila Paris: Mr Smith, it is very rude to barge in someone's office like that, even more when a session is going on.

Gabriel: Suki, please, can you wait for me in the corridor with your bodyguard. (He smiled and she nodded.)

Suki: Goodbye, Miss Paris. (The counselor smiled until Suki was out.)

Lila Paris: Why are you here? (Her tone was colder.)

Gabriel: What do you think you're doing with my little sister?

Lila Paris: Just my job, that is to be sure that she is fine.

Gabriel: You have plenty of students to do your job. Suki doesn't need your... advices or anything else coming from you!

Gabriel gaze was cold and considered by a lot of people, menacing. But the counselor didn't seem afraid or even surprised by his attitude. And for a good reason, she knew Gabriel very well, he was her ex-boyfriend until few months ago.

Lila Paris: You are not the one deciding who I should give my support or not!

Gabriel: (He made a step forward.) Don't push me to my limits, Lila. If you think about using my little sister, forget about it or you will regret it and I will not be cordial with you anymore.

Lila Paris: (She stood up.) Please don't insult my integrity. I am not a bit** to use an 11 years old girl just to fu** with you!

Gabriel: Great! Because it's never going to happen, and you will lose everything if you do!

Gabriel looked at her with a dark gaze before leaving her office. The young woman sat back after releasing a heavy sigh.

In the hallway, Suki was waiting with her bodyguard, wondering what was going on in the counselor office.

Suki: Onii-san... why did you come to school? Were you not working? Is it because I was meeting the counselor? Apparently, it's something normal so...

Gabriel: (He bent to her eyes level.) Hey, breathe, relax. (He giggled.) You are lively, it's good to see you like that. (He patted her head.) Ready to go home?

Suki smiled and Gabriel nodded to the bodyguard. The woman walked in front of the siblings, and they got in the young man's car where his driver was waiting.

Gabriel: Are you not too tired? (He gave her a bottle of water.)

Suki: A little, but it was good to go to school. Hum... did you come here because I was with the counselor? I didn't say anything to her about what happened!

Gabriel: Suki, you don't have to stress yourself about that. Yes, I came here when I heard that you were meeting that woman because I don't want you to feel pressure to talk to a stranger about your life.

Suki: How did you know that she asked to see me?

Gabriel: Vito texted me earlier but when your bodyguard informed me that you were staying a bit longer at school for that meeting, I preferred to come directly.

Suki: Why?

Gabriel: As I said, if you feel the need to talk with someone, I will find the best doctor for you, but that woman is a stranger for you, and she works in your school. I assumed that you will not be comfortable to share your feelings with her.

Suki: Miss Paris was nice... (She smiled innocently to her brother.)... even if she asked a lot of questions... so, Vito... he told you that I was scared when they called me?

Gabriel: Yes, I know. Suki, I assure you that those 2 men will never appear in your life ever again.

Suki: (She smiled to hide her embarrassment.) It was stupid to be afraid... I know...

Gabriel: No,it was not. You reacted like an 11 years old girl would do.

Suki felt reassured after her little talk with her eldest brother. The little girl felt really grateful to have a caring big brother in moment like that. She was tired after that long day, but she still had to do her physical therapy in one hour at home.

She authorized herself to close her eyes for the last minutes of the ride home and her head naturally rested on Gabriel's arm.

He looked at her with a small smile. She was indeed still only a child. When they reached home, he woke up her and quickly left to go back to their company. He asked her to eat something and rest until her reeducation session.

Later, Salvatore was the last one to come back, just before dinner time. He quickly went to shower and put comfortable clothes, then he asked his daughter how was her day at school.

Suki: It was good, I had lunch with Haru.

Salvatore: Nothing else?

Suki: (She looked at Gabriel.) I was asked to meet the counselor too, so I saw her after my last class.

Vito: You went back to see that woman?! Why?!

Suki: They rescheduled it and it's a normal process they said.

Vito: It's stupid!

Salvatore: Vito, calm down.

Davide: It's still that woman? (He smirked when Vito said "Yes".)

I guess she wants to attract someone's attention... (Suki stared at him without understanding.) Another stupid girl...

Dante: I thought that she left the country?

Vito: It's was temporary... an exchange or something...

Salvatore was observing silently his daughter who seemed completely lost in the middle of her brothers' conversation. Enzo, who was sitting next to her, bent to murmur.

Enzo: Lila Paris is Gabriel's ex-girlfriend...

Suki: (She couldn't hide her astonishment.) What?! Really?

Gabriel: Enzo!

Enzo: What? She has the right to know... well... I think... Sorry...