Once Soichi's proof of blood relationship was accepted, his first application contained only two words.
Immediate return.
He had not written "request for a meeting" or "resumption of care."
To Soichi, the family genealogy had already proved that Nao belonged to the family. Konoha's continued protection amounted to holding someone else's child.
"Both her parents are dead."
"I'm her closest adult relative."
"The blood relationship has been established," the hearing officer said.
"Your right to provide care still needs to be verified."
Soichi slammed the table and stood.
"Family looks after its own children. Whose approval do we need?"
Nao was not in the same room.
She could hear the questions through a one-way audio link and cut it off at any time.
The school did not require her to confront, face-to-face, someone who had just tried to seize her while carrying a blade.
Nao first explained that she had indeed lived in Soichi's home for two years after her parents died.
Soichi had given her food and let her sleep in a heated room during the bitter winter.
That care could not be rewritten as something that had never existed simply because harm had occurred later.
Nao then said that, starting at eight, she had gone to the Mine Tunnel every day to collect scrap iron for Soichi.
The Mine Tunnel was at risk of collapse, and adults were unwilling to enter. Children were small enough to squeeze between the support timbers.
Once, she had returned empty-handed and been punished by being denied supper for two days.
Soichi denied forcing her.
"Everyone has to work. The food she ate didn't fall out of the sky."
"Did you explain the danger?"
"Every child in North Valley knows the Mine Tunnel is dangerous."
"Was she allowed to refuse?"
Soichi did not