A former student at Shirokin Gakuen, Kudo Hiroki, joined a Yakuza gang and tries to frame the Oedo family for his deeds. Although Yankumi dealt with him years ago. Kudo never overcame the vendetta he had towards Shin and Kumiko. After he was released from prison, he was thinking it was time to pay them back.

Sawada after hearing from Kumiko's grandpa that Hiroki started causing troubles again. He took the first plane back to Tokyo. Since Kudo's main target was Shin, he a to face him. Troubling Kuroda-san or Yankumi was out of the question. After all, Shin was like that, he would never let anyone hurt anyone close to him. He would protect them. He would deal with his own matters.

At the same time, Kuma faced his own problems with Loan Sharks. Kuma, as Shin, had the same thought 'face his problems on his own'. Since Yankumi was back teaching at Kurogin Gakuen, Kuma would not bother her. "She has now her own students to take care of. I am a grown-up. I will deal with my issues." was Kumai thinking. Since the Loan Sharks appeared that thought become stronger. Thankfully, Yabuki was around and helped Kuma with the shop at that time. Kuma would never, involve a student, to his affairs. But, after Yabuki found out about Kuma's problems, he couldn't let him be. He started hanging around with him and helping at the shop. And to keep an eye on him.

Meanwhile, the Sawada plane was landing at Narita airport. His hair was now shorter. The color was back to natural black. His shoulder and back looked stronger, as he was a member of a boxing club in the university. Dressed casual, with the same emotionless look on his face he arrived home. He greeted his parents and had dinner with them. Natsumi was now studying in New York. Shin spoke with her every now and then. It was his parents he had not seen for months since he was in Oxford.

After dinner, his next stop was to Kudo. He had found out from Kuroda-san were his base was. Although Kuroda-san told him not to go face him alone. Shin, would not listen. He got Kudo by surprise as he was walking towards the office. Shin's piercing eyes glared at Kudo.

"Long time not seen Kudo" Shin spoke serious in a soft but high tone, as he was leaning against the office wall.

"Saw... Sawada, you... here" Hiroki asked with a surprised face.

"I found out you are creating chaos … I thought you were done with those kinds of things? What happened?" Shin asked him half serious and half worried. After all, Kudo was an old friend of his. Maybe his actions have become more mischievous, but still, it was someone Shin knew.

"Nothing. I just leveled up Sawada! Why ...did I scare you?" he asked with an ironic and devilish smile on his face.

"Kudo don't ... Just don't! Keep your hands off my people." Shin said and walked away without waiting at him to answer back. It was a clear warning. Sawada didn't need to say anything else, Kudo knew he was not kidding around.

It was night already when Sawada was walking near the park. A few minutes away was Komai's ramen shop. Shin hasn't seen his friend for a while now. He missed Kuma a lot and had the feeling he was into trouble. He felt into deep thoughts, as the next person he thought about was Yankumi. Shin's feelings didn't change, even if it was 3 years he had not seen Yankumi. His heart would beat fast only in the small change of meeting her. But, he was avoiding that thought. He knew, he still knew... Yankumi would see him as her student nothing more. After all, he was still a student.

'A student ..' he thought as he froze behind a tree. In the middle of the main path of the park. There were people talking. In front was Kuma, behind him Kumiko and some younger people Shin didn't know. ' Yankumi...' he thought and he broke down. His body could not move, as he noticed Kuma and Yankumi fighting.

"Are they threading you to close down?" a familiar voice asked.

"Why didn't you ask me for help earlier?" Kumiko asked again.

"That has nothing to do with you!" answered Kuma angry. "Don't kid around.. You are nosy...Yankumi... you are not my school teacher anymore." Kuma made it clear.

'Threading... Kuma..' Shin unfroze and took a step forward. His friend seemed in trouble how could he hide. ' you are not my school teacher anymore...' made Shin freeze again. 'Indeed Yankumi is not more our teacher... my teacher.. we haven't talked forever... we are... more like... strangers...' Shin thoughts took him down the hill. He turned around and walked away. He knew Yankumi would help Kuma if needed. For now, he was longing for some air. He would deal with Kuma's issues later.

Dawn found Sawada still awake, with his thoughts messed up and more complicated than before. It seemed he not only forgot Yankumi, but his feelings had become stronger. His heart was in pain, pain that he could not share with anyone. Shin again was alone as always. He had people to talk to, to have a good time. But in the end, he was all alone again, as he was years ago.

He reached Kuma's place at noon, to find out that Kumiko, her grandpa, Yabuki, and Odagiri had helped him. Kuma was surprised to see his friend after so long. He knew Shin was studying abroad. But they last time they talked Shin didn't tell him he had any plans to return.

"Shin … why, when did you arrived?" Kuma said as he was serving ramen at Odagiri and Yabuki.

Shin nodded and sat down with them. "I am back for a few days Kuma. Something came up. Don't tell anyone you saw me." Shin explained to Kuma.

"Yankumi, she will be here soon. She helped me again Shin. She insists that she will be our home teacher forever." Kuma said happily.

"I am glad, Kuma, she helped. I didn't make it on time to aid you. But as long as you have Yankumi around, I will feel at ease." Shin said as he stood up. "I have to go, Kuma. I will see you later" he murmured.

"Yankumi? You know Yamaguchi?" Odagiri asked Shin.

"Sawada and I were her first students. Shin! Odagiri and Yabuki are Yankumi's students. Like us, they cause all trouble for her.." Kuma went on explaining.

But Shin was not in the mood to listen. He was trying to avoid Kumiko. " I have to go. Please don't tell Yankumi you saw me..." he asked for a favor. They agreed with him. His serious face made it clear he meant it. And with half-wave, as goodbye Shin vanished.

Hours later, Kuma was on his way to drop an order close to school. The school had ended and Yamaguchi was walking back home daydreaming and not feeling very well. Since last night she was with a high fever. But with Kuma's problem, she didn't have any time to take any medicine. She paused when someone blocked her way. It was Kudo, with few of his new friends, holding a blade on his right hand.

"Long time not seen... 3D home teacher. I am here to take a small walk with you." Hiroki threatened her.

He and his thugs were not any major threat to Yankumi. She had dealt with worse. She dodged the attacks and hit them back making them met the ground with one of her hits. But her last punch never managed to reach the person she was aiming for. Her high fever kicked in and she fainted against Kudo's feet. Luckily Kuma saw everything. He called Sawada, as Kudo picked her up and dragged her into his car.

"Yankumi... Kuma if I am not back in half an hour go and get Kuroda-san..." Shin mumbled worried and ended the call.

All his effort to keep Yankumi away from Kudo and the mess he created went in vain. He felt more responsible as he cause Kumiko more trouble. But right now first priority was to get her out of there. He reached Kudo's place, Kudo was already heading out, leaving only one guard to watch over Yankumi. After he left, Sawada pushed into the office. The guard, taller, stronger and much heavier than Shin was surprised as Shin stormed in. He kicked the door open and attacked at him. It was clear that Shin became stronger over the years. But still, the guard managed to kick his rips many times. Shin smashed him against the wall a few times making him fall down.

"Yankumi ..." he said worried and run towards her. He gently picked her up and checked if she was alright. Shin noticed she was burning in a high fever. There was no blood or cut. "That makes sense.." he lipped, as he figured out that cause of her fever she must have fainted. Shin could still read Yankumi and her actions, as he did years ago. He picked her up in piggyback and walked with her outside half injured.

Yankumi still unconscious only whispered " Shinohara-sama.." making Shin looking her angry. 'What was she thinking... Shinohara...who … ' he thought mad. He knew who Shinohara was. He also knew Yankumi had a crush at him. 'That damn lawyer.. ' he went on thinking.

Shinohara was the lawyer for the Oedo Clan. As a way to repay what he feels is a debt to Kumiko's grandfather, he became their attorney. Kumiko has been smitten with him for a long time. Shin found out about him, since the first time he visited Yankumi's room. There was a picture of him, next to a picture of her with her parents, and a picture of the 3D students of Shirokin Gakuen. Shin knew back then it was someone important to her. Also while talking with her grandfather, he found out that 'Shinohara-sama' would be a tough rival. It was that what got Shin into law school after all.

But his thoughts soon ended as Kudo and his thugs were back. Shin softly lay Kumiko down and stood above her protecting her. Those thugs were too many for Shin. Shin was facing the ground filled with cuts and blood. But, all ended well since Kuma informed Testu and Minoru, and they come to their aid and they were saved. Kudo managed to escape and went on hiding. We will meet him years later, where he will be stronger and cause more problems.

Sawada stood up as Shinohara come out of the car with Kumiko's grandfather. It was a rare occasion to see Shinohara together with Kuroda-san since he was mostly away dealing with things. Shin looked at Tomoya and murmured "You come too late … I saved her..." and then walked away leaving Yankumi to be carried home by Shinohara. Shin gave a low bow to Kurada-san and bypassed them hurt and bleeding. "Don't tell anything about these to Yamaguchi.," he said while walking away. Kumiko's grandfather was confused, he started thinking something was going on. He almost figured out why Shin would act like that.

Tomoya, who was carrying now Kumiko back home, felt sorry about Shin. "That unlucky brat..." he said. "Why is he acting like that?" he was wondering " Is it so hard to face Yankumi?" But Tomoya already knew the answer. He knew how Kumiko thought of her students. And since Shin was, a student of hers, there was no way she would see Shin in another way. 'But, then again why did he has to hide that he saved her? Young people... I cannot get them at all' Shinohara thought.

Days later, Yankumi was feeling better and returned to school. As about Kudo's incident, no one told her, who saved her. So, she went on worrying about her students and the new issues they faced. Shin, after not being able to track Kudo down, went back to finish his studies. Again fate was against them. Maybe, Shin was able to see Kumiko, able to save her, but only to make him realize how much in love he really was. And how hard it became to face his feelings.

(( continuing in Chapter 3... ))