Kapitel 117: Valentines Day Chaos

"It's like I said. I told Xinyi you'd be okay with pretending to be her boyfriend for the meeting," Jingliu explained, her voice steady. "But I did mention we'd need to meet up occasionally to practice. I mean, to go over what to say so you two wouldn't fumble through the conversation and mess up the plan."

Yasushi sat down on the bed, eyes fixed on Jingliu. He didn't like this one bit. "What if he asks us to kiss?" he asked, voice blunt, eyes unwavering.

Jingliu froze. The question hung in the air between them, heavy and unexpected. She stared at Yasushi, clearly caught off guard. "Um...r-reject it?"

"Can I really reject? What if it's the only thing he asks us to do?" Yasushi's voice grew more intense. "I won't be comfortable with that. And I doubt you will be either. I don't even know what Xinyi thinks about it," he added, though he had a hunch Xinyi might be more willing than either of them.

Jingliu sat in silence for a moment, her brow creased with worry. The weight of Yasushi's question lingered between them, pressing heavily on her thoughts. After a few seconds, she leaned forward and whispered sharply, "We may need to revisit this plan. Let's call her right now."

Yasushi gestured towards her phone, a silent encouragement. Jingliu quickly picked it up, dialing Xinyi's number and setting the call to speaker mode. The phone rang once before Xinyi's cheerful voice came through, tinged with playful curiosity. "Hey, hey~ what's up~?"

Jingliu wasted no time in relaying the conversation, detailing Yasushi's concerns about the potential for an unexpected request. Xinyi's response was immediate, her tone light and teasing. "Hmm…well, I wouldn't mind, you're right about that, Yasu-boy," she added with a giggle that made Yasushi's discomfort even more palpable.

Jingliu's irritation surfaced as she addressed Xinyi. "Can you please not be so blatant about wanting my boyfriend?"

Xinyi's laughter rang out again, untroubled by the rebuke. "Hey, harems are a thing in fiction, and sometimes in other cultures. What's stopping Yasushi from being part of one?" She chuckled, finding the situation amusing.

Yasushi exhaled, a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "Can we please get back on track? I don't particularly want to go into the topic of harems," he said, his frustration clear. Xinyi's laughter grew more pronounced, leaving Yasushi to shake his head in mild dismay.

"Sure, sure, but what do you want to do?" Xinyi's voice floated through the phone, casual and nonchalant. "I mean, my idea is for you two to fight. But if he loses, he might just drag things out through legal means, you know?"

Yasushi let out a weary sigh, frustration clear in his tone. "Why is your go-to solution always immediate violence?"

Xinyi's voice came through with a touch of enthusiasm. "You said it yourself. We're graduating next year. Once we're out of high school, any 'illegal' activities are likely to land us in serious trouble. So, we should take advantage of our current freedom and status before it's gone!" Her words were punctuated by a laugh, which only led to Jingliu and Yasushi exchanging resigned glances, their faces expressing a shared frustration.

After a brief period of back-and-forth, the conversation shifted back to the original topic.

Xinyi's voice cut through the tension with a new idea. "Then why not make it super obvious? Instead of just sitting beside him, I'll sit on his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. I could put my head on his shoulder and use other affectionate gestures. I mean, at that point, it would be pretty clear, right?" The suggestion hung in the air, and a heavy silence followed between Jingliu and Yasushi.

"I mean... if you don't take it too far, then it's fine," Jingliu said, her voice tinged with unease. Yasushi remained silent, his thoughts a stormy sea.

The trio's conversation shifted, drifting into talk of future plans. Ideas floated around, none of them concrete. The uncertainty hung over their heads like an approaching storm, casting shadows on their thoughts. They discussed various possibilities, each one seeming as tenuous as the last.

Eventually, the call ended. The room fell into a contemplative silence. Jingliu and Yasushi stayed together, their minds restless. The future loomed ahead, a vast expanse of unknowns. They stayed up, talking in low voices, the weight of their decisions pressing down on them.

+-+

Lunch had arrived, and the day remained uneventful. Yasushi's group had braced themselves for something dramatic to unfold, expecting it to happen early in the morning. As the hours ticked by without incident, their anticipation shifted to lunch, but even then, nothing happened.

The letter Laura had received, with its unsettling claims from a supposed "admirer" about making grand announcements and disturbing plans, had everyone on edge. Half the school day had passed, and still, there was no sign of any follow-through. Now, a new possibility crept into their minds: maybe it was all a bluff, designed to rattle them.

Furuya, restless and irritated, muttered under his breath while staring out the classroom window. "Come on, you piece of shit, do something. If you don't, I'll go FBI on you and find you myself."

Xinyi's laughter broke the tension, her tone light but with a hint of mischief. "Oh? Furuya wants to go my route then — violence," she remarked, a smirk playing on her lips. Her comment earned her a sharp poke from Laura, who clearly wasn't in the mood for jokes.

+-+

The end of the day arrived, and still, nothing had happened. Their group had been tense, eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. But as they made their way out of the school, finally, something broke the monotony.

From behind, a senior, a boy a year above them, dashed towards them. Before anyone could react, he scooped up Laura and bolted. The shock froze them in place for a heartbeat. Laura, wide-eyed and stunned, couldn't even process what was happening.

"Laura!?" The shout broke their paralysis, and they sprinted after him. The scene around them erupted into chaos, students and teachers alike bewildered by the bizarre turn of events.

The boy wasn't particularly fit, his pace more of a desperate scramble than a sprint. Jingliu, Xinyi, and Yasushi quickly gained on him. Xinyi's hand darted into her bag, pulling out an extendable stick. With a quick flick, it extended, and she jabbed it towards the boy. The end of the stick connected with his backside, eliciting a yelp of pain. His grip on Laura faltered, and she slipped from his grasp.

Yasushi was there, arms outstretched, catching her as she fell. He steadied her, making sure she was alright. But Jingliu and Xinyi didn't stop. They pushed on, pursuing the would-be kidnapper.

"You okay?" Yasushi's voice was steady, though concern lined his words as the rest of their group finally caught up. Layena and Catherine hurried to close the gap, moving swiftly to catch up with Jingliu and Xinyi, who were still in pursuit.

Laura nodded, her frame still trembling slightly. She leaned against Yasushi, taking a shaky breath as she attempted to steady herself. "I-I'm fine…" she mumbled, her voice soft and uncertain.

Before Yasushi could offer any further comfort, a loud, pained cry sliced through the air, pulling their attention away. The group hurried towards the source of the sound, their steps quickening.

They arrived to find the boy being held by the four girls, who had successfully subdued him. Each of them wore a stern expression, their glares fixed on the captured figure. Catherine wasted no time in patting him down, her movements precise. She pulled out a wallet and an ID card, her eyes scanning the details.

"Kouhei Morita, a third year," she announced, holding up the ID for the others to see. She continued, "It seems he's our secret admirer, since…" Catherine reached into the wallet and produced a neatly folded note. "This is the same letter he sent Laura yesterday."

Furuya took the letter from Catherine, his gaze scanning the neatly folded paper as the rest of the group leaned in to read over his shoulder. The content matched exactly what had been sent to Laura the day before. They exchanged glances, the weight of their findings sinking in as they turned their attention back to Kouhei Morita, who was still writhing beneath the firm grip of the girls.

"Let me go! Me and Laura deserve a future together!" Kouhei's voice, filled with fervent desperation, echoed through the area. "She was meant to come home with me today and become my wife! I'd get her pregnant within the year!!" His wild proclamation drew more startled stares from passersby, who gawked at the unfolding scene.

One onlooker, clearly disturbed by the outburst, dialed the police. It wasn't long before officers arrived, their presence adding to the commotion. They took statements from everyone involved, their faces serious as they pieced together the events. The girls helped Kouhei to his feet, and the police promptly slapped handcuffs on him, his resistance only adding to the spectacle.

"Wait for me, Laura!" Kouhei shouted as he was shoved into the police car. "I'll be back!! When I'm out, our true love story will finally begin!! I want at least five kids with you!!" His voice trailed off, filled with frantic fervor, as the car doors closed behind him.

Furuya, watching the police vehicles drive away, let out an exasperated sigh. "Why is our school full of psychos like him? I'm honestly getting tired of it," he remarked, his frustration evident as he shook his head, the absurdity of the day weighing heavily on him.

"We should get a psyche evaluation before being allowed admission into it," Xinyi muttered, a shiver running through her. "It's a private school, not an extremely expensive one, but still…having so many cases in just one year is a bit concerning."

Their group lingered for a few more minutes, responding to the curious onlookers who peppered them with questions. They offered suitable explanations, though many were left more confused than enlightened. Eventually, the growing crowd prompted them to leave, seeking respite from the barrage of inquiries.

"Do you want to go home, Laura?" Yasushi asked, feeling her grip on his arm.

"N-no, I'm fine. I can get through this," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I also don't want my parents to worry about me, so I'll stay out with you guys." She finally released her hold on him, standing a bit straighter.

"Hey, how about we hang out as a group then?" Furuya suggested, looking around at his friends. "I know it's Valentine's Day and all, but it would be better that way, right?" His suggestion hung in the air, offering a moment of normalcy in the chaos they had just endured.

The group reached a consensus and began heading towards their favorite café, a familiar spot where they often gathered. Yasushi glanced sideways at Furuya, a silent question in his eyes. Furuya, who had clearly anticipated this move, responded with a casual thumbs-up, signaling his agreement.

Yasushi's respect for his friend grew. Furuya had willingly set aside his own plans for the day to support a friend in distress, choosing empathy over personal satisfaction. This act of selflessness spoke volumes, and Yasushi found it commendable. He also noted Catherine's gaze fixed on Furuya. Her small, approving smile was a quiet affirmation that Furuya had made the right decision.

As they made their way to the café, the group resolved to spend the remainder of the day together. Their goal was clear: to offer Laura a reprieve from the day's unsettling events and restore a sense of normalcy. They hoped that by immersing her in their usual routine, they could help her shake off the remnants of the ordeal and find some comfort in their company.