Kapitel 178: Garbage Collection Event (4)

Yasushi yawned and stretched, his breath visible in the chill as he waited by a designated spot in the city, eyes fixed on the falling snow. The soft flakes swirled around him, each one disappearing into the cold ground. He and his group stood ready to commence their "mission" to halt Youta and his crew, whose latest scheme seemed especially foolish.

Just the day before, Yasushi had enlisted his friends and countless other high school students to spread a carefully crafted rumor. The deal was simple: help him catch Youta and his gang in the act. All that remained now was to see if Youta would fall for the trap.

The park, chosen for this ruse, was cluttered with scattered garbage. The mess was strategically placed to lend an air of authenticity to the ongoing event. Yasushi and his group had avoided large heaps of trash to prevent arousing suspicion; too obvious a setup might alert Youta to their plan.

Yasushi intended to bring his group into the park to further convince Youta of the trap's legitimacy. A small, staged argument was planned, designed to coax a confession from Youta regarding his dubious actions. The snow continued to fall, blanketing the park in a deceptive calm as Yasushi waited for the action to unfold.

The rest of Yasushi's group was stuck with the job of keeping the event going, tasked with sweeping the streets and grabbing whatever trash they could while avoiding the thugs Youta hired. These weren't just random punks — they were specifically there to sabotage any team that dared get too close to winning. But that didn't faze Yinhaie. They'd already teamed up with the city's police, working with the CCTV network spread out across the whole city, ready to catch any of Youta's hired delinquents the second they tried to mess with another group.

"Any second now... Yinhaie's feeding me updates on Youta and his group's position. They took the bait. Not far at all," Yasushi muttered, his back pressing into the cold metal of a streetlight as he glanced down at his phone, watching the screen flash with updates.

Xinyi, standing nearby, leaned in to get a look at the screen. "That's a good thing, right? Better to lure them here than have them messing things up somewhere else," she asked, her eyes darting between Yasushi and the phone.

On his other side, Jingliu, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly asked, "Can I make a request?" The unexpected question made both Yasushi and Xinyi turn toward her, eyebrows raised. Neither of them knew what she was getting at.

"What kind of request?" Yasushi asked, an eyebrow raised in her direction, eyes narrowing as if trying to piece together what she could possibly want now.

"If it comes to that point, I want to handle Youta," Jingliu said, her voice steady and her eyes locked onto his. Both Yasushi and Xinyi stood there, caught off guard. Yasushi's expression shifted to confusion, while Xinyi blinked in disbelief at the calmness in Jingliu's voice.

"What? Why would you want to do that?" Xinyi asked, her face scrunching up as the words spilled out, unable to understand the sudden shift in Jingliu's tone.

Jingliu gave her a quick glance, as if assessing whether she should even bother explaining. "It's what Yasushi said earlier. If it comes down to it, we'll need to protect ourselves. Youta's not the type to pick a fight without a plan, but if he does decide to throw the first punch, I doubt he'll back off easily. He'll make sure we regret standing in his way." There was no hesitation in her words, her tone staying level, matter-of-fact.

Then, without a hint of hesitation, she added, "Also, we know he's a creep. He's been eyeing us before. Provoking him wouldn't be too hard if it came down to it," she said, flicking her eyes to her chest before looking back at Yasushi. The implication was clear, and Xinyi's face showed the discomfort she felt at the truth of it. But Jingliu didn't seem fazed.

"That's not exactly helping your case, you know," Yasushi said, his eyes locked onto Jingliu's, but she didn't so much as blink. The silence between them stretched, a tension settling in the air. "If things get out of hand, I'm stepping in. Got it?"

"Fine by me," Jingliu responded, her voice carrying a slight edge, though her posture remained calm. "But I can handle myself. I'm not helpless." Her words carried a quiet confidence that made Yasushi frown.

"Look, anything can happen in a fight," Yasushi shot back, his tone sharp, as if he were warning her about something she hadn't thought of. "Even if you're good, even if you're trained, it won't matter if the other guy's got a weapon or worse — a gun. No amount of skill will save you if he's packing more than just fists."

Xinyi slid between them before the tension could escalate further, raising her hands and gently pushing them apart. "Alright, alright, let's cool it. We're on the same side, remember?" She glanced from Yasushi to Jingliu, her voice calming but firm. "No need to get riled up right now."

They both turned to her at the same time, their voices ringing out in unison, "We're not fighting."

Xinyi's lips twitched, fighting back a smile at their unexpected synchronicity. Still, she didn't back down. "Maybe not, but you've both got points. Yasushi's right — fighting isn't predictable. But Jingliu, you're no pushover either. What I'm saying is, we don't need this right now. Just set aside whatever pride or opinions you've got. We need to help each other, not turn this into some power struggle." Her voice softened, but the seriousness of her words lingered between them.

Before they could get any deeper into the weird back-and-forth, the noise of shouting and loud voices pulled their attention. Xinyi stiffened, her eyes following the direction of the noise, and Yasushi and Jingliu were already looking in the same direction. They could see Youta and his group slowly making their way towards the park, the distant chatter growing louder as they neared.

"Holy shit! Look at all this garbage. I didn't think the rumors were true, but seriously, what the hell happened here last night?" one of Youta's lackeys asked, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of trash littering the place.

"Does it even matter?" another one of them replied, sounding almost gleeful. "More trash just means more bags for us. We can fill, what, sixty bags easy with all this crap? No need to steal from anyone else to win now."

Youta stopped at the park's entrance, a smug grin spreading across his face as he surveyed the mess. "Looks like someone threw one hell of a party," he said, bending down to pick up a party hat, spinning it between his fingers before tossing it aside. His hand found something else — an empty condom wrapper — and he held it up with a chuckle. "Guess the fun got a little out of hand."

His grin widened as he scanned the area, eyes narrowing like he was already plotting his next move.

Youta's group rushed into the park, diving into the heaps of trash scattered around. The commotion of their hasty work filled the air as they scrambled to gather every bit of litter they could find. Yasushi, with a quick glance at his watch, gave a subtle signal to his team. They immediately moved across the park, entering through a different section with bags in hand, making sure Youta's group would notice them.

It didn't take long before one of Youta's lackeys spotted their movement. The lackey's eyes widened, and he bolted over to Youta, shouting and pointing. "Hey! This is our spot, get out of here!" he yelled, drawing attention from everyone in the vicinity.

Youta's face twisted into a scowl as he turned to see Yasushi and his team approaching. "Hey! This is our spot! Get the hell out before I make you!" Youta's voice cut through the air, his threat clear and loud.

Yasushi and his group stopped in their tracks, exchanging glances before walking toward Youta. Once they were a few feet away, Yasushi looked him straight in the eye and said, "Every spot in the city is open to everyone. No one owns a spot here."

Youta's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "I don't give a damn about your bullshit rules. This is my spot now. Get lost, or I'll make sure you do." His voice was low, filled with menace, the threat unmistakable as he glared at Yasushi's group, clearly enraged by their presence in what he claimed as his territory.

"And I don't care what you think. No one owns a 'spot' here, so get over yourself. We're picking up trash whether you like it or not," Yasushi said, his voice steady as he bent down, snatching up a piece of garbage. He didn't break eye contact with Youta, his gaze as cold as the words that followed.

Youta glared, a flash of anger in his eyes, but Yasushi straightened up before he could act. "Everyone knows it's you who hired those thugs to go around beating people up for joining in."

Youta crossed his arms, an eyebrow lifting, then barked out a short laugh. "Yeah, I did. So what?" His tone hardened. "I don't give a shit. Money's what runs everything, and I'll make sure it shuts all of you up too." He didn't flinch, his words dripping with casual arrogance, like none of it mattered to him in the slightest.

Yasushi smiled at him, as Youta had clearly admitted that he was the one responsible for all the beatings the last two days, and that he hired the delinquents. "Is that so? If you're that rich, why even bother then? It's not like you want the prize for winning this."

Youta's laughter echoed for a few seconds, his head thrown back as if he found the whole thing hysterical. He stopped abruptly, his gaze snapping back to Yasushi, his grin twisting into something almost cartoonishly villainous, the kind of smirk that belonged to an anime antagonist.

"You're right," he said, his voice dropping into a lower, almost taunting tone. "I don't care about the prize. I could get it whenever I want, just like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "But this isn't about the prize — it's about control. I want everyone to know that I'm better, that I stand above the rest of you."

Pacing back and forth like the whole scene was a joke to him, Youta's smirk only widened. "Last year? I didn't even bother. Waste of time. But when I saw that group win, it pissed me off, you know? So this year, I'm here. I'm here to show you all that your so-called hard work means nothing when you've got money and connections on your side." His eyes flickered with amusement as he locked his gaze back on Yasushi and his group, clearly reveling in his own self-importance.

Youta stopped in his tracks, his attention shifting to Xinyi and Jingliu, both standing behind Yasushi. His smirk deepened, his tone dripping with mockery. "I recognize you two. The so-called 'big shots' with the giant racks, running your little charity cases in your part of the city, thinking you're somehow better than the rest of us." He sneered, his gaze roaming over them with the kind of disdain that made it clear he saw them as nothing more than pawns in his game.

"Is he schizophrenic?" Xinyi asked, tilting her head in confusion. Yasushi couldn't help but snicker at the question.

Youta's eyes narrowed as he flicked his fingers dismissively. "Have some fun after this," he said, his voice cold. "Beat them up, and don't leave a single witness."

With that command, his group of thugs dropped their bags and surged forward, charging at Yasushi's group with a wild, frenzied energy. The scene turned chaotic in an instant.

"I didn't want this, damn it!" Xinyi exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration.

But as promised, Jingliu stepped in front of them, her face a mask of seriousness. The crowd had swelled to around twenty people today, more than the day before.

"If you need assistance, just let me know," Yasushi said to Jingliu, who nodded in acknowledgment.

Two of the attackers rushed at her, their fists raised. Jingliu reacted swiftly, grabbing their collars and flinging them aside. As she dealt with the aggressors, Yasushi quickly dialed the police. Yet, it was hardly necessary; the whole ordeal was being captured live by the park's CCTVs, streaming directly to the authorities.

Jingliu tapped her necklace, and with a smooth flick, a wooden sword emerged, catching everyone in Youta's group off guard.

"I forgot she had that… You still use your wristbands to store stuff, right?" Xinyi asked, stepping closer to Yasushi, her eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding.

"Yeah, but I don't carry enough to need it all the time," Yasushi replied, his gaze fixed on Jingliu as she expertly handled the thugs that Youta had sent after her. "I store some essentials, but nothing excessive."

Youta's disbelief grew as he watched Jingliu dismantle his entire group, her strikes precise and effective. She barely had to exert herself, dispatching them one by one with her bare hands or that wooden sword.

"What the hell is this, an anime?" he shouted, frustration boiling over. "Quit screwing with me, you retards! Get her already!" His voice rose to a furious bellow, rage coursing through him as he watched his lackeys falter against her skill.

One of the thugs sprinted past Jingliu, heading straight for Xinyi. Surprise flashed across her face as he shouted, "If we can't get her, then we'll get this one!"

Xinyi's surprise quickly faded, replaced by a resigned sigh and a shake of her head. As the boy lunged with a punch, she sidestepped effortlessly, then tripped him. Grabbing the back of his collar, she slammed him down hard onto the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him and rendering him unconscious.

Wiping the dust off her hands, she huffed, glancing down at the boy. "You really thought I was some damsel in distress? Know your place, idiot," she said, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Meanwhile, Jingliu had dispatched the last of the thugs attacking her and steadily approached Youta, who glared at her, his teeth clenched in frustration.

"What? You think you're a big shot just because you took down a bunch of retards? Eat shit, bitch," he spat, his anger boiling over as he threw a wild haymaker toward Jingliu, desperation fueling his reckless swing.

Jingliu caught Youta's fist, but the grin on his face didn't change. He pulled out a can and sprayed it toward her. Jingliu ducked, but the mist still caught her. A sharp sting erupted in her eyes as she jumped backward, a quiet groan escaping her lips.

Yasushi and Xinyi rushed to her side, Xinyi pulling her back further, much to Youta's amusement. He laughed, reveling in his perceived victory. "Pepper spray, the greatest thing to ever exist! Even I can use it and deal a lot of damage—"

But before he could finish his triumphant proclamation, the ground vanished beneath him. In a blink, Youta found himself airborne, staring up at the sky in disbelief. He had no idea how it happened; one moment he was bragging, and the next he slammed into the ground, his consciousness slipping away.

"D-did you really need to punch him so hard?" Xinyi stammered, her eyes wide with shock at the force Yasushi had just unleashed. The sudden shift in the situation left her reeling, uncertainty clouding her thoughts.

Yasushi let out a heavy sigh before stepping back over to them, cradling Jingliu in his arms. "Stay calm and don't rub your eyes or it'll just worsen the pain. Focus on blinking to let your tears flush out the irritant," he instructed, his voice steady and reassuring. Jingliu immediately followed his guidance, her eyes closing as she blinked rapidly.

Turning his attention to Xinyi, he said, "There are stores not too far from here. Grab some bottles of water; we'll need it." Without hesitation, Xinyi jumped up and sprinted off to find what they required.

Yasushi then returned his gaze to Jingliu, concern etched across his face. "Once Xinyi is back, we'll need to use that water. But for more thorough care, we should take you to a hospital or get a medical professional to check on you."

Jingliu didn't respond verbally, but she nodded her head in silent agreement, the pain still evident in her expression. It wasn't long before Xinyi returned, bottles in hand. They gently tilted Jingliu's head up, carefully pouring the water toward her eyes, hoping to alleviate some of the burning discomfort that had taken hold.

"We need to do this for fifteen minutes. In the meantime, call Yinhaie. I'm sure she already knows what happened, especially with the police on it due to the CCTV cameras," Yasushi instructed, his tone firm. Without hesitation, Xinyi pulled out her phone and made the call.

A few minutes later, the sound of sirens pierced the air as a couple of police cars pulled up, followed closely by Yinhaie's arrival. The officers moved quickly, rounding up the unconscious lackeys alongside Youta, who lay sprawled on the ground. Yinhaie approached them, her focus shifting to Jingliu. She helped her into one of the police cars, urgency in her movements as they prepared to rush her to the hospital, leaving Yasushi standing there alone.

He remained behind, fielding questions from the police. It felt a bit pointless to him, given the clear footage they had, yet he complied. He knew this would make things easier for everyone involved, even if it felt like a chore.

+-+

A few hours drifted by, and the second day of the event wrapped up. Yasushi found himself at the nearby hospital where Jingliu had been rushed. Xinyi had kept him updated on her condition, and thankfully, it wasn't serious. Still, he understood how some individuals might react differently to situations like this, especially concerning allergies, which made Yinhaie's concern feel justified.

"So, she's okay?" Reina's voice carried a hint of anxiety as she approached.

"Yeah, she's fine. They'll let her out later tonight. They just wanted to keep her for a bit longer since Yinhaie insisted on it," Yasushi responded as they made their way to her room. The group quickly arrived, gathering around Jingliu, their expressions a mix of concern and relief.

"Guys, I'm fine, don't worry about me," Jingliu assured them, a slight smile breaking through her discomfort. "I didn't think he'd have that, though… With that said, what will happen now?" Her gaze turned toward Yinhaie, curiosity mingling with the remnants of worry in her eyes.

Yinhaie spoke, "If you're asking about the event, it will proceed without further interruptions. In the last few hours, Youta and his group have faced the consequences of their actions. He might end up in juvenile detention, but since he's just about to turn eighteen and graduate, they're discussing that situation more closely."

"Well… at least we won't have to deal with that mess anymore and can focus on the event," Furuya remarked, nodding to himself as if reassuring his own thoughts.

Yinhaie smiled at him, then turned her gaze to Catherine, who blushed and looked away, a hint of hesitation hanging in the air. She seemed to want to say something, but ultimately chose to stay quiet. "Yes, you won't need to worry about that. The delinquents he hired will be dealt with as well, so the event can continue as planned. You can rest assured," she added. "Youta's parents were equally shocked by his behavior and will handle damage control afterward. They're even willing to cover the medical expenses for everyone hurt."

The friend group chatted for the next hour with Yinhaie, the atmosphere a blend of relief and lingering tension. However, one by one, everyone made their excuses to leave, until only Yasushi and Jingliu remained in the quiet hospital room. Yasushi settled beside her, gently taking her hand in his. "I brought your wooden sword back to the house, by the way," he said, hoping to lighten the mood.

Jingliu chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Thank you, but that's honestly the last thing on my mind right now. I let my guard down and ended up in this situation. Maybe I'm just getting complacent?" Her voice held a hint of self-reproach.

"It was a surprise move, so don't beat yourself up over it. I probably would have been hit too, so if that's any consolation… yeah," he replied, trying to ease her guilt.

She smiled at him, squeezing his hand tightly. The warmth of their connection filled the room as they continued to talk, the earlier chaos slowly fading into the background. After a bit more conversation, Jingliu was finally released from the hospital, and they headed home together, ready to face whatever came next.

+-+

The rest of the week sped by, each day blending seamlessly into the next. As Yinhaie had promised, the Garbage Collection Event continued without any further interruptions, allowing everyone to participate without the looming threat of attacks.

Youta found himself confined to a juvenile detention facility, joined by his lackeys and the hired delinquents he'd brought into the mess. His parents, shocked and angry, declared they would cut off his funds, ensuring he couldn't cause trouble again upon his release.

Meanwhile, Jingliu bounced back remarkably quickly, regaining her footing within just two days. Now, the final day of the event arrived, bringing all the schools and groups together in one of the bustling plazas of Ginsukimura.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation as the mayor prepared to announce the winner, the crowd full of hopeful faces eager to hear the results of their hard work. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over the gathered participants, highlighting the vibrant banners and decorations that celebrated their efforts.

Mayor Natsuki held the envelope aloft before carefully peeling it open. As she scanned the contents, a smile broke across her face. "I'd like to announce the winner of this year's event: it's from Nosenki High School, Yasushi Futakao's team! Congratulations!"

"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Furuya shouted, his voice bursting through the plaza as he leaped into the air, his enthusiasm catching everyone off guard.

Catherine, overwhelmed with embarrassment, buried her face in her hands, while the rest of the group celebrated, grinning from ear to ear. Laura and Reina bounced up and down, caught in the thrill of victory, their excitement infectious.

Yasushi took a deep breath and walked to the stand to accept the accolades for his team. He prepared himself for the obligatory short speech, filled with clichéd remarks about teamwork and planning that had made the event a success, and how they'd worked hard to collect as much garbage as possible.

Once he wrapped up his speech, he stepped down, returning to his jubilant group. He began distributing the prizes, each one a token of their hard work. Meanwhile, the mayor delivered a few more speeches, wrapping up the gathering with an array of food and drinks, inviting everyone to celebrate their accomplishments together. Laughter and chatter filled the air as the festivities unfolded, marking the successful end to a memorable event.

+-+

"Cheers!!" the entire group of Yasushi erupted, their voices harmonizing in celebration at a nearby restaurant.

As their glasses clinked together, conversations flowed freely, laughter mingling with the sounds of clattering dishes. They savored their victory in the Garbage Collection Event. It was the first win any of them had experienced together, and the excitement radiated from each member of the group.

"Haa…sweet victory tastes good," Furuya exclaimed, leaning back in his chair, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips as he let the moment wash over him.

They continued to eat, sharing stories and teasing one another, the atmosphere warm and joyful. Eventually, Laura spoke up, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "We won one of our final high school events; that's got to count for something, right?"

Yasushi took a sip of his soda, considering her words. "Participating and enjoying ourselves is what matters most. But winning does make it a bit more special. And remember, not all of us are leaving this city after graduation. We'll still have a chance to see other high schoolers take part in events next year."

"That makes sense," Laura replied, her voice bright as the group dove back into their celebration.

Laughter erupted around the table, dishes clinking as they cheered and shared stories. In the thick of the joyful atmosphere, Yasushi felt a gentle tug on his shoulder. He turned to find Jingliu beside him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Before he could react, she leaned in, pulling him down slightly, and pressed her lips against his. He responded without hesitation, warmth flooding through him as they shared that brief, sweet moment.

Only Xinyi caught sight of the kiss, her expression shifting to a bittersweet smile. She sat a short distance away, her heart tugged in conflicting directions as she watched the couple share something unspoken yet deeply meaningful, their connection a quiet beacon in the lively setting.