Capítulo 108: Complicated Love
"Come with me," Furuya said, pulling Yasushi away from their group. The others watched, puzzled, as Furuya led him to a secluded corner. "I need help."
"I'm not buying you condoms," Yasushi quipped, prompting Furuya to slap his forehead in exasperation.
"That's not what I meant. Besides, I can buy my own," Furuya replied, letting out a sigh. "I need help with Catherine."
Yasushi leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "And what might that be?"
"Since my fiasco during the break, things have been...tense. You noticed today, right?" Furuya's smile was tinged with unease.
Yasushi nodded. He had definitely noticed the tension between Furuya and Catherine. They had been inseparable before Christmas, often entwined in each other's company. But after Furuya's botched attempt at intimacy over the break, the air between them had grown thick with discomfort.
"How do I fix it?" Furuya's voice quivered with unease.
"What have you tried so far?" Yasushi's response was measured, prompting Furuya to reflect.
"I've tried everything — gifts, heartfelt conversations, even pretending it never happened. But the awkwardness remains. I'm at a loss. I thought you might have some insight, given your...experience." Furuya's words trailed off, his gaze darting nervously.
Yasushi leaned back, closing his eyes, sifting through potential solutions. Finally, he opened them, his expression clear. "Forget the grand gestures. You mentioned you talked to her about it — how did that go?"
Furuya shifted uncomfortably. "W-well, it wasn't really a 'talk' per se. More like...I tried to charm her and move past it."
Yasushi's eyes narrowed, his disbelief palpable. "That's not how you handle a healthy relationship, Furuya." He studied his friend as if trying to comprehend an alien logic.
"I know, but can you blame me?! That's what I see in most TV shows and anime!" Furuya's frustration seeped into his words. He slumped against the fence, his shoulders sagging. "I'm also a teenager. How can you act so mature sometimes, man?"
Yasushi shrugged, his expression serene. "It's simple. Have a genuine conversation with her. From there, talk and work it out together. Be upfront about what you want, and you'll be able to move past this. I was honest with Jingliu about my wants and needs, and she was, too. We've gotten closer since then," he explained, pushing himself off the wall with a casual grace.
He punched Furuya lightly on the shoulder. "Just do that, and you'll be fine. Honesty and communication are key in relationships. Anyway, get going, or you'll be late for baseball practice. You better take us to Koshien this year."
Furuya sighed, nodding slowly. "Alright, alright. I'll try it your way."
Yasushi watched as Furuya straightened up, the tension easing from his friend's posture. The field awaited, the familiar rhythm of practice offering a temporary escape from the complexities of his emotions.
+-+
On the other side, the group of girls gathered around Catherine, their voices a mixture of concern and curiosity. Catherine had shared her own version of the story, seeking their advice.
"Kick him in the balls," declared Xinyi, her arms crossed defiantly, chest puffed out with bravado.
Catherine looked taken aback, her cheeks flushing slightly. "L-lady Xinyi, I can't do that..." she stammered, her voice trailing off.
"You're acting like Furuya committed some great sin," Reina chimed in, her tone more measured. "All he wanted was to take another step in your relationship. Calm down, Xinyi. But yeah, talking might be the best move. You know, like what the older folks always say," she added, glancing at Laura, who nodded in agreement beside her.
"Talk...I guess talking could help," Catherine mused, her uncertainty evident. "But what should we even talk about?"
Reina sighed, leaning in a little closer. "Start with the basics. How you felt during the break, what you both want from this relationship. It doesn't have to be perfect, just honest."
Laura chimed in softly, "And listen to him too. It's not just about you expressing yourself, but understanding where he's coming from as well."
Catherine nodded slowly, absorbing their words. The weight of the conversation settled around them, the noise of the schoolyard fading into the background. She knew they were right, but the path forward still seemed unclear, like stepping into an uncharted territory of emotions and expectations.
"If all else fails, kick him in the balls," added Xinyi, earning a nudge in the ribs from Jingliu.
"W-what about you, Lady Jingliu?" Catherine asked, shifting her weight nervously. "We heard from Yinhaie that you were a bit distant with Yasushi for a day during the break, but now it seems you two are very close."
Jingliu hesitated, her gaze drifting for a moment before she decided to speak. "We... had to address something from my past. It was about being comfortable with... erm, intimacy. We worked through it, and... well... things happened, and now we're closer than ever."
Xinyi, sipping on a can of 7-Up, coughed and spat out some of the soda. "Y-you two... I wasn't serious about my jokes during our trip to Hawaii, but you...!?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"It's natural, Xinyi," Laura interjected, smacking Xinyi on the back. "If you teased them about it, it was bound to happen. The same would go for us if we had boyfriends."
Before they could continue their conversation, Yasushi rejoined the group. Furuya had already headed off to baseball practice, his bag slung over one shoulder. "I'm ready... hmm? Is something wrong?"
"We—"
"Xinyi is shocked that you banged Jingliu," Laura said flatly, causing Xinyi to choke on her 7-Up, sputtering in disbelief.
Yasushi blinked a few times, then sighed. "I guess it's true that women talk more openly and in detail about their intimate lives, huh? Us guys are just vague about it. We don't want the other guys to know too well," he said, chuckling at their reactions.
Jingliu wrapped herself around his arm, her presence calm and reassuring. The rest of the group fell into step behind them. Catherine trailed slightly, her thoughts drifting. She replayed the advice her friends had given her, each piece fitting together like fragments of a larger puzzle. The noise of the schoolyard buzzed around her, a background hum to her internal monologue. She wondered how to bridge the gap with Furuya, how to unravel the knot of awkwardness that had tangled their relationship since the break.
+-+
"So... what do you think?" Jingliu asked, nestled against Yasushi.
The hours had slipped by, and they were now ensconced in their bedroom, a soft glow from the TV illuminating their faces as a movie played on. Their earlier conversation about Furuya and Catherine lingered in the air, and Jingliu waited for Yasushi's thoughts to crystallize.
"Well, what I told him earlier is what I still believe. But I also agree with what you all said, although..." His voice trailed off, eyes flickering back to the screen.
"Although?" Jingliu prompted, her curiosity piqued.
"I don't think 'kicking him in the balls' will do anything," he replied, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Jingliu nodded, letting a small laugh escape, then turned her attention back to the movie. After a moment, she spoke again. "What about what Furuya mentioned? That stupid gang that recently popped up?"
"Can we even call them a gang with such a ridiculous name? They just want to fight people? They'll eventually get disbanded. Ignore them," he said dismissively, though a flicker of concern crossed his mind. He planned to ask Yinhaie about it later in the night.
"You have a point," she mumbled, closing her eyes.
Yasushi remained silent, watching the film as Jingliu drifted into sleep beside him. He waited, ensuring she was deeply asleep before gently slipping away. Moving quietly, he made his way to the main living room. There, he found Yinhaie, cocooned on the sofa, watching TV and sipping warm chocolate.
"Yasushi? Did you need something?" Yinhaie asked, starting to rise, but he raised his hand, motioning for her to stay.
He joined her on the sofa, casting a brief glance at the movie playing on the screen. The room was softly lit, a contrast to the darker thoughts swirling in his mind. After a few moments of shared silence, he spoke. "A dumb gang formed during the Christmas break. Can you look into it for me? The school year's ending soon, and I'd rather not get tangled up in more trouble before summer starts."
Yinhaie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I heard some rumors about that. I'll see what I can find out."
Yasushi leaned back, letting out a slow breath. The movie's flickering light played over their faces, adding an ethereal quality to the quiet room. Outside, the city hummed its constant tune, indifferent to their concerns.
"Thanks, Yinhaie," he said softly.
She smiled faintly, her eyes reflecting the screen's glow. "No problem. We'll get it sorted."
+-+
"They vandalized it," Furuya exclaimed, his voice edged with disbelief. Students and teachers stood in a semi-circle outside the school, the air thick with dismay.
The front buildings were plastered with graffiti. Vivid curses, crude phrases, and obscene drawings marred the once pristine walls.
"How classy of them," remarked Xinyi, tapping her foot impatiently as she surveyed the mess.
Jingliu, phone in hand, texted rapidly — likely updating Yinhaie. Yasushi watched her for a moment, then let his gaze sweep over the crowd. Among the students, a group of boys stood out, snickering among themselves as if they had witnessed the height of comedy.
"First years..." Yasushi muttered. He considered stepping in but hesitated. The graffiti, while offensive, didn't strike him as worth the trouble. He knew other troublemakers from past years, and these culprits seemed relatively harmless in comparison. Still, he recognized that the Japanese might view such vandalism with a particular disdain, perhaps even more so than he did.
As murmurs of outrage rippled through the crowd, Yasushi caught snatches of conversations. Some teachers were already discussing the best ways to remove the graffiti, their tones a blend of frustration and resignation. Others were more focused on finding the perpetrators, determined to make an example of them.
Xinyi sighed and folded her arms. "Do you think they'll catch who did it?"
"Probably," Yasushi replied, his eyes still on the laughing boys. "They aren't exactly being subtle."
His friends followed his gaze and spotted the boys laughing, but the boys noticed and quickly stopped, slinking away. Whether they were being obvious to get caught or were just that confident in their anonymity was unclear.
"Yinhaie has footage," Jingliu said, breaking the silence. "The new city cameras caught them. Their faces are obscured by masks, though." She pulled out her phone and showed them the clips. The video revealed teenage boys spray-painting the school under the cover of night, their identities hidden.
"They probably need more evidence than this," Yasushi said, rubbing his temples. "We can ask her to monitor them more closely and bring the footage to the school administration."
The group stood in uneasy silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. Yasushi glanced around once more, letting out a sigh that seemed to carry his frustration into the chilly morning air.
Eventually, the teachers managed to corral the students inside, trying to salvage the day despite the lingering frustration. Yasushi walked to his classroom, thoughts swirling. He couldn't help but think about the boys and their careless arrogance.
In the classroom, Yasushi's mind wandered as the teacher droned on. The vandalism wasn't just a prank; it was a breach of the unspoken order they all lived by. He glanced out the window, the defaced walls visible in the distance, and wondered about the ripple effects of this act. Each spray-painted insult seemed to echo a deeper unrest, a disquiet that gnawed at the edges of their structured lives.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami او که نمیداند، و نمیداند که نمیداند، نادان است - از او دوری" کنید." -Persian proverb
U ke nemidānad, va nemidānad ke nemidānad, nādān ast - az u dūri konid."
"He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool—shun him."
Meaning: Avoid people who are ignorant and unaware of their ignorance.
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