Capítulo 174: Preparing for the Event

"Everyone knows where they're heading, right?" Yasushi asked, his voice cutting through the scattered murmurs of the group as he stood out front, hands stuffed into his pockets. The gathering spot — one of the city's squares — was slowly being buried in a soft layer of snow. Flakes drifted lazily, coating their surroundings in white as they continued to fall without any sign of stopping.

The weekend had arrived, and Yasushi's group had come together to scout the locations for the upcoming Garbage Collection Event. The team, larger this year due to the rule changes, included Jingliu, Xinyi, Yunxue, Catherine, Furuya, Laura, Reina, Layena, Alicia, and Bhaqui. Their mission was to prepare for the event by mapping out various spots across the city.

"Yeah, but it's going to take us the entire day just to scout all the spots," Bhaqui muttered, tapping at his phone screen and studying the map app.

"Not much we can do about that," Yunxue said with a shrug, dressed in casual clothes for the day out in the cold. "We need to cover as much ground as we can, and it's got to be realistic. No shortcuts."

"Alright, with that said, let's get moving. But remember, we meet up at the location for lunch, okay? Xinyi's staff and ours have teamed up to prepare some food for us, so make sure not to miss it," Yasushi announced, his tone firm but encouraging. The group perked up at the mention of lunch, their earlier unease momentarily replaced with a touch of enthusiasm.

"Alright, let's do this!" Bhaqui shouted, his excitement clear as he took off running, with Laura, Alicia, and Reina hot on his heels.

The remaining members of the group were split into two teams. Yasushi, Jingliu, Xinyi, Furuya, and Catherine formed one team. Yunxue and Layena made up the other team, and they would be joined by two additional staff from Xinyi's and Jingliu's households.

After watching Bhaqui's group disappear into the distance, Yasushi gathered the others. "Let's go. We've got a lot of ground to cover today and tomorrow."

With that, they left the square and made their way to the bus stop, ready to start their journey to the first scouting location.

+-+

The journey to the location was quick, and they soon arrived at their destination. The venue, frequently used for small concerts and various events, was currently cluttered with trash that had been neglected. Despite the mess, they were confident it would be cleaned up by the end of the day.

"Next month, when the event starts, how many more concerts and other events will happen?" Xinyi asked, surveying the area alongside the others.

Yasushi pulled out his phone, accessed the city's website, and navigated to the "events" section. Scanning through the list, he saw that seven events were scheduled before the Garbage Collection Event. "About seven events are planned, so it's likely we'll be dealing with a significant amount of trash when the event kicks off," he said, his tone indicating that the challenge was already taking shape.

Furuya gave his face a sharp slap and declared, "Let's focus on this task for now and check out the nearby spots. Everyone knows that they deliberately leave trash behind every year for the event."

His sudden proclamation caught the group off guard, but they quickly agreed with his point. They began to methodically explore the surrounding area, looking for places where people might dump their trash. While most Japanese people were generally conscientious about littering, there were always exceptions — especially after nights of heavy drinking or when people simply didn't care.

They found some trash scattered around the locations they checked, as expected. However, their search wasn't limited to just picking up litter. Yasushi had also instructed them to keep an eye out for Youta and his group, who might be scouting the same areas. The tension of competition hung in the air as they continued their work, alert to any signs of their rivals.

Yasushi, Xinyi, and Jingliu formed one group, while Furuya and Catherine were paired together. The two of them looked slightly uneasy at the arrangement, but they accepted it, knowing that despite their discomfort, they were still competent partners.

"Are you sure that was the right move?" Xinyi asked, her eyes flicking back to Furuya and Catherine. The two were working side by side but had yet to exchange a word.

"It's fine," Yasushi replied, dismissing the concern with a wave. "They get along well enough. It's not like we're forcing them to make amends or anything like that. This is about preparing for the event. Whether they like it or not, they'll need to collaborate effectively — Furuya will, Catherine's used to it. It's just part of the job."

Xinyi had no counterargument to that and remained silent. After a few minutes of scouting the area around the event location, the groups regrouped.

"Nothing new on our end," Furuya reported. "The usual spots had similar amounts of trash — some places had a bit more, some had less, you know?"

Yasushi gave a nod. "Alright, let's move on to another spot and check it out. This area seems fine for now. We'll have Yinhaie keep an eye on it after today and until the event starts. Let's go," he directed the group. They set off briskly, making their way to the next location, their conversation flowing as they walked.

After about ten minutes, they reached a new site. This one was in a bustling part of the city, teeming with activity. Food stands lined the streets, a small park was just a short distance away, and various shops and open bars dotted the area. It was a popular spot, particularly crowded today due to the weekend.

"We'll check out the playground," Furuya announced, taking off in that direction. Catherine, who appeared slightly taken aback by the sudden move, quickly followed him.

"We'll head over to the shops then," Yasushi said to his group. "Keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual." With that, they dispersed, Yasushi's team heading toward the shops while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

+-+

Yasushi and his group strolled through the area, keeping their eyes on the familiar spots where litter had piled up. They mentally logged the locations, marking them for a return when the event would take place in about a month. Their casual conversation drifted to the plans for the upcoming challenge, but before they could fully dive into the details, Jingliu suddenly yanked on both Yasushi and Xinyi's arms, halting them in their tracks.

"Is something—" Yasushi began, but Jingliu silenced him with a quick gesture, her eyes locked on a nearby shop. She subtly pointed toward the window, where Youta and a girl stood, seemingly absorbed in the clothing on display.

"Wait, that douche is here?" Xinyi asked, narrowing her eyes as she stared in his direction, her tone edged with disbelief.

"Well, he still lives in this city, so it's not exactly a shock," Yasushi replied, his gaze steady on Youta. "Looks like he's on a date or something." They kept their distance, watching him quietly, as if waiting for any sign that he'd spotted them.

"Woooow~ you're so cool, Youta~ can you buy it for me~?" The girl's voice dripped with exaggerated sweetness, and Youta ate it up like it was exactly what he wanted to hear.

"It's pocket change, so why not?" Youta shrugged, already pulling out his wallet before they stepped into the store, completely unaware of the side-eye his behavior was drawing.

"Wow, he's stupid," Xinyi muttered, her hand coming up to cover her face. "Really? That stupid girl act? You see it on every trashy reality show or movie. And he's just… going along with it? What the hell?"

Yasushi exhaled deeply, like he was already tired of the situation. "He might be playing along, you know? If he's behind that scheme we overheard back at the café, he's not a total idiot. Either way, we need to stay close. He might slip up and say something useful." His eyes stayed on Youta as he strolled around like he owned the place.

Xinyi grimaced, not fully convinced, but still annoyed enough to let out a low groan. "Fine, whatever. But... let's just go in there. We might find some stuff worth looking at too, right? Might as well kill two birds with one stone." Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Yasushi and Jingliu by the arms and dragged them toward the shop's entrance, her sudden movement leaving them no room to argue.

Once they stepped into the shop, they started browsing the clothes, keeping their distance but staying within earshot of Youta and the girl he was with. The air inside buzzed with casual shoppers, but the focus stayed on keeping tabs on their mark. Xinyi and Jingliu, though dedicated to their task, couldn't help but spot a few items they were interested in. Xinyi ran her hand over a sleek black jacket, and Jingliu eyed a casual dress — but they never let themselves stray too far.

"How about this? Does it look good~?" The girl held a dress up against her body, doing awkward poses that made Xinyi cringe.

Youta barely looked at her, nodding dismissively. "Yeah, looks good. Just grab whatever you want, I'll cover it." He didn't even pretend to care, but the girl squealed, clearly eating up his easy agreement. She dashed off to collect more clothes, the sound of her heels clacking on the shop floor mixing with the low murmur of other customers.

Yasushi gave a silent nod to Xinyi and Jingliu, and they casually followed behind, pretending to sift through racks of clothes as they shadowed Youta's movements. Xinyi grabbed a couple of jackets she'd been eyeing, and Jingliu found a shirt she liked, but they didn't lose focus. They ended up near the fitting rooms, choosing stalls just two doors down from where Youta and the girl had gone. It was a subtle enough move, ensuring they didn't give themselves away, but still close enough to hear if something important came up.

The girl continued her little fashion show for Youta, trying on one dress after another, twirling and posing for his approval. By the time she slipped into the third outfit, her tone shifted slightly, playing at curiosity under her sugary facade. "Hey, Youta, I heard you've got some big plan coming up soon? What's that about~?"

Youta's expression changed at the mention of something he actually cared about, his smirk creeping up as he met her gaze. "Something big, yeah. You know that trash event, right? I'm gonna win it. Not because I need the prize or any of that crap. It's just to stomp on those losers trying hard for it, show them it was never theirs to begin with. Once I get the prize, I'll rip it in front of everyone just for the hell of it." His grin stretched wider, dripping with arrogance.

The girl's eyes lit up, her excitement matching the act she was playing. "Wow~ that's so wicked, I love it~! But what if, you know, you manage to lose?"

Youta chuckled, his eyes narrowing at her like the idea of losing was some kind of joke. "Nah, I'd win," he answered, as if it wasn't even worth discussing further.

She gave him a flirty smile, tossing her hair back as she leaned in, voice dripping with faux sweetness. "Mmm, so much confidence~ I like it~ Wanna go to a love hotel after this~?" She winked, the question hanging in the air as if it was a foregone conclusion.

Youta barely hesitated. "Obviously," he replied with a smug grin, not bothering to hide how sure he was about the whole thing.

They quickly made their way to the counter, paid for the clothes, and left the store without looking back, disappearing into the busy streets as they headed off together.

Yasushi stood there, arms crossed, eyes closed, listening to the ridiculous exchange between Youta and the girl. His disgust was barely concealed. Jingliu and Xinyi, having heard it all too from their changing rooms, finally stepped out, both looking just as irritated. They were dressed in their new outfits, but the moment's excitement seemed to have been dampened by what they'd just overheard.

"Looking good," Yasushi muttered, glancing at Xinyi, who struck a pose like she owned the place, exuding confidence. Jingliu stood beside her, offering a subtle smile, her usual calm demeanor barely hiding the annoyance.

"You heard, right?" Yasushi continued, his tone dropping. "What should we even do? Reporting it won't get us anywhere. It's just his word against ours."

Xinyi's pose dropped, her expression tightening as she crossed her arms and turned toward the shop's windows, glaring out as if she could already see Youta outside. "We hunt him down and kick his ass," she said flatly, her voice simmering with irritation.

Jingliu shook her head, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "No… that's just going to make everything worse for us. What is it with you and wanting to solve everything with violence lately?"

Xinyi spun around dramatically, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "They go hand in hand! I'm the badass Chinese girl who's gonna kick your ass if you even think about stepping out of line!" She struck a martial arts pose straight out of a cheesy action film, her movements sharp and exaggerated, like she was ready to dive into some wild brawl right then and there.

Jingliu rolled her eyes, half-amused but mostly exasperated at Xinyi's antics. Yasushi couldn't help but smirk a little, though his mind was still on the bigger issue at hand.

"Well, let's just stick to our plan for today and fill everyone in over lunch," Yasushi said, as he led the group to the counter to pay for their new clothes.

They wandered around the city a bit longer, checking out various spots and making mental notes of potential issues. When lunchtime finally arrived, they boarded a bus heading toward their meeting place. Once they arrived, they prepared to catch up with the rest of their team and share what they had uncovered.

+-+

"Hmm... nothing technically illegal in what he said, but what he's planning — beating up random people to stop them from winning — that's a different story," Alicia muttered, her fingers quickly gliding across her phone as she searched Youta's family background and the legal avenues they might exploit. "But even if we gather evidence, with his wealth and connections, it's doubtful we'd make a real dent."

"Falsifying evidence wouldn't work either," Furuya chimed in, tapping his fingers against the table, deep in thought, clearly struggling to come up with something that could actually stick.

One thing their group had silently acknowledged but left unsaid was the subtle shift in the dynamic between Furuya and Catherine. Even though they had been on a break for a while, after working together on the group project earlier that day, the distance between them had narrowed. They sat closer now, more comfortable, like they'd worked through something. Nobody mentioned it. It wasn't their business to intrude, so they kept quiet.

Yasushi let out a long breath, his eyes narrowing. "We may just have to catch them in the act during the event. With the CCTV cameras set up around the city by the Yang family, we might have a shot at getting some real evidence on them."

"Looks like that's our only option. Do we stick with our original plan for today?" Laura asked, munching on the meal that Jingliu and Xinyi's staff had prepared.

"Yeah, that's the way to go. We're unlikely to get anything more out of this, so let's just concentrate on our own tasks," Yasushi answered. The group decided to take it easy for the rest of the day, returning to their initial plans. They agreed to keep each other updated if they stumbled upon anything important regarding Youta.