Bab 48: Meeting
Yasushi regarded Jingliu, his expression tinged with bewilderment at her reaction, his brow arching inquisitively. The stifled laughter from Laura and Furuya, however, provided him with the context he needed, understanding the reason behind Jingliu's behavior. With a resigned sigh, he gently poked her forehead.
"Let's hurry up our efforts in gathering more, given that we've fallen behind others due to the authorities confiscating our initial bags," he informed them, prompting Laura and Furuya to cease their snickering and resume eating, although Jingliu retained her slightly sullen demeanor.
As they concluded their meal and commenced their departure, Jingliu seized the sleeve of Yasushi's elbow and pulled gently. Meeting her gaze, Yasushi was met with her question, "Why were you staring at her?"
Uncertain whether to reveal his suspicions to her, Yasushi hesitated momentarily. While he sensed that the others harbored no suspicions towards Mizahara, he felt he might be onto something.
"I'll... explain once we're back home. I believe I've identified one of the potential culprits," he confided in a hushed tone, eliciting a widened-eyed reaction from Jingliu at the gravity of his implication, to which she nodded in silent agreement.
+-+
Hours slipped by like sand through a sieve, and Yasushi's group had amassed a total of twenty-nine trash bags, their efforts since the initial twelve bags which had been confiscated by the police earlier that day.
The authorities had yet to reach out to them regarding that incident, leaving them in a state of lingering uncertainty. Weighed down by fatigue, they trudged back to the school, only to be greeted by the sight of numerous other students who appeared equally drained, their faces etched with exhaustion.
"It seems we're not the only ones feeling the weight of this ordeal," Furuya observed, chuckling at the sight of his weary classmates.
"We've got six more days of this ahead," Yasushi reminded them with a tone of caution. "So, make sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour. If not, you'll be completely wiped out for the remainder of the week."
As they made their way toward the baseball field to deposit their hefty collection of trash bags, Furuya let out a groan, the sound almost a lament. "Ugh, I'm going to need sleeping pills again," he grumbled, his voice carrying a tired shriek that drew the attention of those around them, eliciting a chorus of sympathetic laughter.
Upon reaching the field, the students heaved their heavy bags onto the designated spot, knowing that the city's sanitation department would arrive under the cover of night to collect them. With their task complete, a palpable wave of relief washed over the group, prompting a mass exodus as each student hurriedly departed, driven by the singular desire to return home and unwind.
"Alright, I'm outta here. See you guys tomorrow!" declared Furuya with an energetic wave before dashing off, his fatigue seemingly momentarily forgotten.
"I'll get going too. Good night, everyone," chimed in Laura, her voice carrying a note of exhaustion as she too took her leave, her footsteps fading into the gathering dusk.
Xinyi, lingering a moment longer, turned to face Yasushi and Jingliu. "Are you guys being picked up by Yinhaie?" she inquired, her tone laced with concern.
Before Yasushi could formulate a response, Jingliu interjected, "No. We're planning to stop by the bakery to pick up a few things, and then we'll walk home."
Xinyi's brows knitted together as she processed this information. "Hmmm... well, be careful, alright? Remember our conversation from earlier? There's a serial killer on the loose. Don't stay out too late and, please, don't try to play hero," she cautioned, her voice heavy with the weight of genuine concern. With a final wave, she turned on her heel and walked away, disappearing into the evening shadows, her hand raised in a farewell gesture.
Jingliu turned to Yasushi and said, "Don't play hero."
"Have I ever done that?" he asked back, sounding incredulous.
"Yes," Jingliu responded flatly making Yasushi chuckle.
"Fine. Let's go," he said before holding out his hand to which Jingliu took it and they started heading to the bakery while holding hands.
There weren't many students left in the school, so they could do this without any eyes staring at them. Their walk to the bakery shop was long as they decided to take their time because of how tired they were. They didn't speak much either and just basked in the silence with one another, one that they enjoyed a lot.
+-+
"Oh? You two are here? I heard the garbage collection event started, how was it?" Kukicha inquired the moment Yasushi and Jingliu stepped into the bakery, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.
Kukicha, the warm and affable owner of the bakery they frequented, had seen her fair share of late-night patrons. Recently, however, she had opted to close earlier due to the alarming string of killings that had shaken the city to its core. The thought of her staff being out too late, potentially becoming the next victims, was something she couldn't bear.
"Good evening, Miss Kukicha," Yasushi greeted with a tired smile. "Yes, we just wrapped up a few minutes ago. We thought we'd stop by and grab a few things before heading home to unwind for the night."
Jingliu, standing quietly beside him, nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting a similar weariness. "We'd like the usual, please," Yasushi added, glancing at her to confirm their order.
"Of course, sweeties. I'll have everything ready in five minutes," Kukicha replied, her hands already moving deftly to gather the familiar assortment of pastries and treats they had come to enjoy.
The bakery was bathed in the soft, golden light of early evening, casting long shadows across the tiled floor. The air was filled with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries, a stark contrast to the harsh realities lurking outside. As Kukicha bustled about behind the counter, her movements swift and efficient, Yasushi and Jingliu took a moment to appreciate the sanctuary-like calm of the shop.
"So, how did it go today?" Kukicha asked over her shoulder, her tone casual yet genuinely interested.
"It was exhausting," Yasushi admitted, a slight sigh escaping his lips. "We managed to collect quite a bit, but the whole city feels tense with everything that's been happening."
"I can only imagine," Kukicha murmured sympathetically. "These are scary times. Just make sure you two get home safely, alright?"
"We will," Jingliu assured her softly, her voice carrying a note of determination that belied her fatigue.
True to her word, Kukicha had their order ready in no time. She placed the neatly packed bag on the counter with a warm smile, a small gesture of normalcy and kindness amidst the unease that permeated the city.
"Thank you, Miss Kukicha," Yasushi said, taking the bag.
"Take care, and good night," Kukicha replied, watching as they turned to leave. The bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped out into the encroaching night, the warmth of the bakery lingering with them, a brief respite from the darkness that lay ahead.
"It's snowing even more," Yasushi remarked, his breath forming ephemeral clouds in the frigid air as he put the bags of treats into his wristband. "Let's hurry."
Jingliu, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the falling snow, nodded in silent agreement. Their hands entwined once more, they quickened their pace, the crunch of snow underfoot marking their hurried steps back to Jingliu's home. The world around them seemed cloaked in a surreal quiet, the snow absorbing the sounds of the city, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere.
However, midway through their journey, the stillness was shattered by the sudden activation of their earpieces, a sharp voice cutting through the tranquil night. "Yasushi, Lady Jingliu, be advised that a figure is currently following you. They are deliberately muffling their footsteps in the snow and maintaining a distance to avoid suspicion. We've been tracking them for the last few minutes, and they've matched your course step for step," Yinhaie's voice conveyed a sense of urgency and caution.
Instinctively, Jingliu began to turn her head, her curiosity and concern driving her actions. But Yasushi, sensing her movement, tightened his grip on her hand, the subtle pressure a silent plea for restraint. She met his gaze, the unspoken communication between them clear. Yasushi shook his head ever so slightly, signaling her to remain calm and not draw attention to their awareness of the follower.
With a deep, calming breath, Jingliu suppressed the urge to look back. The snowfall continued to thicken, the large, silent flakes forming a dense curtain around them. They walked on, their pace steady but not hurried, trying to maintain an air of normalcy. The chill in the air seemed to intensify, a stark contrast to the warmth they had just left behind in the bakery.
"We are currently dispatching our team along with the police," Yinhaie's voice resonated through the earpieces, calm yet authoritative. "They won't be in standard police vehicles, so bear that in mind. They are approximately five minutes away from your location. Please remain composed and make your way to the coordinates I'm about to provide."
Without a word, Yasushi and Jingliu exchanged a glance, their silent communication clear and resolute. They subtly altered their path, avoiding their usual route to avoid drawing any suspicion. Instead of the familiar right turn at the upcoming intersection, they veered left, following Yinhaie's precise instructions.
"It's a nearby park," Yasushi whispered softly to Jingliu as they walked, his voice barely audible over the sound of their crunching footsteps on the snow. "There's only one entrance. The only other way in is to scale the spiked fence."
Jingliu responded with a gentle squeeze of his hand, acknowledging his words without breaking their stride. They moved with purpose, yet maintained a semblance of casualness, each step carefully measured to avoid alerting their unseen follower. The world around them seemed to blur, the snowfall creating an ethereal cocoon, muffling the ambient noises and heightening their awareness of each other and their surroundings.
Gradually, they approached the park, its entrance barely visible through the veil of snowflakes. The Park, usually a place of tranquility and leisure, now took on a different character—one of strategic refuge. Yasushi led the way to a bench, their destination as per Yinhaie's guidance, and they seated themselves, their breath visible in the cold air, mingling with the soft hush of falling snow.
They began to converse in low tones, their dialogue a façade to pass the time and maintain the appearance of normalcy. "It's really coming down now," Yasushi commented, looking up at the swirling snow, the gentle cadence of his voice disguising the tension beneath.
"Yeah," Jingliu responded, her eyes flickering to the entrance of the park, scanning for any signs of their backup. "I haven't seen snow like this in years."
Their conversation, a fragile thread of normalcy, was abruptly interrupted when a figure clad in black emerged a few meters ahead of them, as if conjured from the shadows themselves. The figure's grin was visible beneath a sinister mask, the eyes obscured but the intent clear.
Gloved hands moved with deliberate slowness, producing a large katana from the folds of their black attire, the blade glinting menacingly under the dim light of the park.
The air seemed to thicken with an almost tangible tension, each flake of falling snow suspended in the oppressive silence that followed. Yasushi's heart pounded in his chest, a primal rhythm of fear and adrenaline. Jingliu's grip tightened on his hand, a silent communication of shared dread.
The figure's voice, when it came, was a chilling amalgamation of muffled tones and robotic distortion, adding an eerie layer to the already disconcerting scene. "Will you die for me?" the figure intoned, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence. The question was both absurd and horrifying, delivered with a casualness that belied the gravity of the situation.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." - English proverb
Meaning: Being away from someone or something for a period of time makes you appreciate that person or thing more when you see them or it again
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone