章 67: Leading Actors
"Yasushi, could you come over here for a moment?" Furuya's voice cut through the ambient noise of the schoolyard, his hand beckoning his friend.
Yasushi complied, weaving through their classmates waiting for P.E. "What's up?" he asked, noting the unease in Furuya's eyes.
Since the incident a few days ago, the air around the school had thickened with a tense expectancy. It was Thursday now, and nothing had happened, but Yasushi sensed the undercurrent of waiting, like a held breath.
"I think I'm being stalked," Furuya whispered, his eyes darting around. "Last night, there was someone outside my window. A guy in a hoodie. Couldn't see his face, but he had the build of a man. He just stood there for a few minutes, then left. You don't think it's... him, do you?"
Yasushi squinted at Furuya, then looked away, lost in thought. A few days ago, Yasushi had asked Yinhaie to dig up information about Daiki's cousin. The results were illuminating.
Saisei, Daiki's cousin, was a first-year student, but he was already an imposing figure. At five foot eleven, he was tall and muscular, a rarity among Japanese students. Despite his size, he moved with surprising agility. It was no wonder he frequently won his fights. Saisei was a force to be reckoned with, and his reputation was as solid as his physique.
The documents Yinhaie presented painted a vivid picture of Saisei. From a young age, he had been a magnet for trouble, leaving a trail of chaos and expulsions in his wake. Now, in his current school, he was trying to gain entry into a gang in a neighboring city.
Yasushi pondered this information. Saisei's actions seemed driven by a desire for attention, a bid to earn a reputation that would impress the gang. This complicated things. Yasushi had no interest in getting entangled with gang activities, especially if there was a Yakuza connection. He didn't need that kind of trouble.
Memories of his past life surfaced, where his path had crossed with similar ruthless figures. They had pursued him relentlessly until an accident claimed his life. Even though those men were from the United Kingdom, Yasushi knew well enough that the Yakuza were not to be underestimated. Their reach was long, their methods ruthless.
"Possibly," Yasushi began, his voice steady but his mind racing. "Yinhaie mentioned that Saisei has formed a small group of troublemakers. What their intentions are, I can't say. However, the gated community we live in is not easily breached. We have electric fences, spikes, and walls that stretch high into the sky, designed to keep anyone out. Security guards monitor the two entrances day and night."
He paused, looking at Furuya with a mixture of concern and determination. "Still, I suggest you remain vigilant. If you want, we can arrange for an escort to walk you home after practice every day until this situation is resolved."
Furuya sighed deeply, his hands moving to rest behind his head as he leaned back. "I dunno, man. It sounds great, but also... it feels weird. Don't you think it feels weird?"
Yasushi nodded, his eyes distant for a moment as he weighed the gravity of their predicament. "Yes, it does feel strange. But when it comes to our safety, I'd rather be overly cautious and feel a bit odd than regretful. There's no harm in being too careful."
"Give me a day to think about it," Furuya said, a touch of uncertainty in his voice. Yasushi nodded in agreement. Furuya then turned his attention back to the track, where the girls were doing their laps. "Hehe… I love Japan and their P.E. uniforms."
Yasushi sighed, resigning himself to the familiar scene. Their P.E. uniforms were standard — white shirts paired with red pants for the boys and bloomers for the girls. The latter were notoriously tight, accentuating the girls' figures in a way that inevitably drew the boys' attention. It was a ritualistic part of their school life, this collective ogling, and today was no different. The boys, including Yasushi, couldn't help but let their eyes wander.
Yasushi's gaze settled on his new girlfriend, Jingliu. She stood out, not just because of her looks but the way she carried herself. She was aware of the eyes on her, and whenever she caught someone staring too long, she'd shoot them a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. It worked, momentarily. The boys would avert their eyes, chastened, but soon enough, their lecherous gazes would return, drawn like moths to a flame.
Yasushi was no exception. He felt a mixture of pride and possessiveness seeing the attention she garnered. Yet, he also felt a twinge of guilt for being part of the collective ogling crowd. It was a complicated emotion, a blend of admiration, shame, and youthful desire. As he watched Jingliu run, he found himself lost in a swirl of thoughts, the complexities of their situation weighing on his mind.
+-+
"You stared at me a lot today," Jingliu said as they sat on the rooftop, the wind gently ruffling their hair. Furuya was absent, busy with baseball practice.
"Hah, I knew he couldn't help it. He looked at me and Laura too!" Xinyi exclaimed, grinning at Yasushi. She tugged at her skirt, lifting it slightly to reveal her thighs. "Like what you see~?"
Before Xinyi could relish in her teasing, Jingliu turned and delivered a semi-hard punch to her side. Xinyi gasped, clutching the spot where she'd been hit. "Ugh… why did you do that…!?" she complained, glaring at Jingliu. "It's not like you're dating…"
The word hung in the air, making Jingliu's face flush a deep red. She fidgeted for a moment, trying to regain her composure. But that brief reaction was enough for both Laura and Xinyi to catch on.
"Wait, you're actually dating!?" Xinyi exclaimed, her eyes wide with genuine shock as she looked from Jingliu to Yasushi. Laura, sitting nearby with her chopsticks frozen mid-air, stared at them, her mouth open in surprise.
The rooftop, usually their secluded haven, felt suddenly charged with a new tension. Yasushi felt the weight of their scrutiny. Jingliu, still blushing, glanced at him, her eyes a mix of embarrassment and defiance. It was a silent admission, one that didn't require words.
Laura finally broke the silence, her voice filled with a mix of amazement and curiosity. "You two…really? Since when?"
"Only a few days ago, so pretty recent," Yasushi replied, his voice steady as he wrapped an arm around Jingliu's shoulder, gently pulling her closer. The warmth of the gesture spoke volumes.
Laura squealed in delight, clasping her hands together before cheering for them, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. Xinyi, on the other hand, stared at them, still processing the revelation. She felt a complex mix of emotions — happiness for her friends, but also a twinge of sadness, as she harbored her own feelings for Yasushi. She knew, however, that she had to set those feelings aside for now.
"Heh, well, took you two long enough. You basically already acted like a couple before you made it official," Xinyi commented, attempting to mask her inner turmoil with a teasing smile. She crossed her arms, her curiosity piqued. "Why did it take you so long?"
Yasushi sighed, glancing at Jingliu before answering. "I mean, we only really discovered our feelings for each other recently. After that, we started escalating our physical and intimate contact. It felt natural, like something we didn't need to rush. We wanted to make sure it was real, that we weren't just caught up in a moment. So, we took our time, and eventually, we agreed to date. Other than that, we… really didn't bother exploring it yet."
The rooftop felt like a world of its own, a small, isolated universe where their words held more weight, more significance. Yasushi's explanation hung in the air, a blend of honesty and the gentle unfolding of young love. The breeze played with their hair, the distant sounds of the schoolyard below a mere murmur compared to the intensity of their conversation.
Laura's eyes softened, her initial excitement giving way to a more profound understanding. "That makes sense," she said softly, her voice tinged with a newfound respect for the couple. "Sometimes, the best things are worth waiting for."
Xinyi, still grappling with her emotions, managed a small smile. "Yeah, I get it. It's just… surprising, I guess. But I'm happy for you two. Really."
Jingliu squeezed Yasushi's hand, a silent thank you for his words, for his presence. Their relationship, though newly minted, already felt deeply rooted in mutual understanding and respect. It was a quiet strength, something that didn't need to be flaunted or explained, but simply was.
+-+
"Lady Jingliu, Yasushi, we received a notice from security," Yinhaie began, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "Certain people have been loitering around the walls of the gated community. Of course, they can't enter, but it's made some residents nervous and wary. Do you know anything about it?" Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, catching Yasushi's gaze as they drove home.
Yasushi sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "It might be Saisei's group," he said, his voice heavy with resignation. "The same group you researched for me."
Yinhaie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I had suspected them but didn't think they would be this foolish or blatant about their intentions. Did anything else happen?" she asked, her eyes darting back to the mirror, reflecting the tension in the backseat.
"Someone in a black hoodie stood outside Furuya's home, stalking him," Yasushi replied, a hint of frustration in his tone. "I guess they'll try to do this to everyone I know, especially my friends — Xinyi, Laura, Furuya, and us. Maybe they'll extend this bizarre behavior to our families too, if they find them."
The car's interior seemed to grow colder with his words, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. The city lights blurred past the windows, casting fleeting shadows across their faces. The road ahead felt long and uncertain.
"I will inform Xinyi's staff and your parents if it escalates. I'll also arrange for some assistance for Furuya and Laura's families as soon as we get home," Yinhaie offered, her tone matter-of-fact but laced with a subtle undercurrent of concern.
"Yeah, thanks, that would be helpful," Yasushi replied, his voice tinged with gratitude. The conversation then lapsed into silence, a quiet filled with the hum of the car and the distant murmur of the city outside. Yasushi's gaze drifted to the window, his reflection mingling with the blur of passing lights. His mind, however, was anything but calm. His blood simmered with a mixture of fear and anger, thoughts spiraling into dark scenarios. 'If they do anything to them, I swear I'll…'
His inner turmoil was abruptly interrupted by a gentle squeeze on his hand. Startled, he turned to look at Jingliu. Her crimson eyes met his, glowing softly with unspoken words and a quiet strength. It was as if she could see through the storm raging inside him, offering a silent promise of support and understanding.
Yasushi sighed, the tension in his body slowly ebbing away. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. Her presence was a balm, soothing the raw edges of his anger. The unspoken words between them were more powerful than any reassurance he could voice.
クリエイターの想い 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia." -Hawaiian proverb
"No task is too big when done together."
Meaning: This proverb emphasizes the power of teamwork and cooperation, suggesting that even the most challenging tasks can be accomplished when people work together.
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