章 73: A Quick End
A week and a half slipped by, each day a stubborn, blank slate. The group felt the weight of inactivity, their frustration growing like an unchecked weed. But then, a flicker of progress: they managed to catch one of the stalker's streams. There he was, acting with unnerving normalcy, as if the world hadn't shifted under their feet.
In that stream, they unearthed a crucial piece of information. His name: Ryusei Minamoto. A name that held little distinction on the surface, except in the quiet realm of academics where his grades rarely dipped below ninety percent.
Ryusei spent his days in the school library, lost in books, gaming, or simply enveloped in his music. These were his refuges, alongside his new, troubling pastime — stalking. And his home life? Strained, to say the least.
Typical of many Japanese families, his parents were absorbed in their work, their time and energy sapped by demanding schedules. This left Ryusei adrift, a solitary figure with no real tether.
Social interactions were a minefield for him. He was awkward, not just around his own sex, but especially around women. It was this discomfort, this inability to communicate normally, that nudged him towards stalking Jingliu.
Yinhaie had informed Yasushi and Jingliu about some additional news. The gang that Saisei was attempting to join had received word, but they hadn't taken any action yet. Yasushi and Jingliu hoped that the gang would stay inactive, as they wanted no further complications and only longed for a normal school life. Despite their skepticism, they still clung to the hope that things would remain calm. Yinhaie assured them that she would monitor the situation closely and update them if anything changed.
+-+
"So... I've been getting a lot of emails from him since last night. I didn't even notice until I checked my inbox after ordering something online. At least fifteen emails. I have no idea how he got my email address. He never mentioned knowing anything about hacking," Jingliu said as she and Yasushi walked to school.
Yasushi's eyebrows shot up. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
She shook her head, her breath visible in the cold morning air. "I only saw them when we left home."
"Oh, so that's why you frowned..." he muttered, eyes drifting up to the snowy sky, flakes falling silently around them.
They walked in silence, each step crunching in the snow, both lost in their own thoughts. The idea of a restraining order floated through their minds, but it seemed too drastic. Ryusei hadn't crossed any lines yet, not really. The situation hovered in that uncomfortable gray area, where the unease was real but the threat was ambiguous.
"Let's draw him out. I'll go with what Laura suggested a week ago," said Jingliu, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a hint of nervousness. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and wrapped her arms around Yasushi's. A blush crept up her cheeks, a rosy contrast to the winter chill.
"I don't like showing affection in public," she admitted, her voice softer now, almost a whisper, "but if it means we can end this stupid ordeal, then I'm fine with it."
Yasushi nodded, his expression serious. He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message into the group chat. His fingers moved swiftly, the words forming with purpose: They were going with Laura's plan. He asked their friends, already at school, to keep an eye out for Ryusei. The strategy was clear — draw as much attention to themselves as possible.
They quickened their pace, the urgency of their steps mirrored in the rapid beat of their hearts. The thought of ending this bizarre saga was a powerful motivator. They craved normalcy, a return to the routine mundanity of school life. Halloween was approaching, and Ginsukimura would soon be alive with the vibrant energy of the season. Events and festivities were on the horizon, a beacon of normalcy they desperately needed.
+-+
The change in atmosphere was palpable as soon as Yasushi and Jingliu walked through the school gate. Students milled about, their conversations halting abruptly as heads turned and whispers ignited like a brush fire. The collective gaze of the student body landed squarely on the pair, a thousand silent questions hanging in the cold morning air.
"Why?!!" a boy's voice pierced through the cacophony, a screech of despair that was quickly followed by the unmistakable sound of sobbing. It was a raw, visceral reaction that cut through the whispers like a knife.
Yasushi's mouth twitched, a barely suppressed smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He leaned in closer to Jingliu, his voice a low murmur. "Looks like you had more than one admirer. And this one's particularly... expressive."
Jingliu sighed, shaking her head almost imperceptibly. She kept her face a mask of cool detachment, her eyes flicking subtly from side to side as she scanned the crowd. Her goal was clear: locate Ryusei Minamoto and gauge his reaction. The plan hinged on drawing him out, and she needed to see the impact firsthand.
They navigated the familiar corridors, each step taking them deeper into the heart of the school. The second-year floor was buzzing with activity, students bustling to and from, but Jingliu's eyes were trained on a specific spot. And then she saw him.
Ryusei was leaning against the windowsill, his posture casual but his eyes betraying a different story. When he finally looked their way, his reaction was immediate and intense. His eyes widened, shock rippling across his face. Yasushi and Jingliu watched as a storm of emotions played out on his face, each one more volatile than the last. His eyes turned bloodshot, the veins stark against the whites, and for a moment, it seemed as if he might lose control entirely.
They moved past him without a glance and stepped into their classroom, where a new wave of attention hit them. The buzz of whispered conversations surrounded them like a dense fog, but they kept their expressions neutral, heads held high. Furuya, Xinyi, and Laura quickly made their way over to Yasushi's seat, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern.
"So, uh, we don't know where he is…" Furuya began, his voice hesitant. Yasushi cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"He was outside in the hallway, waiting," Yasushi said, his voice calm but firm. "He looked pretty stressed. I've never seen someone's eyes turn bloodshot like that just from seeing us."
Furuya chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn… I'll check his Twitter and YouTube channel, see if he posted anything." He pulled out his phone and began scrolling, his fingers moving with practiced ease.
Xinyi perched on the edge of Yasushi's desk, her eyes flicking between her friends. "Now what? We've got his attention. Was there a plan for after this?"
Yasushi opened his mouth to speak, but Jingliu cut him off with a soft but sharp look. "We wait," she said, her voice steady. She knew what Yasushi was about to suggest and she wanted to avoid that route if possible. Violence had been too frequent a companion lately, and she longed for a different solution. "If he does anything, we'll use legal means. But for now, we wait for him to make the next move."
The group fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of Jingliu's words settling over them. Outside, the school continued its daily rhythm, unaware of the quiet drama unfolding within its walls. The snow outside the windows added a surreal quality to the scene, the flakes drifting lazily down, indifferent to the tension brewing inside.
Yasushi leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He glanced at Jingliu, who was staring out the window, her face a mask of calm determination. He admired her resolve, her ability to stay focused in the face of uncertainty. They had been through so much already, and he knew that this was just another challenge they would face together.
Furuya's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He looked down at the screen, his brow furrowing. "He hasn't posted anything new, but his last tweet was pretty cryptic. Something about truth and consequences."
Jingliu nodded, her eyes still on the snowy landscape outside. "Then we wait," she repeated softly. "And we watch. He'll make a move soon enough."
The bell rang, signaling the start of classes. The group dispersed, each of them lost in their thoughts.
+-+
"He's following us," Yasushi whispered, his voice barely audible as they walked down the crowded street after school. The group had decided to hang out, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite the shadow trailing them. Yasushi reached out, gently gripping Furuya's arm to stop him from turning around and making their awareness too obvious. "Don't."
Furuya sighed, shaking his head. "Man, I don't have that superhuman sense you have. What the hell do we do now?"
Jingliu, always the calm strategist, spoke up. "I texted Yinhaie. She'll be here soon. But for now, we need to play along. Let him follow us for a bit, bait him into doing something rash. Then we call the police. Hopefully, it'll be enough grounds for a restraining order."
Laura fidgeted nervously, her hands twisting the strap of her bag. "I feel a bit nervous about this, but okay," she mumbled, glancing around as if expecting Ryusei to jump out at any moment.
Yasushi gave her a reassuring nod. "We'll stick to the plan. We're just here to hang out after school. If he does something, we'll act." His voice was steady, but his eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings, alert for any sign of trouble.
The group continued down the street, weaving through the bustling afterschool crowd. They tried to keep their conversation light, laughing at shared jokes and reminiscing about classes, but there was an underlying tension in their movements. Yasushi could feel it in the way Furuya's shoulders were slightly hunched, in the way Laura's laughter came a beat too late, in the way Jingliu's eyes never stopped moving.
They reached a small café, its warm lights spilling out onto the darkening street. Yasushi held the door open, ushering his friends inside. The smell of coffee and baked goods enveloped them, a comforting contrast to the cold unease outside. They found a corner booth, settling in with their backs to the wall, giving them a clear view of the entrance.
Minutes ticked by, each one heavy with anticipation. Jingliu kept glancing at her phone, waiting for Yinhaie's message. Furuya, unable to sit still, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table. Laura sipped her drink, her eyes darting towards the door every time it opened.
Finally, Jingliu's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and nodded. "Yinhaie's here. She's outside, keeping an eye on things."
A collective sigh of relief passed through the group. Yasushi leaned forward, his voice low. "Alright, we keep to the plan. If he tries anything, we call the police immediately."
Just then, the café door swung open, and Ryusei stepped inside. His eyes scanned the room, landing on their booth. His face was a mask of barely contained rage, his movements jerky and aggressive. Yasushi felt his heart rate spike, adrenaline flooding his system.
Ryusei approached their table, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Jingliu. "What the hell is this?" he spat, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of the other patrons.
Yasushi stood up slowly, positioning himself between Ryusei and his friends. "We're just hanging out, Ryusei. You should leave."
Ryusei's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. "You think you can just ignore me? You think you're safe?"
Yasushi remained calm, his voice steady. "You need to leave, Ryusei. Now."
The tension in the café was palpable, everyone watching the confrontation unfold. Jingliu's hand slipped into her bag, fingers closing around her phone, ready to dial the police.
Suddenly, Ryusei lunged forward, his face twisted with rage, knocking the table aside with a violent sweep of his arm. The café erupted into chaos, chairs skidding across the floor, customers scrambling to get out of the way. Yasushi reacted instinctively, stepping in front of his friends, intercepting Ryusei's wild swing. He caught Ryusei's fist mid-air, the impact reverberating up his arm. Yasushi's frown deepened, his voice dropping to an icy monotone. "Leave."
Ryusei didn't heed the warning. He pulled back, attempting a headbutt, but before he could close the distance, Yinhaie appeared behind him. She grabbed his shoulder with a firm grip and yanked him back, her presence a sudden and unwelcome surprise. Ryusei spun around, ready to lash out, but his anger evaporated when he saw Yinhaie flanked by two police officers, their expressions stern and unyielding.
"That's enough," one officer said, stepping forward. Ryusei's face contorted in protest, his mouth opening to argue, but the officers moved in, their actions swift and practiced. They grabbed him by the arms, hauling him away as he kicked and screamed, his shouts echoing through the café. It was a spectacle, and yet, somehow, an anticlimactic end to the tension that had been building for weeks.
The noise of the café began to settle, the patrons slowly returning to their seats, conversations resuming in hushed tones. Yasushi turned to his friends, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in what felt like days. The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, but there was a relief in knowing it was over.
Furuya let out a long, exaggerated sigh, slumping back in his seat. "Please tell me we don't have any more drama," he said, running a hand through his hair.
Jingliu allowed herself a small, tired smile, her eyes softening as she looked at her friends. "I think we've had enough for a lifetime," she replied, her voice carrying a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
Yinhaie joined them at the table, her presence a steadying force. "The police will take care of the rest. Ryusei's actions today will give us enough grounds for a restraining order," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Laura nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she wrapped them around her cup of tea. "It feels like we've been holding our breath forever. Finally, we can exhale."
The group settled back into their seats, the tension slowly ebbing away. The café resumed its normal rhythm, the clinking of cups and the murmur of conversations a soothing background hum. Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in a quiet, peaceful white.
Yasushi looked around at his friends, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. They had stood by each other through the uncertainty, the fear, and now the resolution. He took a deep breath, savoring the moment of calm that had finally arrived.
"Here's to a drama-free future," he said, raising his cup in a toast. The others followed suit, their expressions a mixture of relief and hope.
As they clinked their cups together, a new sense of normalcy began to settle in, the shadows of the past weeks dissipating like mist in the morning sun. They had faced the storm together, and now, at last, they could see the clear skies ahead.
クリエイターの想い 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "滴水穿石." -Chinese proverb
"Dī shuǐ chuān shí."
"Dripping water penetrates stone."
Meaning: This proverb highlights the power of perseverance and consistent effort, suggesting that even the most challenging tasks can be accomplished with patience and persistence.
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