Capítulo 179: Flowing Life (1)
A month slipped by since the garbage event, and life settled back into its usual course for everyone. Yasushi and his friends moved through their days with a sense of normality, interrupted only by the occasional disruption — an outburst from a student or some minor turmoil — but nothing too outrageous stirred the waters of their everyday lives.
What caught everyone's attention was the unexpected reunion of Furuya and Catherine. Their brief break had ended, and they resumed their dynamic as if nothing had ever happened. Furuya, while still a lovable goofball, seemed to carry an air of newfound maturity. It was a subtle change, but one that didn't escape Yasushi's notice.
Yasushi stepped out of the counselor's office, a mix of anticipation and relief coursing through him. He headed back toward his classroom, his mind still buzzing from the conversation. Even though he had arrived a bit early, he felt a wave of purpose. The counselors had asked about his future plans, and he had laid out his aspirations with confidence. They had listened, nodding along, and with his grades climbing higher, they saw no need to steer him onto another path.
Yasushi stepped into his classroom and found everyone still engrossed in their lunches. The lively chatter filled the air as he made his way toward his friends, who were deep in conversation. As soon as they spotted him, Reina's eyes brightened, and she leaned in, curious. "How did it go?"
"Fine," he replied, settling into his chair. "I already know what I want to do after high school, so I didn't really need guidance. They just reassured me it was fine and that I could do it since my grades were above the requirements."
Reina sighed, her expression shifting as she glanced away. "Haa… I know what I want to do too. I've been reading into it a lot. Right now, I'm aiming for a job as a librarian while I keep writing my book. I also plan to go to college for a degree, just in case it doesn't work out. At least then I'll have something to fall back on." Her voice carried a mix of determination and doubt, revealing the weight of her aspirations.
"It's better to have something than nothing. Some guys in our class still don't know what they want to do, which is fine, but it can get tricky in the future," Xinyi said, casually perched on Yasushi's desk, her legs swinging slightly as she spoke.
Laura jumped in, enthusiasm bubbling in her tone. "I already applied to the nearby college, but I have a job lined up for after school. I'll be helping my parents with our family business, so it looks like I'll be stuck in this city for life, haha." Her laughter mixed with a hint of resignation, revealing the duality of her situation.
Reina turned her attention to Yunxue, who was busily devouring her lunch like a hungry squirrel. "What about you, Yunxue? What will you do? And what about Alicia and Bhaqui?"
Yunxue swallowed a mouthful, her cheeks full, and managed to say, "We technically already have jobs, so nothing much will change. I think those two will go back to China after their time here. As for me, Layena, and Catherine, we'll stay close to Yasushi, Lady Jingliu, and Xinyi while we're in college." Her words were clear, but a hint of uncertainty lingered in her eyes, as if she, too, was contemplating the future.
"Is Furuya going to pursue baseball, or will he try to find a normal job?" Laura asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered the possibilities.
"He's planning to do both, but he's got a backup plan in case the baseball thing doesn't work out. If he can't make anything of that path, he can fall back on his regular job. Apparently, Catherine is okay with it," Yasushi explained, leaning back in his chair.
"Hmm. I didn't expect that from him or from Catherine," Laura replied, her surprise evident. It was clear she hadn't anticipated Furuya having such a structured approach.
"We talked about it last year, so he's had a couple of months to sort out that plan. He's got everything lined up," Yasushi added, watching as Laura nodded in acknowledgment, her mind processing the information.
The conversation flowed effortlessly, transitioning from Furuya's plans to their own upcoming futures. They speculated about each other's aspirations and tossed around thoughts about random classmates, incorporating details based on their personalities and interests. The classroom buzzed with the chatter of their peers, but they remained engrossed in their discussion, visions of what lay ahead occupying their thoughts.
+-+
Yasushi wandered through the crowded hallways, letting the noise of lunch hour fade into the background. His eyes caught sight of Alicia standing near her locker, her expression a mix of confusion and uncertainty that made him stop. He headed toward her without hesitation, already sensing something was off.
"Is something going on, Alicia?" he asked as he stepped in beside her, his voice cutting through the chatter around them.
Alicia, startled by his sudden presence, looked up sharply before letting out a long breath. In her hands, she held what looked like a piece of paper — no, not just any paper, a letter.
"Someone left this in my locker this morning," she said, holding it up as if it were evidence of some strange occurrence. "It's... well, I believe it's called a 'love letter.' I didn't think things like this still happened outside of shows. You know, where they put these innocent love gestures to make everything seem sweet and pure. So, yeah, imagine my surprise finding it waiting for me in my own locker." She frowned, clearly trying to make sense of it all.
Yasushi gave a short nod, processing her words before asking, "So, when's the meeting? I mean, whoever left that for you, they're probably asking to confess their feelings, right?"
"Now, actually. They want to meet me during lunch, so..." Alicia's voice trailed off before her eyes shifted to Yasushi. "Can you come with me?"
Yasushi blinked, surprised. "Wait, what?" His confusion lingered for a second before turning into something resembling disbelief. "This isn't something people normally ask for... You know, these moments, even if they're straight out of some cheesy story, are supposed to happen between just the two of you. Me being there sounds off — feels wrong too."
Alicia tilted her head to one side, the gears in her mind visibly turning as she considered his words. The silence hung around them for a moment before she finally spoke up. "I understand. I'm not helpless, I know that much. But after what happened to Lady Jingliu with Youta a month ago... You saw the CCTV footage like I did, and you were there too. That was a reality check. I just want someone with me in case something... similar happens. I have strength, I've prepared myself for a lot of things, but when it comes to situations like that, there's no way to really be ready." She looked at Yasushi as if expecting him to get it.
He nodded, weighing her reasoning, and after a beat, it seemed clear enough. "Alright, I get it. Let's go then. But where's Bhaqui? I figured he'd be with you."
"He's out there, messing around with some of the guys in our class. They're probably kicking a ball around or something," Alicia said, dismissing the topic. "Anyway, enough about him — come on." Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Yasushi's wrist and yanked him toward the stairwell, not giving him a chance to argue as she led the way to the rooftop.
+-+
When they got there, the rooftop was empty, leaving them to assume that whoever had called Alicia hadn't shown up yet. Yasushi scanned the area briefly before turning to her. "I'll stay out of sight. I'll listen in, and if this turns into anything more than just a confession, I'll step in." Alicia nodded, watching as he walked to the entrance, slipped behind the building, and disappeared from view.
Minutes passed in silence before the door burst open, and a first-year student stumbled onto the rooftop, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. He hesitated, his eyes darting around, obviously anxious, before they finally settled on Alicia standing there. She watched him, her expression unreadable.
He shuffled forward, clearly out of his element. Standing in front of her, the height difference was noticeable. He took a sharp breath, bracing himself, and blurted out, "I won't waste time with nonsense. This was a dare. They made me do it, so… go out with me."
Alicia didn't expect that level of bluntness, and the real motive behind the so-called confession left her more disillusioned than anything. Whatever curiosity or anticipation she might've had drained from her eyes, now completely void of emotion.
"I see," she responded flatly. "In that case, I have no choice but to decline. I won't date someone over something so trivial."
To her surprise, the boy's reaction was almost one of relief. "Thank god, that's all I needed to hear," he said, grinning. "I didn't care about you anyway," he added before turning and practically bolting from the rooftop, his shoulders light as if he'd just completed some unpleasant task.
Yasushi emerged from his spot, walking over to where Alicia now stood, her gaze turned to the snow-covered city that stretched out before them. The blank, cold landscape didn't exactly help the mood, and Yasushi could see the change in her expression immediately.
"You alright?" he asked, stopping beside her, clearly worried about how the whole thing went down.
Alicia didn't look at him but her voice carried a hint of something more than just disappointment. "I knew high school could be cruel. It's talked about all the time," she muttered, her brow furrowing slightly. "But dealing with something like that firsthand — it's more cutting than I expected. There's no reason for that kind of cruelty."
Yasushi didn't speak immediately, letting the cold air fill the space between them for a moment before he finally said, "Teenagers, at this age, sometimes get wrapped up in being cruel, almost like it's a joke. It can feel absurd how far it goes, but we're still figuring stuff out. Half the time, we don't stop to think about the consequences of what we do. Especially a first year, trying to fit in. It's all impulse."
Alicia kept her focus on the snowy expanse before her, silent but clearly processing what he'd said. After a pause, she spoke up. "So, if that's the case, doesn't that make high school romances pointless? I've read about it, most couples split up by graduation. They end up choosing different schools or different paths."
Yasushi sighed, recognizing the truth in her words. "For the most part, yeah. Most of the time, it doesn't last. Even the strongest relationships, the ones that look solid, usually don't make it. But just because they don't last forever, doesn't mean they're pointless. High school romances — they still have their place."
"Important how?" she asked, turning her gaze toward him.
"High school romances can play a big role in figuring out emotions, relationships, and intimacy, all in a space that's not as high-stakes as adulthood. You get to deal with love, trust, jealousy, learning how to communicate — all the messy parts — before you've got real-world responsibilities hanging over your head. They teach you about boundaries, about respect. What matters to you and what doesn't."
Alicia didn't say anything, thinking over what he'd said. Yasushi went on, "Some of these relationships can change the way you see things, shaping how you handle love later on. Others, well, they don't last but still help you understand what you want — or don't want — in someone. But it's not essential for everyone. Some people skip the whole high school romance thing and still pick up those lessons through friendships or just later on in life."
After a bit, Alicia asked, "So, it's just a matter of what someone values, right?"
"Yeah. Some people I know never dated in high school but ended up finding better relationships in college or later. It might take longer to find that person, but it's not like high school is your only chance at figuring it out," Yasushi replied.
They fell silent once more until Alicia turned to walk toward the exit of the rooftop. "I'll remember that, Yasushi. Thanks for your insight," she said as she stepped through the door, leaving him alone.
Yasushi stood for a moment, his focus on the door before moving to the snow-covered sky above him. "If the old me bumped into the new me, he'd probably have a damn stroke," he thought, shaking his head slightly at the absurdity of it all. With that, he made his way back down, retracing his steps to the classroom, thoughts racing in his mind.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami “There is no such thing as a painless lesson. They just don’t exist. It is impossible to gain something without losing something first. But, if you can endure that pain, and walk away from it, you will find you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle. A heart made fullmetal.”
-Edward Elric
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