Chương 78: Growing Feelings
The rest of the week drifted by for Yasushi and his friends, a quiet undercurrent of anticipation carrying them forward. Finally, the day arrived. This marked the beginning of the long-awaited week, a time reserved for preparing the upcoming Halloween event. The school buzzed with activity, a hive of students scurrying in every direction, each with their own tasks — preparing, purchasing, and organizing.
Groups formed naturally, each assigned specific responsibilities for different parts of the attraction. Yasushi's group found themselves tasked with setting up their classroom and providing assistance to Jingliu. She was to play a pivotal role in the event, embodying the goddess around which their attraction revolved.
In a different room, where Yasushi and his group were busy at work, Xinyi stood alongside her assistant, Catherine. Xinyi's brow furrowed slightly, confusion evident in her eyes as she regarded Catherine's unexpected presence.
"Is something wrong? You usually don't come here unless I call you or you have something to report," Xinyi said, her gaze steady on Catherine.
"It was scheduled for later, but they decided it was fine to do now. I'll be moving to your class, along with Layena. Master Xingyu, your father, made it happen. We'll be helping your group from now on," Catherine informed Xinyi, her voice even and calm, as though delivering a simple weather report.
Xinyi stood there, her mind grappling with the unexpected news. Words eluded her, a rare occurrence. Usually, Catherine would notify her of such significant changes well in advance. This sudden shift left her off balance, unable to formulate a coherent response. She took a moment, then abruptly swung the door open to the room and shouted, "Did you know, Jingliu?!"
Jingliu, who had been meticulously examining the dress she planned to wear for the event, turned around slowly, one eyebrow arched in mild curiosity. "Know what?" she asked, her tone neutral, betraying no hint of prior knowledge.
The rest of the room fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on Xinyi, mirroring her confusion. The air felt thick with unspoken questions, the tension palpable as they all waited for the next revelation.
"Catherine and Layena are joining our class! I had no idea this was happening — it's been arranged without my knowledge!" Xinyi's voice trembled with the surprise she hadn't yet managed to shake off.
Layena, standing beside Jingliu, gave a brief nod in confirmation when Jingliu turned to her. Jingliu then shifted her gaze back to Xinyi and shook her head slightly. "I just found out too. But why does it matter? We've got more help now," she said, her attention already drifting back to the dress she had been scrutinizing.
"The more, the merrier," Yasushi added, a hint of a smile on his face as he too looked at the dress, the fabric catching the light in a way that seemed almost hypnotic.
Just then, Furuya entered the room with Laura, each carrying several bags. "Hey, we got — oh, hi Catherine, here to join us?" he asked, tilting his head, a flicker of confusion crossing his face at the sight of Catherine.
Catherine bowed slightly before explaining the situation. As she spoke, both Laura and Furuya nodded, their expressions shifting from confusion to understanding.
"More help sounds great. Can you help sort these out?" Laura asked, motioning to the bags they had brought in. Catherine immediately grabbed a few and moved to a free table. Laura joined her, and together they began sorting through various pieces of clothing, each item intended for their classmates to use in the upcoming event.
Furuya, with Layena assisting, busied himself with the same meticulous care. "So," he began, his tone light but focused, "I couldn't track down an original bat, but I managed to make a replica. And naturally, I chose a player from America. What do you think? Cap Anson and his bat from back in the day!"
He pulled out the bat replica, handling it with reverence. He swung it lightly a few times, each motion deliberate and careful, before placing it down. "I've also got his uniform here. It's been redesigned a bit — missing a few patches, with added bloodstains and tears for effect." He unfolded the uniform, holding it up for everyone to see, a proud grin spreading across his face.
Yasushi nodded, his approval clear. "It looks good. You've got the go-ahead from Senbarisu and the class, so it's fine. But make sure to test it out a few times before we store it away. We don't want any surprises right before the event starts."
Laura tilted her head back, her gaze drifting towards the ceiling, before she turned her eyes to Yasushi. "By the way, what are you doing for it, Yasushi? I'm planning to be a ghostly pianist. Xinyi is going as an ancient Chinese warrior, someone from 'The Journey to the West,' I think. The rest, I'm not too sure about."
Yasushi swiveled his chair, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "I'm not entirely certain yet. I messaged my parents about it, and they suggested I dress as Oda Nobunaga. They said I could use his array of weapons as the 'antique' part and just give myself a more zombie-like appearance."
Jingliu, who had been circling her costume, tracing its fabric with her fingers, chimed in. "I said it was a good idea. Yinhaie thought so too. We can order a replica of the costume tonight if he decides, but he hasn't made up his mind yet."
Furuya cast a quick glance at Yasushi, nodding slightly. "I think you can pull it off, but I recall you mentioning you don't like wearing contact lenses, right?"
"Yeah, they're pretty uncomfortable," Yasushi admitted, lowering himself into a chair. He pulled out his phone and began scrolling through potential costumes for Oda Nobunaga. "Not sure which one to go for. Where do you guys get yours?"
"Miccostumes, EZCosplay, Etsy, and Amazon," Laura listed, her voice calm and measured. "I sometimes cosplay for conventions in Tokyo. I've bought premades there, commissioned people on Etsy, or just pieced parts together myself."
Xinyi leaned in slightly, her tone more conspiratorial. "If you're looking for something really high-end, there's MicPremUsume. Jingliu has the link. It's a secret among the super-rich; most people have no clue it even exists."
Furuya sighed deeply, a mixture of resignation and amusement in his eyes. "Thanks for the reminder that we're not exactly rolling in cash, Xinyi," he said, inspecting his baseball bat with a methodical precision.
Xinyi shrugged, her expression earnest. "Sorry about that. It's something my dad mentioned a few years ago."
The group continued their conversation, weaving in and out of topics as the school day progressed. They worked steadily, a comfortable rhythm settling among them. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, many of them lingered, their focus unbroken. Staying an extra hour or two wasn't unusual; it had become a routine, almost an unspoken expectation in their lives.
+-+
"Hmm? Is that... Catherine?" Yasushi asked, nudging Jingliu with his elbow.
Two hours had slipped by since they had left school. Now, they were sharing a quiet moment together as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Suddenly, they noticed Catherine, alone, which was unusual since she was typically with Xinyi.
"Let's follow her," Yasushi suggested, a note of curiosity in his voice. "Or just talk to her, though I doubt she'll be too open about why she's here."
"Normally, I'd agree, but I'm curious too," Jingliu replied, sharing his intrigue. They approached Catherine, who was holding a small baseball wristband.
"Hey, Catherine, didn't expect to see you here," Yasushi said, raising his hand in a casual greeting. Jingliu stood beside him, nodding in silent acknowledgment, her eyes observing Catherine keenly.
Catherine, caught off guard, turned to face them, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "I... um... Yasushi and Lady Jingliu... I didn't expect to see you here," she stammered, her voice betraying a mix of surprise and nervousness.
"Baseball? Is that a present for Furuya?" Yasushi asked, tilting his head slightly. "His birthday is coming up soon, on the seventh of November. It's a bit early to get a present, though I already have one for him too," he added, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"Y-yes, I overheard the date when Laura and Furuya were talking," Catherine admitted, her cheeks still flushed with a delicate pink.
"Do you like him? If you do, he's single, as far as I know. If you ask, he'll probably say yes," Yasushi remarked, a playful tone in his voice. Catherine's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her eyes widening in surprise.
Jingliu nudged him gently with her elbow and gave him a sharp look. "Ahem… what he meant to say is, those are your options if you do have feelings for him. But don't feel pressured. Giving a present as a friend is perfectly fine too," she said, her voice softening, trying to ease Catherine's obvious discomfort.
"I-I'll keep that in mind, thank you…" she said, bowing slightly. "I-I need to get going, good night and goodbye…!" With that, she hurried off, her steps quick and almost frantic.
Yasushi watched her retreating figure, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "She's not great at hiding her feelings once they're brought to the surface. But if Furuya does end up dating her, I think it'll be good for him. He's been texting me more often about being single ever since he found out about us," he remarked, turning to Jingliu as they both observed Catherine disappearing into the dusk.
"I'll have a word with Xinyi about this... anyway, let's head home. It's getting dark," Jingliu said softly, taking Yasushi's hand and gently pulling him along, their steps syncing as they made their way back.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Every mickle mek a muckle." -Jamaican proverb
Meaning: This proverb means that small amounts can accumulate to make a significant amount, encouraging the idea that even modest contributions are valuable and can lead to substantial results over time.
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