Chương 90: Plans

A few more days trickled by, each one a slow drip, until at last the final day of winter exams arrived. The classrooms were filled with the quiet, relentless scratching of pens against paper, the air thick with a mixture of concentration and fatigue. Each student hunched over their desks, pouring the last remnants of their energy into the exam sheets, driven by the promise of a brief respite before the next round of exhausting obligations began.

Yasushi sat in his usual spot, a corner seat by the window. His pen twirled effortlessly between his fingers, a small act of rebellion against the silent intensity that gripped the room. The exam had been straightforward for him, and he had completed it an hour ago. He glanced at his watch — fifteen minutes to go.

His gaze drifted over his classmates. Heads bowed, shoulders tense, hands moving with an urgency that belied their weariness. The room pulsed with their collective desperation, an invisible thread binding them all in their shared struggle. Yasushi felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name, a fleeting connection to their plight. But the snow outside drew his attention more powerfully.

He turned to the window, the pen now still in his hand. Flurries of snow drifted down, each flake a tiny piece of silence that softened the world beyond the glass. The contrast between the serene winter landscape and the fraught atmosphere inside the classroom struck him. The snow seemed to promise a different kind of quiet, one that wasn't marked by stress and impending deadlines.

Yasushi let his mind wander with the falling snow, the minutes ticking away unnoticed. Soon, the bell would ring, and the room would erupt with the sounds of release and relief. But for now, he remained in his corner, watching the world outside transform under a blanket of white, feeling oddly detached from the storm of anxiety swirling around him.

Time moved on, indifferent to the tension it caused. A ringing sound reverberated through the classrooms, piercing the heavy silence. Some of his classmates scrambled to jot down last-minute answers, their pens racing against the clock.

"Okay, time's up. Please staple your exam papers and pass them up to me," the teacher's voice cut through the din, calm but authoritative. She began to prepare for the collection of the exams, a practiced routine.

The students, moving with a kind of resigned diligence, stapled their papers and handed them forward, row by row. It was a slow, almost mechanical process, each person caught between relief and lingering anxiety. The teacher received the growing stacks of exams, her expression softening as she took in the sight of her weary students.

"Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Now get out of here and enjoy your three-week break... after you finish your museum event, that is. Remember, like the garbage event, this will help with your credits, so do your best!"

Just like a dam breaking, the room erupted. Shouts of joy and relief burst forth, filling the space with a cacophony of voices.

"Hell yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah! A bit of a break before we sweat it out!" one guy shouted, his voice echoing with unrestrained excitement.

"Sleeeep here I come!" another called out, and many others joined in, their cheers blending into a collective roar. It was as if the entire school had been holding its breath, and now, all at once, everyone exhaled. The sounds of celebration spilled into the hallways, reverberating through the building.

"Porn! Porn! Porn!!! Uwooooooooooooo!!" a boy yelled, his outburst abruptly silenced by a swift slap from a girl nearby. The contrast between their reactions was stark and strangely comical, a brief, chaotic moment amidst the jubilation.

Yasushi let out a deep sigh, slumping back in his seat. The tension that had coiled tightly within him for weeks finally began to unwind. The weight of exams lifted, leaving behind a lightness he hadn't felt in what seemed like ages.

While maintaining good grades was important to him, the relentless cycle of tests had worn him down. Now, at last, they had a reprieve. He glanced around the room, taking in the sight of his classmates' ecstatic faces. It was over, and for a while at least, they wouldn't have to worry about exams or deadlines.

Slowly, the school began to empty. Students trickled out in groups, their laughter and chatter fading into the distance. Yasushi remained in his seat, eyes following the departing figures as he waited. The room, once a hive of tension, now felt oddly quiet.

Eventually, Jingliu appeared beside him. She tapped his shoulder gently, a warm smile on her face.

"We're ready... let's go celebrate," she said.

Yasushi sighed, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. On impulse, he leaned in and kissed her. Jingliu's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly returned the kiss, glancing around to ensure no one was watching.

When they pulled away, she asked, "Why the sudden urge to kiss me?"

Yasushi shrugged lightly, a playful glint in his eye. "It felt right," he said, gently poking her forehead.

They held hands and left the classroom, making their way to the school gate where their friends were waiting. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, a golden hue settling over everything.

"I just want to relax before we have to start that damn event on Monday," Furuya remarked, his expression tinged with a slight frown. His words hung in the air, a reminder of the responsibilities that still loomed, but for now, the promise of a brief escape brought a sense of lightness.

"Right…anyway, let's get some food. I'm starving," Xinyi suggested, glancing at Reina. "We can get your brothers too if you want."

"R-really? Then…please and thank you, they'll definitely enjoy it," Reina responded, bowing several times in gratitude.

The group started walking towards Reina's home. The cold air bit at their cheeks, but the prospect of food and company kept their spirits high. After about fifteen minutes, they reached Reina's house. Reina quickly went next door to fetch her brothers.

"They were with your neighbors?" Furuya asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

Reina blushed, nodding. "Yeah…during exam time, I have to leave them there. If we get out late, I can't pick them up from school. But if we get out early, I can swing by and get them. It works for me," she explained.

Furuya nodded, not pressing further. They continued their walk to a café the boys had been eager to visit. The promise of warm food and a cozy atmosphere beckoned them. Once inside, the group made their orders, the aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries enveloping them.

Yasushi pulled out some handheld consoles, handing them to Reina's brothers to keep them entertained. The boys' eyes lit up, absorbed in their games, allowing the group to relax and chat without interruption.

The café buzzed with the quiet hum of conversation and the clinking of cups. Yasushi leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee, letting the warmth seep into him. Across the table, Jingliu was animatedly talking with Laura and Xinyi about their plans for the break. Reina was watching her brothers, a soft smile on her face as they played.

The atmosphere was easy, filled with the simple pleasure of being together after the long, grueling exam period. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but inside the café, the world seemed warmer, their small group a refuge from the cold and the pressures that lay beyond.

Eventually, their food arrived. Plates of steaming dishes were set before them, the comforting aroma of a hearty meal mingling with the cozy ambiance of the café. They dug in, the conversation flowing easily around the table. Laughter and stories filled the air, a balm to the frayed nerves left by exams.

But Yasushi's mind wandered back to a few days ago, to another restaurant and a conversation he had overheard. Some troublesome students, their words laced with a hint of malice, had caught his attention. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling they had left him with.

As he ate, he discreetly pulled out his phone and typed a message to Yinhaie. "Hey, can you do some background checks for me?" he sent, his fingers moving quickly over the keys.

The reply came swiftly. "I don't mind, but for who?"

Yasushi paused, recalling the faces he had seen. "I'm not exactly sure of their names," he texted back. "But I can describe how they look, and we can go from there."

"Yes, please do that and we can track them down," came the prompt response.

He began typing descriptions, his mind piecing together every detail he could remember. The process took time, and he found himself crafting four long paragraphs, each filled with specific traits and mannerisms. He sent them off with a final tap, then put his phone away, trying to refocus on the present moment.

Xinyi's voice cut through the hum of conversation, unexpected and sharp. "Hmm... hmm!? Wait, Reina, we're swamped until Christmas break. Where are your brothers going to stay?"

A moment of surprise flickered in the room, everyone pausing to process the sudden question. Laura nodded in agreement, her brow furrowing slightly. "That's right. We've got the event running most of December, and our break doesn't start until the last two weeks, running through the first week of January. What's the plan for your brothers during that time?"

Reina hesitated, the weight of the question settling on her shoulders. "I was hoping to talk to my neighbors about it," she said slowly, as if weighing each word. "But it looks like they're going to be busy too. I'm not sure what to do. Babysitters would be an option, but they're expensive. Even though our parents help out a lot, the cost for those weeks would be pretty high."

Xinyi started to speak, her words carefully measured, "I see, then why not—"

Jingliu interrupted, her tone decisive and practical. "You can let them stay at our place. Yinhaie gets along well with them, and our staff usually have too much free time when we're not home. They get paid for doing next to nothing most days."

Furuya's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wouldn't they prefer that?" he asked, picturing himself in such a situation and finding it quite desirable.

"At first, sure," Jingliu admitted, her voice calm but firm. "But they've actually been asking for more tasks. They want something to do, to feel useful. There aren't many of them, but the ones who are there get bored out of their minds just sitting around all day."

Reina shifted uncomfortably, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose on you."

"It's fine, really. It's only for a few weeks, so it won't be too much trouble. Besides," Jingliu paused, turning her gaze to the rest of the group, "I have a question. What about the rest of the school? Not everyone is involved in this event. Where do they go during this time?"

Furuya leaned forward, ready to answer. "Easy," he began, but his face twisted in irritation. "They get extra weeks off. Lucky bastards. We second years are stuck with this."

Jingliu's brows knitted together in thought. "That does seem unfair. But next year, we won't have to do it. The first years now will be the ones handling it then, right?"

Furuya nodded, his attention already drifting back to Catherine, who was feeding him something as they continued their conversation.

The group's chatter resumed its usual rhythm, a comforting hum of voices that Yasushi drifted through without much thought. He reached into his pocket, fishing out his phone to check for any updates on the search.

The screen glowed, but there was nothing new from Yinhaie. No messages, no missed calls. He let out a small sigh, a breath that vanished into the air around him, and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

For now, he shelved the concern, tucking it away in a quiet corner of his mind. The day was for celebrating, and Yasushi decided to immerse himself in the here and now, the laughter and conversations swirling around him like the tide.