Chương 92: Watch Dogs
Two hours had slipped by since the entire second-year class of Yasushi's school began their routine preparations at the museum. Another two hours remained until opening time, and students buzzed around in their assigned groups, attending to their duties with varying degrees of efficiency.
For many, the hectic pace was overwhelming. Their movements were awkward, and their actions hesitant. Those more accustomed to such activity naturally took charge, directing their peers with a certain ease, their voices rising above the clamor.
Yasushi's responsibilities were somewhat different. As part of the team handling the museum's behind-the-scenes operations, he was tasked with less visible but equally important work. Today, he was on rodent patrol, setting traps as needed, and handling light cleaning in the museum's shadowy, often overlooked areas. His footsteps were muffled in the quiet corridors, a sharp contrast to the chaos outside.
"Yasushi, did you find anything?" A male staff member approached, his voice cutting through the quiet of the dimly lit hallway.
Yasushi glanced up from his crouched position, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "I found a few places that look like they might have been used as passageways. Seems like they're abandoned now, but should I put some traps just in case?" He gestured towards various corners and nooks with a subtle wave of his hand.
The man chuckled, a sound that echoed softly in the stillness. "Those little creatures are smart but also foolish, much like us humans. They see their fellows get caught or killed and they steer clear of those spots. But after a few weeks, sometimes months, they return and fall for the same traps over and over again. So, yes, go ahead and set the traps there." His voice carried a note of amusement mixed with resignation.
Yasushi nodded, reaching into the bag he had been given. It was filled with traps and other items designed to lure in the rodents. He worked methodically, placing the traps in the spots he had identified, his movements precise and deliberate.
Once he finished, he straightened up and stepped back, standing beside his coworker. The two of them surveyed the area in silence for a moment, the distant sounds of the bustling students a faint murmur in the background.
"Here," he said, handing Yasushi a sheet of paper with a list of tasks and areas to cover. "I'll take care of the other half with your group members. You handle these. The two new ones joining next week will be with you, and you know when your break is. Good luck. If you're unsure about anything, message me in the group chat." He gave Yasushi a firm pat on the back before heading off.
Yasushi watched him go, feeling the weight of the paper in his hand. He sighed, the sound barely audible in the quiet corridor. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through the group chat. Most of the messages were from Furuya, enthusiastically detailing his experience so far. That surprised Yasushi.
"I think he mentioned he's working in the gift shop," Yasushi murmured, tucking his phone back into his pocket. He glanced at the list, mentally mapping out his next moves. The tasks were straightforward, but the sheer number of them made his head spin. With a deep breath, he set off for his next area, the paper crinkling slightly in his grip.
Yasushi ambled through the corridor, his pace unhurried, almost meandering. The hallway, with its flickering fluorescent lights and peeling wallpaper, had an air of forgotten time. He turned a corner and there they were, the two classmates he had been tasked with observing. They stood close, heads bent together, their voices a murmur against the ambient hum of the building.
He paused, drawing back slightly into the shadow of a doorframe, letting the cold plaster support his weight. From his vantage point, he watched them, the tension in their posture unmistakable.
"Are you really sure about this?" the first one whispered, a tremor in his voice betraying his anxiety. "It could completely blow our chances."
The second classmate shifted, his brow furrowed. "If you see it like that, I'd rather not take the risk. What about the others? Both families received the evidence, didn't they?"
A grunt of affirmation followed, low and resigned. "Yeah, and the details were too precise. It's a clear warning. They'll ruin any hope we have of getting into universities here, and probably in the neighboring cities too, if we go through with this prank."
Yasushi stood in the shadows, his focus sharpened by the urgency of what he had overheard. The air around him seemed charged, thick with the weight of their words, stark against the hallway's usual silence.
"Then I'm sending a text now. We're refusing," one of them stated firmly, his fingers tapping out a message on his phone. "I'll talk to the others. What do you think they'll say?"
The second classmate sighed audibly, a mixture of annoyance and resignation in his voice. "One's always up for trouble, the other plays it safe. So, it's likely three against one. But even then, they might not listen."
"Fine, it's sent. Let's go find them. Start with the cautious one," the first replied briskly, stowing his phone as they hurried away, their footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Yasushi waited until their footsteps faded into the distance. Checking the coast was clear, he stepped out from his hiding spot. The hallway was empty now. He swiftly typed out a message to his friends, recounting what he had just heard. Another message went to Yinhaie: "Be prepared."
+-+
Yasushi's break arrived, and with it, Furuya and Xinyi joined him, slipping into the corner of the break room. The rest of their friends remained at work, having taken their break earlier.
"Did you see them?" Yasushi asked, leaning in.
"Only caught a glimpse of one," Xinyi said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think they were finishing up. Those two usually avoid each other. But..." She glanced at Furuya, who gave a slow nod.
"The 'aggressive' one," Furuya began, his tone measured, "he seemed angry at first. But then he started smirking. I saw him put his phone away before that happened, so... it's safe to say they might try sneaking in. We should let the staff or Yinhaie know."
Yasushi nodded and typed a message to Yinhaie. His fingers danced over the screen, detailing instructions for the surveillance team to monitor the museum and its surroundings closely. He also requested that she send a couple of staff members from home to blend in as visitors. His thumb hovered for a moment before he hit send.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, releasing a deep, weary sigh. "This wasn't what I signed up for. Extra work on top of everything else? We're already buried under tasks."
Furuya, chewing thoughtfully on his sandwich, looked up. "Yeah, I hear you," he said. "I thought working in the gift shop would be a breeze. Tidying up, helping out customers, nothing too crazy. But there's so much more that goes on behind the scenes. Inventory checks, restocking, dealing with orders. I figured the manager would handle most of it, but clearly, I was wrong." He paused, contemplating the layers of unseen labor before taking another bite.
"I'm part of the archiving team," Xinyi said between bites, her tone casual yet focused. "We do a lot of work behind the scenes. It's interesting, so I can't complain too much. Though I sometimes wish for more hands-on tasks rather than being stuck behind a desk. But, like I said, it's not that bad." She glanced at her watch, her brow furrowing slightly. "We've got ten minutes left. Our next break is in three hours, when we'll meet up with the rest of the group."
"Alright," Yasushi replied, pulling out his phone. "Keep an eye out and continue with our work. If you can, update the group chat with anything important. I'll send an update to everyone now." He began typing, his fingers moving methodically over the screen.
Their lunch break ended, and they left the breakroom to return to their respective tasks. Each step they took carried the weight of an additional concern — the troublemakers who might disrupt their routine today or in the coming days. The thought lingered in the back of their minds, casting a subtle shadow over their work as they resumed their duties, ever vigilant for any sign of disturbance.
+-+
"Nothing?" Yasushi asked, his voice low as he settled down among his friends.
"Nothing," the group echoed, gathering for their last break of the day.
"We've got three hours left before the night staff takes over," Furuya said, his tone a mix of relief and lingering caution. "So far, everything's been pretty... calm, I guess? There were some rowdy visitors, but they didn't seem like Max's type."
"I asked some other girls in class to keep an eye out for any troublemakers," Xinyi chimed in, her expression thoughtful as she took a sip from her juice. "They've only mentioned a couple of drunk people and some jerks, but no one like Max's group."
"It was quiet in my section too," Jingliu added, leaning against Yasushi with a tired sigh. "Reina and I didn't see anything unusual."
The group fell into a contemplative silence, the hum of the break room filling the gaps between their thoughts. Yasushi glanced around at his friends, each absorbed in their own reflections. The hours ahead loomed over them, tinged with the unspoken tension of anticipation. Would Max's group make a move, or would the night end as uneventfully as it had begun?
"Well, let's leave it at that for now. I doubt they'll try anything this close to us leaving, but..." Yasushi hesitated, his thoughts momentarily snagging on the unspoken concern.
"But?" Furuya prompted, leaning in, his curiosity piqued.
Yasushi sighed, the weight of his words pressing heavily. "...I think they might 'strike' starting next week. They want attention, so they'll probably do something when all the schools gather here, to maximize their impact. It's only our school here now, and I don't think they're impressed by that anymore."
Furuya's eyes narrowed as he processed this. "...that makes sense, actually. If that's the case, should we relax a bit this week?" His question hung in the air, met with nods from a few others.
Yasushi shook his head firmly. "No. They might be setting things up. We need to stay vigilant. Keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious and report them. We don't want them planting something while we're not paying attention. Let's go over the details in the group chat later."
The room fell silent again, each of them mulling over Yasushi's words. The break room's quiet hum seemed louder now, a backdrop to their heightened awareness. Yasushi could feel the collective tension, a shared understanding that the coming days required their utmost attention.
Furuya nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "Alright. We'll stay alert."
Xinyi leaned forward, her eyes serious. "I'll make sure to keep tabs on any unusual activity."
Their break concluded, and the group disbanded, drifting back to their respective duties. The hours slipped by, marked by the steady rhythm of their tasks. Yet, before long, their workday drew to a close, and they were dismissed for the day, released from their responsibilities to return home.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Kwa maji yaathiri mali." -Swahili proverb
"Water affects wealth."
Meaning: This proverb implies that access to water, a basic necessity, can significantly impact one's prosperity and well-being, highlighting the fundamental importance of resources in daily life.
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