章節 116: Upcoming Valentines Day

A month slipped by, each day marked by Yasushi and his friends diving headfirst into the whirlwind of their teenage lives. Classes, laughter, the bonds between them tightening like the gears of a finely tuned machine. Valentine's Day loomed, a single day away, its approach almost imperceptible in the flurry of their daily routine.

Yasushi and Jingliu found themselves standing before Yasushi's locker. As he swung open the door, an avalanche of letters poured out, cascading in a seemingly endless stream. The scene was almost absurd, letters piling up around them until the flow finally ceased, leaving a mountain of paper at their feet.

Yasushi stared at the mess, eyebrows lifting. "What is this, an anime?" He crouched, grabbing a handful of the letters, flipping them open. "Love letters… but I'm not that popular, right?" His fingers raked through his hair in bewilderment.

Jingliu smirked, bending down to pick up one of the letters. "I guess things changed after the incident with Daiki a couple of weeks back." She tore open the envelope, scanned the contents, then sighed. The sound of ripping paper followed, and a gasp echoed from somewhere nearby.

After they gathered up the rest, Yasushi and Jingliu made their way to the nearby school incinerator. The metal door clanged open, and they unceremoniously dumped the pile of letters inside, watching as the flames hungrily consumed the paper. The ashes swirled, darkening the air for a moment before they headed back to class.

As they walked into the classroom, their desks came into view, each one adorned with a fresh pile of letters. Yasushi's desk was cluttered, but Jingliu's overflowed with an even larger mountain of envelopes.

Furuya stood nearby, a smirk on his face. "Look at Mr. and Mrs. Popular," he crowed, waving his hands dramatically towards the desks. "I saw so many students coming in here putting letters on your desks!"

Yasushi shook his head, stepping closer and starting to gather up the letters. "It's not like we wanted these," he muttered. "We found even more in my locker earlier, but we were surprised that Jingliu didn't have any in hers. I guess this is where they all went."

Jingliu rolled her eyes, her fingers deftly picking up the letters. "It's more of a hassle than anything," she mumbled, irritation lacing her voice. "The entire school already knows we're dating."

They both left to get rid of the piles of letters before coming back to the classroom. The metal door of the incinerator clanged shut, sealing away the remnants of unwanted affection. They returned to their desks, the air still carrying the scent of burnt paper.

Yasushi dropped into his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. Furuya strolled over, a mischievous glint in his eye. Yasushi turned his gaze from the window to his friend, curiosity piqued.

"How about you? Did you get anything?" Yasushi asked, leaning back, his eyes flitting between Furuya and the scene outside.

Furuya's grin widened, and he leaned in close, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Catherine said… she has a surprise for me on Valentine's Day night," he murmured, a chuckle escaping him, growing into a full-blown cackle.

Yasushi's eyebrows shot up. As far as he knew, Catherine and Furuya hadn't taken that step yet. Furuya had always let Catherine set the pace in their relationship, a slow and steady progression. But now, Furuya's words hinted at something more, a promise of an intimate moment, a night that might change everything for him.

"Is that so? Good luck, then," Yasushi replied, a quiet snort escaping as he watched Furuya's excitement.

They continued to chat, their conversation meandering through the mundane aspects of daily life. The upcoming Valentine's Day loomed large in their minds, a topic too big to ignore. White Day was mentioned frequently, the day when the guys would return the favor to the girls. Ideas floated around, but nothing solidified. Plans seemed distant, shapeless.

Yasushi's thoughts kept drifting. He and Jingliu hadn't changed their behavior despite the impending day of romance. Their relationship, comfortable and familiar, didn't stir with the same anticipation. They walked to class together, shared lunch, but it felt like any other day, even with Valentine's Day so near. He wondered what, if anything, would change when the day finally arrived.

+-+

"I have a dilemma," Laura and Xinyi blurted out simultaneously. Their group of friends on the school's rooftop fell silent, eyes shifting between the two girls. Laura and Xinyi exchanged confused glances.

"Go ahead, Laura," Xinyi said, her voice gentle. Laura took a deep breath, her mind racing to organize her thoughts.

"So, Valentine's Day is coming up, right?" Laura began, looking around. Everyone nodded, the anticipation palpable. But before she could continue, Furuya, munching on his food, interrupted her.

"You got a love letter?" he asked, crumbs falling from his mouth.

Laura shook her head, pulling a letter from her bag and handing it to Yasushi. He accepted it, surprise flickering across his face. He opened the letter, his eyes scanning the contents. Confusion and shock spread across his features. He read it again, slower this time, as if the words might change. Finally, he shook his head and passed it to the others.

Each person took their turn reading, eyes widening in disbelief. When Furuya read it, he spat out his food, coughing in astonishment.

"Who the hell proposes through a letter!?" he exclaimed, staring at the letter as if it were an alien artifact.

Laura had been proposed to. The group huddled on the rooftop, the weight of the letter pressing down on them. The identity of the sender remained a mystery. Classmate? Fellow student? Teacher? Or someone who had sneaked into the school? The letter's contents offered no clear answers.

"My dearest Laura, I have been keeping an eye on you for the last six months and my love has grown for you over that time. In my mind, we have been happily dating since then and I wish for us to announce it to the world on Valentine's Day. We will also become pregnant soon, so please wait until the announcement tomorrow!"

Concern etched on every face, the letter passed from hand to hand. Each person read it, the implications sinking in deeper. They knew they had to stay vigilant.

"So…we're going to catch the guy, right? He's going to announce it tomorrow, so…" Xinyi mumbled, her unease evident.

Layena frowned, her brow furrowing as she reread the letter. "What did they mean by 'get her pregnant soon'?" she asked, the words leaving a sour taste.

Yasushi leaned back and let out a long sigh. "Delusional people will always say things like this. It might even be some cruel prank, considering how ridiculous it sounds. We'll just have to wait and see tomorrow," he said, shaking his head as if to dispel the absurdity of the situation.

Laura muttered an uneasy "Okay," her eyes reflecting her worry. She shifted her gaze to Xinyi, desperate for a change in topic. "W-what about you, Xinyi?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Xinyi scratched her head, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "Apparently, one of my dad's business partners from China approached him about marrying me to their son. My dad didn't want it, kept pushing back, but he finally relented for a meeting during the summer. So, I'll be seeing them in China."

The group fell silent, the weight of Xinyi's revelation settling over them. Another shock, another layer of complexity to their lives. Xinyi shook her head, her resolve clear in her eyes. "I'm going to reject him, obviously. I don't want to get into a relationship that has no love."

"Is he rich?" Furuya asked, but he earned an immediate smack from Catherine on his shoulder. "I-I was just asking!" he protested, rubbing his shoulder with a wince.

Catherine sighed, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. "I don't know all the details, but he does come from a well-off family. From the quick research we did, their family owns several businesses in China. So, he's an heir to that wealth," she explained, her frown deepening as she spoke.

Furuya nodded, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, just tell him what you told the rest when Catherine and I had problems — kick him in the balls when rejecting him," he said, snorting with amusement.

Yasushi shook his head, his expression stern. "It's more complicated than that, Furuya. Your girlfriend just mentioned that they own multiple businesses in China. If the family really pushes for this, things could get tricky," he pointed out, his brow furrowed in concern.

Furuya let out a resigned sigh. "I guess we can't fix problems with our fists in the real world, huh? Bummer."

The group fell into a thoughtful silence, each person weighing their next words carefully. The pause stretched until Xinyi spoke up, her tone firm yet reassuring. "Don't worry about it. I'll find a way out of this. Even if he keeps pushing for marriage. I mean, we haven't even met face-to-face yet. I can just act poorly, and he'll likely back out on his own."

Before anyone could respond, Jingliu stood up and motioned for Xinyi to follow her. The sudden movement startled everyone. The two of them moved a short distance away, engaging in a hushed conversation. Xinyi's surprise was evident, but she nodded enthusiastically, her demeanor shifting to one of eager anticipation. They returned to the group, Xinyi practically bubbling with excitement while Jingliu's expression remained calm and neutral.

"So… what happened?" Furuya asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"It's nothing~ don't worry about it~! This won't be too bad after all~" Xinyi sang, settling back into her seat and picking up her food with a bright smile.

They pressed Xinyi for details, but she remained tight-lipped, her expression a mask of cheerful secrecy. Despite their best efforts, she refused to divulge anything further. Yasushi turned to Jingliu, searching for answers. She shook her head subtly, a silent message that they would discuss it later. Yasushi nodded in understanding, accepting her unspoken communication.

The group fell into a more subdued atmosphere for the remainder of their lunch. Conversation shifted away from their earlier concerns, and they opted for lighter, more casual topics. The energy around the table became less intense, as they focused on mundane matters and everyday chatter.

+-+

Later that evening, as the sky darkened and the streetlights flickered to life, Yasushi and Jingliu walked side by side towards their room after dinner. The air was crisp, and the sounds of the bustling campus settled into a calm hum around them. Yasushi, his mind still occupied with the day's events, finally broached the subject that had been on his mind.

"So, what was that secret conversation with Xinyi about?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.

Jingliu glanced at him, her expression serious. "Please agree to this, but... can you pretend to be her boyfriend during the meeting?" She took a breath, watching his reaction closely. "We'll talk to our parents about it, and hopefully, they'll agree to the arrangement since Xinyi really doesn't want this."

The words hit Yasushi like a jolt. He stopped walking, his mind racing to catch up with the unexpected revelation. "W-what?" he stammered, struggling to process the sudden and surprising request. His surprise was palpable, and he stood there, momentarily speechless, as the implications of Jingliu's proposal sank in.