章節 221: Prologue

"Here's your coffee, Yasushi," the woman said, placing the cup in front of him.

"Thanks," he answered, setting his phone aside before taking a long sip.

"H-here's a sandwich…" Yunxue stammered, her mouth tightening as she held out the plate, her face visibly tense.

"Thank you," Yasushi replied, taking it with a small nod before biting into it.

It had been six months since the start of college. They were now halfway through the year. Last week had been a string of quizzes thrown their way by their professors, and the whole group was now in that anxious waiting period for grades to come back. Halloween was coming up fast too, with everyone hinting at costume parties and group plans.

The past half-year had been a mix of fun and stress for Yasushi and his friends. Adapting to college life wasn't exactly a walk in the park. But once they got used to the routine, they found themselves diving headfirst into the whirlwind of assignments, classes, and campus life.

Their group kept up with regular meetups, staying close despite the fact they'd also expanded their circles with new friends along the way. It meant dividing their time, juggling old friendships with new faces, but somehow they made it work.

To his right sat Yunxue, who, aside from a few changes, looked just as he remembered. Her hair, though, had grown longer. She now kept it tied back in a ponytail — a choice Yasushi might've had a hand in when he offhandedly mentioned liking the style, mostly thanks to his admiration for Jingliu and Xinyi.

To his left sat the secretary Shiva, the Lord of the Universe, had sent. She'd arrived a few weeks before college started and had since fallen into the same rhythm as Yunxue and Yinhaie. She had shoulder-length hair, tied back in a ponytail too, though hers was colored gray, standing out against her tanned skin and red eyes.

Her usual attire — a white shirt paired with a black skirt, black leggings, and black heels — had a polished, professional look to it, worlds apart from Yunxue's maid outfit.

One thing, however, stood out clear as day — these two were competing, each determined to prove herself as the more capable one by Yasushi's side, though they masked it in a professional guise.

Yasushi had changed too. His usual mess of hair was now trimmed into a cleaner cut, though he kept it just a bit unkempt on purpose. Now that he was in college, his clothes had shifted to a more casual style. Nandini — the secretary Shiva had sent his way — had suggested he dress in something more professional. Yasushi brushed off the idea, saying it wasn't time for that just yet.

He finished his sandwich with a sigh. "What's next on the agenda…?" he muttered, casting a look toward the two of them.

"Apart from our high school's annual Halloween event, there's a smaller one happening here on campus," Yunxue jumped in before Nandini could get a word in. "It's geared toward the students who don't have jobs and the juniors who recently joined," she continued.

"As Yunxue said, it's mostly for the new juniors," Nandini added, her tone measured. "But it's really just a costume competition open to anyone, including non-students. There's a small prize — twenty thousand yen — and from what I managed to find out, your friend Furuya's planning to enter. He could use the cash."

Yasushi hummed thoughtfully, finishing the last bite of his sandwich. "No harm in watching. Let's plan to check it out when the time comes. But right now, we should head out; the next lecture's about to start."

Both Yunxue and Nandini nodded in agreement, gathering up their things to tidy the area before falling in behind Yasushi. The moment they stepped out of the building, eyes turned their way.

Some stared with envy, others still looked surprised, and a few looked outright annoyed. Yasushi hadn't planned on it, but he'd already carved out a reputation before even setting foot on campus. On his first day, someone had tried to pick a fight with him — and Nandini had stepped in and knocked the guy out cold, which stunned everyone around them.

Rumors started circulating, whispers about Yasushi relying on "strong women" for backup. But that narrative didn't last long. When someone else tried to provoke him, Yasushi handled it himself, dropping the challenger in one clean move.

Since then, most people on campus kept a wide berth around them. Maybe it was fear, or maybe they saw Yasushi as out of their league — whatever it was, only they knew. Yasushi didn't bother himself with it. He was here for one thing: to study, to get the qualifications and the knowledge that he'd need for the career he had planned.

He still made connections, but in his own way. Instead of bothering with shallow peer interactions, which he saw as a waste of time, he chose to reciprocate only with those who genuinely approached him, making an effort worth his response.

They made their way to the next building and entered, moving through the hallway straight to their lecture room. They found their seats, settling in before the class began. Once the lecture kicked off, Yasushi and the others stayed sharp, their attention locked in until the day's end.

+-+

Yasushi stretched, a yawn escaping as he leaned back, standing by the campus entrance, eyes scanning the space as he waited. Yunxue and Nandini had ducked into the bathroom to touch up before they'd head home.

"Oh, hey! What's got you hanging out here solo?" Furuya's voice called out, and Yasushi turned, a smirk flickering as he fist-bumped him.

"Hey man," he replied, glancing over to see Catherine and a few other friends Furuya had brought along. "Just waiting on some people."

Furuya gave a knowing nod, then grinned. "We're hitting up karaoke — wanna tag along?"

Yasushi shook his head with a laugh. "Not this time. Got a few things to handle. You know, the usual grind."

Furuya patted him on the shoulder with a quick nod. "Alright, but don't keep fading out on us, yeah?" he said, then turned to head off with his group. Catherine gave Yasushi a quick wave, which he returned with a casual nod, leaning back against the wall, waiting.

"Y-a-s-u-s-h-i~" came a bright, singsong voice.

Yasushi glanced to his side, spotting Xinyi with Jingliu right beside her. Xinyi leaned in close, her face mere inches from his, eyes expectant. He sighed, giving her forehead a light flick.

"Where's Layena, and your maid?" he asked, scanning the area, noticing that Layena was nowhere in sight.

"Bathroom. Looks like Yunxue and Nandini pulled them in there for something," Xinyi replied before moving around to Yasushi's other side and locking onto his arm with a casual hug.

He gently pried her off, nodding. "Yeah, we're sticking to the plan, just getting things in place. Time's moving fast — we've only got a few years here."

He turned to Jingliu, giving her a look. "You think you'll be able to make it this time?"

Jingliu offered a warm smile and nodded. She wore a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, brown boots, and had a red scarf wrapped around her neck. "Yeah, I'll be back soon enough. Yinhaie and Layena won't need me long; we'll be back by six," she assured him, before leaning in, pressing her lips to his for a quick kiss.

Yasushi returned the kiss, drawing a dramatic sigh from Xinyi standing nearby. She was bundled up in a white winter coat, a black skirt over dark leggings, and brown boots. "Did you really have to do that right in front of me?" she asked, her cheeks puffed in annoyance.

They both pulled away, glancing at her, a laugh escaping as they took in her still-puffed cheeks. "Alright, I'm heading out then," she announced, giving a little wave. "See you two in a couple hours." Right on time, Yinhaie pulled up in a car. Jingliu climbed in, and both waved as the car rolled off, leaving Xinyi and Yasushi standing in the soft winter light.

"Well, it's just the—"

"We're back," Yunxue's voice cut in as she appeared with Layena, Nandini, and Xinyi's maid, Qixie. Xinyi huffed again, her cheeks filling up even more as the group gathered around.

Yasushi chuckled. "Guess that's our cue. Let's head home." They all nodded, setting off, with Xinyi taking every chance she could find to tease and flirt with Yasushi — only to get blocked by him each time, much to her dismay. The whole way, she kept trying, only to be met by Yasushi's playful resistance, a back-and-forth that continued right until they reached their doorstep.

+-+

Yasushi let out a groan, slumping back in his office chair. He'd spent the past few hours sorting through stacks of documents and other files his dad and Shiva had sent over, insisting he get comfortable handling this type of work. It wasn't flashy, just background work, but it would prove useful sooner or later.

"Finally done? Nice job~ Jingjing should be back soon~" Xinyi's voice chimed, and she walked over, poking the tip of his nose playfully.

Just then, Nandini stepped in, offering a cup of tea, which Yasushi accepted with a nod. He took a long sip, savoring the pause. "Thanks, Nandini… So, Halloween's around the corner, and I got a message from your dad, actually," he said, catching Xinyi off guard.

"My dad? What for?" she asked, her brows lifting as she tried to figure out why her dad would reach out to Yasushi directly.

"Yeah," Yasushi replied, "he wants me, you, and Jingliu to go over there this summer after our first college year. Says we'll be helping with a bunch of projects, though I'm on physical labor duty, and you two are supposed to handle the admin side," he added, passing his phone over so she could read the message for herself.

Xinyi scanned the text on the screen, her eyes narrowing as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I knew we'd have a lot of work to handle once we got closer to graduation, but… this is something else," she muttered, handing his phone back.

She trailed off, glancing to the side with a faint frown. Yasushi raised an eyebrow, thrown by her reaction. "But… what?"

"It's just…" She hesitated, choosing her words. "That business out there? It's not in great shape. Lord Shiva knows it too. He helped start it up years ago, backing the original owner. But that guy retired. Now, his son's running things, and let's just say it's not exactly… thriving. Customers that used to show up every week don't even come around anymore," she said. Nandini stepped in, nodding.

"Shiva's reach really is something, having businesses practically everywhere, even in the small places like Shirakawa-go," Yasushi muttered. "I wouldn't have thought he'd take an interest in a restaurant that far out, though."

"Shirakawa-go?" Xinyi echoed, squinting a bit. "What even is that? And where?"

"It's a spot I've wanted to check out," Yasushi said, pulling up a webpage on his laptop. He motioned for her to come over, and she did, leaning in beside him.

On the screen, images of a quiet village in the mountains came into view, resting within Gifu Prefecture in central Japan. The place stood out for its old, thatched-roof houses — steep, almost pointed like hands pressed together in prayer.

Yasushi scrolled further down, reading aloud about the village, hidden in the Shogawa River Valley and known around the world, alongside the neighboring village Gokayama, for this unique style they called gassho-zukuri — the "prayer hands" construction.

He explained how these roofs, woven thick with thatch and angled sharply, held up against the heavy winter snow. And without nails to hold them together, the structure relied on beams carefully fitted together, keeping everything stable through each long, freezing season.

This village dates back centuries, with most homes standing for around 250 years, if not longer. Built almost entirely from natural materials like straw and clay, they present a raw, timeless look that reflects the village's history.

Stepping inside, you'll see multiple levels — spaces with purpose beyond just living. The upper floors were once dedicated to silk farming, a key part of the economy back then. These large spaces allowed villagers to raise silkworms, which need warmer, sheltered conditions to survive, and the interior layout supports that, with ventilation that lets air flow to cool the space in summer and keep warmth in through winter.

These gassho-style homes rise to three or four floors, their structure carefully designed for utility and durability. They stay relatively cool under the summer sun yet keep warmth trapped inside during colder months.

Outside, the landscape adds another layer to the scene: the village sits surrounded by dense forests and mountains, creating striking views across all seasons.

Summers bring vivid green hillsides, while autumn sees deep shades across the trees, and in winter, snow blankets every rooftop and tree, drawing in visitors and photographers alike.

The winter season holds something special, too — during select evenings, the village lights up as if captured in a timeless scene, each roof aglow under the snow, making for a stunning and memorable sight.

Shirakawa-go stayed mostly isolated until recent history, with its mountains keeping it cut off and helping preserve the village's old structures and customs.

The seclusion meant that villagers carried on traditions without much outside influence, holding onto practices handed down over generations. Though some modern touches have come in, strict preservation rules protect the village's original character as a cultural heritage site, preserving its past.

Xinyi leaned closer, reading the information Yasushi had pulled up. "Sounds like an interesting place. I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself," she said, sounding genuinely curious.

Yasushi gave a short laugh, nodding. They dug a little deeper into Shirakawa-go, sifting through more details until Jingliu came back, finished with her own tasks. From there, their talk shifted, covering events planned for the future, as conversation filled the room well into the evening.