The final bell's clang signaled the end of the school week, and a wave of freedom washed over the students. The usual noise of classroom conversations began to die down as everyone prepared to leave.
Most kids couldn't wait to get out and leave the books and desks behind. Furuya, always bursting with energy, urged Yasushi to hurry up, his eyes bright with anticipation for the weekend's possibilities.
"Alright, Yasushi, let's go! How about we head to the arcade? Or, wait, that new film is playing now! Or perhaps, we grab some grub first?" Furuya said rapidly, his enthusiasm quite obvious. He couldn't seem to contain himself as he thought of all the possibilities.
Yasushi, ever the composed and organized one, finished stowing his belongings into his bag. Before he answered, he briefly glanced over at Jingliu's now-vacant desk. Their new classmate had already disappeared among the swarm of students making their way out. He had only seen them for a day, but he was already curious about what they were like.
"Do you even have any cash?" Yasushi responded, a note of realism in his voice. He wasn't going to get his hopes up and be forced to stay home because his friend didn't have any money for their planned excursions.
Furuya's excitement dipped slightly, his body language showing a momentary frustration as he took a step back. "Ah, damn it, man. I've been putting aside money for that PS5, and now my allowance is almost gone. It's a real tragedy!" he lamented, the disappointment apparent in his voice.
Yasushi casually slung his bag over his shoulder, his tone laced with a hint of exhaustion. "You're expecting me to pay for everything again, aren't you?" he asked, his words carrying a note of disapproval. "Do you remember you still owe me..." he continued, making sure his point was clear.
"I know, I know! Ten thousand yen, right? I have not forgotten." Furuya interrupted, raising both his hands as if surrendering while they walked out of the classroom. He seemed like he didn't want to think about how much he owed Yasushi.
"Ten thousand? Wasn't it fifteen thousand last time?" Yasushi countered, the difference in amounts being a well-worn source of conflict between the two. He was tired of having to remind Furuya about the same thing every single time.
"It's that much already!?" Furuya exclaimed, his disbelief emphasized as they exited the school building. He clearly had no idea how much he really owed his friend.
The afternoon sun was starting to set, creating long shadows and coloring the world in shades of yellow and orange as they walked. Despite the peaceful scene, Yasushi felt a strange sense of unease. He had a feeling they were being watched by more than just the usual people passing by.
He couldn't pinpoint where this feeling came from, but his instincts, which had been sharpened by unusual experiences, were on high alert. Yasushi, sensing that his friend was uneasy, chose to remain quiet. He didn't want to cause any alarm but he felt like he needed to observe whatever was going on.
"Let's go to the arcade for now. It's easier on my wallet. Once I get paid from my part-time job, we can see that movie," Yasushi proposed, speeding up his pace a little. He wanted to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
"Yeah, and this time, I'm totally going to beat you at..." Furuya continued, his excitement taking the lead, seemingly not noticing the subtle changes around them. However, Yasushi, having a sense for the unseen shifts in their surroundings, remained alert, his senses on high alert to the silent alterations that were unfolding around them.
+-+
Inside the busy arcade, the minutes passed as Yasushi and Furuya dove into a variety of games, surrounded by other people. Outside, the darkness of evening was settling in, with a gentle snowfall beginning to cover the ground. Furuya glanced out the entrance, a sigh of resignation escaping him.
"Damn... the snow's really coming down hard, huh? We've entered that long eight-month stretch of winter." Furuya stated, a hint of frustration in his tone. He hated the cold and long nights that accompanied the snowy season.
"Yeah, but then after that, it's four months of extreme heat, like we've been dropped into a scorching desert. The weather in this city is just wild," Yasushi commented, the seasonal changes a strange feature of their home. He knew better than to complain since he had lived through this his entire life.
While they enjoyed their time at the arcade, Yasushi had this nagging feeling that they were being watched from outside. But within the colorful lights and noisy atmosphere of the arcade, the watchers remained unseen, waiting for their moment to act.
"Well, I should probably head home before my mom sends out a search party," Furuya announced abruptly, a sense of urgency in his tone as he turned and made his way out of the arcade, leaving behind the bright lights and the sounds of people playing games.
Yasushi watched Furuya go, then turned and stepped out into the cold night himself, his breath puffing out in white clouds as he began his own walk home in the opposite direction.
During the harsh winter months, the streets were always very quiet, almost as if the winter itself had put everything to sleep. Almost nobody wanted to venture out into the snowy streets, and they all opted for the warmth of their homes.
Despite the quiet, you could still hear children's laughter echo through the streets. Their joy and excitement while playing in the snow was a sharp contrast to the adults who preferred to stay inside.
Some teenagers also enjoyed the cold, embracing the chill as a familiar feeling. For Yasushi, the snow felt like a peculiar draw, a reminder of a distant past when he used to live in England. It was a connection that still existed beneath the surface of his current life.
As his shoes made soft crunching sounds on the snow, Yasushi felt the weight of several pairs of eyes on him, and he could hear quiet footsteps behind him. A knowing silence settled around him, a silent acknowledgment of the watchers hiding in the shadows.
He had a good idea who they might be, or at least what they wanted, but he decided to play dumb, hiding his awareness like he was concealing a secret.
As Yasushi stepped into the wide open space of a specific district, shadows seemed to form into human shapes around him. Figures emerged, dressed in normal-looking clothes, not like the typical bad guys.
Their faces were partly hidden, making it difficult to see their expressions. Yasushi stopped walking, a slight smile forming on his lips as he looked at them. He was familiar with this situation and almost looked excited about what was about to happen.
'This whole situation feels like something from a movie or an anime,' he thought to himself, realizing how strange everything had become. He spoke to the mysterious figures, his voice calm but amused. "So, Jishiha sent you guys. Alright, then, let's not waste any more time."
Yasushi slowly loosened his tie, a move that seemed to confuse the men who were watching him. His breath created a cloud of mist in the cold air, adding to the weird feeling of the situation. His pupils narrowed like the slits of a serpent's eye as he made eye contact with one of the veiled figures.
"It's been a while since I've had a good fight," he stated, his voice showing a bit of excitement despite his calm exterior. "Make this fun for me." He was clearly ready for whatever they were about to throw at him.
+-+
In another area of the city, Jingliu found herself surrounded by the same mysterious figures, their faces hidden behind masks and ordinary-looking clothes. She stood still, looking calm and collected, her arms crossed and her eyes closed as if she was meditating.
"I didn't think Jishiha's lackeys would be here so soon," Jingliu said calmly, her voice clear in the tense atmosphere. She opened her eyes, looking directly at Jishiha, who was full of anger and hatred.
"Shut your mouth, whore. It's payback time, grab her and make her pay!" Jishiha shouted, his anger barely hidden. He wanted to make her suffer as much as possible.
"Such vulgar words from a coward," Jingliu responded, her voice calm but firm. Before Jishiha's followers could attack, an unexpected group of people appeared and disrupted the confrontation. Shadows seemed to give rise to new allies, who swiftly and expertly took down Jishiha's men.
A woman, dressed in a maid's outfit, walked up to Jingliu. She was a clear sign of loyalty and service. "Lady Jingliu," she said respectfully, bowing as she offered a wooden sword to her.
Jingliu's face lit up with a calm but determined smile as she accepted the wooden sword from the maid. She moved the sword with fluid, almost magical motions, sweeping away the snow around her. Every movement showed her elegance and strength, as if she were dancing to a tune no one else could hear.
Her eyes remained closed as she did this, focused on a deeper sense. When she finally stopped and opened her eyes again, they stared at Jishiha with a steady and intense gaze. He stood frozen, his confidence fading away in the face of Jingliu's quiet but powerful presence.
Walking towards him, Jingliu's voice had the weight of a long family history and a strong will. "You can show off your money, Jishiha, but my family's roots in China go back centuries. We are not just some wealthy people; we have a legacy that's more important than material things."
Jishiha realized that he was losing, and he took a step back, fear flashing in his eyes. He tried to run, but before he could get away, Jingliu brought the wooden sword down on his back with a quick and forceful hit.
Jishiha fell to the ground, and Jingliu, placing her foot on his back, pressed down, showing how much power she held at that moment.
"Know your place, you idiot," she said firmly, hitting him with the wooden sword in controlled strikes. Each hit was done on purpose, leaving clear marks of warning without being overly cruel. Jingliu showed restraint, displaying power tempered by her self-control.
A final kick to his ribs emphasized her point, her eyes narrowing as she warned her attacker. "If you keep bothering me, I will not hesitate to destroy everything you care about, both here in Japan and back in China," she threatened, her words filled with conviction. She meant every single word she said.
Turning away from the defeated Jishiha, Jingliu walked towards the maid with a graceful and dignified manner. But her victory was cut short as one of her men, out of breath, rushed towards her.
"Lady Jingliu...!" he gasped, his urgency clear in his voice.
"Calm down. What's wrong?" Jingliu asked, drawing the attention of everyone around her.
"It's your classmate, Yasushi!" he exclaimed, his words causing surprise and disbelief among the group as he started to explain what happened.
+-+
They hurried to where Yasushi was, and when they got there, they were all completely shocked by what they saw. Even Jingliu, who was usually so calm, stood there speechless and stunned.
Around Yasushi, there were thirty men lying on the ground, all messed up, bruised, and bleeding. Yasushi stood in the middle of it all, his hands covered in blood, with a single streak of blood running down his cheek.
When he noticed them, Yasushi turned to face them, his eyes looking blank for a moment before returning to normal. He smiled at them casually and said, "Ah, Jingliu, did they come after you as well?"
His relaxed attitude sent a chill down Jingliu's spine, making her unable to speak for a moment. She simply nodded in response, not knowing how to react to what had just happened. She had certainly not expected things to turn out like this at all.