Yinhaie ushered Yasushi and Jingliu into a dimly lit chamber filled with towering screens and humming monitors, a sight that left them both visibly taken aback.
"This is our surveillance hub, a work in progress as of now. By tomorrow, it'll be fully operational. During your event, we'll keep a watchful eye on you and your companions, so you can focus on giving your best," Yinhaie explained, his tone composed yet reassuring.
Yasushi surveyed the room in astonishment, beholding a team of technicians diligently at work, their eyes fixed on the sprawling cityscape unfolding across the screens. It felt surreal, like a scene lifted straight from a fantastical film or an animated series — a sensation that Yasushi struggled to reconcile with reality, despite its undeniable presence right before him.
"In due course, our surveillance network will blanket the entire city, as I previously mentioned. However, for now, our focus remains on the areas frequented by the elusive killer. Despite our efforts to remain discreet, there's a chance they may catch wind of our presence and shift their operations to new territories. Hence, the urgency in expediting our installation process," Yinhaie elaborated, his tone tinged with a sense of urgency.
Curiosity tugged at Jingliu's thoughts, prompting her to inquire further. "Any other leads?" she probed, her eyes searching for insights.
Yinhaie's response carried a weight of uncertainty. "We have two potential suspects, though our evidence remains circumstantial at best. First, there's a notorious local drunk known as Mr. G; we're currently unraveling the mystery of his true identity. The second suspect is one of the recent transfers to your school, coinciding with Xinyi's arrival," he disclosed, leaving the air thick with unresolved questions and lingering suspicions.
Yasushi interjected, his curiosity piqued. "One of the new students? Can you provide more details?"
Regrettably, Yinhaie's response offered little clarity. "That's the extent of our knowledge thus far. Their reasons for transferring seem to align — they were all troubled individuals, engaged in misconduct that led to their expulsion and subsequent transfers. Given their troubled pasts, our focus is on identifying the one most likely to have committed these violent acts," he elucidated, his tone laden with a sense of unresolved investigation.
Yasushi, delving into speculation, pondered aloud, "Mere violence may not suffice as a defining trait. Perhaps someone adept with knives or similar tools? Someone persuasive or charming, easily gaining trust... Other factors like physical appearance might also come into play, as society tends to place trust in the more conventionally attractive."
Yinhaie's smile hinted at agreement as he replied, "Indeed, we're exploring those avenues. It will require a few more days of meticulous investigation, but we're confident in narrowing down our suspects further. That's the latest update I wanted to share with both of you."
"I understand, thank you," Jingliu responded with a slight nod, before unexpectedly taking hold of Yasushi's hand and guiding him away with an urgency that caught him off guard.
"Uh, dinner will be ready in a few hours at the usual time, so..." Yinhaie began, her words trailing off as she watched the pair walk off.
"We'll be there," Jingliu called back, her voice echoing faintly as they vanished from Yinhaie's sight, leaving her somewhat bewildered.
"What just happened?" Yinhaie wondered aloud, scratching her head in puzzlement. The surrounding staff couldn't help but chuckle, their eyes never leaving the monitors and displays they were diligently observing.
"You probably interrupted their private moment, Yinhaie. Teenagers, you know how they are," one of the staff members remarked with a knowing smile.
Yinhaie muttered under her breath but couldn't deny the truth in their observation. Shaking her head, she returned to her work, focusing on the numerous camera feeds while initiating a call with the team responsible for installing surveillance equipment throughout the city.
+-+
Days drifted by, and at long last, the garbage collection event dawned upon them. In the gray light of early morning, the entire student body gathered, bleary-eyed and swaying with exhaustion, to listen to the principal's address. His words seemed to float over their heads, barely registering in the fog of their drowsiness.
"Damn... how long is this going to drag on before we can actually start?" Furuya grumbled under his breath, impatience lacing his tone.
"Not much longer," Yasushi replied, his arms crossed defensively, stifling a yawn that threatened to break free. Next to him, Jingliu clung to his arm, her eyes half-closed as she fought off the urge to succumb to sleep. Xinyi, ever the quiet rival, mirrored Jingliu's actions, holding onto Yasushi with a determined grip, a silent competition playing out between the two.
Furuya observed the scene with a smirk, his eyes dancing with mischief. He leaned closer to Yasushi and mouthed the word "Harem," his grin widening at Yasushi's immediate eye roll. Despite Furuya's teasing, Yasushi couldn't see it that way. Xinyi was often distant, rarely hovering near him, while his moments were predominantly spent in Jingliu's company, making Furuya's implication seem far-fetched in his eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, the energetic principal's speech finally drew to a close, and he released the students to commence the event. The majority of the student body trudged away wearily, though a few exceptions darted off with an eagerness that stood in stark contrast to the general atmosphere of fatigue.
Yasushi's group comprised five individuals: Yasushi himself, Jingliu, Xinyi, Furuya, and Laura. They had already mapped out their initial destinations for the first few days, complete with backup plans should those locations become crowded with other students.
As they made their way to their chosen spot, Yasushi couldn't suppress another yawn, the early morning hour weighing heavily on him. In stark contrast, Furuya seemed to have shaken off his drowsiness entirely, his demeanor alert and focused.
"Keep in mind, the serial killer is still at large," Furuya cautioned, his voice laced with a serious tone that broke through the early morning haze. "Four more bodies have been discovered, and six more people have gone missing. They're no longer targeting specific locations — they're attacking randomly across the city now."
The gravity of Furuya's words lingered in the air, casting a somber shadow over the group's otherwise mundane task. Despite the morning's sluggish start, the reality of the situation injected a sense of urgency and vigilance into their steps.
"You're really that worried about it, huh?" Yasushi asked, casting a sidelong glance at his friend, Furuya.
"Yeah, man, we have a killer on the loose. Why wouldn't I be worried? What's odd is that you three don't seem concerned at all," Furuya responded, his gaze shifting to each of them in turn before resting on Laura. "Well, at least you're a bit more cautious, Laura."
Laura, who had been observing Yasushi with both Xinyi and Jingliu clinging to him, shifted her attention to Furuya and tilted her head slightly. "Well, I mean, yeah, I guess? It's not like killers are a common occurrence around here, thanks to the supposed protection of the goddess. But I suppose this person doesn't care about that. Also, my parents are making a huge fuss about it," she replied with a soft chuckle.
Furuya let out an exasperated sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Finally, someone with common sense!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and exasperation.
Yasushi nodded in acknowledgment, choosing not to prolong the conversation. The truth was, neither he nor Jingliu and Xinyi were particularly worried, thanks to the vigilant watch of their families. Unbeknownst to Furuya, the trio discreetly wore earpieces through which Yinhaie and one of Xinyi's maids periodically relayed pertinent updates.
After several minutes of walking, they arrived at a secluded park, a hidden gem within the city. To their relief, no other groups had chosen this location. At first glance, the park appeared immaculate, the epitome of tidiness and order. However, a closer inspection revealed the less conspicuous reality: certain individuals used this spot to dispose of their trash when they thought no one was looking.
Even in a society as clean and respectful as Japan, where people are generally raised with a strong sense of public duty, there are always exceptions. Some still litter, though in more discreet manners, leading to hidden pockets of refuse like the one they had stumbled upon. The paradox of human nature was evident even here, where the appearance of order belied the subtle disarray beneath.
"How do you even know about this place, dude?" Furuya asked, casting a curious glance at Yasushi.
"...I actually have superpowers," Yasushi responded with a deadpan expression, staring at Furuya with mock seriousness.
Furuya rolled his eyes and gave Yasushi a light punch on the shoulder. "No, seriously, how?"
Yasushi smirked before explaining, "I stumbled across it once and made a mental note. I figured it might come in handy for an event like this, which is why I kept it to myself until now. I mean, how do you think I managed to collect so much garbage last year?"
Furuya's face twisted in confusion. "Why didn't you tell me!?"
Yasushi shrugged nonchalantly. "There was never a need before. It wasn't for some silly contest back then. But now that we have a reason, we'll make good use of this spot. So let's get our gloves and other sanitary items ready."
Jingliu and Xinyi, who had been clinging to Yasushi, finally released his arms, both of them now fully awake. The group quickly followed Yasushi's lead, donning gloves, face masks, and in Furuya's case, even a face shield. The air of preparation around them was almost ceremonial, each step a small defiance against the hidden chaos they were about to tackle.