Yasushi rose from his seated position, extending his arm protectively in front of Jingliu, creating a barrier between her and the impending threat. Despite this, Jingliu, with a fierce determination blazing in her eyes, deftly retrieved her wooden sword from the necklace she always wore. Her grip tightened, her glare fixed unwaveringly on the shadowy figure before them.
"Oh? You're actually going to fight back? My victims don't usually do that. This should be entertaining," the figure sneered, their voice dripping with a mocking delight as they prepared to launch an attack.
In an instant, Jingliu's sword flashed through the air, moving with a speed so electrifying it was almost imperceptible. The wooden blade struck the figure's face with a resounding thud, momentarily disorienting them. Seizing the opportunity, Yasushi lunged forward, delivering a powerful kick to the figure's chest, sending them sprawling backward.
A guttural grunt of pain escaped the figure's lips as they struggled to regain their footing. When they looked up again, their eyes were bloodshot, filled with a venomous rage. They locked their gaze on Yasushi and Jingliu, the intensity of their anger now magnified, simmering with a barely contained fury.
"Two minutes! Please, whatever you do, don't act impulsively!" Yinhaie's urgent voice crackled through the earpiece that Yasushi and Jingliu wore.
Before they had a chance to process the warning, a sharp beep emanated from the shadowy figure, who visibly tensed at the sound. With a click of their tongue, they muttered, "Gotta run, damn cops."
The sudden announcement took Jingliu and Yasushi by surprise, but Yasushi, acting on instinct, lunged towards the figure. In an almost fluid motion, the figure produced a small, round object and hurled it to the ground. Instantly, a thick cloud of smoke billowed up, enveloping Yasushi and obscuring his vision. His target vanished, leaving him swiping at empty air.
'Does he have his own alarms too!?' Yasushi fumed inwardly, his eyes scanning the smoke-filled surroundings, but there was no trace of the figure. Frustration gnawed at him as he ground his teeth in vexation.
"Yasushi!" Jingliu's voice cut through the haze. She grabbed his arm, tugging him forcefully. Together, they stumbled out of the smoke, their lungs gratefully inhaling the clearer air. They caught a fleeting glimpse of the figure scaling the spiked fence of the park, disappearing into the shrouded night beyond.
Yasushi gradually regained his composure as a series of nondescript vehicles arrived, from which uniformed police officers began to emerge. Their mundane appearance belied the urgency of the situation, yet there was a sense of routine efficiency in their movements. One officer approached Yasushi and Jingliu, his expression a mixture of professional detachment and faint curiosity.
Yasushi, still on edge, gestured towards the fence where the figure had vanished into the night. "Over there," he directed, his voice steadying. "They scaled the fence. It's possible they got cut and left some blood on it."
The officer nodded, signaling to another nearby colleague who then proceeded towards the indicated spot. Meanwhile, a second officer stepped forward, notebook in hand, and requested a detailed recounting of the events. Yasushi and Jingliu took turns explaining, their narrative punctuated by occasional clarifying questions from the officer, who diligently recorded each detail.
As they spoke, the remaining officers dispersed, their flashlights slicing through the darkness as they combed the area in search of any sign of the elusive figure. The minutes stretched, marked by the quiet but intense activity around them, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the officer completed his notes, snapping the notebook shut with a decisive motion. It was then that Yinhaie arrived, accompanied by Xinyi, their presence heralded by a small entourage of butlers and maids. Their faces were etched with concern, a tangible worry that mirrored the lingering tension in the air.
Xinyi moved swiftly, embracing Jingliu without a moment's hesitation. Jingliu found herself enveloped in Xinyi's arms, her surprise evident as she stood there, bewildered by the sudden display of affection. "Are you okay?" Xinyi's voice was filled with genuine concern, her eyes searching Jingliu's face for any sign of distress. "I was so worried after I heard the news from Yinhaie."
Before Jingliu could respond, Xinyi turned and pulled Yasushi into the embrace as well, creating an impromptu group hug. "You too, doofus!" she exclaimed, her tone both affectionate and scolding. "I told you not to play hero!"
Yasushi, caught off guard, protested mildly. "I didn't, though…?" His confusion mirrored Jingliu's earlier reaction. "I literally just kicked them away while Jingliu poked their face with her wooden sword."
"Details!" Xinyi interrupted, dismissing his explanation with a wave of her hand as she hugged them both even tighter, her relief palpable.
Nearby, Yinhaie observed the scene with a weary expression. She let out a tired sigh, a mixture of relief and frustration. "At the very least, you two are safe," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of the night's events. "We can try and catch them, but they started throwing multiple of those smoke bombs, obscuring our surveillance. We lost them in the chaos," she explained, her tone resigned yet determined.
"No, it's fine, I think we'll catch them soon," said Yasushi, his calm assertion catching everyone off guard. Noticing the puzzled expressions around him, he elaborated, "You told us about certain suspects, right? I'll keep an eye out for those injuries. If they are who we think they are, they'll have those injuries on their bodies. I'll search for them at 'that' place."
Yinhaie and Jingliu exchanged a knowing glance, understanding the implications of Yasushi's words without the need for further explanation. Their silent acknowledgment was a nod of both agreement and determination. Xinyi, however, remained perplexed.
"Huh? What do you mean? Do you have an idea of who it is?" Xinyi's voice was filled with confusion and curiosity, her brows furrowing as she tried to grasp Yasushi's plan.
With a gentle smile, Yasushi reached out and lightly poked Xinyi's forehead. "Don't worry about it," he said, his tone soothing and reassuring. "Let's just go home for now. We can discuss it more tomorrow. I really don't want to deal with the media tonight. So, let's go."
Yasushi turned and began to walk away, his steps measured and purposeful, a quiet confidence in his stride. The others followed suit, their movements echoing his resolve. The night air was cool and carried a hint of the sea, a reminder of the ever-present flow of time and the shifting tides of their lives.
Xinyi, still somewhat puzzled, fell into step beside Yasushi. "You always have a plan, don't you?" she murmured, half to herself, half to Yasushi. There was a grudging admiration in her voice, tinged with the frustration of not being in the loop.
"Sometimes," Yasushi replied cryptically, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "But for now, let's just focus on getting home. We need to rest and gather our thoughts. Tomorrow is another day, and we'll tackle it together."
+-+
Xinyi bid farewell to Yasushi and Jingliu once the night's tumultuous events had finally come to an end. The tension in the air began to dissipate, giving way to an hour of much-needed downtime. Yasushi found himself alone in his room, the silence a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. In the adjoining room, he could hear the faint sounds of Jingliu bathing, the gentle splash of water a soothing background melody.
He walked over to the window, his gaze drawn to the outside world where the snow fell in a serene, unhurried manner, each flake illuminated by the cold, distant glow of the moonlight. The scene outside was a tranquil, almost surreal landscape, a stark juxtaposition to the confrontation that played out not long ago. As he stared out into the snowy night, Yasushi's mind wandered back to the pivotal moments of the encounter.
His kick had been powerful, driven by a surge of adrenaline, anger and urgency. He could still feel the impact resonating through his leg, certain it would have left a significant mark on the mysterious figure. Then there was the fence — sharp, unforgiving — likely to have inflicted scratches as the figure hastily scaled it. And Jingliu's wooden blade, a precise strike to the face, would undoubtedly leave a noticeable bruise.
These three marks, Yasushi mused, would be the clues to identifying their elusive killer. They were indelible imprints of the confrontation, etched into the flesh of the suspect. Yasushi's mind shifted to his classmates, the faces and names that Yinhaie had flagged as suspicious, especially the transfer students who had arrived recently, bringing with them an air of mystery and unease.
He recalled Yinhaie's words, her suspicion particularly directed towards these newcomers. Their arrival had coincided with the recent string of unsettling events, casting a shadow of doubt over them. Yasushi decided he would scrutinize them closely, watching for any sign of the telltale injuries.
The door to Yasushi's room creaked open, revealing Jingliu, clad in her nightwear and clutching a pillow to her chest. Her presence, a soft silhouette against the dimly lit room, brought a sense of calm yet carried the weight of unspoken thoughts. She glided over to the bed, her steps quiet and measured, and sat down with a gentle sigh. Patting the space beside her, she beckoned Yasushi to join her.
A quiet chuckle escaped Yasushi's lips as he moved to sit beside her. The room, bathed in the muted glow of the moonlight filtering through the window, seemed to cocoon them in a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of their earlier ordeal.
"Who are your suspects?" Jingliu's voice broke the silence, soft yet inquisitive. Her eyes searched his, waiting for his response, the question hanging in the air like a delicate thread.
Yasushi took a deep breath, his mind sifting through the events and the faces that had flashed before him. "…The first one that comes to mind is…" he began, his voice trailing off, deliberately allowing the suspense to build. He could feel Jingliu's anticipation, her gaze intent and unwavering.
"Mizahara Tokoyoni," he finally said, the name slipping from his lips with a certain weight. The sound of it seemed to linger in the room, resonating with the gravity of the implications it carried.