The days slipped by with the same gentle, indifferent rhythm that marked the passage of time at Yasushi's school. It had been a few weeks since the news broke, the kind of news that felt both distant and unsettlingly close. The city's serial killer, after a prolonged trial that peeled back layers of secrets and horrors, had been declared insane and confined to a mental institution. It was a verdict that left a strange, hollow echo in the community, like the lingering silence after a particularly dissonant chord.
But that wasn't the end of it. The trial had unearthed more than anyone had expected. The killer's parents, along with several other figures from the shadows of her life, were found complicit, their actions driving her towards the abyss.
They were imprisoned, a move that shocked everyone. It was as if the city had been holding its breath, waiting for a revelation that would explain the inexplicable. Yet, the identity of the killer remained a closely guarded secret from the public. Still, within the walls of the school, whispers and half-spoken truths told a different story. Everyone knew. The absence of one student spoke louder than any headline could.
As Yasushi sat with Furuya during lunch, the world outside the window shifted. The season's first snowstorm descended with a brutal force, each flake a tiny messenger of cold and chaos, slamming into the city like a regular guest. Yasushi's gaze drifted to the swirling white chaos outside, a stark contrast to the warmth of the classroom.
Furuya broke the silence, his voice casual yet edged with curiosity. "Hey…what's up with you and Jingliu?"
Yasushi turned back to his friend, the question hanging in the air like the snowflakes beyond the glass. He took a moment, letting the words settle, then swallowed his food. His eyes met Furuya's, steady and unreadable. "What do you mean?" he replied, his voice even, giving nothing away.
"Quit playing with me, Yasushi. You two... you just seem even closer since that whole garbage incident, especially after that swimming class. We've got another one in two days, so spill it, man!" Furuya's voice was a low, urgent whisper, his eyes locked onto Yasushi's face, searching for answers in the lines and contours of his friend's expression.
Yasushi let out a long, slow sigh, the kind that seemed to draw out all the unsaid thoughts and words that hovered between them. He waved off Furuya's suspicions with a casual flick of his hand. "That's how friendships work, Furuya. We weren't this close back in middle school, but things change. Friendships evolve over time if you really care about them."
Furuya rolled his eyes, a gesture that was half frustration, half disbelief. He shook his head slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. "No. It's not like that, Yasushi. I know how it is with friendships. But with you and Jingliu, it's different. It's a lot more... intimate," he said, his voice dropping even lower, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Yasushi chuckled softly, a sound that was both amused and dismissive. He turned his gaze back to the window, watching as the snowstorm continued to blanket the world outside in a relentless, icy embrace. "Regardless of how you see it, Furuya, nothing's changed between me and Jingliu apart from us getting a bit closer. If you're so curious, you can ask her yourself later," he replied, his tone light but firm, closing the door on the conversation.
Furuya grumbled under his breath, a low sound of frustration and resignation. He knew Yasushi well enough to understand that no amount of probing, bribing, or cajoling would extract the answer he sought. Yasushi was a locked door, and Furuya lacked the key. With a sense of determination mixed with exasperation, Furuya pushed himself up from his seat, the legs of the chair scraping against the linoleum floor with a sharp, discordant sound.
"I'll go and ask them then," he declared, his voice carrying a note of defiance. "Those three are probably hanging out somewhere else." The words hung in the air for a moment, a challenge and a promise all rolled into one.
Before Yasushi could respond, Furuya had already turned on his heel and dashed out of the room, a flurry of movement and restless energy. Yasushi watched him go, a silent observer to the storm of Furuya's emotions. He let out a soft sigh through his nose, a subtle exhalation that spoke volumes. His gaze drifted back to his lunch, the mundane meal suddenly infused with a sense of quiet contemplation. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a private moment of amusement that he allowed himself.
"Go ahead and try," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible above the ambient noise of the cafeteria. "But you know she won't answer you either."
+-+
Furuya, propelled by a mixture of curiosity and determination, made his way to the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on a familiar trio. Jingliu, Laura, and Xinyi were seated at a table tucked away in a corner, a small island of conversation in the bustling sea of students. Laura and Xinyi were deep in animated chatter, their hands gesticulating as they spoke, while Jingliu listened in her usual composed manner, her eyes occasionally flicking to the screen of her phone.
Without hesitation, Furuya hurried over to them, his footsteps quick and purposeful. He halted in front of the table, his presence abruptly interrupting the flow of their conversation. "Jingliu! Are you and Yasushi dating?" he blurted out, his voice a harsh whisper that still managed to carry enough weight to make an impact.
The reaction was instantaneous and dramatic. Both Laura and Xinyi, caught off guard, choked on their drinks, their faces a display of surprise and amusement. Jingliu, however, remained calm, her expression shifting only slightly as she slowly lifted her gaze to meet Furuya's. Her eyes, cold and unyielding, locked onto his with an intensity that made him instantly regret his boldness.
"Excuse me?" Jingliu's voice was ice, her glare cutting through the air between them.
Furuya felt a shiver run down his spine. He took an involuntary step back, his bravado evaporating under the weight of her stare. "Erm, I, well... I talked to Yasushi about it and... he avoided the topic, so I thought I'd ask you instead," he stammered, his words tumbling over each other in a rush. He forced a nervous laugh, a weak attempt to diffuse the tension.
Jingliu's crimson eyes remained fixed on him, unwavering and inscrutable. The silence stretched, thick and oppressive, wrapping around Furuya like a vice. Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, he muttered a quick, incoherent excuse and turned on his heel, fleeing the cafeteria with as much dignity as he could muster. His departure was swift and unnoticed by the surrounding students, a small mercy in a moment of acute embarrassment.
Jingliu, with her usual calm demeanor, noticed the inquisitive looks that Laura and Xinyi exchanged, their curiosity almost palpable. She decided to nip their probing in the bud, her voice steady and composed. "Nothing is happening between us…"
"Yet," Xinyi interjected, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Jingliu's icy glare met Xinyi's playful defiance, but Xinyi merely stuck her tongue out in response, unperturbed by Jingliu's sternness. The moment hung in the air, charged with unspoken words and lingering questions.
Laura and Xinyi seized the opportunity, launching into a barrage of teasing remarks and playful jabs. Their laughter bubbled over, filling the space around them with a light-heartedness that contrasted sharply with the heavy snowfall outside. They teased her relentlessly, weaving fantastical stories and exaggerated scenarios about her and Yasushi. Jingliu maintained her stoic exterior, her expression a mask of mild annoyance. Yet, beneath the surface, a different emotion stirred.
As the teasing continued, a subtle warmth spread within Jingliu, a quiet contentment that belied her outward demeanor. She listened to their banter, her irritation mingling with a sense of belonging.
+-+
An hour had slipped by since Yasushi had set down his pen, the last of his homework completed and neatly stacked on his desk. The evening had settled into a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages or the distant hum of the city outside his window.
He was lost in thought when he felt the gentle pressure of arms wrapping around him from behind, a familiar embrace that brought a quiet smile to his lips. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Jingliu, her head resting against his back, her presence a comforting weight.
"Are you done with yours?" he asked softly, feeling the subtle nod of her head against his back in response. The simplicity of the moment, the unspoken understanding between them, felt profound in its own way.
Turning around, Yasushi rose to his feet, lifting Jingliu with a practiced ease. He carried her to their bed, a sanctuary of shared warmth and whispered conversations. She nestled against him, her form fitting perfectly against his, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be together. He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. "I heard from Furuya that he tried to ask about us."
Furuya's earlier attempt to pry into their relationship had been clumsy and ill-fated. He had returned to their classroom looking slightly distressed, his usual bravado dampened by Jingliu's icy demeanor. The encounter had left him uneasy, and he had avoided the topic altogether since then, a rare silence from someone usually so inquisitive.
Jingliu, still curled up against him, let out a soft sigh, her irritation palpable even now. "...what kind of person just asks someone that?" she muttered, the memory of Furuya's blunt question still fresh in her mind. The teasing from Laura and Xinyi had only compounded her annoyance, their playful jabs a reminder of the vulnerability she usually kept well-hidden.
The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the night deepened. Yasushi's hand found its way to Jingliu's hair, his fingers weaving through the strands in a soothing rhythm. He didn't need to say anything; his presence was enough, a silent reassurance that they were in this together.
Jingliu's eyes met Yasushi's, a luminous glow in the dimly lit room. The ambient light cast a soft halo around her, accentuating the quiet intensity of her gaze. "...what are we?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yasushi's hand continued its gentle motion through her hair, each stroke a silent contemplation. He found himself at a loss, the simplicity of the question unraveling a complexity he hadn't fully grasped. They had shared kisses, stolen moments that transcended words, yet they had never defined their relationship. The boundaries of friendship and romance blurred in their interactions, creating a liminal space where they existed without labels.
"What do you want us to be?" he finally asked, deflecting the question back to her, his tone gentle but probing. It was a safe response, an open-ended invitation for her to articulate the feelings they both navigated with silent understanding.
Jingliu's grip tightened on his shirt, a subtle but powerful gesture that drew their faces closer. Her breath mingled with his, creating a fragile intimacy in the space between them. "I want…" she began, her words trailing off as their lips neared. The unspoken desire in her eyes bridged the gap, and instead of finishing her sentence, she closed the distance, her lips finding his in a tender, searching kiss.
Yasushi's arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the connection. The kiss evolved, a dance of tongues exploring and intertwining, each movement a silent conversation of longing and affirmation. Jingliu felt his tongue against hers, a tentative yet deliberate gesture. She responded in kind, her own tongue venturing forward, meeting his with a shy yet fervent eagerness. The intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, a blend of nervous excitement and profound connection.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths came in soft, uneven gasps. A thin strand of saliva connected their lips, a tangible reminder of their closeness. Jingliu's face was flushed, a mixture of embarrassment and determination coloring her features. "I want... to... date you..." she mumbled, her voice barely audible, the words carrying a vulnerability that made her cheeks burn.
Yasushi's heart swelled at her confession, the simplicity and honesty of it piercing through the uncertainty that had clouded their relationship. He looked into her eyes, seeing the same mixture of hope and trepidation that mirrored his own feelings. In that moment, the ambiguity dissolved, replaced by a newfound clarity.
"Then… let's start dating, Jingliu," Yasushi responded, his smile tender and genuine. In that moment, a profound sense of peace settled within him, a calm he hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity. The words seemed to hang in the air, their simplicity belying the depth of their significance.
Jingliu's face lit up with a radiant smile, a rare and beautiful expression that seemed to transform her entirely. She nestled her head against Yasushi's chest, finding comfort in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His hand resumed its gentle caress through her hair, a soothing, repetitive motion that spoke of care and affection.
On that day, something fundamental shifted between them. Their relationship, once a complex web of unspoken emotions and undefined boundaries, had taken on a new, clear shape. Whether this change was for better or worse was a question that lay beyond the horizon of their current understanding. But in that singular, precious moment, they were content with their decision, embracing the new direction their connection had taken.
Unbeknownst to them, just outside the door, Yinhaie was caught in a silent celebration. She had come to call them for dinner, but the sight of their intimate exchange had rooted her to the spot. Her heart swelled with a mix of joy and excitement, her fist pumping the air in a quiet, ecstatic gesture. She remained hidden, savoring the scene before her, knowing she had witnessed a pivotal moment in their lives. The eavesdropped moment brought her immense satisfaction, a secret she would treasure.