A few weeks drifted by, time measured not in moments but in the subtle shifts of daily life. Daiki, instead of going through regular rehabilitation, found himself in a unique institution designed for troubled youth. It wasn't a typical prison, but a place where they aimed to reshape him, day in and day out, for the next four years.
On the first Monday after the incident, Furuya returned to school, relishing his newfound status. He recounted how he had intervened to save Catherine from Daiki, basking in the attention. Yasushi's quick action, restraining Daiki in seconds, had been caught on video. It spread rapidly, bringing Yasushi unexpected recognition, though he never sought it.
Life had settled back into its familiar rhythm. The mundane routines resumed, and now they faced the looming presence of their final exams before summer. Soon, they would be third years, standing on the cusp of graduation.
Yasushi sat at his desk, the steady tick of the clock marking the passage of time. The classroom held a quiet, subdued atmosphere, the teacher's voice a constant drone in the background. The ordinary cadence of school life continued, each second carrying them closer to an uncertain future.
+-+
Lunch arrived, marking a pause in the usual classroom routine. Jingliu departed with Xinyi, Laura, Reina, and Layena, leaving Furuya and Catherine with Yasushi. The room, filled with the quiet hum of subdued conversation and the soft rustle of papers, felt momentarily still.
Furuya and Catherine sat close, feeding each other bits of food with a tender familiarity. After a few moments, Furuya turned his attention to Yasushi.
"Hey man, did something happen?" Furuya's voice broke the silence, drawing Yasushi's gaze.
"What do you mean?" Yasushi asked, meeting his friend's eyes.
"Jingliu's been acting strange for about a week, right? I asked Catherine, but she says she can't tell me. I thought maybe you'd know," Furuya explained, curiosity evident in his tone.
Yasushi glanced out the window, his eyes wandering to the bright sky. The weather had taken on a spring-like quality, a welcome shift after the long, cold months. Yet, he couldn't help but think about the impending heat that summer would bring.
"...I don't know," Yasushi finally said, his voice contemplative. "All Jingliu would say is it's a surprise and she hopes I will say yes to it in the future." He turned back to face the couple, their faces reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Are you using protection?" Furuya blurted out in a sharp whisper. "You didn't get her pregnant, right?" His eyes widened with a mix of concern and horror.
Yasushi let out a tired sigh, shaking his head slowly. "Yes, we use protection. Stop asking about my private life. And I really doubt it's about that." His expression shifted to one of incredulity as he glanced at his friend.
"What? It's a pretty normal question! I mean, most people would think that, right? Your girl is avoiding you, being secretive with her friends and — wait, maybe she's cheating?" Furuya's face turned pale at the thought.
Catherine, sitting beside him, didn't hesitate. She smacked him on the side of his head, her eyes narrowing. "No, she is not. Why do you always assume the worst? If I did the same thing, is this what you would think?" Her tone was sharp, edged with annoyance.
Furuya rubbed the spot where she had hit him, looking sheepish. "I guess I panicked," he mumbled, glancing between Catherine and Yasushi.
Yasushi, turning his gaze back to the window, watched the clouds drift lazily across the sky. The sunlight streamed into the classroom, casting gentle patterns on the floor. The tranquility outside seemed at odds with the undercurrent of tension inside the room.
"Jingliu said it's a surprise," Yasushi repeated, more to himself than to his friends. "She hopes I will say yes to it in the future."
The silence settled over them again, the weight of unspoken questions and the ticking clock creating a strange, almost tangible tension. The room held its breath, waiting for what would come next, as Yasushi's mind wandered through the possibilities, trying to make sense of Jingliu's cryptic words.
Catherine's gaze softened as she noticed Yasushi's mounting frustration. "It's nothing bad, Yasushi," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "It's a trip, that's all I can say. Please don't mention it to her." She then turned her attention to Furuya, locking eyes with him in a silent, unspoken communication.
Furuya, feeling the weight of her look, stammered, "I-I won't say anything! I'm A-Okay!" He punctuated his words with an exaggerated salute, which elicited a resigned sigh from Catherine.
Yasushi watched the exchange, absorbing Catherine's words. He nodded slowly, offering his thanks. His mind immediately began to churn with curiosity. They had already experienced the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii during the Christmas break, and now he found himself pondering the nature and location of this new surprise trip. What destination could rival the tropical paradise they had just left behind?
+-+
Yasushi and Jingliu decided to walk home today, buoyed by the pleasant weather that offered a rare respite. Their fingers interlaced, they ambled through the streets, observing the city's transformation from its usual snow-clad state to a more typical, though still somewhat unfamiliar, springtime visage.
"It looks a bit strange," Jingliu mused, her head resting gently against Yasushi's shoulder. "After being buried under snow for eight months, the shift to blazing sun for the next four feels jarring."
Yasushi exhaled softly, a quiet sound that drifted into the spring air. "Yeah, it's a bit disorienting at first. These two extremes take some getting used to. But eventually, you adapt," he said, his gaze sweeping over the cityscape, noting the contrast between the seasons.
"Anyway," Yasushi continued, "how about we stop for some snacks?" Jingliu's face brightened with a smile that conveyed her agreement without words.
They made their way to the familiar bakery, a cozy establishment known for its comforting array of pastries and treats. They selected their usual favorites, the act of choosing and buying feeling like a small ritual in their shared routine. With their purchases in hand, they resumed their walk toward home.
As they wandered through the streets, the sun casting long shadows and warming the cool air, Yasushi's curiosity emerged, nudging him to break the silence. "So… what have you been planning?" he asked, his voice casual but tinged with a trace of genuine curiosity.
Jingliu halted abruptly, her gaze locking onto Yasushi's face. She scrutinized him, searching for any clue about what he might know, trying to decode his unreadable expression. Yasushi met her stare with a face that betrayed nothing, an inscrutable mask of calm. After a moment, Jingliu let out a resigned sigh and shook her head.
"Who told you?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation, as if the answer was already obvious but she was willing to entertain the question.
Without a pause, Yasushi quipped, "I can actually read minds. I have a superpower that lets me see your thoughts like speech bubbles floating above your head."
Jingliu halted again, her eyes narrowing as she studied Yasushi's face, searching for any sign of sincerity or jest. Yasushi, unable to maintain his usual impassive demeanor, let a small, barely noticeable smirk creep across his lips. The corners of his mouth twitched in a way that betrayed his amusement.
Jingliu puffed her cheeks in a mock display of frustration, then reached out and pinched his arm lightly. Her gesture was playful, a mix of irritation and affection, as she tried to gauge whether Yasushi was simply teasing or if he had indeed uncovered something more.
"One of the lovebirds," Yasushi finally said, his tone carrying a blend of amusement and curiosity. Jingliu's response was a soft, resigned sigh that seemed to release a measure of the tension she had been holding.
"I see," she said, her voice settling into a contemplative rhythm. "Well, how about I show you instead? Let's go to our room. I've been meaning to show you for a few days now, but I've been consulting everyone else about it—well, except Furuya, because I know he'd blurt it out to you the moment he got the chance." As she spoke, she reached out, her fingers curling gently around his arm, a gesture both affectionate and inviting.
"Sure thing," Yasushi replied, his interest piqued. "I've been curious ever since I caught a hint of it. It's not Hawaii again, is it?" His teasing question was met with a playful but grumpy headbutt against his arm from Jingliu. Her gesture, though feigned in its grumpiness, was gentle and endearing.
Yasushi chuckled, the sound light and pleasant, and the two of them continued their walk, their steps in sync as they made their way home. The anticipation of the reveal added a subtle excitement to their journey, the ordinary path home now infused with a sense of unfolding mystery.
+-+
When they arrived home, Jingliu instructed Yasushi to wait in the living room. He complied, making his way to the sofa and settling into its comfortable embrace. The minutes ticked by slowly as he waited, the anticipation hanging in the air like a faint electric current. After about three minutes, Jingliu reappeared, accompanied by Layena and Yinhaie. Yasushi's surprise was evident.
"They're coming too?" Yasushi asked, his gaze shifting between the two new arrivals. "And now that I think about it, why didn't you come with us to Hawaii, Layena?" His question was directed at the young maid and friend who stood before him.
Layena gave a slight bow, her posture respectful yet relaxed. "I decided to stay behind and look after the house. I'm sorry if you wanted me to join you," she said, her tone apologetic.
"No, no, it's fine," Yasushi replied, shaking his head. "I'm just glad you're coming with us this time." He offered her a reassuring smile, which she returned with a warm expression.
"So… where are we going?" Yasushi asked, his curiosity piqued once more.
Jingliu's smile widened as she approached the table, placing several small documents and a stack of pictures in front of him. She took a deep breath, the action almost ceremonious, and then looked directly at Yasushi.
"Yasushi," she began, her voice steady and clear, "will you come to China with us during the summer break?"