As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, students poured out of the building, heading in various directions. Furuya was already on his way to baseball practice, accompanied by Catherine, who was newly appointed as one of the team managers for the season. Her inclusion on the team had visibly brightened his mood.
Meanwhile, Jingliu, Xinyi, Layena, Reina, and Laura had set their sights on a girls' outing, leaving Yasushi behind with Yunxue. They had mentioned their desire to discuss topics more suited to their interests, implying that Yasushi was not part of their conversation's focus. They had extended an invitation to Yunxue as well, but she had chosen to remain with Yasushi, preferring his company over the group's plans.
At that moment, Yasushi and Yunxue were strolling through town, Yasushi taking the lead as he offered her a brief tour. Yunxue's curiosity was evident; she had spent the previous night researching the town online, eager to learn more about its various facets before her visit.
"Are you sure about skipping out on the outing?" Yasushi asked, glancing at Yunxue while he sipped from his juice. "I mean, they could have arranged things so you could join them as well, you know?"
"It's alright," Yunxue replied with a soft smile. "Since I'm expected to be around you most of the time, it makes sense for me to stay with you. Though, I might consider joining them next time if there's another all-girls outing."
"That's perfectly fine," Yasushi said. "How did your first day of school go? Did you pick up anything new? Was there anything that seemed too difficult? I'm here to help if you need it."
Yunxue shook her head, her expression calm. "No, everything was pretty straightforward. As I mentioned before, I'm nearly fluent in Japanese, so I don't anticipate any issues with the classes. However, I did find the level of attention I received today a bit overwhelming."
"It's alright," Yasushi said as they stepped into a small store to pick up a few items. "That kind of attention usually fades after a few days. Once everyone realizes that you mostly stick with us, their interest will change, just like how they treat Xinyi and Jingliu."
As they moved through the store, selecting items and placing them into their small basket, Yasushi's phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Yinhaie. Earlier, during lunch, he had texted her, hoping for some tidbit of information about the new transfer student. However, when he glanced at his phone, he saw that Yinhaie had not been able to uncover any details, which puzzled him.
Seeing Yasushi's distracted expression, Yunxue glanced at his phone and asked, "Is something the matter, Yasushi?"
He shook his head with a sigh, tucking his phone back into his pocket. "No, it's nothing significant. I'll fill you in on the details later. But you can probably guess what I was trying to find out, since it involves Yinhaie," he explained. Yunxue nodded, understanding the implication.
As Yasushi and Yunxue were wrapping up their shopping, they encountered an unexpected figure in the store — their homeroom teacher, Senbarisu. She was standing near the checkout, clutching two twenty-pack cases of beer.
"Hmm? Oh, it's you two. What are you doing here?" Senbarisu asked, her voice slightly slurred, as she struggled to balance the heavy packs in her arms.
Yasushi's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of so much alcohol. "You're certainly doing better than us. But why in the world do you have so much beer?" he asked, incredulous.
"I'm an adult!" Senbarisu exclaimed, her speech a bit unsteady. "I can drink whenever I want!" Her swaying and the slightly disheveled appearance suggested she had already indulged more than a little.
"Yes, but it's still a long way from the weekend," Yasushi pointed out, trying to grasp the situation. "Is there something special you're celebrating?"
Senbarisu sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging as she looked at Yasushi. "When you reach my age, where you're practically free to do whatever you please, you'll start to understand my struggles."
"Struggles of a single woman in her mid to late thirties?" Yasushi asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Senbarisu's eye twitched in response, a sign of her irritation.
Without another word, Senbarisu hastily paid for her beer and exited the store, heading toward her car. Both Yunxue and Yasushi exchanged worried glances. Senbarisu's unsteady steps and the strong odor of alcohol suggested she might already be intoxicated. The thought of her driving in that condition raised serious concerns for Yasushi.
Both Yasushi and Yunxue quickly finished their own purchases, gathering their items into a plastic bag before leaving the store. They soon spotted Senbarisu struggling with her car door, clearly having trouble with the lock. Rushing over, they approached her with urgency.
"Please stop," Yunxue said firmly, gently but firmly prying the keys from Senbarisu's hand. "Driving under the influence is not safe."
"I'll call one of the butlers to come and drive her home instead," Yasushi said, pulling out his phone. He dialed Yinhaie's number and explained the situation in detail. After listening to the explanation, Yinhaie agreed to send a butler to assist them.
Not long after their encounter with Senbarisu, a butler arrived on the scene. He took the keys from Yunxue and, after a brief exchange of questions, they managed to determine Senbarisu's address. Gently guiding her into the backseat of her car, the butler took the wheel and drove off, ensuring she reached home safely.
"She really ought to find a steady boyfriend soon," Yasushi remarked, a touch of concern evident on his face. "Otherwise, I can see her situation worsening."
Yunxue chuckled softly and turned to face him. "You have more sympathy than you give yourself credit for, Yasushi. When we first met, you didn't strike me as the empathetic type, but it seems I was mistaken."
Yasushi blinked a few times, puzzled by her comment. As he was about to offer a counterargument, he paused and reflected. His previous life, before his reincarnation, had offered little room for compassion, making it a foreign concept to him.
However, since his rebirth and the transition to a more serene existence, he had begun to change, albeit gradually. His new parents were the first to help him open up, but if not for them, then it was certainly Furuya, who had persistently reached out to befriend him. Over time, that persistence had paid off, and they had become lifelong best friends.
Yasushi chuckled softly and said, "Looks like judging a book by its cover wasn't the best approach this time, huh?"
Yunxue smiled warmly at him, the amusement clear in her eyes. They both turned away from the departing car and resumed their brief exploration of Ginsukimura. As they wandered through the streets, their conversation flowed easily, and the day's events gradually faded from their minds. After their leisurely stroll, they headed home, content and ready to wrap up their day.
+-+
"Still nothing?" Yasushi asked from the front seat, his gaze fixed on Yinhaie as she drove the car towards the school.
"No, I couldn't find any information, Yasushi. I'm sorry," Yinhaie replied, her voice steady, though the faint, enigmatic smile on her lips made him wary. He glanced over his shoulder at Layena, Jingliu, and Yunxue, all of whom shook their heads in unison, confirming their lack of new information.
"If you say so," Yasushi muttered as they finally pulled up to the school.
The following day, the group's curiosity about the new student had only intensified. Yinhaie's behavior had raised their suspicions, even though Yasushi had only known her for a year. He had picked up enough about her character from their time living together to sense that she was being elusive.
As they walked towards the school gate, they encountered fewer curious glances from other students, which was a welcome change. Arriving at their classroom, they settled into their seats and began chatting with their friends and classmates, the anticipation of meeting the new student mingling with their everyday conversations.
"I bet the new student will turn out to be one of those annoying pretty boys," Furuya remarked, making his way over to Yasushi's desk with a frown etched on his face.
Yasushi glanced up at his friend and raised an eyebrow. "Even after you've got a girlfriend, you're still stuck on this?"
Furuya's expression remained serious as he replied, "My resentment towards people — especially guys who are better looking than me — never seems to go away. I'll always be a bit bitter about it!" His declaration was met with a chorus of agreement from their classmates, a few voices chiming in with enthusiastic "Yeahs!"
Yasushi shook his head and let out a resigned sigh. "It seems some things never change," he said with a hint of amusement. He then adjusted his seat and shifted the conversation with Furuya to other topics as they waited for homeroom to start.
Senbarisu, their homeroom teacher, entered the classroom and struck the board with a firm slap. "I'll take attendance first before letting them in," she announced with authority. She proceeded to call out each student's name, checking off their presence as she went.
The anticipation in the room grew with every name she called. The students exchanged glances, their curiosity mounting. After she finished calling the roll, she let out a deep sigh, set her clipboard down, and turned towards the door. "You can come in now," she said, her tone clear and direct.
As soon as her words ended, the door to the classroom slid open, and a young man walked in. He stood about five feet eight inches tall, with striking features that included short black hair and noticeable sideburns. His green eyes scanned the room, and he wore the standard school uniform.
Xinyi and Jingliu's eyes widened in recognition, their surprise evident. Yasushi noticed their reaction and was taken aback when he saw that Catherine, Yunxue, and Layena also appeared startled, clearly familiar with the newcomer.
He raised his fist to his palm in a formal gesture and bowed deeply. "Hello, it's nice to meet all of you. I'm Bhaqui, and I come from China. It's a pleasure to meet everyone here, and I hope we can all get along well in the future."
"I knew it," Furuya muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes at the new student with a hint of irritation.
As Yasushi studied the boy standing at the front of the class, a realization struck him. The name Bhaqui seemed familiar, and he recalled where he had heard it before. His eyes widened in recognition as he remembered that Bhaqui was the butler Heinz had been personally training to take over his duties once he grew too old to continue. The very same butler known for his reckless persistence and stubbornness, who had endured Heinz's extreme training methods that could have easily been fatal — Bhaqui.
"No wonder they recognize him," Yasushi murmured to himself, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. Bhaqui caught the expression and responded with a knowing smile of his own, clearly aware of Yasushi's recognition.
But this raised a slew of questions for Yasushi. Why was Bhaqui here? Was he going to be staying with them from today onward? If so, how would that arrangement work? And who had orchestrated this situation? Yasushi didn't think Jingliu had set it up, so he turned his thoughts to her parents. But this only led to more questions than answers.
As Yasushi mulled over these thoughts, Bhaqui continued his introduction, sharing details about himself with the class. Suddenly, a commotion from the adjacent room drew their attention, sparking curiosity among the students.
"Ah, don't worry about the noise," Senbarisu said, her tone dismissive. "They're also welcoming a new student. She's from China as well; I believe her name is Alicia?"
Yasushi's eyes widened once more. Alicia was the maid that Anfeng had personally trained, the same way Bhaqui had been trained by Heinz. To find both of them at their school was unexpected and left Yasushi even more puzzled. What on earth was going on?