Yasushi kept his distance, eyes locked on Yunxue, Jingliu, and Layena as they twirled around each other, laughing and sharing bites of snacks they'd picked up from the nearby stalls. The park buzzed with life as the Moon Weaving festival was in full swing, the crowd swelling with every passing moment. Yasushi didn't join them, though — he couldn't, not after what Yunxue had pulled earlier.
About forty minutes had slipped by since the festival kicked off, and Yasushi's attention drifted toward the increasing number of college students. He recognized some of them, likely fresh out of high school, eager to relive the celebration they'd barely left behind. It was no surprise to him; he'd figured there would be a decent turnout. What he hadn't expected was this overwhelming flood of people. It unsettled him, a gnawing worry creeping in.
Though security measures were solid, and he trusted them, he couldn't shake the feeling that if something went sideways, he needed to be ready. So he stood where he was, vigilant, watching from the edge, keeping an eye on them all.
Eventually, the three of them wandered over to where Yasushi stood. They plopped down onto snow-covered benches, their breaths still heavy from all the movement. Yasushi dug into his bag and handed out packets of cold water, followed by some candy he had grabbed earlier.
"Did you guys have fun?" he asked, glancing at them.
"It was awkward," they all said at once, which pulled a quick snort out of him.
"Is that right? Well, take a break then. We've got another half hour, maybe an hour before we head off to dinner with the others." He reached for his bottle of water, twisting the cap and taking a few long gulps, the cold biting against his throat as he drank.
As he lowered the bottle, Yasushi's eyes drifted to Yunxue. She wasn't looking at him, though. She was focused on the same group from earlier. Yasushi's face hardened. It wasn't just a quick glance; it looked like she was fixated on them now, and for good reason.
The group — four of them — had gotten even worse, stumbling around, drunker than before. They'd clearly smuggled in their own booze, something no one wanted at this event, but they didn't seem to care. That didn't sit right with Yasushi. Not at all.
He placed his hand on Yunxue's head, giving a slight nod. "Don't stress over it. The guards will probably throw them out soon."
"But why not now?" Yunxue's eyes narrowed, still locked on the drunks, her frustration clear.
"I'd like to know too," Yasushi answered, shrugging, "but we won't get that answer unless we go ask them directly." That exchange had caught Jingliu and Layena's attention, and they both turned to watch the group, stumbling and loud.
"Was it ever directly stated that alcohol wasn't allowed here?" Jingliu asked, her tone curious.
Yasushi shook his head. "No, not outright. But it's known — this event's for high schoolers, mainly underage. The college students might come back for nostalgia or whatever, but everyone knows it's not the place to bring booze. But you know how people are. Doesn't stop some from doing dumb shit."
Layena, scratching her head, frowned. "But don't people usually get caught when they try something like this? Why aren't the guards doing anything now?"
"Maybe they slipped them some cash, or the guards are tied up with other idiots causing trouble, or they just haven't spotted them yet," Jingliu suggested, tossing out ideas.
"Could be," Yasushi replied, though he wasn't buying it. Something about it didn't sit right with him, but he didn't push the point. They decided to keep away from the drunks and focus on enjoying the rest of the festival. No use letting a bunch of idiots ruin the night.
After a bit of rest, they all agreed it was time to move on. Their group wandered away from the chaos, eyes scanning for something good to eat. They had dinner stashed in their bags, packed earlier by Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi, but that didn't stop them from hunting down something tasty to share with the others.
+-+
"I won some stuff," Furuya mumbled between bites, holding up a collection of cheap toys and a couple of small bags he tossed over to Catherine.
Xinyi glanced at his strange pile. "How much money did you blow on that junk?"
"Eh? Only about two thousand yen," Furuya replied without much concern, already focused on his meal again.
Their group sat around a nearby bench, lunchboxes spread open, passing food between them. They had packed enough to share, and even the occasional stranger who politely asked for a bite got a taste. It wasn't something they minded, as long as people were respectful.
Reina took a slow bite, thinking. "It's a lot calmer than I thought it'd be. But I kind of like it that way. If it was too wild, I don't think I'd be enjoying myself much."
"Yeah, it feels balanced," Bhaqui added. "Enough going on to keep it interesting, but it's not out of control. Though I've seen a few drunks wandering around — mostly college kids." A few heads nodded in agreement as they ate, content with the way the night was unfolding.
"Hey," Yunxue said, pulling everyone's focus. "Where's Laura?"
Everyone at the table glanced around. She wasn't there.
Reina's voice broke the silence, shaky. "She... she was with me earlier. She had a bit to drink, some alcohol from those college guys at the event." Her worry was clear, rising with every word.
Yasushi felt the same dread creeping in, the same feeling he had earlier when he first saw those guys hanging around. He remembered Laura talking about wanting to try alcohol, but he hadn't thought too much about it then. Now it all clicked into place. His stomach turned.
He shot up from the bench, and the rest followed. It didn't need to be said, but the same thought hit them all at once — those guys were probably messing with her, taking advantage of her being drunk.
"Split up. Pairs. Search the park. Now." Yasushi's words were sharp, and no one hesitated.
The group scattered immediately, moving in pairs without a second thought. Yasushi and Jingliu took off in one direction, while the others spread out, eyes scanning every corner of the park for any sign of Laura.
Yasushi and Jingliu sprinted through the park, weaving past drunken clusters that lingered, and others who were already being led away by security for causing trouble. But Laura was nowhere in sight. The longer they searched, the more the tension built. They asked anyone nearby for clues — some pointed one way, others sent them in circles. Frustration grew, but stopping wasn't an option. Not now.
After what felt like ages — about ten minutes — they finally spotted her. Yasushi's heart skipped. Laura wasn't alone. Standing next to her, calm as if nothing was wrong, was Hakufubuki. Seeing the Goddess there threw him off. She was the last person Yasushi expected to be around this mess.
He and Jingliu rushed over. When they got close, Hakufubuki didn't seem surprised. She looked at them with a relaxed expression, her voice casual as she said, "I found her just before some college students dragged her into a tent. She's pretty wasted, so I'd suggest someone stays with her."
Her words hit hard. Yasushi clenched his fists, knowing how close things had come to getting worse. Hakufubuki's gaze shifted to Jingliu, giving her a look like they shared some kind of understanding. Jingliu didn't say anything, just nodded and stepped forward to take Laura from her.
While she steadied Laura, Jingliu pulled out her phone, quickly tapping out a message to their group, letting them know Laura was safe and that they should all meet back where they'd been earlier.
"You were already here?" Yasushi asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her.
The woman gave a sad smile, nodding. "I didn't plan to show up so soon, but when I saw how close your friend was to being scarred for life, I stepped in." Her voice was calm, but the weight of what she meant hit Yasushi hard.
"Where was she?" His tone was low, but the fury bubbling beneath the surface was unmistakable. It made him sound empty, like the anger was swallowing him whole.
Hakufubuki put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head slowly. "Yasushi, I get it. I really do. But don't make things worse by going after them. I know what you're thinking, and trust me, you don't want this to end like before."
Her words dragged up old memories, ones Yasushi had tried to bury. His mind flashed back to her — his friend, the closest thing to a sister he had in his past life. She'd been broken, shattered beyond repair because of a bastard who'd gotten what he deserved. Yasushi had made sure of that. He'd left the guy crippled, unable to ever hurt anyone again.
The thought of Laura going through the same pain made his chest tighten. His blood boiled, the urge to snap and find those responsible gnawing at him. But Hakufubuki wasn't wrong. If he lost control now, if he let the rage drive him, he'd probably end up behind bars.
Yasushi drew in another breath, held it, then let it out slowly, trying to force himself to calm down. His face went blank, no longer showing the storm beneath the surface as he turned to her. "Can we go after them legally? This park doesn't have many cameras, and I doubt Yinhaie set up any close enough to catch what happened. My gut says no."
Hakufubuki shook her head. "Not really. They sobered up and bailed before anyone could get a clear look at them. Catching them now won't be easy, but there are CCTV cameras around the city. If you're looking for a bunch of freaked-out college guys running away from what could've been a disaster, it's possible."
He fell quiet, eyes narrowing as he glanced toward a particular spot in the park. "I'll ask Laura what she wants to do. If she wants to press charges, we'll help her. If she doesn't... then we'll drop it," he muttered, the bitterness creeping through, his anger still bubbling just beneath the surface.
Hakufubuki grabbed his face, her hands cooling him down instantly as a thin layer of frost seemed to chill the air between them. "Calm down," she said, her touch firm. The effect worked, his temperature dropping along with his rage. She smiled faintly, her thumbs brushing his face. "Ask Laura what she wants to do. It's her choice in the end. If she wants to fight it, respect that. If not, don't let your anger get in the way. But if she can't handle it, step up together."
Yasushi stood silent, his chest rising and falling as he processed what she said. After a long pause, he nodded. "Alright."
"Good," she said, pulling her hands away, the cold receding. "When you need me, just call my name. I'll be there with you, Jingliu, and Yinhaie." She turned and vanished into the throngs of people, blending back into the crowd like she hadn't been there at all.
Yasushi stood still for a moment longer, the weight of the conversation hanging over him. After a breath, he turned and made his way back to where the others were, eager to check on Laura.
+-+
"She doing okay?" Yasushi asked, stepping up to the group.
Jingliu gave a small nod. "Yeah, she's out cold now. Too wasted to even know what happened after we grabbed her."
Furuya eyed Laura, still knocked out, his face twisting. "You're lucky you found her when you did. We didn't even catch a glimpse of her. Where was she?"
Yasushi paused, piecing together his response. "…One of my parents' old friends happened to be here. She saw Laura being dragged by a group of drunk college kids toward a tent. Sober enough to step in, she stopped them. She told them she'd report them if they didn't back off. They panicked and took off."
The explanation wasn't completely real, but it worked. There was enough truth to it to keep everyone calm.
"Let's wait till she's awake and has sobered up before doing anything else," Reina suggested, crossing her arms. "But we should cut this short. Head home soon." Everyone nodded at the idea, agreeing
An hour later, Laura stirred awake. Her eyes struggled to focus, and she rubbed her face, trying to get her bearings. "Wha... where am I? What... what happened?" Her words stumbled, her voice slurred from the alcohol still in her system. She glanced around, hair a mess, body heavy with exhaustion.
Her friends helped her sit up, each one giving her a piece of what had gone down, though even they were sketchy on the details. As the story came together, her eyes widened. Fear gripped her as she tried to process it all.
"Did... did anyone see their faces?" she stammered, her breathing uneven.
Yasushi sighed. "No, we didn't catch them. But if you want to go after them, we'll back you up. There are CCTV cameras in the city and park. We could find them."
Laura sat in silence, thinking it over. She blinked a few times, the weight of the choice sinking in. After a while, she shook her head. "No... but," she paused, looking between Jingliu, Yasushi, and Xinyi, "Can you just... make sure they don't try this again? Whatever it takes."
The three of them looked at one another, a silent agreement going through them. Yasushi then said, "Alright. Leave it to us."
The rest of their friend group didn't comment on it since they more or less knew what Laura meant with "take care of it."
The three of them exchanged a glance, nothing needed to be said. Yasushi gave a slow nod. "Alright. We'll handle it."
The others didn't chime in; they knew what Laura meant by "take care of it" without needing it spelled out. It wasn't the kind of thing that required much conversation. A few minutes later, the group started to pack up, getting ready to leave the park. But Yasushi and Jingliu stayed behind. They gave the excuse of wanting to chat with the event organizers, maybe take one last look around, so the rest of their friends left first, unaware of the real reason.
They slipped away from the main area, finding a quiet spot away from prying eyes. Once they were sure they were alone, Yasushi called out Hakufubuki's name. Within moments, she appeared beside them, and as expected, Jingliu had already texted Yinhaie, who showed up at the same time, her arrival just as silent and sudden.
"Ready?" Hakufubuki asked, scanning each of them.
They didn't hesitate. With a subtle nod, both of them gave their answer. Seconds later, without warning, their surroundings changed. They vanished from the secluded spot, pulled away by Hakufubuki's power, brought to somewhere else entirely.