Two months had slipped by, bringing Christmas closer, though for Yasushi, each day felt as though it crawled forward at a snail's pace. Still, he pressed on, keeping his eye on what he wanted and sticking to his path.
People from various circles offered their assistance along the way, though a major push came from a dedicated group at his college — a kind of independent collective, operating without official ties to the institution, yet growing rapidly in members. They had an odd name: "Not-so-Homeless-org." The name might have sounded quirky, but their mission was anything but trivial.
When Yasushi and a few friends brought their case to this group, laying out what they were up against, the members took interest right away, forging an alliance that set them working side-by-side since then.
Although their progress remained modest, mostly drawing up plans and recruiting, they'd found some traction. There were plenty who hesitated, balking at the scale of their efforts, while others feared clashing with authority — a reaction that made sense, given the hurdles they were up against.
+-+
"We'll get through this, Yasushi! When we do, we're gonna kick those old farts' asses!" Jessica declared, her face bright with enthusiasm.
Jessica Wright had come all the way from America as an exchange student and ended up in Ginsukimura. She'd been studying there for a year now, putting her a year ahead of Yasushi and his friends. Today, they'd gathered in a rented building on the edge of campus, snatching a moment for lunch together. Besides Yasushi and Jessica, Xinyi and Yunxue had joined; the others were still caught up in lectures.
"I wish we could just do it now," Xinyi grumbled, taking a long sip of her coffee, her face twisted in annoyance.
Xinyi had spent hours diving into the background of each council member, uncovering more than she'd expected. With every discovery, her frustration grew. She wasn't just angry — she felt a burning desire to confront them directly.
From what she'd unearthed, it seemed these council members had all but bought their seats, and their sole focus appeared to be blocking any progress toward addressing the city's homelessness. The reasons they clung to were about as petty as it got, only adding fuel to the fire she felt growing inside.
At some point, each council member had apparently faced a small irritation involving someone homeless and felt offended enough to seek a council seat purely out of spite. They had the money and enough charm and acting skills to hold their spots for a long time.
But their days were numbered, even if they didn't know it yet. Maybe it would take months, or even years, but Yasushi held onto the idea that their reign wouldn't last forever.
"Physically attacking them won't help us, Miss Xinyi!" Jessica burst out, puffing her cheeks with fake frustration. She brushed her blonde hair back, adding, "If anything, it'll just mess things up for us more. We have to go the legal route!"
"Well—" Xinyi started, but Jessica cut her off, jumping back in.
"In fact, we should legally challenge them to a match! A boxing match, and whoever loses, faces the ultimate consequence!" Jessica declared, her voice lifting, almost savoring the thrill of the idea.
All three of them sat there, caught off guard by Jessica's wild suggestion, though by now they had become familiar with how odd some students in this group could get. Jessica Wright was only one among many who had shown up with a flair for strange ideas — and frankly, she was one of the milder ones.
Some of the other members had pitched similar ideas, labeling them "legal violence." Boxing, gun duels, MMA matches — each idea more intense than the last. In the end, their current president had shut those down, though she carried a touch of madness herself, enough to fit in but with just enough common sense to draw a line.
"That's a bit extreme," Yunxue mumbled, but before she could add more, the building door swung open. The president herself walked in, followed closely by Nandini.
"Oh! Miss President, you're here! How did it go?" Jessica's face lit up, practically bouncing with energy.
Sakura Vae, their current president, glanced at Jessica and replied, "I was just in a lecture, Jessica — nothing eventful." She brushed aside her long green hair, her pink eyes sweeping across the room as she took in the scene.
"While the turnout isn't ideal, we can still go over our current progress and update everyone else in the group chat. So, let's get down to business," Sakura said, pulling up a chair as Nandini settled in beside her. "I'll go last since I think I made the most progress. Jessica, why don't you start us off?"
Jessica, ever full of energy, gave Sakura a playful salute. "No real updates! But I did keep tabs on where they live…nothing interesting happened, though!"
The others exchanged glances, barely containing their reactions. She'd actually kept tabs? Stalked them? They hadn't exactly made rules around it, but this felt like unfamiliar territory, edging into things they weren't entirely sure how to handle.
"Is…is that so?" Sakura replied, her voice catching slightly. "Uh, well…maybe ease up on that in the future, if you can." Her smile looked tight, trying to mask whatever was going through her mind.
Sakura turned to the rest. "What about you all? Any updates? Nandini filled me in on her end while we came over; she's still working on it."
Xinyi sighed, looking a bit worn down. "Nothing new. I've hit a lot of dead ends, but I did reach out to some friends to see if they'd be interested in joining us. Haven't heard back yet, though."
Yunxue nodded in agreement. "Staff at Yasushi and Jingliu's place — my coworkers — they're in favor of this too. If we hold a rally, they'll show up to support us, but that's about all I've got."
Yasushi shrugged, arms crossed. "People I brought in are sticking with it, so that's good. But like Nandini, we're still kind of at the starting line. We did get everyone to agree on the Christmas plans, though."
Sakura's face brightened, and she nodded. "That's great, because I just got the mayor's approval to go ahead with our so-called 'silly little parade.'"
"Really, President!? That's perfect! I can probably drag a few more people in; they live for this kind of chaos!" Jessica's voice rose with excitement, and the others exchanged quick glances, a flicker of hesitation passing through the group.
Xinyi leaned over to Yasushi, her voice low and uncertain. "Are Americans usually like… this?"
Yasushi glanced at Jessica, taking a moment before answering. "Not typically, no. They're usually more laid-back. But if you're going off what you see online, well, then I get why you might think that."
Xinyi sat back, lifting her shoulders in a half-shrug. "So, where's this whole meet-up happening? Are we aiming for the square? Or closer to the town hall?" Her gaze shifted to Sakura.
Sakura shook her head slightly. "We can't use those locations. It'll be set up near Snowelon's Icy Shroom Forest. The place just opened a few months back."
Yasushi gave a slow nod. "A good choice. It's been drawing people in since the opening. If we spread the word to the visitors there calmly, we'll likely gain more supporters."
Snowelon's Icy Shroom Forest is a smaller park with a unique look, filled with giant mushroom-like trees, all covered in snow-white. Its theme builds on the city's eight-month-long winter, turning the park into something different from typical tourist spots. Everything there has a shroom theme, from the food to the drinks. Alongside these, the park offers a handful of rides, including a mini-Ferris wheel that adds a bit more to the attraction.
Other areas like this have started popping up around Ginsukimura, stirring up excitement among residents. For many, it means new places to explore and possibly more tourists visiting the city, boosting activity and interest. Still, some see it as just another way for the city to pull money from locals' pockets.
Sakura gave a small nod and said, "Exactly. That's the idea. But we're also bringing in some outside help. We're not going for the typical protest look since that doesn't sit well with most people. We'll set up a booth, hand out a few food and drink samples, and collaborate with Snowelon for a better reception."
"Better reception?" Yunxue's expression held a mix of doubt and interest. "So…we're basically setting up a food stand and talking to people about our cause? Feels a bit…different."
Sakura's smile stayed easy as she replied, "It's not just for the general crowd. I've already reached out to the homeless shelters around the city. On the day of the event, they'll be able to come by, get some food and drinks. We're casting a wide net."
Sakura went on, "Also, we're covering costs with some help. Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi pitched in financially, along with what we've raised this year. We'll hold back some of it, though, since we've got plans lined up for summer."
"But…" Xinyi started to say, before Sakura held up a hand, acknowledging the concern.
"Don't worry," Sakura nodded, her expression one of understanding. "I know you won't be able to join us in summer due to other commitments. Yasushi let me know in advance. It's a loss, sure, but we'll make it work with whoever's there."
Xinyi relaxed, easing into her seat with a slight smile. "That's good to hear. Thanks, leader!"
Sakura chuckled softly at the title, then returned to their meeting's agenda, outlining everyone's specific roles. Meanwhile, she was tapping updates into the group chat, her fingers flying as she shared each point without missing a beat. Several in the group cast glances of surprise her way; multitasking seemed to come effortlessly to her, a skill she wielded without drawing much attention.
Eventually, their brief gathering wound down, wrapping up as Yasushi and his group got up, each with places to be. They exchanged quick farewells before heading out, making their way to their final lectures of the day.
+-+
Yasushi and Jingliu strolled through the largest mall in Ginsukimura, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling complex after a long school day. They'd planned this little outing, a break from the constant demands that filled their schedules.
As they walked, passing one storefront after another, Jingliu paused suddenly, her gaze catching on a shop and pulling Yasushi along with her inside.
"Huh? When did this place open?" he asked, glancing around at the shelves.
The store was dedicated to witchcraft, magic, and the supernatural, lined with shelves full of peculiar items and a scent of incense hanging in the air. In a corner sat a fortune teller at a small booth, seemingly the shop's main attraction, ready to read for anyone curious enough to stop by. Jingliu walked right over, her eyes fixed on the woman behind the table.
For Yasushi and Jingliu, and a few others they knew, the supernatural wasn't just fantasy or curiosity. They came to test if the woman at this booth was the real deal.
"Oh, what a lovely young couple we have here! Would you care to let me unveil your futures?" the woman asked, a grin on her face as her eyes moved between them.
"Sure, please do. How should we begin?" Jingliu replied as she and Yasushi settled into the seats across from her.
The fortune teller, wrapped in layers of robes, looked at them intently. Her hands hovered over the crystal ball on the table between them. "Is there something specific you wish to know, or shall I simply reveal what I see about your lives?" she asked, her gaze holding theirs for a moment.
Jingliu fell silent, eyes closing as she sifted through her thoughts, considering if there was anything particular she wanted to ask. Memories flickered through her mind, little fragments of time with Yasushi, and finally, an answer surfaced. Her eyes opened again, a faint flush rising to her cheeks.
"…I… I want to know if we'll be together, always," she murmured, her eyes locking onto the woman's, her face slightly flushed. The fortune teller blinked in surprise, her expression softening as she chuckled quietly to herself.
"Ah, young love… alright, let's see then, shall we?" the woman replied, her voice holding a hint of mystery as her hands drifted over the crystal ball. A soft mist began to unfurl around the table, and the ball took on a dim glow, casting shadows that danced across their faces.
Neither Yasushi nor Jingliu broke their gaze from the spectacle, watching quietly as the display unfolded. Yasushi's eyes drifted down for a moment to his right hand, glancing at the ring on his middle finger, its faint light giving him a sense of the energy in the air.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the mist receded, and the glow faded from the ball. The woman's eyes opened, her gaze settling on them both. "It seems you two are connected more deeply than you realize," she said, a slight smile forming as she looked between them. "And yes… to answer your question, the two of you will share long and fulfilling lives. I must say, I find myself a little envious."
Jingliu let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you," she said, dropping a few bills into the woman's hand before they left.
As they strolled a few steps away, the woman called after them, inviting them to return anytime. Yasushi, watching her retreat into the booth, leaned in slightly and spoke under his breath. "That was real magic she used back there."
Jingliu's brows shot up. "Are you serious? I thought it was just tricks and illusions."
Yasushi raised his right hand, angling his ring so it caught the light between them. "Inari and Hakufubuki taught me the ring Fujin gave me has some hidden uses. One of them detects anything supernatural — magic included. It lit up while she was 'seeing' our future. I think she tapped into something real."
Jingliu's eyes narrowed on the ring, taking it in thoughtfully. "For a god who couldn't stand you in the beginning, giving you something like that seems… unusual."
Yasushi laughed, giving a half-shrug. "Guess that's his way of coming around to me. Typical tsundere move," he said, watching Jingliu break into quiet laughter.
They continued along, blending in with the crowd around them. Their voices dipped in and out of plans for the winter holiday, tossing around ideas for Christmas and trading thoughts on gifts. Conversation wandered to their weekend ahead — an outing with their group from "Not-so-Homeless-org." It was shaping up to be a full gathering, something they'd both wanted to do more often, each event an excuse to get everyone together.