"Right? Right? Like I said, the streets aren't so bad once you settle into a routine. You get a pattern going. And heading into the wooded spots around the city, you can find ways to carve out a bit of space, maybe even make it feel like your own," said the homeless man, his words pouring out as Yasushi handed out food and drinks. "But winter…that snow, man. No matter what you try, you can't beat that cold."
Another man piped up, his voice blunt. "Hey, you ever gonna give the kid a break? He's busting his back here helping us, and all you're doing is jabbering at him. Doesn't help anyone."
"He's listening, I can tell," the first man shot back, with a stubbornness that dared to be challenged. "He asked me something earlier — so shut it." He paused, a rough edge in his tone softening just a bit. "But yeah, I'm grateful for what you're trying to pull together here. I've told you how I ended up out here, right? I try to claw my way out of this, but those bastards keep knocking me down."
Yasushi paused, watching the man, his expression softening with a slight grin. "It's not gonna be quick, and sure won't be easy, but it's coming. Might not feel real yet, but you'll see it in your lifetime, sir. If you get out before it happens, we could use your help."
The man let out a laugh, slapping his sides with a chuckle that echoed through the street. "See? Told ya he gets it," he said, nodding. "Kid, I'll remember that. Been too damn long since I had a good meal and drink. Feels almost new again."
The other man gave a shrug, his voice firm. "Yeah, count me in with what you're doing, too. Whatever plan you've got going, I'll back it. And thanks for the food."
Yasushi nodded, watching the two men turn away, leaving him to continue his work. Eventually, the supplies ran out, and he returned to the stand to gather more. There, he saw Jingliu seated, organizing items, moving them in and out of containers, setting everything up with a focus that made the job seem almost natural for her.
"Didn't I tell you to ease up a little?" he asked, lowering himself down beside her, hands reaching to assist with the setup.
"I am taking it easy," she replied, a smirk breaking through as she held up her bandaged hand. "Look, I'm sitting, using only one hand — what more could you want?"
"Alright, fair enough," he replied, sorting through the food and drink they'd laid out together. "So, how's everything going here?"
She tilted her head, a faint shrug. "Just holding things together, you know. A few people stopped by asking about the group, curious about what we're doing, but it's been quiet. Kind of nice, actually… even with a hand that's half-covered in dried blood." She paused, then added, "And don't start — I know you'd ask. Yinhaie's coming over soon, so I'll be heading to the hospital soon enough."
"You better be," he replied, finishing the last of the container packing. Yasushi stood, a quick kiss placed on her lips, the kind that held a mix of urgency and comfort. "Alright, I'm heading out. If I don't make it back before you leave, just shoot me a text, alright?"
She nodded, leaning forward to kiss him once more, a wordless reply that carried a bit more than just luck as Yasushi turned and stepped away.
+-+
Three hours ticked away, and five o'clock edged nearer. The event had mostly wrapped up, yet near the close, something unexpected unfolded. Sakura, the president of the organization, was approached by both the manager and a regional manager.
They exchanged a few words, and by the end of it, she looked pleased, signaling everyone to start cleaning up their stands and regroup at the park entrance where they'd begun.
Once everything was packed and the group gathered, Sakura took her place in front, a smile spread across her face as she called out, "The managers here have decided to keep the park open just for us for the next two hours to thank us for helping today. So, let's take a break and enjoy the place a bit before we head home!"
Stunned expressions crossed every face, quickly replaced by excitement. Cheers mixed in with laughter as everyone split into their friend circles, making their way into the park with renewed enthusiasm, eager for the chance to unwind together.
"Well, looks like we're splitting up then. An impromptu date's about to begin!" Furuya announced, striding into the park alongside his friends and Catherine, clearly savoring the moment.
Xinyi glanced over at Yunxue, Laura, and Reina, who had just joined them, then looked back at Yasushi. "Let's stick together. Jingliu's still at the hospital, and we're planning to visit her later. I'll text her now, actually." She dug out her phone and tapped out a quick message in their group chat. Jingliu's reply arrived in seconds, her message requesting snacks for when they stopped by.
With the group finally splitting up, Xinyi broke into a grin, moving to hug Yasushi's arm. He didn't have the energy to shrug her off and chose to let it be, though he felt the discomfort of knowing he was committed to Jingliu.
"Let's go!" Xinyi declared, pulling Yasushi along, with Reina and Laura walking close by her side, matching her pace as they wandered into the park's open paths.
+-+
"Are you really sure about eating so much, Xinyi?" Laura asked, watching her friend closely.
"They told us to eat whatever we wanted, yeah, but that's your third burger," Reina pointed out, sharing the same concern in her voice as she looked at the growing pile of wrappers in front of Xinyi.
Yasushi stood nearby, juggling his food in one hand while texting Jingliu a quick update on what he was having — fries, a shake, and a burger — and including a mention of how much Xinyi had already devoured.
"That sounds… concerning," Jingliu texted back, adding a frowning emoji at the end.
Yasushi typed out a response, mentioning that Laura and Reina had joined them and had also told Xinyi to slow down, but she seemed too set on her mission to finish her meal to listen.
Jingliu's reply came with a string of head-shaking emojis before Yasushi slipped his phone back into his pocket and took a bite of his own burger. While he felt that same worry simmering underneath, he chose not to stop her, at least for now.
"You all worry too much. I'm good, really. I eat way more than you might think, and Yasushi could tell you that," Xinyi said, grinning at them, barely pausing between bites.
Laura and Reina turned toward Yasushi, both looking for confirmation. He nodded, shrugging a little. "Yeah. Xinyi definitely eats more than me and Jingliu put together. She doesn't gain anything from it either, so she must have a crazy fast metabolism."
Reina seemed taken aback. "But when she's with us, she eats pretty much the same as we do," she muttered, still piecing it together.
Xinyi laughed as she wrapped up her meal, then stepped closer to Yasushi, holding her drink and sipping from it. "You think that's all? Did you really not notice when I'd go back for seconds… or even thirds?" she asked, her grin spreading wider.
Both girls paused, thinking back on all those outings, trying to recall details they'd missed before. In the memories of group meetups, casual get-togethers, or even girls-only days out, Xinyi really had eaten more than they ever realized, but none of them had really noticed it at the time.
"It's even more impressive you're not putting on anything," Laura remarked, reaching out and pressing her finger into Xinyi's stomach, curious. Reina joined in, and for a few seconds, the two of them prodded Xinyi's stomach, testing for any sign that her constant eating had affected her at all.
Xinyi didn't react much, just sipped her drink and looked over at Yasushi, who seemed as entertained as she was by their friends' fascination.
When Laura and Reina finally lost interest, they wandered to another part of the park, strolling past mushroom-shaped trees and decorations that filled the place with a quirky, earthy vibe. Even the lamp posts carried the theme, their tops crafted to look like caps of giant fungi.
Eventually, they reached a small ride called "Tea Cups" — or maybe it was "Spinning Tea Cups," depending on the park. Each rider would sit inside a large, cup-shaped seat that spun on its own while the entire platform rotated, creating a dizzying spin that had riders twisting and twirling all at once. Some parks gave it names like "Whirling Cups" or "Mad Tea Party," but it was all the same effect — a guaranteed head-spin.
"Doesn't look like anyone's in line. We might as well give it a try," Xinyi suggested, stepping forward toward the ride attendant.
The staff member glanced over at them, and after taking them in, he explained, "Each teacup holds up to four kids, or two adults comfortably. Since you're all clearly college students, just go in pairs and take two different cups for balance."
They agreed to the pairing, though Xinyi raised an eyebrow as Reina took her arm and led her firmly to a separate cup, leaving Yasushi and Laura to sit together. Settling into their respective seats, they grabbed the metal handles as the platform rumbled, beginning to rotate. The cups moved along with it, gradually picking up speed.
Yasushi leaned back, noticing Laura across from him, her hands gripping the handle. "Didn't expect to end up in a cup with you, Laura. What's up with that?" he asked, watching her expression.
Laura looked down at the handlebar for a moment, as if sorting her thoughts. After a bit, she sighed. "No… it's just, I wanted to talk to you. That's all."
"Talk? Alright, go for it," he said, settling back in his seat as the ride continued at its steady pace. Glancing over at the other cup, he saw Xinyi sipping her drink, her eyes fixed intently on them, her expression unreadable. Yasushi couldn't help but find her intensity amusing.
Laura drew in a quick breath, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for me last year... and this year too." She glanced down, avoiding his eyes. "I know you don't like being put on the spot like this, so I thought… well, maybe I could just thank you in a quieter setting."
Yasushi chuckled, brushing her thanks off with a wave. "Don't make a big deal out of it. That's just what friends do."
Laura let out a breath, shaking her head. "I knew you'd say that. Can't you just take a thank you without acting like it's nothing?"
He paused, studying her a moment, then nodded. "Alright, alright, that's on me. I tend to downplay things. But honestly, it wasn't a big deal. I just didn't want you caught up in any trouble — it'd only make the others worry more."
She leaned back, letting his words settle. "Yeah… thanks. It's just strange, y'know? Another weirdo bothering me like that. Xinyi and Jingliu had stuff like this happen to them in high school, didn't they?"
He nodded. "Yeah, Xinyi kept it under wraps and handled it herself. She doesn't let things get to her — could be that she's used to people's nonsense because of her family. Jingliu, on the other hand, keeps her distance from people she doesn't know well, while Xinyi's more… lively, like a happy squirrel."
Laura let out a short laugh at the choice of words. "Happy squirrel? That's a weird way to put it, but… you're not wrong. Thanks again, though."
In their first year, Laura had caught the attention of an older student, who, at first, seemed just smitten in an over-the-top way. But that fascination grew into something far less harmless when he started following her around campus. Having dealt with a similar situation the year before, Laura didn't want to let it spiral out of control, so she turned to Yasushi instead of letting anyone else know.
Yasushi handled it quickly, doing what he did best. He didn't just get the guy to stop—he managed to arrange a transfer, sending him to a college on the other side of the city. Laura felt a huge relief, though the chance to properly thank him never seemed to come up between classes and life's other demands.
"Uh…" Laura hesitated, looking down, the blush creeping over her cheeks, catching Yasushi off guard.
"Is something else on your mind?" he asked, watching her, clearly puzzled by her expression.
"I already talked to Reina about this, and… I think it's the right moment," Laura began, catching Yasushi off guard. "Reina and I…we're together now. We made it official recently, just kept it to ourselves for now, but yeah… we're dating."
Yasushi opened his mouth to respond, pausing as the words sank in. A thought crossed his mind about how the situation with that guys last year might have added to her caution around men, but he dismissed it quickly. He wasn't about to question her choices.
"So that's the big news, huh? Congrats, Laura. I won't say a word to the others until you're ready to tell them," he replied, giving her a nod.
Laura exhaled, some tension leaving her shoulders. "Thank god… I didn't know what you'd think, honestly. But… I'm really grateful that you're cool with it."
Yasushi shrugged, keeping it light. "If you're happy, then it's all good."
Laura smiled, and the ride came to its stop. She hopped out, giving him a slap on the back before they made their way back, her grin lingering. Yasushi chuckled at her energy, then walked over with her to rejoin Xinyi and Reina, as the group gathered again.
Xinyi's attention moved back and forth between them, eyebrows knitting in suspicion. "Way too suspicious…" she mumbled, her voice low as if she were talking to herself. Then, without warning, she took a few steps closer to Yasushi, pressing her head lightly against his chest like she was testing him somehow. "Suspicious…"
Yasushi looked down at her, taken aback. "Are you trying to act like a dog now?" he asked, genuinely puzzled by her odd gesture. He chuckled slightly but didn't think much of it, chalking it up to one of Xinyi's spontaneous quirks.
They continued through the park for a while, keeping the mood light and unhurried. Along the way, they stopped by various vendors selling small trinkets, picking out a few choice items to bring to Jingliu. She was still at the hospital, so the plan was to visit her soon, and these souvenirs might bring a little brightness to her day.