Whispers in the Winter Wind

Xinyi's gaze shifted between her teacher and the door through which Yasushi had just departed. "What exactly do you mean by that?" she inquired.

The teacher paused, reflecting on the events of the past year. "There was an incident," she began, her tone measured. "A group of boys persistently trespassed on the premises where we trained. Despite my reprimands, they continued their intrusions, typical teenage defiance."

Her narrative unfolded with a quiet intensity. "One day, Yasushi happened to be passing by. He was assisting another staff member by delivering refreshments to us. Being aware of this additional support, he gained entry. After completing his rounds for other teams, he encountered the boys again."

The teacher's voice softened slightly as she recounted Yasushi's intervention. "He confronted them calmly, without resorting to violence. Yet, when their obstinacy remained unchecked, he knocked them out and dragged them back to the principal. He accepted the consequences of his actions without hesitation."

"Upon learning of this," she continued, "I, along with the team captain, expressed our gratitude to Yasushi. The eyewitness account from one of the girls corroborated our version of events, leading to a reduction in Yasushi's punishment."

Her narrative concluded, leaving a lingering sense of admiration for Yasushi's decisive yet restrained actions.

Xinyi's laughter bubbled forth. "I wouldn't exactly call knocking out a group of peers a display of restraint, teach," she remarked. "If he had simply restrained them, then maybe I'd agree."

The teacher nodded in understanding. "I see your point, Xinyi. However, according to Yasushi, they were the ones throwing punches first. He maintained that he only retaliated with a single punch for each of them before escorting them to the principal's office."

"Hmm," Xinyi mused, her curiosity piqued. "By the way, what's your name?"

"Call me Miss Yoko, Xinyi," the teacher replied with a warm smile. "As for your visit, most students aren't permitted to remain on school grounds after hours unless engaged in specific activities. I believe it's time to conclude your tour for today. We can resume tomorrow or at another suitable time if you and your friend wish to explore swimming."

Xinyi and her companion nodded in agreement before bidding farewell and exiting the premises.

Xinyi dashed over to Yasushi with a playful grin. "Hey there, Mighty-One-Punch-Hero!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Yasushi glanced at her, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "She told you, huh? I wasn't exactly keeping it a secret," he muttered, averting his gaze. "Well, that's about it for now. If you want more details, feel free to ask our classmates, teachers, or your new friend. I've shown you the important places."

Xinyi nodded enthusiastically. "Got it, but I'd really like us to be friends, oh great hero!" she declared with a laugh.

Yasushi sighed again, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, yeah, sure thing. Just go home already," he grumbled playfully, watching as Xinyi ran off, waving goodbye to them.

Turning to Jingliu, Yasushi changed the subject. "Have you called Yinhaie yet?" he inquired, his tone shifting to a more serious note.

Jingliu nodded in silence, setting off towards the school gate with Yasushi trailing behind. They retraced their steps through the familiar corridors, reaching the gate in quick strides. Yinhaie awaited Jingliu in a car parked nearby.

Turning to Yasushi, Jingliu spoke softly, her words carrying a hint of intrigue. "You're quite mysterious yourself, Yasushi. I look forward to unraveling more about you over time. In return, I'll share more about myself. But for now... goodbye and goodnight."

With a wave, Jingliu entered the waiting car, joined by Yinhaie. They drove off swiftly, disappearing from Yasushi's view. Left alone, he pondered her words.

"Learning more about myself, huh? I'm not exactly fascinating," he murmured to himself. Slowly, he descended the school's hill, his mind swirling with thoughts and introspection.

+-+

In an abandoned building on the outskirts of Ginsukimura, a group of individuals had congregated. Among them were three high school students, peers of Yasushi, who knelt before the others.

A male voice boomed through the derelict space. "Seriously? You got beaten up by a girl? How pathetic can you be?" The speaker hurled a can of Coke at the trio, expressing his disdain.

One of the students attempted to justify their defeat. "But she attacked us out of nowhere, we didn't have time to—"

Before he could finish, a swift blow landed on his head, silencing him. "Enough excuses! We welcomed you into our circle because we saw potential, but clearly, we were mistaken. Do you honestly believe we'll let this slide?" The leader's words were sharp, prompting one of his followers to deliver a punishing smack to the student who had spoken out.

Silence hung heavy in the air, the trio of boys unable to muster a reply. The leader rose to his feet with a decisive gesture. "I'll grant you idiots one final opportunity," he declared, fixing his gaze on the boy in the center. "Either capture that girl and bring her here to prove your worth, or publicly beat her up at your school and coerce her into coming here. The choice is yours."

Anxious apprehension filled the boys' hearts, but they silently consented to the plan, eliciting a satisfied smirk from the leader. "Good. Consider this your last chance. Fail, and it won't be pretty," he warned, settling back into his seat. "Now fuck off before I reconsider my decision."

With haste, the three boys scrambled to their feet and hurried out of the building, eager to avoid further ire from the intimidating figure.

"Is this really all right, boss?" one of the others inquired cautiously.

The boss waved off the concern with a dismissive chuckle. "Of course, it's fine. Selling her like that might even fetch us a higher price. Why worry about it?" His laughter echoed through the dimly lit space.

+-+

Upon arriving home, Xinyi was greeted by a bustling array of maids, butlers, and hired staff. Relieved of her bag by them, she headed to the kitchen for a quick snack.

To her surprise, her father was there, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. "How was your day, Xi?" he inquired, setting aside his tablet to give her his full attention.

"It was good, Dad. Everyone was friendly, although there was a minor incident. But it's all sorted now," Xinyi replied, settling down beside him. "Jingliu was there too. She seems a bit more... open, I guess?"

Her father nodded, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "I came home early today to spend some time with you. How about we have dinner together tonight?" he suggested warmly.

"Sounds like a plan," Xinyi replied, settling in to share the events of her day with her father. As she recounted the incident involving racism, he felt a surge of relief knowing that her tour guide had intervened.

"Yasushi, was it? He seems like a dependable young man. Should I arrange for a background check on him?" her father pondered aloud, rubbing his chin in thought.

Xinyi chuckled, shaking her head. "No need for that, Dad. I trust Yasushi Futakao because of what he did today. He's like my unofficial bodyguard now, so you can relax. And by the way, I know you hired Catherine to keep an eye on me again," she added, teasingly. Her father froze at this revelation.

"Futakao? Are you sure that's his last name?" he questioned, seeking clarification.

Xinyi tilted her head, curious. "Yes, it is. Why do you ask?"

Her father paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he rubbed his chin. Eventually, he shook his head with a smile. "No need for a background check on him. I trust he's a good young man," he assured her, though his reassurance only deepened her confusion. "And as for Catherine, she'll continue to stay with you, so don't worry about that."

Xinyi couldn't shake off her puzzlement at her father's nonchalant dismissal of Yasushi after learning his last name. Part of her wanted to investigate deeper into the matter, but fatigue weighed heavy on her, and the desire to relax took precedence. She decided to let the matter slide for now, content to enjoy her conversation with her father until they sat down for dinner.

+-+

"How was school today, Lady Jingliu? I heard Lady Xinyi joined you at this school. Was she... difficult?" Yinhaie's voice carried a note of curiosity as she drove them home.

Jingliu hesitated for a moment before responding, "She's... different." With that, she launched into a detailed account of the day's events.

Yinhaie listened intently, her eyes widening in shock as Jingliu unraveled the narrative. After Jingliu finished, Yinhaie offered her insight. "Major events, especially losing a parent during a crucial period, can lead to profound changes. Teenagers are highly impressionable, after all."

Jingliu absorbed Yinhaie's words in silence. Soon, they arrived back at their home, and Jingliu retreated to her room to unwind while dinner was prepared. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, the day's events replaying in her mind like a relentless loop.

Her own admission to Yasushi took her by surprise, the words escaping her lips despite her reservations.

"You're quite mysterious yourself, Yasushi. I look forward to unraveling more about you over time. In return, I'll share more about myself. But for now... goodbye and goodnight."

As she spoke those words, a whirlwind of thoughts spun in her mind. "Will he believe me? Will he accept my truths? Or will he be repulsed, like my childhood fiancé, rejecting and abandoning me..." Her murmurs trailed off into the silence of her contemplation, a peculiar heaviness settling upon her chest.

"Yasushi..." She whispered his name, closing her eyes with a heavy heart. In the embrace of a troubled sleep, her mind tangled with uncertainties and anxieties.