Whispers in the Winter Wind

In the hushed confines of the principal's office, Yasushi and his companions stood in uneasy silence. The principal, perched on the edge of his desk, fingers tented beneath his chin, cast a contemplative gaze over the group, deliberating his next move.

Beside him, the vice-principal mirrored his posture, a silent sentinel to the unfolding drama. Yasushi, his eyes shut tight as if to shut out the impending judgment, occupied a corner of the room, Jingliu a stoic figure beside him. On the opposing side stood Xinyi, exuding a mix of impatience and defiance, her hand resting casually on her hip as she surveyed the tense scene.

Noticing Furuya's trembling form, Xinyi shot him a pointed glance, a silent directive to calm his nerves. Her unspoken assurance seemed to penetrate Furuya's panic, coaxing a slight easing of his trembling, though the weight of impending consequences still hung heavily in the air.

The troublemakers lay unconscious on the floor in front of Yasushi and the others, a testament to the chaotic events that had unfolded moments earlier. The school's nurses had been swiftly summoned to assess their condition, and fortunately, their injuries were not severe. The one who had brandished the bat had suffered a minor concussion, while the two others, who had faced Jingliu's retaliation, were left with nothing more than sore balls and necks.

Breaking the tense silence, the principal finally spoke, his voice carrying a mix of authority and concern. "Suspensions are necessary," he announced, his gaze moving from one troubled face to another. "However, for the time being, you are all free to leave. We will conduct a thorough investigation, questioning everyone involved. Once we have all the facts, a decision will be made regarding the appropriate course of action. Is that clear?" His eyes lingered on each student, seeking their understanding and compliance.

A chorus of nods and murmured agreements rippled through the room. "Understood," Yasushi replied on behalf of the group, a sense of relief mingling with apprehension.

"Very well," the principal nodded, his expression firm yet not devoid of empathy. "You may go now. We will be contacting your parents shortly to discuss the situation further." With that, the tense gathering began to disperse, each individual grappling with the weight of their actions and the uncertain consequences that lay ahead.

As the quartet emerged from the principal's office, they found the corridors eerily sparse, many students having vanished like shadows at dawn. A few stragglers lingered, their furtive glances darting away as Yasushi's gaze swept over them.

"Don't worry, Furuya. It'll likely be a mere slap on the wrist for us, given our innocent roles. However, those two," Xinyi's voice carried a note of assurance tinged with caution, her eyes flickering towards Yasushi and Jingliu, who remained silent amidst the murmurs.

Furuya visibly relaxed, his gaze shifting to Yasushi. "I always knew you had some hidden martial prowess, but that was unreal. You practically sent him flying..." His words trailed off, disbelief coloring his tone.

Xinyi interjected with a nod of agreement. "Yeah, it was almost superhuman, Yasushi. Although Jingliu's prowess is no less remarkable, I've grown accustomed to it over time."

Yasushi let out a weary sigh, his steps carrying him away from the principal's office, Jingliu falling into step beside him. "Whatever comes, I'll accept it," he murmured, a thread of resignation woven into his words. "But I doubt this marks the end of it."

Jingliu, her arms folded across her chest, added her own thoughts. "That gang, or whatever they fancy themselves as, they won't take this lying down. I'll prepare for their retaliation. Xinyi, keep your guard up. Furuya, too, although you seem to be on the periphery of their focus, don't let your guard slip too much."

Furuya's unease was palpable, his body trembling slightly. "Why do I have to be dragged into this mess?" he muttered, a sense of impending dread settling over him.

Yasushi, ever the calm presence, reassured them. "Don't worry, leave it to me like we've done before," he said as they reached their classroom. Stepping inside, they were met with a chorus of curious stares, but they did their utmost to deflect the attention, knowing that the storm was only beginning to brew.

+-+

A table crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, shattered remnants scattered across the floor like fractured dreams. The once lively atmosphere was now stifled by a palpable tension, a man seething with rage at the center of the chaos.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" His voice thundered through the air, raw with fury. "How the fuck did two fucking idiots manage to beat three of them?! This isn't some ridiculous cartoon or anime! What's wrong with all of you?!"

His words reverberated in the stunned silence as he seized one of his subordinates by the collar, yanking him up with a ferocity born of frustration. "Answer me!" he demanded, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"I-I don't know, boss!" the trembling subordinate stammered, his fear evident in every quivering syllable.

With a growl of frustration, the boss released his grip, sending the man stumbling back. His gaze swept over the rest of his followers, a dark determination settling over his features. "Jump them. Wait until they're outside the school. Make it discreet, away from prying eyes and nosy cops. Everyone's going, understood?!" His command rang out, a chilling decree that set the stage for the storm yet to come.

"If you fail, you fucking idiots," his voice sliced through the air like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. "I'll take matters into my own hands." With those ominous words hanging in the air, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the shadowy depths of the building, leaving behind an aura of impending menace.

+-+

After the final bell echoed through the corridors, Furuya darted off to his baseball practice, leaving Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi lingering in the aftermath of the school day. While Jingliu and Xinyi buried themselves in the glow of their phones, Yasushi's gaze drifted to the world outside, his eyes narrowing as he spotted shadowy figures skulking near the school's periphery.

"At least try to be discreet," he muttered under his breath, a mixture of irritation and resignation tugging at his thoughts.

"I'm ready," Jingliu announced, tucking her phone away with a determined air.

"Me too," Xinyi chimed in, effortlessly slinging her bag over her shoulder and shooting Yasushi a mischievous grin. "What's your plan, Yasushi? Both Liu and I have the means to defend ourselves. What about you?"

Yasushi's response was direct, devoid of any trace of emotion. He extended his fist, a simple yet potent gesture. "I'll punch them," he deadpanned, the weight of his words hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge.

Xinyi's laughter filled the air, an incredulous yet amused response to Yasushi's straightforward declaration. "Well, I'm not heartless," she remarked with a playful smile. "I'll lend a hand too. And I'm sure the damsel in distress you rescued earlier feels the same way, don't you?" She turned to Jingliu, her tone teasing.

Jingliu's response was measured, a hint of irritation flickering in her eyes for reasons she couldn't quite discern. "Yasushi is my first real friend," she admitted, her voice carrying a sense of loyalty. "I'll stand by him."

"Thank you," Yasushi acknowledged, a brief nod of appreciation before he gathered his belongings and made for the door. "Let's not linger. We've got unwelcome company outside. Keep your eyes peeled in case they decide to act on it," he cautioned, his tone tinged with urgency.

Jingliu and Xinyi exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them, before they followed Yasushi out of the school, bracing themselves for whatever lay ahead.

+-+

As they strolled together, the group made a brief stop at a shop for some bubble tea, the sweet scent mingling with the city air as they continued on their path. Eventually, they found themselves near a bustling park, a microcosm of life with people of all ages milling about, lost in their own moments.

"So, are they still following us?" Xinyi inquired, her gaze flicking towards Yasushi as she savored her bubble tea.

Yasushi nodded, his eyes scanning the park's expanse. "They're over there," he gestured vaguely, "part of a larger group, I suspect. One of them was on the phone, probably coordinating their next move. They might be planning to strike as a collective or wait for an opportunity to ambush us individually."

"Even idiots can plan, it seems," Xinyi remarked with a hint of pride, her arms folding across her chest in a confident stance. "But they're in for a rude awakening."

"Be careful, Xinyi. We know what happens when confidence goes unchecked," Jingliu cautioned, her voice steady as she sipped her bubble tea.

Yasushi reclined on the bench, his thoughts drifting to a fictional realm. "In anime terms, they likely have a boss orchestrating things from the shadows," he mused nonchalantly. "If their lackeys fail, the boss will step in for a showdown."

Xinyi, always grounded in reality, chimed in with a playful yet insightful tone. "Real life isn't like anime, Yasushi. But the concept isn't far-fetched. Criminal organizations operate similarly, with leaders pulling the strings behind the scenes. Take the Yakuza in Japan, for instance. They're enigmatic, known to do good and bad deeds with equal measure."

With a grin, Xinyi finished her bubble tea and disposed of the cup. Spotting Yasushi's nearly empty drink, she seized the opportunity and playfully swiped it, to which Yasushi offered no resistance, aware of the imminent end. Observing this exchange, Jingliu silently offered her own drink to Yasushi, who accepted it gratefully with a quick sip, a wordless gesture of gratitude passing between them.

"The day's winding down; let's make a move, but stay cautious," Yasushi advised, rising from the bench.

Xinyi followed suit, leaping to the side before flashing a peace sign at them. "My driver's on the way, so I'll head home first. Doubt they'll tail me, but who knows! See you tomorrow, and don't get yourselves killed!" With a cheery declaration, she skipped off.

Before Yasushi could depart, Jingliu gently caught his arm, her expression thoughtful. A brief silence settled between them before Yasushi inquired, "Is everything alright?"

Jingliu shook her head, explaining, "It's a habit my mother had — a gesture of care, you could say. Between us, it means 'take care.' It's odd, but..."

"No worries, I appreciate it," Yasushi replied, allowing her to continue the gesture. "Have you contacted Yinhaie?" he inquired, noting the gathering crowd around them.

Jingliu nodded. "I have. We'll wait... or not. Looks like they were waiting for Xinyi to leave," she remarked as their surroundings grew increasingly crowded.