Whispers in the Winter Wind

The morning light pierced through the blinds, rousing Yasushi from his slumber. With a heavy blink, he found himself grappling with an unfamiliar sensation. Sitting up, he sensed the weight imbalance between his arms, his right hanging with a peculiar heaviness. A weary sigh escaped his lips as he glanced down.

"Feels straight out of an anime," he mumbled, eyeing the unexpected company of Jingliu, who had appeared beside him. 'Didn't think I'd find myself in this scenario,' his thoughts rambled, studying her body curled peacefully beside him. 'Did she slip into my room while I slept, sharing my bed?'

Her attire, a loose white t-shirt paired with short blue shorts, a glimpse of bra and underwear, left little to the imagination. Yasushi hesitated, unsure of how to proceed as she slept soundly, the room steeped in a quiet that matched his contemplation.

Yet before he could do anything, the door creaked open, Yinhaie stepped into the room, her gaze falling upon the scene before her: Yasushi awake, Jingliu peacefully asleep beside him, her clothes slightly askew. She began to speak but halted, taking in the situation with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"Did you spend the night with her?" Yinhaie's question hung in the air, edged with doubt.

"No," Yasushi's response was firm, a shake of his head emphasizing his words.

"Very well. I trust you," Yinhaie's reply was measured, her expression softening slightly before she nodded and made a silent gesture indicating breakfast would commence in ten minutes.

Yasushi exhaled a quiet sigh of relief, grateful for Yinhaie's understanding. He couldn't help but reflect on how fortunate it was that the situation didn't devolve into the melodramatic clichés of television or anime. The tension diffused, leaving him to ponder what might have been if things had taken a different turn.

Yasushi's gaze softened as he turned back to Jingliu, his fingers lightly prodding her cheek until she stirred. With each gentle touch, her eyes fluttered open, meeting his gaze with a hint of confusion.

"Good morning?" Yasushi's words lingered in the air, uncertain.

Jingliu remained silent, slowly rising and rubbing her eyes. Her gaze wandered around the room, piecing together the events of the morning. Meeting Yasushi's eyes again, she spoke softly, "Sorry, I..."

"Don't worry about it," Yasushi interjected, playfully poking her nose. "Yinhaie mentioned breakfast in ten minutes. You should head back and get ready for school. I'll do the same."

Their interaction carried a quiet understanding, unspoken yet palpable in the way they navigated the morning's unexpected twist. Yasushi's calm demeanor and Jingliu's gentle apology painted a scene devoid of unnecessary drama, a serene moment in the midst of everyday life's subtle complexities.

"Right... I'll go, sorry and thank you," Jingliu's words carried a hint of gratitude and apology as she rose from her spot and exited the room, leaving behind a lingering sense of quiet acknowledgment.

Yasushi released a sigh, the sound filling the space as he made his way to the combined bathroom and toilet adjoining his room. Within its confines, he prepared for the day ahead, the mundane rituals of hygiene offering a brief respite from the morning's unexpected turn. Emerging from the bathroom, he discovered a neatly folded pair of his school uniform on the bed, fresh and clean.

"...my uniform was missing from its earlier place," he murmured to himself, connecting the dots with a subtle nod. "Must've been Yinhaie or one of the staff taking care of it." With a nonchalant shrug, he swiftly donned the uniform after his shower, readying himself for the day.

As he stepped out of his room, a familiar figure greeted him — Jingliu, leaning against the wall nearby. Her presence, though unspoken, carried a silent acknowledgment of their shared morning's events, adding another layer to the quiet rhythm of their daily lives.

As they quietly navigated the corridors towards the dining hall, they noticed Liang Yang's absence. Approaching their usual table, a butler discreetly handed them each a piece of paper, their eyes scanning the written words.

Yasushi's note bore a message of departure: "I've had to leave earlier than expected, summoned away in the early hours. I'll return in two days with Jingliu's mother. Take care, Yasushi. I'll inform your parents about your friendship with my daughter. Until then, goodbye, and best wishes with your studies — and I entrust my daughter to your care."

Glancing at Jingliu, Yasushi observed her blush as she neatly folded the note and slipped it into her pocket. His brows furrowed in mild confusion, but he brushed it off with a shrug as they settled down beside each other at the table, ready to share a meal.

Yinhaie approached their table, a tray of drinks in her hands. "Lady Jingliu will be returning late today, correct?" she inquired, her voice carrying a tone of gentle concern.

Yasushi nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, we're planning to hang out after school," he confirmed, stealing a glance at Jingliu.

Jingliu, focused on her meal, added, "I informed her last night so she wouldn't worry like last time."

Yasushi chimed in, recalling a past incident, "Ah, that was a bit spontaneous."

Yinhaie interjected with news from Master Liang, "Your father mentioned that he's resolved the school incident from last night. However, both of you will have to serve in school for five hours, taking care of cleaning and other tasks."

With a nod, Yinhaie distributed the drinks, their conversation flowing seamlessly amidst the clinking of cutlery and the subtle hum of the dining hall.

"Not all at once, right?" Yasushi's question hung in the air, met with a nod from Yinhaie.

"Okay, we'll do an hour today and distribute for the next couple, if you're alright with that, Jingliu," Yasushi suggested, glancing at Jingliu.

"That's fine," Jingliu replied softly, her gaze avoiding his, cheeks still tinted with a faint blush.

Noting her demeanor, Yasushi refrained from probing further and they resumed eating, conversation dwindling to a minimum. After finishing their meal, Yinhaie drove them to school, ensuring they were dropped off discreetly to avoid prying eyes from their classmates.

+-+

As they made their way to their classroom, the atmosphere crackled with tension. Long before they arrived, curious eyes followed their every step. The previous day's swift and brutal encounter with the gang members had left an indelible mark on their school's social structure.

Some regarded them with wariness, mindful of their newfound reputation. Yet, accompanied by the whispers and sideways glances, Jingliu's admirers remained undeterred, captivated not just by her beauty but also by the aura of strength she exuded.

Approaching Yasushi, Furuya broached the topic with cautious curiosity. "Hey, so... word is you and Jingliu took down the gang boss yesterday. Is that true? I heard you really went all out..."

Yasushi met Furuya's gaze squarely, his tone devoid of emotion. "Yes, it's true. He's likely nursing his wounds in the hospital. I did break his nose and probably cave in his face from our fight yesterday," he responded matter-of-factly, his words carrying a hint of detached resolve.

The classroom plunged into an uneasy hush, Yasushi's revelation casting a heavy veil over the gathered students. All eyes turned to Jingliu, whose sudden, chilling glare silenced even the faintest murmur.

"Huh? You two as well?" Xinyi interjected, breaking the tense silence. "I had a run-in with some weirdos after I left you guys at the park. Gave them a good thrashing, but nothing hospital-worthy," she added, surprising their classmates with her own encounter.

Concern etched on his face, Yasushi inquired, "You were attacked too? Are you okay?"

Xinyi responded with a playful peace sign. "Yep, I'm good. Those guys were no match for me; took them down easily," she said with a grin, sharing a moment of camaraderie with Yasushi and Jingliu amidst the lingering tension in the room.

With Yasushi's next words, the conversation came to an abrupt halt, leaving a lingering tension in the air. Gradually, the room returned to its usual buzz of chatter, yet beneath the surface, a palpable curiosity lingered. Whispers and glances darted in their direction, hinting at the lingering intrigue sparked by Yasushi's revelation. Despite the attempts to resume normalcy, the weight of their recent actions hung in the air, casting a shadow over the classroom's atmosphere.

+-+

When lunchtime arrived, Yasushi, Furuya, Xinyi, and Jingliu found themselves summoned to the principal's office, joined by the gang members involved in the previous day's altercation. The "meeting" proved brief, the verdict swift. The gang members faced expulsion for instigating gang-related violence, while Jingliu and Yasushi were assigned in-school service. Furuya and Xinyi, on the other hand, received lighter reprimands.

As they exited the office, relief washed over Furuya, his tension dissipating. Turning to Jingliu with gratitude, he expressed, "I don't know what you did, but thank you! I've been on edge since yesterday."

Jingliu waved off his concerns with a calm demeanor. "Don't mention it, Furuya," she replied softly, watching him hurry off to rejoin his baseball team, the weight of worry lifted from his shoulders.

"So, what's next for the Power Couple?" Xinyi's teasing tone caught Yasushi and Jingliu off guard, their brows furrowing in confusion.

"The Power Couple?" they echoed in unison, exchanging a puzzled glance before turning their attention back to Xinyi.

She chuckled, enjoying their bewilderment. "You guys haven't heard? That's what everyone's calling you now, especially after yesterday's incident. It's all over social media. Haven't checked yet?"

Xinyi pulled out her phone, displaying a flurry of posts dubbing them the school's "Power Couple," much to their chagrin.

"Dumb," Jingliu muttered under her breath, narrowing her eyes at the screen.

"People should find better things to do than come up with silly titles like that," Yasushi remarked dismissively, walking away with Xinyi and Jingliu trailing behind. Xinyi continued to tease Jingliu, who mostly brushed off the teasing with an air of nonchalance.