Whispers in the Winter Wind

Yasushi lay awake in the stillness of the night, grappling with the news delivered by his parents. A text message had arrived, confirming what they had already told him in the letter. His response was a simple "okay" and "I understand," a terse acknowledgment of the inevitable.

In this new chapter of his life, with his new parents, Yasushi had managed to forge a connection. It had taken years, stretching back to his childhood, for him to truly regard them as his "parents," a term laden with complexities and evolving emotions. Despite maintaining an amicable relationship with his biological parents in his previous life, it was these new figures who had gradually assumed the role more naturally.

"They'll return eventually," he murmured to himself, a mix of resignation and hope coloring his thoughts as he closed his eyes, surrendering to the embrace of sleep.

+-+

The following morning greeted Yasushi with a heavy fog of weariness, clinging to him like a stubborn shadow. His morning rituals unfolded mechanically, yet beneath the surface, an old familiar feeling simmered, a remnant of a self he had once wrestled with — a self-less adept at reigning in turbulent emotions, particularly anger.

With a resigned exhale, Yasushi acknowledged this resurgence of his past self and resolved to tread cautiously, wary of any unruly impulses that might surface. He understood the consequences all too well; his temper had flared only twice in this new reality, once during his earlier years and more recently when confronted by Jishiha's enforcers. Another outburst, especially directed towards a newcomer like Xinyi Chen, could prove disastrous, considering the newcomer's wealth and presumed legal influence.

As Yasushi stepped outside, the world seemed to mirror his internal state, the snow mounting in delicate layers around his home and along the streets. "I ought to clear this soon," he muttered to himself, a practical reminder before venturing beyond the sheltered confines of his garden, his steps guiding him towards the familiar path leading to school.

A few minutes later, Yasushi crossed paths with Jingliu, and a glance at her demeanor revealed a similar tension. However, upon spotting him, her face softened marginally, a gesture of recognition accompanied by a raised hand in greeting.

"Morning. You seem a bit off too," she remarked, her tone acknowledging the shared unease as they commenced their walk towards school.

"Just found out my parents won't be returning home anytime soon, so that might be it," Yasushi replied, his movements fluid as he stretched his limbs while they strolled. He recounted the details of the letter and text to Jingliu, prompting a furrow in her brow.

"It seems we're both navigating similar waters. Parents toiling relentlessly, earning for their sake and ours," she remarked, her voice tinged with exhaustion as she regarded Yasushi with a mixture of empathy and affectionate concern.

"Money, money, cash money, right?" Yasushi quipped, attempting to inject a touch of humor into the conversation, earning a smile from Jingliu. "So, given your closer connection with Xinyi, how do you propose we navigate this situation?" he inquired, casting a sideways glance at her.

"Let me take the lead, considering our history. I won't conceal our friendship from her; she'll uncover it eventually and exploit it against us. You, on the other hand, just be yourself since you're adept at handling people," Jingliu suggested, her tone carrying a note of confidence as Yasushi nodded in agreement.

"Divide and conquer, sort of. If she brings someone like your attendant into the picture, I'll handle them," Yasushi proposed, to which Jingliu offered her approval with a nod.

Their conversation persisted until they reached the hill, where they went their separate ways. Upon entering his classroom, Yasushi spotted Furuya near his usual spot, gesturing for him to join. Yasushi complied, settling into his seat and turning to Furuya with a question on his lips.

"What's going on?" he inquired, his tone even and devoid of excitement.

"Man, sometimes you're so flat and boring," Furuya remarked with a shake of his head. "Anyway, the new transfer student is arriving today. It's a bit thrilling, but Senbarisu's warning has me a bit nervous."

"Don't ruffle her feathers, and you'll be fine. What's the big deal?" Yasushi responded casually, reclining in his seat as if to convey his nonchalant attitude towards potential conflicts.

"Easy for you, Mr. I-don't-care-about-most-things-hero. But the rest of us are curious about her and want to speak to her, so we'll be chatting her up to see what she's all about!" Furuya proclaimed, puffing his chest out in a display of bravado.

Yasushi briefly glanced out the window before turning his gaze to Jingliu. "...yet you all backed off with Jingliu pretty quickly. Will you treat the new transfer student the same way?" Yasushi inquired, his eyes reflecting a lack of interest, almost lifeless in their stare.

Furuya flinched, discomfort creeping in as Yasushi's demeanor took on an unsettling edge. His deep purple eyes seemed to peer into Furuya's soul, unnerving him. "W-we did try, but she's... a bit antisocial," Furuya stammered, attempting to explain his group's unsuccessful attempts to connect with Jingliu.

Yasushi's eyelids fluttered shut, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "I can't exactly force anyone's hand in this matter. Plus, I haven't exactly made an effort myself, so that's a bit hypocritical of me," he admitted, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling.

"True, true! Anyway, depending on her vibe, Tonaka mentioned he might give it another shot," Furuya whispered conspiratorially.

"Didn't he also try with Jingliu?" Yasushi interjected, casting a brief glance at Tonaka, a balding, slightly chubby classmate who exuded a friendly demeanor and garnered general popularity — mostly.

Furuya nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's quite persistent, isn't he? You've got to give him credit for that. He's not creepy about it either, just a bit too straightforward at times."

Their grins mirrored a shared understanding as they exchanged a few more words before the homeroom session commenced. Senbarisu, their homeroom teacher, entered the room, her gaze scanning the class as silence enveloped the space.

Placing a hand on her forehead, Senbarisu mused aloud, "Why is it that you all behave so well when something significant starts to happen? I'll never understand it. Anyway, we have a new addition to our class today, along with several newcomers from different grades — regardless, come on in!"

The door creaked open, revealing a female student stepping into the room. She possessed long red hair tied neatly in a ponytail, complemented by light blue eyes that sparkled with warmth. Clad in the school uniform, her figure stood out with a well-defined bust, and her skirt was notably shorter than most others'. Moving confidently to the center of the room, she flashed a bright smile at everyone.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Xinyi Cheng, a transfer student from China. I hope we can all forge positive relationships moving forward!" she announced cheerfully, her gaze sweeping across the room until it settled on Jingliu, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Oh, Jingliu is here too! Hi!" Xinyi exclaimed, waving enthusiastically in Jingliu's direction.

Jingliu's demeanor grew icier as she shot a penetrating glare in Xinyi's direction, the tension palpable between them as Xinyi chuckled in response. Sensing the need to shift the focus, the teacher swiftly redirected the conversation, inviting the class to pose questions similar to those asked during Jingliu's own transfer.

"Are you single?" Tonaka's enthusiasm pierced the air, eliciting a collective chuckle from the class.

"I am!" Xinyi's response brimmed with cheerfulness.

"Will you go out with me?" Tonaka's question, though expecting rejection, hung in the air.

"Let's start as friends!" Xinyi's cheerful reply took everyone by surprise, including Tonaka, who couldn't contain his joy. As he quietly celebrated his unexpected success, the teacher intervened, reminding him to focus on the class.

"What's your relationship with Jingliu?" Furuya's curiosity demanded an answer, his eagerness evident in his question.

Jingliu's piercing glare caused Furuya to flinch, but his resolve remained unshaken as he awaited Xinyi's response. Xinyi, unfazed, chuckled before answering, "We attended the same school in China until she left. We were friends, or at least I considered us friends. It was just a coincidence that I ended up here; I definitely didn't follow her intentionally!"

A chorus of amused murmurs and laughter rippled through the class in response to Xinyi's playful remark. With the session finally concluded, Xinyi settled herself at the front of the classroom as homeroom continued and the school day commenced.

+-+

As the school day unfolded, a steady stream of curious students gravitated towards Xinyi, her popularity burgeoning with surprising swiftness. Observing from afar, Yasushi noted that she appeared to be a typical, outgoing girl, unreserved in both her actions and words.

'Is this the reason Jingliu was opposed to her? Their personalities clash, or is she merely wearing a facade?' Yasushi pondered silently as lunchtime approached, the air heavy with unresolved tensions.

With the classroom now deserted, save for Jingliu and Yasushi, he broached the topic hesitantly. "I have to ask... was your dislike for her rooted in her outgoing personality?"

"Yes," Jingliu confirmed, her expression unreadable. "Our personalities clashed, but she was much more vindictive in the past. Perhaps she's changed, or it's all an act. Either way, keep a watchful eye on her, alright?" With that, Jingliu rose from her seat. "Let's go. We need to show her around."