Whispers in the Winter Wind

"Are you sure? Did they send you an email or something?" Yasushi asked as he and Nandini followed Sakura toward the Gyudo Homeless Association building.

"Mmm. I guess they only sent it to me since I'm the current president and leader. That's on me for not letting you know earlier." Sakura tilted her head slightly, her tone calm but matter-of-fact. "We'll meet with some of the ones in charge, including the president, before they head out. We won't have time for any kind of deeper conversation with them this time, though."

"Got it. That means we're free to take a look at their facilities, right? With all the fundraisers happening, we'll be able to focus on improving the other locations in the city," Yasushi replied.

"Exactly. So do your best to look for any flaws you spot, report them back to me, and we'll work from there." Sakura glanced over her shoulder, one eye narrowing playfully as she added, "And don't hold back."

They walked at an easy pace, conversation flowing as they continued along the path until the building finally came into view. It didn't tower like a high-rise but resembled a broad urban house. From a glance, Yasushi estimated it could comfortably accommodate around a hundred people, and if space were pushed to its limits, perhaps one hundred and fifty.

Sakura led the way up a short flight of stone steps, her hand quickly pressing the button on the intercom. A single chime rang through the air, announcing their arrival. Moments later, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and the three of them stepped into the building.

The inside was... unremarkable. Spacious, yes, but nothing out of the ordinary. There were several people scattered about, most of whom seemed to be residents. They didn't appear homeless — not in the stereotypical sense. Their clothes were presentable, their faces clean. None of them looked sickly or under the influence of anything. Laughter floated in the air, soft conversations unfolding between people whose expressions carried no sense of despair. Some of them smiled. Actual smiles.

Suddenly, a man approached them. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with short green hair and dark brown eyes. His clothes were plain, nothing remarkable, and he smiled easily as he stopped in front of them. "Welcome, welcome. You must be Sakura from the nearby college, right?" he said.

"Yes, that's correct," Sakura replied without hesitation. She gestured toward the two beside her. "These two are my juniors. I'm Sakura Vae, this is Yasushi Futakao, and she's Nandini. As we discussed earlier, we're here to speak with you and get a look at the facilities ourselves."

The man gave a small nod. "I'm Akazuki, one of the few overseeing the organization. Come with me. I'll take you to the group responsible for putting this together. Fair warning — they'll be heading out in a couple of hours. There are meetings scheduled regarding fundraisers and other official matters."

"That's fine," Yasushi said before anyone else could respond. "We're just here to exchange introductions and see what we'll be dealing with in the future. That's enough for now."

Akazuki chuckled in agreement and led them further into the building. They climbed two flights of stairs, their footsteps echoing faintly against the walls until they reached the third floor. Moving down the hallway, they passed multiple doors on either side. Each door opened to a room that could accommodate four people, a practical design for shared living.

At the end of the hallway, a different door stood out. An additional barrier separated it from the rest, equipped with what looked like a security system. The setup made it clear this part of the building was restricted, a deliberate line drawn between those in charge and the rest of the home.

"While we want to help, we know some habits can't be broken quickly," Akazuki said, his tone calm but matter-of-fact. "That's why we put this up. Back when we first started, we didn't have any measures like this in place. One of the homeless people attacked the director, Kyousuke. He ended up with a head injury because of it."

"After that incident, we installed this security system," Akazuki explained, his tone calm but matter-of-fact. "But Kyousuke is a good man. He didn't throw the attacker out. Instead, he helped him, got him on the right track, and now the guy's back in society. He's working a regular job, and we just heard recently that he's gotten engaged."

"The director won't abandon someone over a couple of mistakes," he continued. "But if anyone were to, let's say, threaten the association as a whole, stricter measures might come into play. That hasn't been necessary yet, though, so we're holding out hope."

Akazuki pressed his thumb to the scanner. The door slid open with a soft click. Without another word, they all stepped through and continued forward toward another door just ahead. Akazuki pushed it open, revealing a space much larger than they had anticipated.

Inside, four people stood waiting. One sat behind a wide desk — likely the director — while the other three positioned themselves nearby, watching the group as they entered.

"Then, allow me to introduce to you," Akazuki said, gesturing toward the people in front of them. "The man in the chair is as you suspect — he's the director, and his name is Kyousuke Zensu."

Kyousuke Zensu sat comfortably, his presence aligning with someone accustomed to leading others. He wore a black three-piece suit, paired with neatly slicked-back hair. His silver eyes held a certain calm, and a trimmed beard framed his face. He offered a small smile as he regarded Yasushi's group and said, "I welcome you to our association. I hope we can come to an agreement regarding our future plans to address the homelessness problem in our city."

"Likewise, Mister Kyousuke," replied Sakura as she stepped forward. "I heard you and the rest here are heading out of the city for some meetings. It's a shame, but we'll need to make time in the future to discuss this further."

Kyousuke nodded as Akazuki continued, "To my left is Elyshia Kapado. She's of mixed race — Japanese and English. She moved here in her mid-twenties and has lived in Ginsukimura ever since."

Elyshia Kapado stood tall at around five feet ten inches, her long blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders, and blue eyes meeting them with a calm look. Her build was more on the slender side, not particularly noticeable in the curves department. She wore clothing suited for the cold weather in Ginsukimura — a warm coat wrapped tightly around her and sturdy boots.

"Good day to you," Elyshia said, her tone polite but clear. She gave a small, friendly wave with one hand. "I'm Elyshia. I hope we get along in the future."

Akazuki turned slightly toward the man standing next to her. "Next to her is George Williams. He's English. He mentioned knowing Yasushi's parents, so…" Akazuki tilted his head and looked at Yasushi, his expression faintly puzzled. "I assume you two know each other?"

Yasushi's brow lifted while Nandini's expression hardened, both of them turning their attention toward George Williams. He stood there, a slight smile pulling at his mouth, looking unbothered by the sudden scrutiny. His short grey hair appeared neatly trimmed, matching the bushy mustache sitting above his lips. He wore a black coat, black pants, and red sneakers that didn't quite match the rest of his outfit.

"Ah, well," Williams started with a sigh, his voice carrying a casual tone as though he'd already explained himself a dozen times. "I know about them because of an uncle who works with them. He mentioned them to me a few times, but we've never formally crossed paths. Also, I keep telling you, I'm half English and German — not a full-blooded Englishman."

He shook his head faintly, then turned his attention back to Yasushi and Nandini. "You've met my uncle a couple of times, even around here. His name's Kraften Williams." He let out a brief breath, the corners of his lips twitching in an almost apologetic gesture. "I hope he didn't give you too much of a hard time. He's seen as the odd one in the family — the black sheep, you could say."

Nandini and Yasushi exchanged a glance before their shoulders loosened slightly. Yasushi's mouth curved into something resembling a chuckle. "Ah, so you're Kraften's nephew, huh? Makes sense now." He nodded once before letting out a small laugh under his breath. "No, don't worry about it. He was definitely eccentric, though."

Akazuki coughed lightly into his fist before turning slightly to his right and pointing with a small gesture. "This is Nana Sotori. She only joined us this year, but she's hardworking and has helped a lot with the various tasks we handle," he said, his tone calm but direct.

Nana Sotori stood with her arms crossed. Her short black hair, trimmed into neat bangs, framed her purple eyes, which remained fixed on Yasushi's group. She wore a plain black sweater over simple jeans and boots, giving her a grounded, unassuming look. At the mention of her name, she gave the slightest nod but offered no words of her own.

"She's a lot more open and approachable once you spend some time with her," Akazuki added after a brief pause, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in what seemed to be an attempt at lightening the mood. The chuckle that followed, however, sounded a bit forced, as if he hoped to break through some invisible stiffness in the room. "That's our entire group so far. In the future, we're looking to expand as we grow, and after hearing the proposal from your society, we're quite interested in the partnership — especially with the evidence you're collecting."

Yasushi took a measured step forward, his expression serious as his voice carried through the space. "The evidence will be discussed properly once we sit down for a formal meeting," he began. "So far, we have two out of the four. The third is close to completion, and with some luck, we'll have gathered everything we need on all four before that meeting takes place."

"Hmm. We'll wait until then. That being said, we're leaving in a few hours, so if you have any questions about how we manage things, now's the time to ask," Kyousuke said, looking at them.

Sakura pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket, unfolding it carefully before holding it in front of her. "I do. May I begin?" she asked. Kyousuke gave her a nod.

"With the suggestions my group and I provided, along with the help we've given regarding funding, we'd like to know a few things," she said, keeping her tone measured as she glanced at the paper.

Kyousuke gestured for her to continue. The others present turned their attention toward her, including Yasushi and Nandini. Yasushi, who had prepared something to bring up, decided to hold back. Seeing Sakura take the lead, he opted to let her handle it, especially since their thoughts aligned closely.

"Ginsukimura's winters are freezing cold, and the summers are scorching hot. Will the shelters have strong heating for the winter and proper cooling for the summer? Without those, even having a roof won't be enough to make it through the seasons."

"I get that you want them to look for jobs, but it's hard to get hired when you don't have an address or reliable support. Are you planning to help them connect with employers who understand their situation? It feels unfair to expect proof of job hunting without providing that kind of help."

"I don't mind pitching in with cleaning or cooking, but will the workload be divided fairly? What happens if someone gets sick or can't contribute for a while? I just want to know it's something everyone can manage."

"And one more thing — there's this 'zero tolerance' rule for illegal activities. I understand the need for rules, but what about misunderstandings or false accusations? Will there be a fair way to sort out any problems like that?"

After finishing, Sakura took a deep breath and sighed. Her eyes moved over the group as she waited for their response.

Kyousuke listened carefully to her explanation, his expression calm yet attentive. He nodded once and raised a finger, signaling his intent to address her concerns. "You've got a point — getting by in Ginsukimura's harsh weather isn't something you can do with just the bare minimum. Our housing program doesn't stop at providing walls and a roof. We make sure every place is properly insulated and equipped with heating systems for the long winters. Summers get their share of attention too, with cooling units and fans to help people manage the heat. It's not just about survival — it's about making sure everyone can live comfortably and safely through the year."

He paused, lifting a second finger. "Finding steady work without a proper address or reliable resources is a tough hurdle to clear. That's why we've set things up to help bridge that gap. Resume-building, interview practice, and introducing program participants to employers who understand their situations are all part of what we do. When we ask for proof of job-seeking, it's not to create more pressure. It's a way to see where someone might be stuck, so we can step in and provide more targeted support if it's needed."

Kyousuke raised another finger. "We're grateful for everyone's willingness to contribute to the shelter's upkeep. That said, we've designed these tasks to be manageable for everyone. If someone can't participate due to illness or other circumstances, adjustments will be made. These roles exist to build a sense of togetherness, not to create extra burdens."

He paused briefly, ensuring that the group understood before continuing. "And regarding conflicts or accusations, we have a process in place. Every concern will be handled fairly and privately, with both sides given the opportunity to explain. Our goal is to keep this a safe and supportive environment for everyone, and we'll never make decisions arbitrarily or without clear evidence."

The room fell silent for a moment as Yasushi's group took in his words. Before anyone could ask more, a buzzing sound came from Kyousuke's pocket. He pulled out his phone, glanced at the screen, and let out a quiet sigh. "Apologies," he said, looking up. "It seems the timing for our next meeting has changed. We'll need to leave now to make it on time."

Kyousuke glanced at Akazuki and said, "I'll leave the rest to you, Akazuki. We'll be back shortly. And, Sakura, we'll have more time to talk later."

Without waiting for a response, Kyousuke turned and exited the room with the others, leaving Yasushi's group standing there with Akazuki. Sakura watched them go, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to push further. She had questions but held back, knowing it wasn't the right moment.

Sakura exhaled and said, "Well, I guess we should start checking out the housing now and see what we're dealing with."

Akazuki gave a short chuckle and nodded. "That's right. Let me show you around. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you could lend a hand with a few smaller tasks. There are other employees and volunteers helping out too, so you won't need to do much. But any assistance would be great."

"Sure, just lead the way," Yasushi replied, his tone easy. Akazuki nodded again and stepped out of the room, with the group following close behind.