Whispers in the Winter Wind

The group arrived in Ginsukimura, Japan, finally back to a place that held significance for some, but was entirely new to others. It was a frigid time of year, nearing Christmas, which made the air even more biting. Despite wearing appropriate clothing, Yasushi's young daughters, Advika and Yue, trembled from the cold.

Yinhaie, Yue's mother, quickly scooped her up into a warm embrace while Nandini did the same for Advika, both women trying their best to transfer some of their body heat to their shivering girls. While it helped a bit, it wasn't enough to completely dispel the chill.

Himari, also experiencing this place for the first time, stood staring at the city with a mix of awe and apprehension. Her parents and brother had shared stories about Ginsukimura for a long time, shaping her perception of the place.

Having been born in the United Kingdom, Himari had a diverse background, speaking English, Japanese, and Chinese with fluency. This linguistic ability was a demonstration of her upbringing, and even at her young age, this made her exceptional among her peers.

As snowflakes began to fall, she uttered in excitement, "It's…snow," before gently squeezing Yasushi's hand, a spark of childlike wonder filling her voice, "It's snow!". The clear change in environment had clearly captured her attention, a moment of pure joy.

Throughout her young life, Himari had never witnessed snowfall with her own two eyes. She had, of course, viewed it countless times in videos, photographs, and even live streams, but the real experience had always been elusive.

Even though the United Kingdom was a place where snow was a possibility, it had never happened during her time there, adding to the novelty of the situation.

Yasushi, remembering Layena's fondness for snow, glanced at her and gave a slight nod. Understanding the silent agreement, Layena reached for Himari's hand, pointing towards the fresh snow.

Without hesitation, the two of them dashed out of the airport terminal, eager to immerse themselves in the fluffy white landscape and feel the soft flakes on their skin.

The unbridled happiness displayed on both Layena and Himari's faces was a sight to behold, drawing chuckles from many within the group.

Soon, Yinhaie and Nandini joined the fun, as Yue and Advika also clamored to participate in the snowball fights with Himari. They eagerly took their places, ready to create some cherished memories together.

Xinyi, observing the scene, thoughtfully commented, "It's always amusing to see someone experiencing snow for the very first time." She then raised her phone, capturing a few candid images of the group as they enjoyed the winter wonderland. The genuine laughter and cheer were infectious, a moment of pure delight for the entire family.

After a while, the rest of the group decided to partake in the snowy fun. They engaged in a lively snowball fight, laughter echoing through the crisp winter air until a car arrived to pick them up.

This vehicle was driven by staff members who had stayed behind, ready to help them. The group, feeling the chill, eagerly piled into the car, seeking the warmth that the car could offer.

The drive took several hours, but similar to the flight on their private jet, Yasushi's two daughters and younger sister were mesmerized by the views of the snow-covered Japanese city outside.

They had never seen so much of it at once, and the sheer amount of snow was a little overwhelming for them, though they were delighted nonetheless.

The car eventually pulled up to a large, grand home, an impressive structure that was new to some in the group. However, for Yasushi and others who had lived there in the past, it brought with it a profound sense of nostalgia, bringing a wave of memories that had long been dormant.

"We're actually back here, huh? Although it's only for a little bit," Jingliu whispered, her voice laced with a hint of bittersweet remembrance. Her words resonated with the group, and several of them responded with a confirming nod.

"Alright, time to get out. Thanks, Hiu Zen," Yasushi announced, causing their driver to visibly startled, though he quickly recovered.

"It's my pleasure, Lord Yasushi," Hiu Zen replied, before driving off to park the vehicle after everyone had gotten out.

They wasted no time in entering the home, and once inside, Yasushi's daughters and younger sister were yet again struck by a feeling of astonishment. They were accustomed to large residences, having experienced their own spacious home in the UK and the grand home belonging to Himari's parents, but they had not anticipated another of this caliber in Japan.

The sheer scale of the building, its design and its layout was completely unlike what they were used to.

They had encountered depictions of certain types of Japanese homes in books and on television, and in their young minds, that's what they had expected them to be, but standing inside this opulent dwelling, situated within a lavish gated community, their preconceived notions were shattered. The sheer grandeur of the house left them speechless.

"Well then, let's unpack since we're settling here for the next week. We'll be going to our friend's reunion soon, so everyone should get ready!" Yasushi announced to the group, and they quickly voiced their agreement, eager to settle in and prepare for the event.

Yue, Advika, and Himari were planned to share a room, which they had all decided on during their planning stages, while the rest of the family returned to their respective rooms, Yinhaie and Nandini making some adjustments to ensure they would be located closer to where their daughters would be sleeping.

+-+

Within a few minutes, everyone had completed the unpacking process, with the staff providing assistance and showering attention towards Himari, Advika, and Yue. This was the first time the staff had met Himari, the newest addition to their employer's family, and of course, Yasushi's two daughters. The staff were all very enthusiastic to finally meet them in person after years of only seeing photographs.

Yinhaie and Nandini had sent them pictures of the children over the years, alongside Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi, but now they were able to meet them face to face, even if it was just for a short time.

The staff's initial impressions of the three young girls were overwhelmingly positive, finding them charming and well-mannered.

Presently, they had gathered in the kitchen once more. It was evening, the time nearing eight, and they were all having dinner. The staff had prepared the meal beforehand, ensuring that it was fresh and warm, a welcomed contrast to the cold weather outside, the rich aromas filling the spacious kitchen.

"Any recent news happening around here?" Yasushi asked, his gaze sweeping over the staff members present in the room, curious about any updates in the area.

One of the staff members, a woman, responded. "One piece of information that you will likely want to hear is that the homelessness situation in the city has shown a significant improvement."

Yasushi's face lit up with a genuine smile at the news. "Oh, really? That's quite surprising. I'll have to talk to them about this soon then, thank you for the update," he expressed, feeling a sense of relief and curiosity.

The woman, pleased with Yasushi's response, returned the smile and remained quiet, allowing the conversation to move forward.

"You weren't anticipating them to improve that significantly?" Xinyi asked, a slight tilt of her head indicating her inquisitive nature, she wanted to hear his logic and reasoning.

"I have faith in the Gyudo Homeless Association, especially since we've collaborated with them for a long period of time, but I still have some skepticism even after they sent me reports about their progress. It's important to be cautious because many companies these days tend to exaggerate their accomplishments or numbers," Yasushi explained, revealing his pragmatic approach.

He then turned his attention towards the woman and the other staff members present. "However, our people, I have complete trust in their words since they always have our best interest at heart," he added, before winking at them playfully, showcasing his appreciation.

Several of the staff members blushed at Yasushi's words of praise and appreciation. It had been a while since they had last received such acknowledgement from him, making his positive feedback all the more cherished and welcomed by those around him, reinforcing the bonds they had formed over time.

For the remainder of the evening, they ate dinner and discussed various matters, catching up on what had been going on in each other's lives. After a couple of hours, the three young girls, Himari, Advika, and Yue, started to feel the effects of the long day and fell asleep, and so they were gently carried to their shared room, tucked in snugly for the night.

The adults remained awake for an additional hour, engaging in a quiet conversation, finalizing plans and sharing stories. Eventually, they also began to succumb to fatigue, and slowly made their way to their own rooms, knowing that the upcoming day would be filled with activities, visits to different locations, and meetings with friends and family, and so a good night's rest was essential.

+-+

"Don't go running too far now," Yinhaie called out, a gentle warning as the three young girls excitedly dashed ahead, their anticipation palpable. They were mindful not to stray too far, having been reminded of the rules before, and had found a comfortable distance that their parents considered safe. It was also important for them to remain aware of their surroundings so they didn't cause unnecessary alarm.

The following day arrived, and Yasushi's group was on their way to the cat park owned by Laura and her family, where they were to meet up with them along with their friend, Reina. Unfortunately, Reina was unable to bring her two younger brothers, now much older, as they were occupied with their own responsibilities, but they were excited to see Yasushi at the upcoming reunion.

After a short trip, they arrived at the park's entrance, and the three girls were immediately captivated by the sight of a large stone statue of a cat that stood proudly outside the building, its size and detail impressive and awe-inspiring to the young girls.

Yasushi approached the girls, gently tousling their hair. "There are even more kitties and cats waiting for you inside. Let's go," he said, and with that, the three girls eagerly dashed through the entrance.

The rest of the group followed behind, stepping inside the building. They were immediately greeted by both Reina and Laura, who seemed much the same as before, aside from their longer hairstyles.

"Hey~ it's been such a long time~" Laura exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm, before rushing past Yasushi to hug Jingliu and Xinyi. She then went on to hug the others, receiving warm embraces in return.

Yasushi laughed, giving himself a mock hug. "Thanks~" he teased, which caused Laura to roll her eyes good-naturedly before giving him a proper hug as well.

Reina did much the same, hugging Yasushi first to welcome him back before extending her hugs to the others. Eventually, both women crouched down, directing their attention to the three young girls.

"So, that's Himari…then Advika and Yue!" Laura exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight. She then looked at Yasushi with a playful smirk. "I really thought you'd have kids with Jingliu first, but color me surprised," she added, her grin widening as she teased him.

"I already told you the circumstances," Yasushi stated, addressing the comment head-on, his tone direct and without any bullshit. "Anyway, they are my children and I love them, well Himari's my little sister, still I love her. But yes, I'll have kids with Jingliu one day and I'll treat them all the same." His expression was firm, leaving no room for doubt about his genuine affections for his family.

Laura chuckled, amused by his seriousness. "Always answering my teasing as seriously as always," she said, before turning to the young girls with a playful glint in her eyes. "Do you wanna see some kitties and cats?!"

The three children responded with enthusiastic nods, their faces lighting up with excitement. Laura stood up and pointed towards a hallway, exclaiming, "Then follow me! To the cats we go!"

Laura then marched off, the three children followed suit, their little legs mimicking her stride and filled with excitement. The adults looked on, chuckling at the spectacle, but chose to let them have their fun.

Reina, observing them, let out a small sigh, but with a smile, reassured everyone, "We have everything prepared in a specific room, so don't worry."

Following Reina, they entered a large, open room. Inside, a big table was laid out with various snacks and drinks, and all around, cats and kittens roamed freely, with their cages, food, and water stations placed along the walls.

The animals, despite having places for them to be kept, were all roaming freely. Some of them were even playfully batting at the snacks on the table that Laura and Reina had prepared. The three girls, their eyes wide with delight, rushed towards the cats and kittens, who initially seemed a bit surprised by the sudden enthusiasm, but soon warmed up to the attention and gentle pets they received.

The adults took their seats on the chairs, watching with amusement as the girls played happily with the animals, their gentle laughter filling the room. The adults began to engage in their own conversations as well.

"So, did you end up taking over your family's business, Laura?" Xinyi asked, as she reached for a cookie from the table, her tone casual.

Laura responded with a bright smile and a thumbs up. "Yup. It was a smooth transition, and I've been handling everything. Reina moved in with me, she helps out while also working on her writing. She's published two books so far, and they've been quite successful here in Japan."

"Wait, really? What are the titles?" Nandini asked, her voice full of genuine curiosity and interest, eager to know more about the books.

Yasushi, putting on a mock-tearful display, pretended to wipe his eye and said, "I knew giving you that gift would eventually pay off. Reina has really come a long way." His tone was teasing but also held a hint of pride and warmth for their friend.

Reina laughed and playfully tapped Yasushi's shoulder, appreciating their support. "The first book is called 'The Inferno's Castle,' and the direct sequel is 'Embers of Longitude.' They're both action fantasy stories with a bit of romance mixed in," she explained, her words coming with enthusiasm, "I heard some people are suggesting anime movies might be made of them, which is exciting."

Everyone, except for Laura who already knew, was shocked by this news. It hadn't been that long since they last saw each other, but they were genuinely surprised by Reina's success, and immediately they began congratulating her, happy for her that her dream was finally a reality.

"So, are there any more books on the way? Maybe a little sneak peek at the titles?" Jingliu asked, her interest piqued, eager to know what Reina had planned next.

Reina's smile widened as she explained, "Those two books only covered one of the eight continents I've created for the story. In total, there should be sixteen books if I do two books for every continent, and then the series will conclude. As for the next ones... they should be called 'A Dance of Wind and Gales' and 'A Fury of a Tempest's Love.' Those titles are what I have so far, but they might change later on."

Everyone was excited to hear about the future titles, they discussed it among themselves with excitement, their conversation continuing for several minutes. Soon after, they noticed that Yasushi was no longer with them, and glancing around the room, they found him surrounded by his two daughters and younger sister.

He was fully immersed in playing with the three girls and the cats, making them all giggle and laugh, his happiness obvious as they all enjoyed their playtime.

"He's really good with kids, huh?" Laura muttered softly, her eyes fixed on the scene with a gentle smile gracing her lips, noting how natural he seemed with them.

"He really is. I was honestly surprised by it too. We know about Yasushi's life before he came to our world, but he really is a good father to his children and a caring big brother to Himari," Yinhaie commented softly, her eyes fixed on Yasushi with a loving gaze, her tone laced with affection.

The rest of the group nodded in agreement. They, too, were taken aback by how tender and compassionate Yasushi was with his two daughters and younger sister, it was a side of him they hadn't fully seen before.

While some were curious about how he'd be with a son, they all generally agreed that he would treat them with the same level of love, but perhaps with a touch more "tough love" thrown in for good measure.

The conversation smoothly transitioned between various topics, from Yasushi's surprising display of fatherly love to Reina's exciting book plans, and other discussions about women in their lives. This mini-reunion spanned approximately two hours and, after it, they departed, ready to visit other locations and continue their long overdue reunion across various places.

+-+

Their next destination was the Gyudo Homeless Association. However, they all understood that it wasn't a suitable place to bring children, so Yasushi asked his family to go on ahead and enjoy themselves, assuring them that he would contact them when he was done and able to rejoin them.

Yasushi then went alone to meet with the association. He arrived quickly and noticed the numerous new improvements and additions to the building, a smile spreading across his face at the progress that had been made. He then proceeded up the stairs and into the building.

As he stepped inside, a few heads turned his way, but most people went about their business. However, Akazuki, who was present, was completely shocked at seeing him. He rushed towards Yasushi, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug, causing him to lift Yasushi off the ground.

"Akazuki... put me down...!" Yasushi exclaimed, feeling a little awkward and uncomfortable with being lifted into the air like that.

Akazuki finally set him down, and Yasushi released a relieved sigh. He then looked at Akazuki and said, "It's good to see you again…anyway, can we talk? Is anyone else here?"

"Sorry about that," Akazuki replied, a sheepish grin on his face, "but the only other person here is Nana. We can go back to Kyousuke's office to talk, I know you want to find out how we're doing," he added, and they started walking towards the office.

As they made their way to the office, they also picked up Nana, who was surprised to see Yasushi again. She didn't mind though, and once they reached the office, they all sat down together.

"So, let's get right to it. I've received some updates every so often over the years, but I want to see it with my own eyes. Please, show me," he said, his tone direct and to the point, wanting to cut right to the chase.

Akazuki chuckled at his bluntness, "Yeah, I expected that. You seemed like the type of person to want to see the results firsthand," he responded, understanding Yasushi's need for direct confirmation.

Akazuki pulled a laptop towards them, moving to sit next to Yasushi, and Nana followed suit, taking a seat beside them as well. "Kyousuke was actually the one who created this. He was certain you'd eventually come back and want to see what we've been doing, so we documented everything so far," Akazuki explained, his tone filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

He clicked through various folders and files, showcasing spreadsheets, word documents, images, and other pertinent data, along with video clips, each one meticulously documented, showing the detailed efforts of the association over the past several years.

Yasushi silently scanned the information, taking control of the trackpad as he navigated through the different files and folders, spending several minutes completely engrossed in the data. He was aware that he couldn't spend the entire day doing this, so he stopped part way through, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Thank you," he said, expressing his genuine appreciation. "This is a relief, you guys did more than what I was expecting. Homelessness is down 90%, and the remaining 10% are those who refuse to accept help due to pride and stubbornness, which is something I had accounted for years ago." He finished, his expression showing a mixture of relief and satisfaction at the positive results.

He handed the laptop back to Akazuki and said, "I'll go and take a look at those remaining areas before my family leaves for the United Kingdom again, but I do plan on returning here to settle down. Anyway, how have you guys been? And where is everyone else?" He asked, genuinely curious about the well-being of his friends and colleagues, and the whereabouts of the others who worked at the association.

Both Akazuki and Nana leaned back, relaxing a bit as Nana replied, "Busy. But thanks to the new quantum tech that the company you're in sold, a lot of processes have been streamlined. Especially with the help of the AGI, which is installed in all of our laptops now. Also, the crime rate in the city went down by 30%, so it's even smaller now."

Akazuki nodded in agreement, adding, "And because of the improvements made by our association and the implementation of that tech, there are fewer homeless people showing up. You could say that we're suffering because of this success, but that's always the goal, to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place."

"As for the others...they're scattered around the city, with the exception of Kyousuke, who is currently in another part of Japan handling some business. Outside of Ginsukimura, homelessness is still a significant problem, and one of the cities dealing with that issue reached out to us for help, so he's in talks with them," Akazuki explained, providing insight into their current activities.

"I see...well, if you guys need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me," Yasushi said, his offer sincere and heartfelt, they continued talking for another hour.

Their discussions ranged from work-related issues to their personal lives. One surprising piece of information Yasushi learned was that Elyshia Kapado had gotten married during that time. They had intended to invite him, but considering how busy he was, they had decided against it, deciding not to send the invitation.

Once they revealed the date of the wedding, Yasushi agreed with their decision. During that period, he was completely overwhelmed with work and would have had to decline the invitation anyway, so they had been right to not invite him.

They continued their conversation a bit longer before Yasushi announced that he had to leave, the association staff wished him well and promised to keep in touch more often.

Yasushi then left the building and started making his way back to his family, eager to rejoin them and continue their day together. He walked at a steady pace, his thoughts full of what he had just learned.