Golden Week (2)

A day before the end of Golden Week, Yasushi meticulously sorted through his wardrobe, selecting the clothes for their trip to Mengyinhu. The place was said to be ordinary, with typical weather, so he aimed for a simple selection of attire, even though he had already mentally committed to it.

"It's summer, Yasushi. You should stick to t-shirts and shorts," Yinhaie remarked from where she lounged on his bed, eyes following his every movement.

"Got it. By the way, are there any festivals during the summer break?" Yasushi turned to face her, curiosity in his eyes.

Yinhaie's smile widened, a hint of excitement in her voice. "The Dragon Boat Festival. It's on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. They have these exhilarating boat races, a tribute to the legendary poet Qu Yuan. The event's all about community and showcasing physical strength."

Yinhaie leaned forward, eyes alight with enthusiasm. "To go into more detail, there are several key activities. First, Dragon Boat Racing. Teams from the town and nearby areas compete in thrilling races on Dreaming Lake. Drums beat loudly, urging the rowers on, and the crowd on the shores cheer, creating a fun atmosphere.

"Then there's Zongzi Making. In honor of Qu Yuan, locals prepare and share zongzi — sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, filled with meat or sweet fillings. Workshops for making zongzi are popular, bringing families together through food preparation.

"Traditional Performances are another highlight. The festival features dragon and lion dances, believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. These colorful displays add to the festive atmosphere and draw large crowds.

"And finally, Rituals and Offerings. Some locals perform rituals near the lake, casting bamboo leaves and rice into the water as offerings to Qu Yuan, symbolically seeking protection and blessings for their families," she elaborated, her voice filled with the richness of the traditions.

Yasushi nodded, absorbing the information. The festival sounded captivating, a vibrant contrast to his usual surroundings, and his anticipation grew. "Did… did you or Jingliu ever experience it while she was growing up?" he asked, hoping for more insight into her past.

Yinhaie's gaze dropped to the floor, her expression somber. "Only once. That was many years ago when she was quite young. Her parents had to convince her grandparents to permit them to attend. Despite that single occasion, she never went to any subsequent festivals, even after her grandparents passed away. She never participated in town events or activities as she grew older, despite the lessons about her heritage she was forced to endure.

"Her family's status within the town, combined with her grandparents' personalities and her general isolation, meant that Lady Jingliu spent much of her time alone. The sense of detachment lingered, and though things might have eased somewhat as she matured, the scars of her past remained. I was surprised by how animated she was when she described the festival to you," Yinhaie added with a sigh, the weight of unspoken histories evident in her tone.

Yasushi turned his gaze away from Yinhaie and settled it on his open suitcase. His thoughts churned with the realization that Jingliu's past was still shrouded in mystery and pain. 'It seems like she's keeping more from me,' he mused, his mind racing with the idea that perhaps the summer would offer a chance to uncover and address these hidden facets. As he considered the healing power of companionship and open conversation, he hoped that the journey would foster some form of resolution.

He shifted his attention back to Yinhaie, determination in his voice. "Don't worry about it. With Xinyi, Catherine, Layena, Furuya, and me all there, we might be able to make a difference. We'll handle it."

Yinhaie's face softened into a smile, and she nodded in agreement. Before the conversation could continue, the door to the room swung open, and Jingliu entered with a curious glance. "Hmm? Oh, you're already packing for the trip?" she inquired, a chuckle escaping her lips.

"Better to be ready early than late," Yasushi responded, his tone light. Jingliu moved to his side, beginning to assist with the packing. The three of them soon fell into an easy conversation, their voices blending into a pleasant hum as they worked together.

+-+

Later that day, Yasushi was immersed in his work, hunched over a cluttered desk in his office. His focus was split between stacks of papers and the hum of his computer. The door creaked open, and he glanced up to find Jingliu standing in the doorway. Her appearance was unexpected; she wore a crisp white t-shirt and fitted blue jeans, a stark contrast to her usual attire.

"What's up?" Yasushi inquired, setting down his pen and pushing his chair back.

Jingliu offered a casual smile. "Since Golden Week wraps up today, how about we go on a small date?" Her tone was light, with a hint of playful anticipation.

Yasushi's eyes brightened at the suggestion. He quickly set aside his work, rising from his chair. "Sounds great," he agreed. They headed to their bedroom, where Yasushi changed into something more suitable for an outing. Once ready, they exited their home, making sure to send Yinhaie a quick text detailing their plans.

+-+

"Hmm? Isn't that…" Yasushi's voice trailed off as he noticed a familiar figure at a nearby food stand.

"Give me ten of everything!" the woman shouted, her voice carrying a commanding edge.

Jingliu's eyes widened as she recognized their homeroom teacher, Senbarisu. "I didn't realize she lived around here. I thought she was from a town a bit farther away or something," Jingliu said, her tone a mix of surprise and disbelief as they watched Senbarisu place an overwhelming order.

The vendor behind the stand looked bewildered. "S-sure, miss, but are you absolutely certain?" he stammered, clearly taken aback by the sheer volume of food she demanded.

Senbarisu slammed a handful of yen notes onto the counter and declared with determination, "Yes!"

Yasushi squinted, peering at their teacher. "She's definitely drunk."

"Most likely," Jingliu agreed, her voice steady as she and Yasushi approached the scene, their steps synchronized with the rhythm of the bustling food stand.

"Teach, what are you doing?" Yasushi called out as he and Jingliu reached her side.

Senbarisu turned with a slow, unsteady gaze, her eyes blinking in a disoriented rhythm before focusing on them. "Ah! It's the poppy-couple! Hahaha!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with an inebriated cheerfulness. She stumbled towards them, her movements erratic, and they had to brace themselves to catch her.

"Yeah… she reeks of alcohol," Yasushi murmured, his arms supporting her as he glanced at Jingliu with a mixture of concern and resignation.

"Indeed… it's barely lunchtime and she's already this far gone. I wonder what led to this?" Jingliu replied, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at their swaying teacher.

Senbarisu began mumbling incoherently, her words a jumble of indistinct sounds. Yasushi turned to the vendor who was still cooking, their eyes meeting in mutual understanding. "Please, just prepare the food and take the money. We'll handle her," Yasushi said, his tone firm but polite.

The vendor nodded, his expression shifting to one of relief as he continued with his work.

After approximately ten minutes of Senbarisu rambling on about random, nonsensical topics, the vendor finally accepted the money and handed back some change. Yasushi and Jingliu carefully guided their teacher to a nearby park and settled her onto a bench. Senbarisu immediately began devouring the food, her manner unrefined and careless, a stark contrast to her usual composure.

As she ate, her tears began to well up, and soon she was quietly sobbing, her face partially hidden by the food she clumsily shoveled into her mouth. Yasushi, taken aback by the sight of his teacher in such a vulnerable state, spoke up hesitantly. "Erm… is something wrong, teach?"

Jingliu, equally startled, nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on Senbarisu as they both waited for an explanation.

Senbarisu's eyes, glistening with unshed tears, met theirs as she gestured with a kabab, her emotions spilling out in a torrent. "All men are the same!" she declared, her voice catching. "I got dumped by my boyfriend because he said I was a workaholic! I was only trying to save enough for a vacation during the summer break!" Her words came out in a mix of frustration and sadness, the food momentarily forgotten as she vented her feelings.

"But that jerk dumped me… now he's already with someone else…" Senbarisu continued, her voice breaking as she took another bite of her food. Her tears flowed freely now, mixing with the remnants of her meal.

The younger couple exchanged uneasy glances. Jingliu, sensing the need to offer support, shifted closer to Senbarisu and began to gently pat her back, attempting to offer some comfort. Yasushi, feeling unsure of how to proceed, hesitated. He considered offering comfort or advice but struggled with the thought of giving counsel to someone older and presumably more experienced.

After a few moments of internal deliberation, Yasushi decided to speak up. "Are you sure that's everything, teach? I mean, relationships don't usually unravel overnight. There could have been issues before he decided to end things. It might have been problematic for a while, even before the breakup," he said, searching for a way to address the situation without coming off as dismissive.

Senbarisu's eyes flared with indignation as she drunkenly jabbed a skewer in Yasushi's direction. "Are you trying to say that I'm not good enough!?" she shouted, her voice rising with a mix of anger and hurt.

Yasushi instinctively raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "No, that's not what I meant. But… please, just think about it?" he replied, taking a step back as he tried to de-escalate the situation.

"I'm sorry!" Senbarisu cried out, her voice thick with distress. She set her food aside, untouched, and huddled into a tight ball on the bench. Her sobs grew more intense as she buried her face in her hands, unable to find solace in her meal.

Yasushi sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He took a seat on the other end of the bench, casting his gaze upwards at the sky as he grappled with the predicament. "We don't have anyone else's contact information. How are we supposed to manage this?" he asked, frustration edging his tone.

Jingliu, already in motion, pulled out her phone and began typing with purposeful efficiency. "I'm going to reach out to Yinhaie. She can get in touch with someone from the staff who knows Senbarisu well. We don't know if she drove here herself or if she's relying on public transport, but it's definitely unwise to leave her alone in this state."

Yasushi nodded in agreement, watching as Jingliu composed and sent her message. Moments later, a reply came through, confirming that Yinhaie would handle the situation and ensure Senbarisu got home safely.

After about ten minutes, a familiar face appeared — a math teacher from their school. She drove up in a small car, parked hastily, and hurried over to where Yasushi and Jingliu were. With practiced efficiency, she helped Senbarisu to her feet, her face flushed with a mix of urgency and embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry about this, you two, especially on the last day of your Golden Week," she said, her voice tinged with mortification as she glanced at them.

"It's… fine," Yasushi reassured her, his tone steady despite the situation. "Please make sure she gets home safely and let us know how she's doing when school resumes." They offered a small wave as the teacher guided Senbarisu into the car. The vehicle pulled away, and Yasushi let out another sigh, the weight of the incident momentarily lifting from his shoulders.

Jingliu slipped her arm through his, offering a supportive squeeze. "Shall we continue?" she asked, her voice light and encouraging. Yasushi nodded, and together they resumed their walk, ready to reclaim the remainder of their day.