Unwinding Date (1)

A full month had gone by since the experiments with the quantum tech. Yasushi and his friends had settled back into the rhythm of their college routines. They attended their lectures, spent time together, participated in their societies, and engaged in the everyday activities typical of university life.

Xinyi, however, had taken a different path after that day. She reached out to her parents, diving into an extended discussion about what lay ahead for Yuwu. Initially, she had been hesitant, her stance leaning towards opposition. It seemed too sudden, too out of nowhere to fully accept. But as the conversations with her parents deepened, her perspective shifted entirely. Her initial resistance melted away, and she found herself standing firmly in support of the plan.

When Yasushi and the rest pressed her for details, she remained somewhat reserved, suggesting instead that they visit during the summer break if they wanted to see what was happening for themselves. She mentioned the possibility of Yuwu transforming into something significant — a new, powerful city that might eventually hold a place of importance in the world.

For now, though, Yuwu remained the small town they were familiar with, albeit with undercurrents of change quietly stirring beneath the surface.

+-+

"Huh? You two are going out?" Xinyi asked, still in her sleepwear, scratching her belly. Her hair stuck out in every direction.

Yasushi chuckled at the sight of her disheveled appearance. "It's ten in the morning. But yeah, we're heading out on a date. We'll be gone the whole day, probably back around eight or nine tonight."

"Grab me some food or something," Xinyi muttered as she shuffled off, yawning mid-sentence.

"Sure," Yasushi replied, closing the door behind him.

Outside, Jingliu was leaning against his motorbike, her attention fixed on her phone. Their plan for the day was simple. They were going back to Hakkuin, a place they had visited before, one that left an impression with its food and charm.

"You ready?" Yasushi asked as he approached, slipping an arm around her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead without waiting for a response.

Jingliu glanced up briefly before tucking her phone away. "Yeah," she murmured, leaning into him.

They climbed onto the motorbike, secured their helmets, and left their luxurious home behind. The roads through Ginsukimura were easier to navigate today thanks to the lighter snowfall. They had Goddess Hakufubuki to thank for that; their earlier request for milder conditions seemed to have been granted, making the ride less of a hassle.

Once they reached the open road toward Hakkuin, the quiet enveloped them. Jingliu sat close behind Yasushi, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning into him. The hum of the engine was the only sound as they traveled along the mostly empty stretch.

"It's still something else to see," Jingliu murmured, her voice muffled slightly by the helmet. Her eyes moved across the barren expanse, dotted sparsely with structures. "Especially out here, where there's barely anything around." She had said something similar the first time they made this trip months ago. Even now, it still fascinated her.

Most of their time together was spent in Ginsukimura, so moments like these — traveling outside the city — felt rare. Both of them could drive, but they had hardly ventured far beyond the familiar streets.

"That's true, but we don't really have a reason to go outside except for dates, official jobs, or projects our parents assign to us," he said, their pace steady as they passed a road sign marking their progress.

"Mhm," Jingliu murmured, offering little beyond the brief sound. Silence stretched between them once more.

These long rides rarely involved much conversation. Instead, they found comfort in each other's company and the shared stillness. The faint breeze brushing past them was softened by their helmets, and the quiet surroundings added to the peace they appreciated. They didn't need words to enjoy moments like this, finding them far more fulfilling than the liveliness of spending time with friends. Though they valued those bonds, the calm of being together alone felt more natural for both of them.

As the journey went on, they neared Hakkuin. The ride had been lengthy, but it felt unhurried, their movements unforced as they finally arrived. Pulling into the parking lot, they dismounted and secured their belongings in lockers designed to withstand the cold.

After stowing their belongings, Yasushi stretched, raising his arms overhead with a soft groan. "Alright, time to take over the world," he declared, planting his hands on his hips like a comic book villain.

Jingliu shot him a look, her brow arching in disbelief. Without a word, she jabbed a finger into his side, catching him off guard and drawing a quick flinch. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, wrapping her arm around his as though to keep him from escaping.

"I read somewhere this morning that being a little unpredictable can be a good thing," Yasushi said with a faint grin that didn't quite match his words.

Jingliu sighed, shaking her head. "I think they meant something a little more normal. Not... whatever that was about conquering the world."

Yasushi laughed, letting her words sink in. When he thought about it, the whole declaration felt a bit out of character for him. "Fair enough. Anyway, forget all that. Let's just head out. We've been away for too long."

They started making their way down the hill without further delay. The scene below looked just as it had the last time they were there. Nothing stood out, though they hadn't really expected anything to. Big changes would have felt out of place here.

+-+

"Hmm?" Yasushi muttered, scanning the square of the small town.

A wooden statue of "Clockie" they'd seen before stood in the center, its carved edges worn but recognizable. Around it, a group of locals performed exaggerated tricks and lively dances, drawing attention from curious onlookers. The square was surrounded by stalls offering an assortment of food, drinks, and small keepsakes, each one bustling with movement and chatter.

"It seems like something's happening today. Lucky for us," Jingliu observed, taking Yasushi's hand and steering him closer to one of the performers.

"Excuse me, what's going on here?" Yasushi asked when they were near enough to be heard over the surrounding noise.

A nearby local turned toward him, their expression warm. "We're trying out an annual event. The idea is to bring in more visitors to our town, and with the money we earn, we're hoping to grow. Maybe one day we'll even match Ginsukimura's size."

"Oh, that's interesting…what's the mascot's name, by the way?" Yasushi asked, his eyes fixed on the man.

"Apparently, a young man suggested it some time back, so they're calling it the 'Clockie Event.' Haha, it sounds a little strange, don't you think?" replied the local, letting out a chuckle.

Yasushi could feel sweat building on his forehead. He was the one who'd come up with that name offhandedly, not giving it much thought at the time. The mascot's design had reminded him of a gacha game character from his past life. He hadn't expected it to escalate into anything notable.

"Y-yeah…it's…interesting," he said, stumbling over his words before deciding it was better to end the conversation. He turned and walked away with Jingliu close by.

"Didn't you suggest that?" Jingliu asked, her tone carrying a note of amusement as she observed his reaction.

"…I copied it from my previous life. So…it's technically copyright, but not really since it doesn't exist here…" he muttered, his voice trailing off as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Jingliu sighed, pressing a hand against her forehead. "You know, you could have copied more useful things from your previous life before reincarnating and made yourself rich," she remarked.

Yasushi tilted his head slightly as if lost in thought, then replied, "Well, hindsight does wonders, doesn't it? Besides, I didn't exactly change overnight. Not until the second year of high school, anyway. Before that, I was basically the same as in my old life, minus the constant brawling."

Jingliu stopped for a moment, considering his words before nodding in agreement. "You're right. I didn't really change either, not until I met you and the others in Japan. So yeah, me saying that earlier does feel kind of hypocritical."

Their conversation continued, winding naturally from one topic to another until they found themselves near a different performer. This one moved around energetically, juggling wooden clocks in both hands. However, what caught Yasushi's attention — and unsettled him more — was the costume. The outfit matched "Clockie's" design from a gacha game he recognized instantly.

"I don't remember suggesting that one…" Yasushi muttered under his breath, a trace of disbelief creeping into his tone.

"Wasn't it already like that back then?" Jingliu asked, tilting her head to look up at him.

Yasushi tried to recall the scene from two years ago. The details were faint in his mind, as though smudged by time or perhaps dulled by some feeling he couldn't quite name. He only retained scattered impressions and a vague memory of the conversation with the man responsible for Clockie's design.

"Yeah… I guess it was. I only gave it the name," he replied after a pause. Both of them turned their attention to the man, who moved with enthusiasm that lit up the space around him.

"Now everyone!" the man shouted, spinning dramatically before pointing at the crowd. "We will turn this town into a thriving city one day! And it will be known as the gateway to the Land of Dreams! This is just the beginning, but when it flourishes, we'll make every dream come true!"

Yasushi felt uneasy about the situation, like some part of his past was forcing itself into the present. The idea gnawed at him — his old game world attempting to merge with this one. Still, he chalked it up to coincidence. Despite the way this world operated and the existence of the multiverse, he didn't — no, he hoped it wasn't the case.

"What will this place be called when it happens?!" someone shouted from the crowd, their voice cutting through the chatter.

"Clockie!" the man on stage said, flashing a wide grin. "You're being ridiculous! Why would we change our name? This city — this future — is and always will be Hakkuin! Hakkuin, the Land of Dreams!" Clockie raised his hands, and the crowd answered with cheers.

That declaration eased Yasushi's nerves, if only slightly. He didn't want a bizarre merger between this world and the one from his past. The thought was too outlandish, too unsettling. Adjusting to the strange powers it brought wasn't something he wanted to deal with, especially when his life here had just begun to feel normal.

They left the spot and headed toward one of the food stalls, drawn by the smell of something freshly cooked. Jingliu took the lead and paid for the food, brushing aside Yasushi's attempt to pitch in.

"I want to be an equal partner," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Not someone who wants to be spoiled."

Yasushi opened his mouth to protest but quickly gave up, nodding instead. They began strolling between the rows of stands, occasionally stopping to examine the various goods.

"They didn't have these the last time we came here," Yasushi said between bites of takoyaki, the skewer in his hand nearly empty.

"They didn't," Jingliu agreed, sipping her orange juice while glancing at the stalls ahead. "You seem pretty into those, though."

"I only ever tried them once in my previous life, back when I was still an Englishman," he explained. "It was one of those random street foods you just stumble on. I liked it but never figured out what it was called. It wasn't until this life, maybe around eight, when my parents brought some home, that I finally learned the name."

Jingliu stopped walking as they approached the heart of the area where the unusual dancing and various events unfolded. Turning slightly, they said, "I'll… try cooking some in the future. Is there any flavor you particularly enjoy?"

Yasushi considered the question for a moment before replying, "There are a lot of options to choose from. Personally, I like the original, mentaiko, cheese, and anything with meat, like bacon or sausage. But you can always experiment with different fillings and see what works best."

Jingliu quietly noted the suggestions before they continued onward, reaching a different part of the plaza. Here, a fortune teller had set up shop, reminiscent of the one they had visited in one of Ginsukimura's malls. From a distance, they observed the spectacle as the fortune teller engaged with the crowd.

The reactions varied. Some came with belief, others brought skepticism, yet most were there simply for the experience — something people did at events like this, hoping it would be worth what they paid.

"What do you think?" Jingliu asked, her expression calm as she turned to Yasushi.

Yasushi stared at the woman performing the fortune-telling, his eyes narrowing slightly before dropping to the ring on his finger — a gift from the Japanese gods. It remained still, devoid of any reaction.

"She's fake," Yasushi said after a moment. "At least we know now that there are real ones and fake ones out there. If we try to call her out, it'd be like trying to push back the tide." He let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So, it'd just be pointless?" Jingliu replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Pretty much," he confirmed with a slight nod.

"We've still got a long way to go," Yasushi added after a beat, glancing at the street ahead. "How about we grab some lunch before continuing?" He reached out and guided Jingliu away, their steps quick and deliberate as they left the scene behind.