Easter Experimentation (1)

Months had passed since their last adventure, and now Easter break hovered just a day away. Yasushi sat with his group of friends, the six of them squeezed around a small table in the campus cafeteria. The timing worked out perfectly; a rare long free period meant they could linger over their meals without worrying about the clock.

Furuya, resting his chin on one hand, sighed. "You're heading off somewhere again? It doesn't even feel like you've been back that long."

"It's not like we're going far this time," Yasushi said, picking up his drink and taking a sip before continuing. "It's still in the city. Our parents want us to help test some stuff during the break. We've got to use the items and send them detailed results with feedback."

"What kind of stuff? Don't tell me it's some cutting-edge AI or secret tech again," Furuya asked, leaning forward. His eyes brightened with genuine interest, the faint melancholy from earlier slipping away as curiosity took over.

Yasushi shook his head slightly, his expression neutral but with a hint of thought behind his words. "We're still figuring it out, but so far, we'll be working alongside the fire department and the police. That's all they told us for now. Oh, and if anyone else wants to join, they're welcome to, though we'll need to divide the supplies among everyone," he explained.

"Wait, are you serious?" Furuya blurted, practically bouncing in place as excitement radiated from him.

"Hold on there," Xinyi interrupted, cutting through Furuya's enthusiasm. "They said we get to pick and choose. Not everyone can tag along. Obviously, Yasushi, Jingliu, and I will go. Yinhaie, Layena, Yunxue, Nandini, and Catherine are already with us, so they're included automatically." She glanced over at Furuya, her tone slightly playful but firm. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Pick me! Please, pick me!" Furuya pleaded, clasping his hands together and leaning toward Xinyi as though his sheer eagerness would sway her.

Xinyi's lips curled into a mischievous grin, her tone exaggerated and teasing. "Oh, should we~? Maybe we'll leave you behind after all," she said, her amusement evident in the way she spoke, like someone relishing the opportunity to stir the pot.

Yasushi exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, that's enough," he said with a slight shake of his head. He then turned his attention back to Furuya, his voice more measured. "Our group isn't exactly big, so it's not like anyone's getting left out. You begging like that? It's not doing much for your case, honestly."

After hearing the words, Furuya jabbed a finger in Xinyi's direction, his voice cutting through the chatter. "You liar! You completely screwed me over!"

Xinyi didn't flinch. She crossed her arms and raised her chin like she was holding court. "Lied? Oh please, I didn't lie. I just didn't hand you the full picture. There's a difference, you know!" She burst into laughter, loud and grating, like she'd just outplayed everyone in some petty game.

Their shouting spiraled quickly, voices colliding as they volleyed accusations back and forth. Catherine, caught in the middle, stepped forward, her arms outstretched like she could corral them both through sheer effort. "Alright, stop! Both of you, seriously! You're gonna cause a scene," she said, though her tone betrayed more exasperation than actual authority.

It wasn't a real fight, though, not even close. Furuya and Xinyi had done this a hundred times before, throwing barbs like it was a sport. The sharp back-and-forth had a rhythm their friends had grown used to, the kind of energy that usually ended in laughter or someone storming off in mock indignation.

Despite the noise, their friends couldn't help but agree on one thing — they were all curious about what lay ahead, though no one dared to admit it out loud.

+-+

"Anything?" Jingliu asked, standing beside Yasushi on the balcony that extended from their bedroom. Her voice carried a calm curiosity as the cold air curled around them.

Yasushi shook his head, his expression thoughtful but not particularly troubled. "No. Since that day, I've tried 'talking' to him, but there hasn't been any response. I spoke with my past self, and he told me the original soul of this body is just... quietly observing," he explained, his arm wrapping firmly around her waist as if to ground them both in the present.

Jingliu leaned into him, her head resting lightly against his shoulder. Together, they watched the snow coat the city in soft layers, transforming everything into a pristine winter landscape once again. The silence between them wasn't strained, but it held the weight of things unsaid.

"How about you?" Yasushi asked, turning his head slightly to look at her. His tone carried an undercurrent of concern. "Do you feel… different?"

"It's…" Jingliu hesitated, her words slower as she searched for the right way to answer. "It was shocking at first. My parents talked to me about her not long after I found out, so it wasn't entirely unexpected, but still… it's a lot. To think I absorbed my unborn sister and lived." Her shoulders tensed slightly, and her eyes lowered. "It feels… strange. Knowing I survived because she didn't."

"Let's just take it one day at a time. Maybe someday, we'll look back on this and, well…I don't know, reflect or something?" He scratched his cheek awkwardly, fumbling for the right words but failing to settle on anything that felt satisfying.

Jingliu couldn't help but laugh softly, squeezing his arm as if to reassure him. "You're terrible at this, but that's okay," she said with a smile. "You're right, though. I shouldn't spend so much time overthinking everything. One day at a time is all we can manage. And if it gets too much, I'll think about seeing someone. My parents already mentioned a therapist they trust. It's just…a big step."

"That's good. I was going to suggest something like that anyway," he replied. "If you do decide to go and need me to come with you, just ask. I'll be there."

Her expression softened as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thanks. That means a lot."

They stayed there, talking about everything and nothing at once. Their conversations eventually meandered to the plans they had been sketching out for their upcoming Easter break, and with each passing topic, the air between them lightened.

+-+

"It's time to chew ass and kick gum, and I'm all out of ass," Furuya announced, cracking his knuckles as if preparing for battle, eager to see how all the upcoming experiments would happen.

"Wrong line, dumbass. Flip the words around," Xinyi snapped, rolling her eyes with a look that screamed she'd had enough of his nonsense. "I swear, I did not miss this while we were gone," she muttered under her breath as Furuya proudly threw up both middle fingers in her direction.

Unfazed, Xinyi retaliated by sticking her tongue out, her annoyance barely concealed. The rest of the group began trickling in, including Laura and Reina, who arrived alongside Yasushi. He seemed mildly flustered, likely from having to wrangle them together on the way.

"Sorry for the delay — are we all here now?" Yasushi asked as he glanced around at the gathering.

"No, we're not," Xinyi said flatly. "Jingliu's missing. I thought she came with you?" Her expression tightened, her irritation shifting toward him.

"She did," Yasushi said, frowning. "She was with us earlier. She should be—"

Before he could finish, Jingliu finally appeared from around the corner, walking briskly with Yinhaie and Nandini close behind her. The three approached the group, and without a word, Jingliu gave a small nod of acknowledgment as they joined the rest.

They cut the conversation short and approached a small group stationed near the police and firefighters. It was clear these people had been sent here on behalf of their parents, their presence unmistakable. As they walked closer, they recognized several familiar faces, individuals they had interacted with in the past. Without hesitation, they began speaking to them.

"Hey. The tools we're using today — are they the same ones that helped extinguish those fires?" Yasushi asked, his eyes scanning the equipment laid out before them, taking note of the sleek designs and compact forms.

"Yeah," one of the scientists confirmed, gesturing toward a selection of gear. "Those and a few additional items meant to assist law enforcement. They're designed to make their work faster and more effective, whether it's capturing suspects, identifying threats, or handling more covert tasks."

The scientist pulled out a pair of unassuming glasses, holding them up with a small flourish. "These, for example," he said, offering them forward. "They're modified to look like ordinary glasses but come equipped with some unique capabilities. We've also developed a version modeled after the goggles firefighters use. They're built to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining the same functionality. Go ahead — put a pair on. We'll distribute the rest to the designated teams shortly," he instructed, handing the glasses over while motioning for others to step forward.

Furuya reacted first, almost stumbling as he adjusted the glasses. His movements were quick, his confusion obvious as he tilted his head. "Wait, this... this is normal?" he asked, his tone caught somewhere between amazement and skepticism. He fidgeted with the glasses, as though expecting them to reveal something immediately.

Xinyi stepped closer, taking control of the situation with a calm gesture. "Here, you just do this," she said, tapping the glasses twice on the right side. An interface popped up, hovering in front of her face.

With a series of quick swipes of her finger on the same side of the glasses, she adjusted settings and made selections. "These went through a lot of updates. We tried them out months ago, but it looks like they've added a ton of new stuff since then."

Furuya watched her intently. The moment she finished, he dived into exploring the glasses' capabilities. His amazement turned into excitement, his voice loud and animated. "Holy—! This is insane! You're telling me I can see outlines through walls? People's body heat? It's like something straight out of a movie!" He let out a laugh, his enthusiasm spilling over as he scrolled through the features. "This is nuts… I'm gonna mess with this all day."

Yasushi didn't say much at first. He picked up the glasses and put them on, moving with the ease of someone already familiar with the device. Having tested a prototype during their time in London, he knew where to start. However, as he navigated through the interface, he noticed several of the suggestions they'd sent in had been implemented in this version. His expression changed — quiet satisfaction evident in the faint nod he gave.

Slowly, the group began preparing, each person carefully putting their own on. Yasushi watched, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind as he noted how many had been distributed. Before he could question it aloud, one of the researchers approached him, their expression calm but purposeful as they began explaining the situation.

"I can tell you're surprised by the number we're handing out," the researcher began, gesturing toward the others. "The ones we're distributing to them are a simplified version of what you're using. Yours includes a variety of experimental capabilities, whereas what they're getting is stripped down to the essentials — the functions we plan to commercialize. To give you some perspective, your version might hold the equivalent of ten gigabytes of data, while theirs is closer to four or five."

Yasushi gave a small nod, absorbing the information. After a brief pause, he asked, "So, is there some kind of dedicated section for all these experimental functions?"

The researcher nodded in confirmation. "Exactly. There's a separate tab for those features. That way, you won't accidentally activate something that's still under heavy testing. They're safe to use, but don't expect everything to work flawlessly — they're buggy and inconsistent in their current state."

"Alright, so what do we start with? In my opinion, it makes sense to begin with the police. These seem designed with their needs in mind, right? Or am I wrong to assume the firemen's goggles also cover fires?" Yasushi asked, glancing at the man who had also put on a pair of the glasses.

"Correct. The initial tests are for the police. Afterward, we'll move on to the fire department, and finally, we'll combine the two. We'll simulate a variety of situations, so I recommend staying alert and not letting your guard down," the man replied, his tone leaving little room for doubt.

Once he finished speaking, preparations moved into full swing. Scientists and researchers relocated to a separate area while the police officers were led elsewhere. Their designated section had been set up to mimic an indoor environment, much like a shopping mall. The attention to detail was striking, with realistic props scattered throughout to create an immersive atmosphere.

The speakers crackled to life, cutting through the murmurs in the room. "Ahem, attention, everyone," a man's voice announced, firm but without urgency. "We'll be conducting some drills shortly. You'll use the glasses we've provided. The guns and equipment issued to you are nonlethal, so use them appropriately. Your leader will determine how to approach each scenario. That's all. Drills commence in three minutes."

A figure clad in a police uniform approached Yasushi and his group, his steps brisk but not hurried. His gaze landed squarely on Yasushi. "Didn't think we'd see your group again so soon. You really don't like staying out of the spotlight, do you?"

Yasushi offered a small shrug, his tone even as he responded. "Technically, we're here to assist. These new-generation tools being tested — our parents developed them. And in the future, it'll be us."

The officer's expression softened slightly, a nod following Yasushi's explanation. "Fair enough. Just keep in mind we're treating this like the real thing. Follow our instructions, and we shouldn't have any problems."