Blooming into the Future of Choices

A month slipped by, the days blurring together as their second year of high school neared its end. The seniors, now on the cusp of graduation, were preparing to leave their marks behind. Clubs buzzed with activity, choosing new captains, restructuring, setting the stage for the future. Emotions ran high — excitement mixed with melancholy, an undercurrent of inevitable change.

Yasushi and his friends lounged in the school yard during lunch, a moment of respite. Furuya, their usual companion, was absent, deeply immersed in training for Koshien with the baseball team.

Xinyi glanced skyward, her gaze distant. "We'll be third years soon enough, huh?" Her voice carried a hint of nostalgia, the clear blue sky reflecting in her eyes.

Yasushi nodded, the weight of impending exams already pressing on his mind. "Next year will fly by. We've got until Christmas to enjoy ourselves before the grind starts. After that, it's all about exams, graduation creeping closer with each passing day."

Xinyi huffed, arms crossing tightly over her chest. "You're not helping," she told him, a light glare directed at Yasushi.

Yasushi snorted, a smirk playing at his lips. "You can't stop the march of time. Everything will eventually happen, and we'll go our separate ways. With that said, do you guys know what you want to do after graduation? College? Straight into a job? Something else?"

The question hung in the air, pulling them all into a contemplative silence. Layena and Catherine exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison, "We're already working as maids for Lady Jingliu and Lady Xinyi respectively, so we will continue this after high school."

Laura's eyes widened slightly. "You mean…you'll go to college if they do, but won't if they don't?"

Both girls nodded, confirming Laura's guess.

"I'm going to the college or university here," Laura added, her voice firm. "Once I graduate, I'll take over my family's business." She nodded to herself, a satisfied expression settling on her face. "My life is already set."

"I'm not entirely sure yet," Reina said, her voice soft as she took a bite of her sandwich. "I have to look after my brothers since they're still young but…I do have dreams of becoming an author one day." Her eyes held a hint of sadness as she continued, "But I know not everyone's dreams come true, so I might need to settle for a more…practical job."

"Don't sell yourself short, Reina," Xinyi said, her tone firm yet encouraging. "I know you'll do well in the future. Just keep at it. If you need help, Jingliu and I are here for you." She gave Reina a reassuring pat on the back.

Reina's cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Xinyi stood up, arms crossed, a piece of food dangling from her mouth. "I will…work for my dad!" Her voice held a mix of determination and nonchalance. "I mean, I have decent grades and all that. I'll go to college on his recommendation and go from there. I won't inherit anything until he decides to retire, but he'll train me once I graduate." She glanced over at Jingliu. "You're the same, right?"

Jingliu looked back at Xinyi and nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yes. I've spoken to my parents about this before, and that's the plan. I still read some of the materials my dad gives me, so I'll be up to speed on everything they do. For now, that's the future I want." Her gaze shifted to Yasushi, a silent question in her eyes.

The others followed her glance, their eyes settling on Yasushi. "Furuya might go pro if he does well," he began, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "But honestly, I don't know what he'll do for sure. Did he mention anything to you, Catherine?" He turned the question towards her, seeking clarity.

"Yes," Catherine replied, her voice calm and assured. "He said he'd like to try going pro, but he already has a backup plan. He's been taking his studies more seriously, and I help him with them. If he doesn't make it in baseball, he'll aim for a high-paying job. If not, he'll settle for an office job." A slight smile tugged at her lips as she spoke.

"So? What about you, Mr. Leader?" Xinyi asked, hands on her hips, leaning towards Yasushi with an inquisitive look.

Yasushi's gaze shifted from her face to the ground, then to the expanse of sky above them. "I have no idea. I'm a jack of all trades, master of some. I could probably do alright in most things I pick, but…something specific, I don't have anything like that." He admitted, finally looking back at his friends, their faces a mix of surprise and concern.

His friends had always assumed he had some secret plan or passion, a direction in life. Finding out he didn't have a specific path shocked them. Xinyi scratched her head, contemplating his revelation. "Why not go after Jingliu? Our parents work together, right? You get good grades, you're smart. I think you could work in their field if you put in the effort."

Yasushi didn't answer immediately, lost in thought as he considered Xinyi's suggestion. He hadn't thought about it in a while. His parents had mentioned it before, but he never seriously considered it. Now, with the weight of his friends' expectations and his own uncertainty, the idea took root, giving him something to ponder.

"Well, I'll think about it during summer," Yasushi said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "I'll have something by then. Don't worry about me too much, alright? I'll figure something out." His words were meant to reassure, but the uncertainty in his voice lingered.

His friends exchanged glances, their concern evident but unspoken. They reluctantly accepted his answer, nodding and offering small smiles. The mood shifted, lightening as they moved on to different topics. The conversation flowed, laughter and chatter filling the rooftop air.

Yet, every now and then, Jingliu's eyes would drift back to Yasushi. She watched him with a quiet concern, her thoughts a whirl of worry and hope. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was struggling more than he let on, and it gnawed at her, a silent promise to be there for him.

+-+

Later that night, Jingliu broached the topic while she and Yasushi lay side by side, each engrossed in their own books. The soft rustle of pages turning filled the comfortable silence between them.

"Yasushi…about the topic during lunch. Were you being serious about your answer?" she asked, breaking the quiet with her tentative voice.

Yasushi paused, his gaze shifting from his book to her face. "Hmm? Oh, yeah, I was serious. I've never had a specific passion. I've always just…lived life, going with the flow, not thinking too hard about the future." He set his book down, his expression earnest. "But I am good at picking up skills quickly, so I can adapt to any job I end up with."

He looked into her eyes, searching for understanding. "Are you worried about me?"

"Yes, obviously," she responded, her voice louder than intended. "I don't want us to be separated. That topic made me anxious. I'm going to work with my parents after college. But where will you be? Next to me? Far from me? I feel uneasy about it." Her vulnerability showed clearly, her usual composure slipping away.

Yasushi scratched his head, deep in thought. "Well, what Xinyi said got me thinking about my parents' proposal from a while back when they started that new job. They asked if I might be interested, but I never gave them a decisive answer. Maybe now I should. I'll talk to them over the summer and see where it goes. We're going to China, right? We can have a proper discussion there, and maybe you can help me figure it out?"

Jingliu's worries eased with this revelation. She sighed, putting her book down and leaning into him, wrapping her arms around him. "Mmm…that's…that's better," she mumbled, feeling the tension leave her body.

Yasushi chuckled, hugging her back and gently rubbing her back. "You're a lot more honest now. Honestly, comparing you to the start of the year…" He trailed off, a smile playing on his lips.

Jingliu responded with a soft laugh. "…You've changed too. From what I heard from Laura and Furuya, you barely spoke to other people and were mainly by yourself. Now look at you…you have more friends, and our classmates approach you more often." She giggled, the sound light and teasing, a reflection of the bond they had formed.

Yasushi mulled over her words, the weight of them settling in. Despite his intention to forge a new path after his reincarnation, he found himself largely unchanged, save for the absence of violence. Though it had returned briefly, he made a concerted effort to avoid conflict, even as it intensified, particularly with Daiki's recent return seeking revenge.

Reflecting on it all, Yasushi had silently vowed to himself not to repeat those errors. He resolved to try harder, to be better, and while there were setbacks along the way, he believed he had made progress.

"…Yeah, you're right. I guess I did change too," he admitted, his voice softening as he drew her into a tighter embrace. She squeaked softly and responded by hugging him back, their bodies pressing closer.

They spent the rest of the night in quiet, yet deeply affectionate companionship, reaffirming the bond they shared, their love for one another a silent promise in the stillness of the evening.