Cheesy Furuya

Yasushi stood in front of the bathroom mirror, the rhythmic motion of his toothbrush creating a foamy swirl in his mouth. The quiet hum of morning routines filled the small space. Suddenly, a subtle vibration emanated from his pocket. He paused, toothbrush mid-air, and reached for his phone. The screen lit up with a message: "Operation Little Love Love Hunters is a go!"

Jingliu, who was beside him, caught a glimpse of the message over his shoulder. Her eyebrows furrowed in bemusement. "Little Love Love Hunters?" she echoed, her voice tinged with perplexity.

Yasushi sighed, a mixture of amusement and resignation playing on his face. "I have no idea," he admitted, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "But it sounds like one of Furuya's schemes for Catherine. Let's hope it's not too extravagant or mortifying."

Returning the toothbrush to his mouth, Yasushi continued his task, his mind momentarily drifting to the potential absurdities Furuya might have concocted. He quickly typed back a message: "Nothing too stupid, okay?"

Almost instantly, his phone buzzed again. Furuya's reply popped up, detailing specific coordinates and clarifying that the grand plan was scheduled for the weekend, giving them a few days to brace themselves. Yasushi muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes in mild exasperation. He sent back a thumbs-up emoji before shoving his phone into his pocket.

The mirror reflected a man preparing for the day ahead, yet in the depths of his gaze, there lingered the faintest trace of a reluctant anticipation.

+-+

"Why's he being weird?" Laura asked, her eyes fixed on Furuya, who was hunched over his notebook, scribbling with intense concentration.

It was lunchtime, and the usual buzz of conversation filled the room. But today, their attention was drawn to Furuya's peculiar behavior. Even when Catherine approached him, his response was cryptic: he was planning something for her, he needed space, but the surprise would be worth it. Catherine's confusion was evident, her smile wavering as she tried to accept his explanation, though a hint of hurt flickered in her eyes.

Xinyi, noticing her friend's distress, patted Catherine gently on the back. "It's okay, Catherine. If this surprise isn't a trillion-dollar boat, I'm kicking him between his legs," she said, her tone half-joking, half-serious.

Catherine forced a chuckle, her discomfort showing through. "I-I would prefer for my boyfriend to have all his body parts intact, thank you though, Lady Xinyi."

Yasushi, observing the scene, leaned back in his chair. "Well, let's leave him for now and see what happens," he suggested, his gaze still on Furuya. "It should be good since he's putting a lot of effort into it."

The group fell silent, the air thick with anticipation and a touch of unease. Furuya's pen moved feverishly across the paper, and they could only wonder what elaborate scheme he was devising.

+-+

Yasushi, Xinyi, and Jingliu stood on the sidelines of the baseball field, the grass slightly damp from the afternoon dew. They watched Furuya practicing with his team, the sound of bat meeting ball punctuating the air. Catherine stood a little apart from them, her eyes never leaving Furuya. Despite his focus on practice, it was clear his mind was elsewhere, likely preoccupied with the plan he had concocted for her.

"Something's on his mind. Is he still thinking about this plan of his?" Catherine's voice was soft but laced with worry as she turned to Yasushi.

Yasushi nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "When Furuya sets his mind on something, he puts in one hundred percent. Don't worry. He'll return to his goofy self once it's done. Whatever he's planning, it's going to be big — either a spectacular success or a grand failure."

Catherine sighed, still uneasy but trying to find comfort in Yasushi's words. "Okay," she replied quietly, her eyes drifting back to Furuya.

Yasushi felt a buzz in his pocket and pulled out his phone. His expression shifted as he read the message, concern flickering across his face. He turned to Jingliu, his voice urgent but controlled. "We need to go," he said, showing her the text from Yinhaie. "Call or text us if you need anything," he added, addressing Catherine and Xinyi.

With that, Yasushi and Jingliu made their way off the field, leaving Catherine and Xinyi to watch Furuya, who was still lost in his determined focus.

+-+

Once Yasushi and Jingliu stepped through the door, they were met by Yinhaie, who handed each of them a clipboard. The couple took a moment to scan the documents, their expressions quickly darkening with concern.

"One of them was sent to a juvenile detention center for... bullying and attacking a teacher?" Jingliu's voice trembled slightly as she read the details aloud.

Yasushi let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Why did our school accept these troublemakers in the first place...?"

Yinhaie, sensing their agitation, stepped in with an explanation. "It seems they were given the 'okay' to resume normal education after showing signs of reform. It looks like they just acted 'normal' to get back into society."

Yasushi's mind raced. There had to be more to the story. Maybe the school had been bribed, or perhaps the records had been falsified or erased for reasons he couldn't yet understand. But one thing was clear: there were likely more troublemakers lurking, and the thought unsettled him deeply.

Once they reached the dining room, Yasushi's eyes remained fixed on the documents in his hands. The overhead light cast a harsh glare, making the printed words seem even more damning. He ran his fingers through his hair, deep in thought, before finally setting the papers down with a resolute thud.

"Pull the plug," he said, his voice steady but filled with conviction. "I would rather end this now than let them do something else. Especially with one of them being that bad." He met Yinhaie's gaze, his eyes unwavering.

Jingliu, standing beside him, nodded in silent agreement. "We don't want a repeat of earlier this year. Doing this now may lead to better outcomes. Please go and report all this, Yinhaie. Include all the other evidence we found."

"Of course, I'll get right to it," Yinhaie replied, bowing slightly before gathering the documents and leaving the room.

As the door closed behind her, Yasushi sank into a chair, his body heavy with the weight of their decision. "Let's wait and see then," he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else. The tension in his voice was palpable.

Jingliu moved behind him, her hands gently resting on his shoulders before beginning to knead the tight muscles. "It'll be fine…" she murmured, her touch offering what comfort she could. The soft pressure of her fingers seemed to ease the knots in his shoulders, but not the ones in his mind.

+-+

The weekend arrived with a surprising calm. No drama had stirred during the week. Yasushi and his friends had received a text from Furuya, instructing them to meet at a specific park. With no other plans, they decided to go.

Standing in the park, they waited for thirty minutes, Catherine included, but there was no sign of Furuya. The air was crisp, the remnants of melting snow crunching beneath their feet. Suddenly, the distant sound of drums began to echo through the trees. Yasushi tensed, a sense of impending chaos gnawing at him.

"What's happening?" Reina asked, glancing around with wide eyes.

"Drums? Is that normal? I know the snow's starting to melt, but this is odd," remarked Xinyi, peering towards the sound.

Before anyone could further voice their confusion, a large wheelbarrow emerged, teetering down a hill, a motley crew of people guiding it. Standing triumphantly in the middle of the contraption was none other than Furuya Itsuki.

The scene was surreal. Furuya balanced atop the wheelbarrow, his expression a mix of pride and mischief. The drums grew louder, a rhythmic crescendo accompanying his descent. Yasushi could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of whatever spectacle Furuya had planned.

"Here we go," Yasushi muttered, bracing himself for the inevitable chaos.

Furuya's arrival was nothing short of dramatic. As the wheelbarrow drew closer, his friends exchanged glances, a blend of amusement and bewilderment on their faces. Catherine's eyes were fixed on Furuya, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.

The wheelbarrow came to a halt before them. Furuya leapt off with a flourish, spreading his arms wide as if presenting a grand surprise. The drummers fell silent, the sudden quiet amplifying the tension.

Furuya got on one knee in front of Catherine, who hadn't moved an inch. "My dearest Catherine!" he proclaimed, his voice filled with earnestness. He then stood up and let out a sigh, his expression softening. "I'm sorry for being pushy. I wanted to apologize but didn't know how to break the ice, so I decided to be a bit dramatic to draw your attention. But I've thrown out my long, stupid speech for this simple one. Please forgive me."

The shift in his demeanor was unexpected, his usual flamboyance giving way to a more genuine, practical approach, even if his arrival had been theatrical.

Catherine stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then, without warning, she lunged at Furuya, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Uwaaaa, Fuwuyaaa!" she wailed, her tears and snot flowing freely, leaving everyone else in stunned silence. Everyone except Xinyi.

"C-Catherine?" Reina mumbled, unable to comprehend her friend's reaction.

Xinyi sighed, shaking her head slowly. "She... really likes these sorts of things. All that talk about not wanting something dramatic probably went over her head. As I said, she loves this stuff."

Furuya stood there, holding Catherine as she cried into his shoulder. The drummers, unsure of what to do, had fallen silent, their instruments now awkwardly held at their sides. Yasushi and the others watched, caught between amusement and bewilderment.

Yasushi exchanged a glance with Xinyi. "I guess we underestimated how much she'd appreciate this," he said quietly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Jingliu, standing close to Yasushi, added, "Sometimes the simplest gestures, even wrapped in theatrics, are the ones that mean the most."

The park seemed to hold its breath, the moment stretching out as Catherine's sobs gradually subsided. She pulled back slightly, looking up at Furuya with a teary smile. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse but filled with relief and affection.

Furuya nodded, a gentle smile on his face. "Anything for you, Catherine. Anything."

As the group began to relax, the tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of understanding and camaraderie. The dramatic entrance, the heartfelt apology, and Catherine's raw emotion had brought them all closer.