Discovery

After a half-hour of meticulously gathering miscellaneous items scattered around the secluded area of the park, and filling no less than eight black trash bags to the brim, Furuya stumbled upon something that made him abruptly step back, his heart skipping a beat.

"Hey! Look at this!" he called out, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and unease, capturing the immediate attention of his companions. As they gathered around, he pointed to the object on the ground, his voice barely steady, "Is that what I think it is?"

Laura narrowed her eyes, peering closely at the item Furuya indicated. "A knife... with blood on it," she murmured, her voice trailing off. "Given everything we know right now, could it be... you know..."

"It's very possible," Jingliu responded, her tone calm but serious. "We need to contact the authorities immediately. We might have to leave behind some of the trash we've collected. Furuya, you've been working mostly around this spot, right? Can you set your bags aside? We should offer them as evidence. The others might be okay to keep, since they weren't gathered near here, but I can't be certain."

Furuya nodded, a sense of foreboding hanging in the air as he moved to isolate his bags, the weight of their discovery settling heavily on all of them.

Laura, her face pale with concern, stepped away from the group to call the police. Meanwhile, the rest of them stood uneasily around the secluded park, the shadows of the trees elongating in the fading light, while Furuya lingered by his bags of trash, his mind racing.

The authorities, taking their report with utmost seriousness, arrived swiftly at the scene, their presence infusing the air with a palpable sense of urgency. The friends gathered in a tight-knit group, explaining in painstaking detail how they had come to be there, recounting the serendipitous discovery of the knife, and emphasizing their careful avoidance of disturbing the potential evidence. They meticulously outlined their cleanup efforts, noting how Furuya had handled most of the trash in the specific area where the knife was found.

The police officers, methodical and thorough, documented their statements with diligent precision. They informed the group that, for the time being, all the collected trash would need to be retained for further examination, to ascertain if any items might be pertinent to the ongoing investigation. They reassured the friends that, should the trash prove irrelevant to the case, it would be returned to them, although they did add, somewhat grimly, that the bags handled by Furuya, due to their proximity to the potential evidence, would likely be kept indefinitely.

Once the police had completed their procedures and taken all necessary statements, the friends were finally permitted to leave the park. However, a lingering bitterness clung to them like the cold morning air.

"We lost everything. We're back to square one. We could have had twelve bags by now, damn it," Laura muttered, her frustration evident as she bit nervously on her nails, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"It's frustrating, but there's nothing we can do. That knife might be crucial evidence," Xinyi replied, attempting to inject a sense of pragmatism into the conversation, with the others nodding in reluctant agreement.

Yasushi, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his voice carrying a note of intrigue that caught everyone's attention. "...What if the knife was planted there deliberately, to mislead the police?"

Jingliu turned to him, her brow furrowing in concern. "What are you suggesting? Do you really think the killer would go to such lengths just to throw off the investigation?"

Yasushi's eyes were thoughtful, his expression serious. "I do think so. This person hasn't been caught yet, which means they're smart and meticulous. They might have realized that the police were getting close and decided to divert attention. And considering how they've changed their pattern, targeting different areas instead of sticking to one spot, it seems like a calculated move."

Yasushi turned his gaze away, directing his eyes towards the vast expanse of the morning sky, its hues deepening into daylight. "...With that in mind, I believe Furuya is right. We should stay vigilant and keep an eye out for anyone suspicious. Sure, we can still have fun and enjoy ourselves, but being cautious is crucial," he said, exhaling a weary sigh that seemed to echo the group's collective fatigue.

For a moment, a contemplative silence settled over them, each person lost in their own thoughts, pondering the implications of their next steps. It was Jingliu who finally broke the stillness, her voice resolute and tinged with defiance. "We can't let something like this make us hesitate. If we start second-guessing ourselves, we're letting this unknown killer dictate our actions. I refuse to be seen as weak," she declared, her eyes scanning the faces of her friends, her frown deepening with determination.

Her unexpected assertiveness took most of the group by surprise, save for Xinyi and Yasushi, who seemed to understand her stance. After a few more moments of reflective silence, it was Furuya who spoke up, his voice carrying a note of reluctant agreement. "Alright, I get it. But can we at least be careful, please?" he implored, his eyes meeting Jingliu's with a mixture of concern and resolve.

Jingliu nodded, her expression softening slightly as she acknowledged Furuya's plea. With a mutual understanding reached, the group decided to relocate to a different part of the city, determined to continue their event while maintaining a heightened sense of awareness. They walked away, leaving behind the unsettling discovery, yet carrying with them a newfound sense of vigilance, aware that their seemingly ordinary day had transformed into something far more profound and complex.

+-+

A few hours had slipped by, and the group, feeling the weariness of their earlier activities, had taken a much-needed break. They found a nearby resting area, a tranquil spot where they could regroup and recharge. Yasushi, ever thoughtful and meticulous, had collaborated with Yinhaie to prepare lunch, and now he unpacked a small boxed meal, distributing sandwiches to everyone with a quiet sense of satisfaction.

"It's nothing extravagant, but it should be good enough along with what you guys brought," he said modestly, taking a bite of his own sandwich, the simplicity of his words underscoring the care he had put into the meal.

Furuya, chewing thoughtfully, couldn't help but express his appreciation. "Food from you is always good. I've only had the chance to try it a few times, but it's definitely better than a lot of other cooking I've experienced, especially from the school," he said, his voice filled with genuine delight, which was punctuated by a small, delighted squeal as he took another bite.

Jingliu, usually reserved in her opinions, silently concurred with Furuya. Her contented expression and the way she savored the sandwich spoke volumes. Laura and Xinyi, however, seemed puzzled by the enthusiastic reactions of their friends.

"It's just a sandwich?" Laura questioned, her tone a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as she took a cautious bite.

"Yeah," Xinyi echoed, also sampling the sandwich, her expression mirroring Laura's confusion.

But as the flavors unfolded on their palates, a subtle yet undeniable shift occurred. The initial bewilderment on Laura and Xinyi's faces softened into a look of pleasant surprise. They began to understand the quiet artistry in Yasushi's simple creation, the way the ingredients harmonized in a way that belied their simplicity.

Both Laura and Xinyi found themselves unable to resist the delectable sandwich. They devoured it with such enthusiasm that within seconds, their plates were empty. Yasushi, observing their rapid consumption, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in mild surprise, which only made both of them blush deeper, their faces turning a shade of pink that matched the mid-high sun.

"...I'll take it that you two liked it? It wasn't anything special," Yasushi remarked, his voice tinged with modesty and a hint of amusement. The two girls, still blushing, avoided his gaze, their silence speaking volumes.

"The Harem King strikes again," Furuya quipped, his tone playful and teasing. Yasushi, rolling his eyes, gave Furuya a gentle smack on the shoulder, eliciting a mock cry of pain from his friend. "Ow..."

Jingliu, who had been quietly eating her sandwich, couldn't help but notice the interaction. She subtly shifted closer to Yasushi, her eyes narrowing into a cold gaze directed at Laura and Xinyi. Laura, feeling the intensity of Jingliu's stare, nervously bit her lip and took a small step back. Xinyi, however, met Jingliu's icy look with her own defiant glare, her expression smug and unyielding.

Sensing the brewing tension, Furuya decided it was best to distance himself from the unfolding silent drama. He slowly backed away, not wanting to get entangled in the unspoken conflict. Just as the situation seemed to reach a boiling point, their attention was abruptly diverted by the arrival of another group from their school, passing by with lively chatter and laughter.

The presence of their schoolmates diffused the tension somewhat, drawing the focus away from the silent battle of wills between Jingliu and Xinyi. The group exchanged polite nods and greetings with the newcomers, the atmosphere lightening as the mundane interactions of everyday life interceded.

However, as the group from their school passed by, Yasushi's attention was inexplicably drawn to one individual among them. It was a girl with striking blonde hair, brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin — clearly a Gyaru, and an undeniably famous one at that. Her eyes lingered on their group just a bit longer than he found comfortable, and with his keen observational skills and honed instincts, he noticed the subtle, almost imperceptible grin that played on her lips as she looked at them.

"Hey…who's the blonde?" Yasushi inquired, his curiosity piqued, once the other group had moved past them and was at a safe distance.

"Huh? Oh, you mean her? She's one of the new transfer students. She's a second-year, like us, and she's quickly become quite popular. It's not every day you see a Gyaru at our school," Furuya explained, his tone casual. "Her name's Mizahara Tokoyoni."

'Mizahara, huh?' Yasushi mused internally, his thoughts swirling around this enigmatic new figure. He let his gaze linger on her retreating form for a few more moments, absorbing every detail, before finally tearing his eyes away.

As he turned back to his friends, he was met with the unmistakably disgruntled expression of Jingliu. Her displeasure was palpable, her brows knitted together in a frown that seemed to convey a thousand unspoken words. Yasushi felt a flicker of tension, recognizing the subtle currents of emotion beneath the surface.