Xinyi's Operation (3)

"Yasushi? You're already up?" Yinhaie called, stepping into the kitchen.

The countertops were cluttered with bowls, flour, and utensils scattered across every surface. Dough lay in lumps, waiting to be shaped into cupcakes and cakes. It was six in the morning, but Yasushi had already been at it for hours, starting just after four. His hands never stopped, kneading and pressing the dough, a steady rhythm filling the room.

He'd been doing this for a while, not just for the sake of getting ahead on their plans for the day, but because something deep inside him nudged him awake. He had a feeling — one that gnawed at him — that he'd come face-to-face with another god before the day ended.

It wasn't clear in his mind who it would be, whether it was the man he'd crossed paths with yesterday or Hakufubuki, but that didn't matter. He would be ready for them either way, prepared to throw a few questions their way. Their sudden appearances had been gnawing at him, sparking a curiosity that wouldn't quit.

"Yeah, figured I'd get an early start. Couldn't sleep much," he said, fingers digging into the dough, his focus never leaving his task.

Yinhaie paused for a moment, watching him, then wordlessly moved to join in. Before long, Yunxue, Layena, and a few other staff trickled into the kitchen. They didn't say much, just fell into the routine, picking up where they'd left off yesterday. The quiet hum of work filled the space, the process of making cupcakes and cakes moving along as it had the day before.

Time passed, though none of them seemed to notice right away. Three hours slipped by, and by then, the kitchen was full of trays stacked high with finished cupcakes and cakes. They hadn't stopped once, hands busy the entire time.

At that moment, Jingliu finally came downstairs from their room, drawn by the smell of breakfast. She stepped into the kitchen to find everyone already seated, digging into their meal. Without saying a word, she slid into the empty seat beside Yasushi.

"When did you wake up?" Jingliu asked, glancing at him. He looked wiped, barely able to keep his eyes open as he picked at his food.

"Uh...early, like three or four. I don't even know for sure," Yasushi muttered, clearly worn out.

Jingliu sighed quietly and reached over, pinching his cheek just enough to get a reaction out of him before turning to her plate. They started talking, the conversation light, touching on the day ahead and whatever plans were in store.

+-+

"Damn, you guys knocked a lot out before we even got here," Bhaqui said, looking at the two rooms stacked high with boxes filled with cupcakes and cakes.

"We're on the last batch now before we head out. Jump in where you can," Yasushi said, moving through the kitchen, checking each box and inspecting everything, making sure nothing was wrong with the packaging.

His friends wasted no time, falling into the work, cleaning up or helping with the final round of cakes. An hour dragged by, and by the time they finished, everyone looked tired, but satisfied with what they'd accomplished.

It was creeping toward midday, the clock showing eleven. The decision was made to eat lunch early before heading out to the shelters again. They hadn't just stuck to the usual cakes and cupcakes this time, though.

Earlier that morning, Yinhaie had thrown out the idea of mixing things up, adding something simple alongside the desserts so they wouldn't be dropping off just sweets. Yasushi had liked the idea, and they'd gone with it. Each box now had eggs, bacon, drinks, and the cakes

After finishing up the last bit of prep, everyone sat down, grabbing plates of food. They leaned back, catching their breath before the rest of the day hit them. The room buzzed with the sound of clinking dishes and muted chatter as they dug into their lunch.

"Did you already reach out to the shelters, Xinyi?" Furuya asked, not looking up from his plate, taking another bite.

"Yeah, I told them we'd be coming a little later today and that we'd be bringing more than just cakes. They seemed happy about it," Xinyi replied between mouthfuls.

The conversation drifted from there, small talk weaving in with ideas about how to streamline their project. They bounced around a few suggestions, figuring out ways to make the drop-offs smoother for the next time. By the time they finished eating, they felt ready to head out, stacking dishes and gathering their things, getting ready to leave for the shelters.

+-+

"I'm going to miss this when it's over," a woman muttered, tears rolling down her face as she ate, her voice barely audible.

"Yeah, the mayor talked about helping us, said things would change. But we're still out here, and nothing's different," another person replied, chewing slowly on the food Yasushi's group had given them.

Yasushi, standing nearby, caught their words and took note. They were right. Once this whole effort, sparked by Xinyi's idea, wrapped up, these people would be back to eating the same bland, inadequate meals they always had. That tugged at him, guilt simmering as he thought about it. He couldn't shake the heaviness of knowing this was temporary.

But that wasn't all that gnawed at him. The unease he'd felt earlier in the day lingered. His gut wouldn't let it go. His eyes darted around every so often, scanning the crowd, watching for anyone who seemed too focused on him, anyone who didn't quite fit.

The day dragged on, and by the time four in the afternoon hit, they decided to take a break. They wandered to a nearby park, grabbing some food, trying to relax for a bit. After sitting for a while, Yasushi stood up and said he needed to hit the bathroom. He walked toward the park's restroom, not expecting much, but as he got closer, someone familiar came into view.

He didn't need long to recognize her. The sight of her brought him rushing forward, but he held off any immediate conversation. "Let me take a piss first," he said bluntly, moving past her without waiting for a reply. He heard her chuckle as he went inside, handled his business, washed up, and returned.

"Sorry about that," he said, looking straight at her. "So, are you here because of that other god from yesterday? Goddess Hakufubuki?"

Hakufubuki smiled, giving him a nod. "Yes. I didn't expect him to come here, not after the stories I told about you. They weren't like the grand tales of old, but they caught his interest," she said, motioning for him to follow.

They moved to a bench behind the bathroom, finding some space away from the crowd. Yasushi sat down, leaning forward a bit, looking for answers. "So, who was it?" he asked, trying to make sense of the unexpected visit.

"Hachiman, the God of War," Hakufubuki said, her tone casual. "Though he didn't carry himself like someone with a title like that, did he?"

Yasushi blinked. "Hachiman?" The name hit him like a ton of bricks. He'd never imagined a god like Hachiman would show up at his doorstep. Not Hachiman — the one known for his role as Japan's divine protector, the god who, despite originally being linked to agriculture, was later revered as the guardian of the Minamoto clan. The same god whose messenger was a damn dove.

Yasushi's mind raced. He had read about him before, pieces of mythology mentioned here and there, but hearing it now felt different. "Why would he visit me?" he asked, still processing the shock that had set in.

Hakufubuki looked at him calmly. "The gods know about your body. It's not normal — at least, not in the usual sense. A god from your original universe gave you something, altered you. That's why they've been watching you, though they don't do it all the time. They respect your privacy," she said, her voice steady, like she was laying out simple facts.

"Well, yeah, I figured that much. Punching people halfway across a room and wrecking those punching machines isn't something you see every day," Yasushi said. He paused, thinking about the other things he could do — his sharp memory, the way he could pick up languages almost instantly — but he kept that to himself.

"So, what's the deal? Did he wanna fight or something? 'Cause I'll be real — I'd be fucked. I might be a little tougher than the average guy, but a god? Hell, I'd get smashed into the ground like some cheap roadkill," he muttered, shaking his head at the thought.

Hakufubuki couldn't help but laugh. "No, no, he's not here to turn you into a pancake," she said, glancing ahead, her attention shifting.

"I'm not here to pick a fight, you brat," a voice interrupted. Yasushi looked up. A man stood there, someone he didn't recognize at first, but the feeling in the air around him? That was familiar. Same vibe he'd felt yesterday.

"Sup," the man said, throwing up two fingers in a half-assed salute. "Hachiman. In the flesh."

Yasushi stared at the man for a few long seconds, then let out a sigh. "You've got to be kidding me..."

Hachiman laughed as he dropped down on the bench next to him. "Don't be so dramatic, kid. We actually came here to give you some important news," his voice shifted, turning serious.

"Important?" Yasushi asked, his interest growing. "What the hell could be so important?"

Hakufubuki reached over, placing a hand on his arm. She smiled as she spoke, "During your Moon Weaving Event, I'll be there to join in on the celebration. But once it's over, you'll need to come with me. Make sure to let your friends know you'll be stepping away for a bit."

"Why?" Yasushi asked, clearly confused.

"You're being invited to a private gathering," Hakufubuki continued. "Some of the Japanese gods want to meet you — Madame Amaterasu included. Don't worry, though. Even if we spend hours in their realm, it'll only feel like a few minutes down here. We'll bring you back quick enough."

Yasushi's mind struggled to keep up with the information being thrown at him. It was like his brain hit a wall, unable to make sense of everything at once. Before he could fully grasp it, Hachiman spoke again.

"And just before your graduation, you'll be invited back," Hachiman said, a grin pulling at his lips, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting. Yasushi watched him, waiting for the rest. "This time, it'll be on a much bigger stage."

Hachiman stood up, stepping in front of him, arms stretched wide like he was about to make some grand announcement. "To the Banquet of the Gods! Every god from every pantheon will be there."

Yasushi blinked, trying to make sense of the idea. Before he could ask anything, Hachiman continued. "You might've had some idea already, but I'm telling you now — the gods all over the world know about you. And they want to see you in person. Here's the catch, though — they might test you during the event. So be ready for anything."

Hakufubuki's hand tightened around his arm, as if grounding him. "If you want," she said, "you can tell up to two people about us. Maybe three or four if I manage to convince Amaterasu and the others to be lenient. You'll be able to bring them with you to both events."

Yasushi dropped his hands to his face, letting out a long sigh. "What happened to a peaceful second life?" he muttered, not really expecting an answer. Hakufubuki's hand moved across his back in a soothing motion, but Hachiman just laughed.

"We've seen plenty of those 'Transported to another world' stories," Hachiman said, still chuckling. "Reincarnation, new lives, and all that. Isekai, right? Sure, it's fun to read, but let's be real for a second. What do you think would actually happen if someone like you came into existence? A person with a soul that didn't belong here? We'd know instantly. We're gods. You really think we'd miss something that big? No way. Those stories aren't realistic. They get it wrong. I'll give them credit for creativity, but we're not going to miss a soul crossing into another world."

Yasushi couldn't argue against that. No one back in his old world had ever figured out the actual rules for these things. They made up whatever suited them, and everyone just ran with it, spinning countless versions.

But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. It was ridiculous to believe the gods of another world wouldn't notice something that massive. In his case, it was even more clear. His soul had been handed over, like a contract had been signed, and they'd given him the green light to reincarnate here.

"Fine… but I want to bring some people, maybe just one or two for the one after the Moon Weaving Event," Yasushi said, staring at both of them.

Hachiman's grin spread across his face. "Good, good. I like that look on you. We got the gist of your past life, you know. I want to meet that Yasushi too."

Yasushi didn't flinch. "That Yasushi is gone. Or at least, I'm trying to bury him," he said, locking eyes with Hachiman. There was a tension there, thick enough to make Hakufubuki shift, her hand pulling him back, breaking the moment.

"Please, calm down. Not here, not in the middle of a park…" she urged, her voice uneasy.

Yasushi took a breath, let his eyes close for a second, and then opened them again. "My bad," he muttered, the heat in his chest cooling down. Hachiman relaxed too, dropping the intensity.

"I'm not going to push you," Hachiman said, turning his back to him, "but one year isn't enough to erase all that. You were that person for a long time. It'll take a lot more to completely get rid of him."

Hachiman glanced back at Yasushi, a wide grin forming. "I'll see what I can do about getting you to bring at least four people. And they'll know what's really going on with us. So, who do you have in mind?"

Yasushi didn't hesitate. "I want Jingliu and Yinhaie with me for the first one. After that, Yunxue and Xinyi for the second. Does that work?"

Hachiman let out a laugh. "Hah! Yeah, sounds good to me. Those names don't seem like they'd run their mouths. Alright then, leave it to me, Papa Hachiman's on the case. I'll get that permission even if I have to throw hands with a few gods," he said, his grin never fading as he waved and walked off.

Hakufubuki smiled softly. "I'll do what I can too. Just be patient, Yasushi. I'll let you know when the Moon Weaving Event starts."

Yasushi nodded. "It's... fine. Thanks, I appreciate it." His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from the moment. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and saw a message from Furuya in the group chat.

"Dude, are you taking a massive dump in there? Everyone's wondering where the hell you went," the text read, making both Yasushi and Hakufubuki chuckle.

"You better get going then," she said, her voice fading as she vanished right in front of him.

Yasushi stood there, shaking his head for a moment. The way she just disappeared always threw him off, even after seeing it so many times. He forced himself to refocus, walking back to where his friends waited, ready to finish eating and handle the rest of their day. But his mind wouldn't stop racing.

Thoughts crowded in, each trying to take center stage. What would both of these meetings really mean for him going forward? How was all of this going to play out? He wasn't exactly worried about himself — he'd faced worse — but the others he planned to bring... that was different. Should he even involve them? Maybe it was too much to ask of them.

The questions rolled through his mind, one after another, without any clear answers. Weeks and months stretched ahead of him, and he could already feel how much thinking he had left to do.