Whispers in the Winter Wind

"This is reckless," Nandini said as she and Yasushi moved along the quiet streets of the gated neighborhood, their steps unhurried but purposeful.

Their plan was straightforward: circle to the far side, gain entry to their house through the back with Yinhaie's help, and use the layout to their advantage. Yasushi intended to navigate through the house, reach an upstairs balcony, and from there, descend to confront Hiyama Kageyama directly. He would rely on his abilities — honed reflexes and physical improvements from ki — to outmaneuver and incapacitate their unwelcome guest, bringing an end to the tense stalemate that had trapped his parents in their own home.

"It might be reckless, but I'll manage. I can take a blade anywhere on my body and keep moving. You're just as capable — you're better trained than me," Yasushi replied, his voice calm as they neared the midpoint of their route.

"I can deflect a blade. You can't," Nandini countered, her tone firm, though a hint of unease remained beneath her words. "If he swings and lands a hit on you — especially somewhere vital — you won't get back up. You know what that means." Her eyes met his, and though she didn't speak the fear outright, it was impossible to miss the burden of her concern.

"I know, but you're overthinking this. I've got plenty of plans lined up for how this could go. If things work out the way I expect, you'll realize there was nothing to worry about in the first place," he said, quickening his steps as they both began running.

Their pace brought them to the far end of their expansive home, heading toward the backyard. The property had layers of security in place, but Yinhaie, anticipating their arrival, had already ensured that the systems were turned off.

Yasushi pulled out his phone and sent a brief message to Yinhaie. The reply came almost instantly: a simple "okay." With that confirmation, they pushed forward, sprinting across the stretch of yard. The distance was considerable, but after a few minutes of effort, they reached the back door. It stood open, and Yinhaie was there, waiting for them.

They hurried inside, and Yasushi made his way straight to where his parents were. He found them in the living room, gathered with several of the household staff. Despite the situation, no one appeared tense.

"It feels like you guys are just having a picnic in here…" Yasushi muttered, his words pulling everyone's attention.

His father flipped through the channels on the television, the remote clicking softly with each press. Beside him, Yasushi's mother's focus moved between the baby and the screen. The staff stood or sat nearby, their postures loose, their demeanor calm as though they were waiting for a silent cue.

"Our home's secure. All we've got to do is sit tight and wait it out." Yuji Futakao glanced over, his grin widening. "Wait — don't tell me you came here because you were worried about us?"

Yasushi's cheeks grew warmer, but he nodded anyway. "Can you blame me? There's a psycho with a katana running around out there, and you guys are here." He paused, glancing briefly at the staff. "I'd have come back even if it was just them, though."

The truth lay in the way Yasushi looked at the people in the room. His parents had shaped his world, and the staff had always been there, quietly integrating themselves into the structure of his life. They weren't just workers; they were part of what he considered home. And that was enough to make him want to stand guard, no matter how secure things seemed.

Yasushi exhaled, the sound carrying both relief and resolve. "Alright, I'll go and handle this... By the way, do you have anything I can use?" His eyes glanced at his parents, a mix of curiosity and expectation in his tone.

Yuji leaned back with a knowing grin. "I figured this might come up. Before we left for work, we made sure to prepare a few things, just in case."

Without wasting another second, Yuji sprang to his feet and dashed out of the room, a few others following closely behind. The wait lasted for about ten minutes before he returned, carrying several items bundled together.

He placed them on the floor with a slight flourish. Yasushi stepped forward, his sight landing on a set of glasses, gloves, and a belt. He crouched, inspecting each item carefully. Though outwardly ordinary, he could tell from prior experience with their company's technology that these weren't ordinary tools.

"I'm guessing the glasses work like the prototypes we tested before," Yasushi said, holding them up to the light. "But what about the gloves and the belt? What exactly do these do?"

Yuji looked over at him, a slight grin forming as he explained, "The gloves have several functions. They can repel and pull in metals. They'll boost the strength of your hands and arms enough to let you lift objects much larger than yourself. They're also resistant to blasts. Think of them as an extension of your wristband. Now, the belt — it can store items and deploy a shield strong enough to handle an explosion. The glasses, as you already know, are an upgrade to the ones you've used before, so their functionality should be familiar."

Yasushi nodded and started putting the gear on. He adjusted each piece, testing the gloves by picking up random objects in the room. Each one lifted with ease, the process seamless as he checked for any faults.

"These aren't like the ones we had in China, right?" he asked, glancing up at his father.

His father shook his head. "No, those were made for construction work, meant for things like moving steel beams. These are better suited for what you'll face. But remember, they don't make you invincible. Your body's still vulnerable, and the shields won't hold forever. Don't get reckless." His voice carried a seriousness that made the warning stick.

Yasushi exhaled heavily and nodded once more. "Alright, I'll get going now. Yinhaie, Nandini, I'll count on you both to send the coordinates my way. Leave the rest to me. I'll handle it," he said, turning on his heel and stepping out of the room without hesitation.

"I'll head to the surveillance room," Yinhaie announced, her tone even as she gave a small nod to the group. "Nandini, I'm trusting you to take care of Yasushi." With that, she strode away, her presence fading as she left the room.

Nandini stared at the door for a moment, her mind racing. 'Relying too much on items can lead to disaster. Still, fighters in the supernatural world need to use them when the situation calls for it. Yasushi knows better than to be careless. Using them now makes sense — especially against someone like Hiyama Kageyama,' she reasoned. Straightening up, she stepped through the doorway and a dagger appeared in her hand. "Time to get to work," she muttered, her expression resolute as she disappeared into the corridor.

+-+

Yasushi stepped onto the balcony, keeping low as he scanned the area. Hiyama Kageyama was pacing back and forth, his katana glinting faintly in the ambient light. Yasushi measured the timing, calculating the perfect moment to jump down and disarm him. The key was precision — he had to land directly on top of Hiyama to wrest the blade away before Hiyama had a chance to react.

Still, there was another variable to consider. Hiyama might be carrying a gun. Even if Yasushi successfully disarmed him of the katana, the danger wouldn't be over. Yasushi tightened his grip on the railing, preparing to rely on his speed and strength to neutralize Hiyama before he could switch weapons or retaliate.

To his right, he caught sight of Nandini standing against one of the balcony's supporting pillars. She stood motionless, a silent observer ready to step in if things spiraled out of control. The faintest nod from her direction reassured Yasushi that she was prepared, though he wasn't planning to let it come to that.

Touching his earpiece, Yasushi spoke quietly, his voice low to avoid detection. "I'm ready. Chief, have your people in position. Yinhaie, give me the countdown."

Several people maneuvered toward the front, positioning themselves to intervene if Yasushi failed to neutralize Hiyama. Yasushi inhaled deeply, his focus locked on the man below. He waited, biding his time until Hiyama reached the right spot, then launched himself down without hesitation.

Yasushi hit the ground hard, the sound startling Hiyama. Before the older man could react, Yasushi's fist collided with his wrist, forcing his grip on the katana to release as a numb shock spread through his arm. Yasushi's attention remained fixed on Hiyama, who fumbled to reach for something hidden in his clothing. Yasushi struck again, this time aiming for the stomach. His fist moved faster than usual as he tapped into his ki for an instant, the blow forcing the air from Hiyama's lungs.

The impact sent Hiyama staggering back several meters, and the concealed gun he'd been reaching for tumbled to the ground. Yasushi didn't give him a chance to recover. Closing the distance in a heartbeat, he delivered a crushing blow to Hiyama's face, the force of it ensuring that the man collapsed, unconscious.

Yasushi exhaled as he lowered his fist, glancing at the unconscious man slumped before him. The force of the blow had rearranged the old man's face, leaving it misshapen. Nearby, the police moved quickly, cuffing Hiyama and dragging him away. Yasushi exhaled again, his gaze falling to his knuckles. It had been a long time since he'd hit anyone with intent, and the sensation that followed felt oddly unfamiliar.

Sure, he still trained regularly, honing his body and channeling his ki, but nothing compared to the intensity of constant battle in his past life. Every clash back then had carried a sense of urgency, the kind he could only compare to the life-or-death struggles he'd read about in manga or seen in anime.

He remembered how each fight had molded him, sharpening his strength and resolve over time. The rawness of those experiences seemed distant, yet moments like this brought them rushing back.

"Are you alright?" Nandini asked, stepping up beside him with a calm yet watchful demeanor.

"Yeah," he answered, still flexing his hand. "I didn't think it would end this fast, though. And the guy had a gun? Aren't those supposed to be hard to get in Japan?" His eyes drifted toward one of the officers, who was carefully handling the weapon as though it didn't belong here.

"Yes, but they can still get them. It's surprising, though. You went straight for his hand," Nandini said, glancing at the officer holding the confiscated weapon.

"I didn't think that old corrupt fuck could duel-wield a gun and a sword at the same time. At best, he'd manage a slice of pizza and a bottle of beer. So yeah, I went for the hand first. When I saw him reach for a gun, I used a bit of ki for a moment to make sure he didn't get there first. That pretty much sealed it," Yasushi said, turning toward the door as it opened.

"You didn't even use the gloves," Yuji pointed out, exhaling as he looked at his son.

"They were a backup plan. If I'd messed it up, I would've needed them more," Yasushi admitted with a small, awkward smile. He glanced back at the unconscious Hiyama and thought, 'Well, I guess the quantum gloves and the ki combo came in handy… but he's definitely gonna need surgery for that face.'

"But now…" Yuji added, motioning towards the police officers.

Yasushi's expression tightened. "More interviews and questionings… god damn it," he muttered, his voice low, while his parents responded with quiet amusement. "I'll be back later. Nandini, come on."

Nandini nodded, not needing to say anything. She already understood she was involved in this. As the two of them turned to leave, Yasushi quickly sent a message to the group chat he shared with his friends. He gave them a short update, ensuring they wouldn't be left wondering about his sudden absence.

Afterwards, they secured the motorbike in the garden. Once that was handled, they joined the officers, stepping into the patrol car. The drive stretched on, heading towards yet another round of questioning that neither Yasushi nor Nandini could avoid.

+-+

"I won't lie, that's the most I've heard Japanese people curse in my life so far. Well, it makes sense since these people were put in there by us," Yasushi said as he and Yinhaie stepped out of the police station.

The orange sky spread out above them, a sign that the day was giving way to the evening. They had entered the building around midday, so the long hours inside had stretched into dusk.

"Yes, but as you said, it makes sense. We were also informed that the ones caught on the footage we managed to get will also be brought to justice, though it'll take some time," Nandini replied, exhaling heavily.

The questioning had dragged on much longer than either of them expected. The officers had asked them to go over every detail, rechecking and cross-referencing pieces of information with painstaking thoroughness.

The police brought in everyone they had caught for questioning, a process that left Yasushi confused at first. The group attempted to deny everything, but when pictures, videos, and other evidence were shown, their resolve broke, and they confessed.

Throughout the interviews, Yasushi found himself on the receiving end of plenty of glaring looks. It wasn't because they truly knew him, but rather because they remembered the ridiculous nickname they had given him: "Dumb Retard Homeless Boy." Oddly enough, Yasushi found the absurdity of it a little funny.

The questioning and interviews dragged on for around four hours. The remainder of the time involved going over details and cross-referencing all the information they had gathered. Unfortunately, Yasushi and Nandini had only been given light snacks and water, leaving them noticeably hungry.

"So… how about we get some food?" Yasushi said, his tone almost casual as he looked at Nandini. "Dinner's still a while away, but a lunch wouldn't hurt. Or would it be lunch and dinner combined? Linner? Dunch?"

Nandini shook her head, her expression tinged with amusement as she watched him. They had just spent hours dealing with the police, answering questions and recounting the same story over and over again. Even so, his antics somehow managed to cut through the heaviness of the day. Without much fanfare, she spoke, "Let's grab something to eat before heading back," her tone leaving no room for argument as she clasped his arm and began walking.

Yasushi didn't resist. In truth, he didn't have the energy to protest — not with his stomach growling loud enough to be a distraction. Food was his only focus now, and wherever she was taking him sounded better than debating it.

As they made their way down the street toward a place Nandini seemed set on, his thoughts wandered. The realization hit him again: he'd given both Yinhaie and Nandini the next two months off once they wrapped up this ordeal with the homeless case. That meant two months of handling things on his own — a prospect he wasn't entirely sure how to feel about.