Whispers in the Winter Wind

"Yasushi, can you get these documents done by two in the afternoon?" a man asked.

"Sure thing," Yasushi replied, taking the documents from him before hurrying off toward his office.

As he moved past a group of researchers clustered near a workstation, one of them called out, "Hey, we're testing more equipment at four! Don't forget!"

"Got it!" Yasushi shouted back over his shoulder, rounding the corner at the end of the hall. He turned left and kept going until he reached the door to his office.

Pushing it open, he stepped inside and immediately saw a young woman standing beside his desk. She wore a Chinese-style maid uniform, her expression brightening as soon as she saw him.

"I've got everything ready here, Yasushi," she said.

"Yunxue… when did you get back?" Yasushi asked, closing the gap between them and wrapping her in a hug.

"Hehe~ Just this morning. I figured you'd be here, so I wanted to surprise you," she said, her voice carrying the same cheerful tone. He let her go, smiling as they separated.

"Ah, I also checked in on both Nandini and Yinhaie. They're doing fine and said they plan to return to work alongside you and Jingliu in about a month," she said, tapping her cheek with one finger as though running through her thoughts.

Yasushi tugged at his necktie, his expression showing just how little he agreed with that decision. "I told them they could take a couple more months off. They don't have to come back until July at least…" he muttered, shaking his head. He could already picture their stubborn determination to dive back in, brushing aside any hint of protest from him.

It had been a year and a half since Yasushi had graduated from college. Life had shifted quickly, bringing him, Jingliu, and Xinyi to the United Kingdom. They'd settled in a house not too far from their parents, creating a new rhythm as they adapted to living together in a different country.

During that time, Yasushi had also completed an extra year of studies at a local college, rounding out his education. Now, four months into his job, he was finding his footing in a new chapter of his career.

Working with his parents made for long and sometimes exhausting days, but he couldn't deny the satisfaction that came with being part of the team, even as he learned to navigate the challenges it brought.

Yinhaie and Nandini had entrusted him to assist with their artificial insemination, and by last year, both had been pregnant with his child. They had given birth to healthy daughters recently. Yasushi, concerned for their well-being, had suggested they take the year off. Despite this, they were adamant about returning to work. He resolved to have a conversation with them once he got home, emphasizing the importance of focusing on their newborns before resuming their responsibilities.

Even his mother, who had given birth to his younger sister, now worked half days and primarily from home. She insisted on maintaining time with her child despite still handling some professional obligations.

"Haha~ they're stubborn about this, no doubt about it," Yunxue said, her tone light. "But if anyone can get through to them, it's you." She trailed off, her voice dropping into a playful whistle as if leaving the thought hanging.

"I hope so," Yasushi said as he lowered himself into his chair. The desk before him was stacked with documents tied to the quantum technology and AI projects he and his parents, along with Jingliu and Xinyi's families, were deeply involved in. He thumbed through them, his focus absorbed by the lines of text and diagrams that demanded his attention.

"How are Lady Jingliu and Xinyi doing? I've only been texting with them, and they sound pretty tied up," Yunxue asked, her voice breaking through the quiet.

Yunxue had returned to China around half a year ago for more intensive training. This had been in the works since Yasushi's freshman year of college, but various delays had pushed it back until after his graduation.

"They've still got two years left in their programs, so they're completely focused on locking in top scores," he explained, his tone casual but firm, without lifting his eyes from the pages in front of him. "After that, they'll join us. If you're asking about how they're holding up personally, they're fine. We'll see them tonight."

Yunxue's cheerful tone pierced the quiet. "Hehe~ can't wait for them!" she said, leaning in slightly.

Yasushi, flipping through the papers in front of him, raised his head and gave her a brief look. Something caught his attention. "Did you grow your hair out?" he asked, his voice neutral but curious.

She tilted her head a little, brushing a strand behind her ear. "Yeah," she answered casually. "I remembered you said you liked ponytails, so I thought I'd try it. What do you think?"

He leaned back slightly in his chair, exhaling. "I did say that," he said, glancing back at the papers before looking at her again. "You didn't have to change anything for me, but... yeah, it looks good." His tone was calm but not dismissive.

Her smile widened, and she nodded as if the answer satisfied her.

While Yasushi kept his focus on the documents, the two of them continued talking. Their conversation drifted between casual topics and catching up on what had happened in the months they'd been apart. His hand never stopped moving, pen scribbling steadily across the pages as he worked to stay ahead of what the team needed.

+-+

Later that day, at exactly four, Yasushi returned the documents he had reviewed and made his way to a room located deep within the underground facility of Buckingham Palace. The purpose was to conduct a test involving new quantum technology.

As he stepped inside, a female scientist greeted him, her tone carrying a mix of enthusiasm and familiarity. "Oh, you're here. And it looks like Miss Yunxue came back too, huh?"

Yasushi gave a brief nod, acknowledging her comment without dwelling on it. "Yeah, she was already in my office earlier. Anyway, what's on the agenda for today? Let's get to it," he said, steering the conversation directly to the task at hand.

The woman, Carol, smirked as if she'd been waiting for this question. "We're going to have you test something special. It's a prototype microphone designed for quantum tech applications. This might be a game changer when we announce it publicly in a few years. Ready?"

Yasushi raised an eyebrow, his curiosity stirred. He glanced around the room, his eyes scanning for any obvious signs of new equipment or devices, but nothing stood out to him. "Where's this thing you're talking about?" he asked, his tone skeptical but engaged.

Carol held up her hand, revealing a small, translucent square. It was compact enough to fit snugly in her palm, its surface almost invisible under the bright lights. "Here," she said simply, offering no further explanation.

Yasushi stared at the object, his confusion plain. "What exactly is that supposed to be?"

Carol gestured to Yasushi, pointing just below her ear. "This is the new mic. Try it. Just stick it here," she instructed, tapping the spot.

Yasushi raised an eyebrow, hesitant but curious enough to follow her directions. He positioned the device against his skin, securing it where she had indicated. Moments later, a strange, almost tingling sensation ran through him. His eyes darted toward Carol, but she waved her hand, silently urging him to speak.

He cleared his throat, leaning into the experiment. "Hello?" The single word came out amplified, ricocheting off every surface with an almost oppressive volume.

Yunxue and Carol flinched, recoiling instinctively as they clapped their hands over their ears. Yasushi ripped the microphone off as fast as he could manage. "Shit, sorry!" he blurted, holding it at arm's length as though it might explode. "I didn't think it'd be that loud."

Carol grimaced, lowering her hands slowly. "That's on me," she admitted, rubbing the back of her head, her curls bouncing slightly as her fingers worked through them. "Should've checked the damn volume first."

Yasushi sighed, passing the small device to Carol. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a company phone, and opened an app. His eyebrows rose slightly, surprised as she adjusted a setting. She moved a slider down, lowering the volume to 50%, then handed the "microphone" back to him.

He clipped it on and spoke into it. "Testing, one, two, three, burgers." The sound came through clearly this time, not blasting their ears. He nodded, testing its output with a faint smirk. "Better. Though, I'm guessing we'll need to crank it higher when we're addressing the entire world down the line."

Carol laughed softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, we'll have to. I must've set it that way and forgotten to tweak it. But what do you think so far? It's running on our AI model, boosted by the quantum tech. It bounces off airwaves and soundwaves globally, making it carry farther and louder without needing speakers."

"Anyway, this is the very first prototype. When we unveil it in London, the sound will be amplified considerably for the event, and naturally, we'll be streaming it globally. There will also be some demonstrations of a few quantum tech items," Carol said, clearly enjoying herself.

Yasushi and Yunxue observed her in silence, both uncertain about how to read her. For Yunxue, this marked only her second interaction with Carol, leaving her with limited insight. Yasushi, on the other hand, had encountered Carol multiple times but still found her demeanor difficult to pin down — like she was performing for some unseen audience, or proving a point only she understood.

"Got it," Yasushi said. "Do we know what's being showcased?"

"The construction gloves are one," Carol replied, counting on her fingers. "Then there's the glasses and goggles being used by police and firefighters, plus the hoverboards. That's what we'll be demonstrating live. But keep in mind, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We've got more products lined up. For those, we'll probably include a prerecorded demonstration video."

Yasushi gave a quick nod and kept working with Carol and Yunxue on testing the item. They passed it between them, each taking turns, including Yunxue. The testing dragged on for hours, methodical but necessary, until they decided to wrap things up for the night.

Afterward, they made their way to the underground parking lot. Yasushi pulled out his ID, holding it up for verification to pass in and out of the hidden facility beneath Buckingham Palace. He had access now — official status came with privileges he hadn't enjoyed a couple of years ago.

They walked toward his motorbike. Without a word, they climbed on, Yasushi in front, Yunxue settling behind him and gripping his waist tightly. She wasn't used to this kind of ride, but she didn't complain. The long tunnel stretched ahead, dimly lit and silent except for the hum of the bike as they rolled forward.

Minutes later, they emerged into the London night. The streets bustled with cars and pedestrians, headlights and streetlights illuminating the roads. People moved between buildings, some still caught in the rush of the city, while others headed home.

"It's been a while since I've seen London like this… It's also cold, even for this time of year," Yunxue muttered, her voice slightly muffled by the helmet.

"Yeah, that's just how it is here. Don't worry — it won't get colder until winter," Yasushi replied. He tapped the steering wheel lightly as they slowed to a stop behind a line of cars. "The house we're staying in is smaller than the one in Japan. Not tiny or anything, just smaller than what our parents are used to."

Yunxue glanced at him from her seat. "What about that Jamie guy you mentioned before? Are you still in touch with him?"

"Yeah, we talk regularly," Yasushi said. "But he's on leave right now. His cousin had an accident, so he's taking time off to help out. He's got a ton of leave saved up, so they let him go without any issues. It's rare for him to take a break like this, though."

They kept talking back and forth as the engine thrummed beneath them, the road extending ahead. The bike moved through the evening air, Yunxue adjusting her position slightly on the seat before leaning forward to ask, "Do Lady Jingliu and Xinyi head back by themselves after they're done?"

Yasushi tilted his head slightly, his words clear over the rushing wind. "Not really. They get picked up by the staff. Normally, Yinhaie would handle it, but she and Nandini are stuck at home taking care of the kids — our kids, theirs, whatever you want to call it. So now it's left to whoever they send. But yeah, they always leave together and come home together."

"Do they even have friends at that place?" Yunxue pressed, raising her words to compete with the roar of the bike.

"They do," Yasushi replied without missing a beat, his manner calm despite the movement. "But it's mostly school-related. They're there to work, not hang out. It's not like college back in Japan where people chill after class. The whole thing is structured around studying and keeping up. That's the point — get good grades, get a job."

"Sounds exhausting," she muttered, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"They get breaks," he added after a moment, shifting gears smoothly. "Our parents make sure of it, especially on weekends. But during the week? Yeah, it's full-on academics."

The two of them kept up their conversation until they finally arrived at their destination. It was the kind of house that looked like it had been pulled straight from an old storybook but had a few touches of modern practicality.

Stone walls framed the exterior, with windows scattered across its surface. The building stretched up three levels, surrounded by a front and back garden, with an unmistakable focus on security around the premises.

Yunxue stared at it, her expression showing a mix of surprise and curiosity. "It's... more than I expected," she said, her words trailing off as she took in the sight.

Yasushi turned to her after stepping off the motorbike, removing his helmet. His grin was quick but certain. "This is where we'll be living for the next couple of years. Get used to it. Oh, and tomorrow, we're heading out to get you some proper clothes," he added, motioning for her to follow as he led the way inside.

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A/N: Happy New Year!