Ding-dong—
Hearing the chime of the automatic door, Akai glanced toward the entrance with indifference, not expecting it to be his Person in charge. Since the environment here was quite pleasant, he could wait for another hour if he ordered another black coffee.
An opportunity to climb up.
He never lacked patience.
Akai Shuichi's eyes reflected the figure of the silver-haired youth without any defense; he was dressed in a black trench coat, with a high collar covering his somewhat pale neck, a matching fedora that, rather than appearing gentlemanly, added a touch of mystery to him.
The slightly long bangs prevented Akai Shuichi from seeing the youth's eyes, but he knew that beneath those bangs lay a pair of green eyes.
Cold and indifferent.
At other times, it also radiated sharpness and edge.
At this moment, the silver-haired youth tilted his head, the moment his gaze met Akai's, a shallow layer of surprise colored those impressive green eyes.
Before his rational mind could react, a long-lost excitement spread through his entire body. His restless blood boiled and clamored, Akai felt a surge of tremors crawling up his spine, leaving his scalp tingling.
There was no need for words; he knew who that person was as well.
Akai Shuichi's fingertips were trembling slightly, but not from fear.
-----------------------
Author's Note: (1) Information regarding renting a Kimono can be found online; the prices are truly expensive.
Just buy an Owl~
——————
Surprised? Unexpected, isn't it? Gin's pet is an Owl~
Imagine the owl flapping its wings, flying round and round the room~
——————
Gin knew that Rye was Akai Shuichi, he knew that the person he had encountered in the USA several years ago was Akai Shuichi, but he did not know that Akai Shuichi was the one staring back at him.
So he was a bit surprised.
Several instances of tense confrontations (or should I say, my unilateral crushing of him?) had already caused someone to develop a conditioned reflex; currently, just seeing Gin made him feel energized—or was it the excitement of facing danger?
So enthusiastic~
..
I plan to take the opportunity to revise the part from the second meeting during the next update..
If I have time tonight, I'll post another chapter. If not.. I should probably post two chapters tomorrow.. right?
I'm a bit uncertain..
I've finally reached the part about the partner! So moved!
Chapter 28: Twenty-six Akai couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation..
Gin was actually a bit surprised.
He knew that Rye was Akai Shuichi, he remembered that Akai Shuichi was the boy playing accordion whom he had met in that bar five or six years ago, but he just couldn't remember the guy's appearance.
After all, it has already been several years! Counting it up, they had only met face-to-face once.
So, the moment he saw Rye, he suddenly realized that the person who had been by Miyano Akemi's side that day was him.
What a coincidence.
The thought flashed through Gin's mind, but before long, it dissipated naturally, without leaving even a trace.
"You are Rye." The Silver-haired youth's gaze fell upon him, carrying a hint of coldness.
It was clearly a question, yet he had turned it into a statement.
Akai suppressed the confusion of encountering an old acquaintance and the excitement surging through his bones, nodding nonchalantly, "It is I."
Gin glanced at him, his gaze indifferent, like the still waters of a cold pool: "You know who I am."
His tone was forceful and certain.
A trace of an uncontrollable smile escaped the corners of Akai Shuichi's mouth. There were many rumors about Gin within the Black Organization, but as a core member, not many had seen his true face.
But Akai felt that with this man standing here, it would be quite difficult to mistake him for anyone else.
Yes, Akai certainly knew who he was.
He spoke, a single syllable escaping his thin lips:
“Gin”
The pronunciation was clearly crisp and decisive, yet the end of the sound was slightly elongated in an inconspicuous way.
Akai really did not expect that after being with the Black Organization for only a little over a year and just obtaining a codename, he would already meet the organization's core members.
It seems he has performed quite well.
But, wouldn't this be too much of a spotlight? He didn't want to be targeted—being in the eye of the storm would do nothing for his plans.
However, he didn't seem to have the right to refuse, either.
Thinking it over carefully, there were certainly benefits to this, Akai reassured himself. See, haven't you encountered one of the Black Organization's elite members now?
—He was the one he was most interested in.
Gin nodded silently, treating it as a greeting.
He gazed at Gin with a smile for a few seconds, averting his gaze before the Silver-haired youth could feel displeased, shifted his eyes toward Gin's trench coat.
It looks a bit familiar.
The person he was 'most interested in' sat in the seat opposite him; the hem of his trench coat flared up and then settled the moment he sat down, Akai's gaze followed its movement.
"I seem to have seen you before," the Silver-haired youth said, sitting in the chair with a posture that was languid yet not careless, like a leopard feigning sleep, his half-closed eyes doing nothing to hide his inherent intimidation.
Akai Shuichi blinked, unable to explain what he was thinking at that moment.
More than a year ago, Miyano Akemi?
Whoa—
Akai couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.
It seems.. he doesn't remember.
True, for his past self, that encounter could only be described as "profound." If he hadn't possessed such strong mental fortitude, it would have likely left him with a lasting trauma.
But for Gin, it was likely nothing more than a minor episode during his moments of boredom, in the blink of an eye—he would have forgotten it, right?
On one hand, reason told Akai Shuichi that this was a good thing; even if that meeting from a few years ago didn't reveal any specific information, it was, after all, a potential risk to his undercover career.
But on the other hand..
It was only the sensation he had carried for so many years, but it was—terrible—
Gritting his teeth in his heart, the Black-haired youth let a smile slip onto his face, the corners of his eyes and brows lifting slightly. "Yeah."
Heine has put you in charge of my Ability Evaluation," Gin explained unhurriedly, detailing the cause and effect, "The Mission will begin in a couple of days.
So, am I following you for the next few days?
Akai Shuichi looked at the green eyes of the person in front of him.
A hint of amusement flickered within those green eyes: "What do you think?"
He did not like that rhetorical question.
"Of course, I'll listen to you," Akai Shuichi replied, his expression unchanged.
After all, he was about to work under him now.
The Silver-haired youth did not answer, instead speaking with a hint of mockery, "Name?"
He didn't quite understand where Gin's vague hostility toward him came from, but he still answered quite cooperatively: "Moroboshi Dai."
What are your specialties?
"I recall all these answers are in the files." He didn't feel like continuing this pattern of question and answer.
Gin said nothing, merely propping his head up with his hand as he watched him.
Fine, Akai Shuichi conceded:
His hand-to-hand combat and sniping are both quite good.
He saw the person opposite him tilt their head, gazing at him with a hint of interest for a moment.
Akai frowned slightly in his heart, showing a moderate amount of confusion on his face.
Gin raised an eyebrow and let out a cold sneer. He stood up and left, leaving behind a cold, hard command.
Follow him.
Alright.
Akai thought to himself.
After all, who wasn't working under him now?
He quickly signaled the waiter to settle the bill, then stood up to follow him.
..
Gin did not want to set the meeting place at a cake shop to begin with.
For him, even meeting at a cafe or a Restaurant would be better than meeting at a cake shop.
Since this mission would last for several days, he had to settle that lazy Dead bird at home first; otherwise, by the time he returned, that Owl would likely become a literal "Dead bird."
The cake shop.. was very close to the pet shop where he had left the Owl.
This mission is neither easy nor difficult—for Gin, it is not easy, but for an ordinary member, it is.
Oh.. Generally speaking, that judgment is based on the assumption that two or three members are working together.
This was also the reason he had wanted to find people before—he didn't want to do it himself; he would let three subordinates do the work while he simply gave the orders.