Nana: Can you guys just let me finish speaking? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
The successive "accidents" made her puff out her cheeks in frustration. This childish behavior added a touch of playfulness to her, but it failed to bring a smile to the two heavy-hearted adults at the crime scene.
However, at this moment, the people in the hospital room besides Nana were a sickly patient lying in bed and Azhen, whom Nana could not afford to offend. She clearly could not argue with the person who interrupted her, so she could only swallow her frustration.
This time, the one who interrupted her was Kimie.
She probably doesn't need to think much about the reason." A faint smile appeared on Shimabukuro Kimie's pale face, making her look less haggard: "After all, the person who helped her with the Disguise was none other than Niwang.
"Oh?" Gin raised an eyebrow slightly.
This was something he hadn't expected. Rationally, he should have felt a bit more favorable toward that kid, since it meant he was on Nana's side and was even somewhat useful; but emotionally, he couldn't help but—
He disliked that kid even more.
He was unwilling to be a Villain who plays the role of a wedge between lovers, but that did not mean he was willing to watch Nana be inexplicably tied to a youth.
"It really was Yaji.." Nana's voice was muffled, as if she had something weighing on her mind. She stared at Kimie with hesitation for a moment, a flicker of struggle crossing her face.
I was indeed watching you before—if that's what you're asking." Shimabukuro Kimie had already guessed Nana's thoughts and answered her question quite candidly. "But I have no intention of harming you.
As expected—Nana sighed in her heart; otherwise, Sister Kimie wouldn't have rushed over so quickly when she encountered danger.
As for who she was monitoring her for, Nana could guess more or less.
She cast a faint, lingering gaze toward Gin, her eyes filled with an accusation she did not dare to voice.
Gin admitted without hesitation, "It is indeed me."
You usually only tell me things you consider important." To avoid wasting my time: "However, sometimes you aren't very good at judging what is 'important.' —And Shimabukuro can look after you.
Kimie added with a beaming smile—or perhaps "finishing him off" would be a more appropriate term: "Actually, I didn't say much, but there are some stories about you and your little boyfriend.. ahem."
"I'm not a child anymore," Nana sighed in frustration. Although her expression looked a bit unnatural because she was using Shimabukuro Kimie's face, her emotions were evident in her words.
It seems that every child, as they grow up, says such a sentence to their worried parents, attempting to prove themselves.
However, Gin is no ordinary parent, Nana is no ordinary child.
"I will prove myself." She stared intently at Gin for three seconds, making a declaration as if she were certain.
Immediately after, the Black-haired girl turned her gaze toward Kimie, who was lying on the bed. Looking at the other's flawless smile and thinking of the fact that she had been injured because of her, Nana muttered softly, "I'll settle the score with you once you've recovered."
Kimie gave a light chuckle. "Fine.. I'll be waiting."
..
After they had teamed up to trick Nana away, Kimie's gaze suddenly grew deep.
Both people present knew just how risky the plan was to have Kimie impersonate Nana to face the next wave of enemies that might arrive.
Gin was unwilling to let Nana take risks, which meant that others would have to bear the risks that belonged to her.
The Black-haired miko's previous words to Nana, "You'll be fine," were, in truth, nothing more than empty words.
I can't guarantee that nothing will happen to you." Gin's gaze swept indifferently over Kimie's somewhat haggard face. "You know that.
“It is too late for me to regret it now, isn't it?" The woman lying on the hospital bed stated calmly, her eyes and brows devoid of sorrow, the faint smile on her lips made her withered appearance seem a bit more vibrant, like a flower about to bloom: "Besides, the wound on my body is a gunshot wound caused by that person."
“And you—” She looked at Gin quietly, her eyes still filled with a calm and gentle expression. "You also do not want more people to know about Nana's existence. Therefore, I am the most suitable candidate."
"Correct," Gin replied with a crisp, decisive syllable.
She was never a good man.
I will do it." Kimie did not feel sad about this; she was even smiling. "Not because of your request—but because of Nana.
Her gaze gradually grew vacant, her eyes, adorned with green contact lenses, faintly shimmering with tears. Her face, masked by a disguise, wore an expression of bewilderment, as the sweetness and bitterness of memories quietly surfaced.
Gin did not disturb her confusion.
She is just like me, just like how I was back then.
She still remembered how she had collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath that day, faintly seeing the scene where the Black-haired girl and the Black-haired strong man were in a standoff; the blood from her abdomen kept flowing, the pain filled her entire body, as if it were gradually draining her strength, gradually draining her life.
In her dazed and semi-conscious state, her limbs were powerless and her mind was clouded. She could barely even lift her eyelids, lacking even the strength to utter a single word; she could only watch, listen, feel.
She did not know exactly what kind of background Nana had, but she knew the girl carried a blood feud.
She didn't know what Nana was thinking at that time, but she knew the girl had once stepped forward to protect her.
In a trance, she seemed to remember herself—the self she was back on Mermaid Island, when she first learned the Truth of her Mother's death.
Even to this day, she has already left Mermaid Island, yet she still does not know what lies ahead, still feeling lost regarding her future path.
She probably cannot become Nana's sister, but perhaps she can try to have a sister.. That way, when she is lost on her future path, she will at least not be so lonely.
..
After arranging these matters, Gin finally began to deal with the aftermath of Scotland's business.
Scotland's matter seemed to appear more important than Nana's, but since he had already promised Scotland to help clean up the aftermath,
He had made preparations, then there was his own favoritism—
So the final weight order doesn't seem particularly surprising, right?
Also based on the preparations Gin had made beforehand, he only needs to deal with the bitter consequences caused by his own "momentary impulse" now.
Specifically, it manifested as Heine and his sister, Bourbon, Rye.
The former had just had a heart-to-heart yesterday—Sheila had just narrowly escaped death, but since that girl is a smart person, regardless of the reason, Sheila would not tell Heine about her conversation with Gin after she escaped death.
Because Sheila cared about Heine and did not want Heine to run into trouble because of him—just as Heine cared about him.
Without a shred of guilt for exploiting the deep bond between siblings, Gin turned his thoughts to the remaining two.
It's them again—
Why is it them again?!
Recalling every little detail from before, especially those "confession" experiences he wished he could pack up and throw into the trash, while looking forward to the so-called development of the future Plot—
Gin felt deeply exhausted.
He let out a frustrated sigh, thinking that Bourbon was likely feeling even more frustrated than he was, the Silver-haired youth felt a strange sense of solace.
But at a time like this, it was better not to worry about Bourbon—given his relationship with Scotland, he was likely currently in the eye of the storm, going there would only draw unnecessary attention to oneself.
Moreover, according to Tennessee, Cavendish had already finished his shift when Bourbon appeared, which meant the latter had not seen him—by comparison, Rye was actually the more dangerous one.
And—
Gin lowered his gaze.
Bourbon probably prefers to be left alone to have some peace and quiet right now.. If he were to appear before Amuro Tooru, the latter would have to go through the trouble of putting on an act to pretend everything is fine.
Why bother?
It would be better to leave him some time instead.
To leave some.. time for himself to quietly lick his wounds.
Thinking this, he casually assigned the missions Bourbon had been responsible for lately to Korn and Chianti.
A Newcomer.. should take on more missions to properly hone his skills.
..
Although he had indeed been contemplating how to smuggle Rye out of the country without raising suspicion so that he could lie low, that didn't mean he wanted to have a chance encounter with Rye, did it?
"It's not a chance encounter." Akai Shuichi sat down in the seat beside him with a very natural manner, completely ignoring his 'keep away' aura.
"Stalking me on purpose?" Gin thought nonchalantly, the lights in this bar still flickering just as they did three years ago.
Not at all.. Besides, your vigilance wouldn't be this low, would it?" Akai's expression remained unchanged, his eyes holding a faint, ambiguous smile. "I just heard that you like coming to this Bar, so I came by specifically to try my luck.
He silently approached Gin, his green eyes shimmering amidst the multicolored neon lights, stopping at a distance that was not overly intimate yet entirely ambiguous, a distance that was a complete challenge to Gin's endurance. He said softly, "It seems my luck is quite good."
After saying this, Akai Shuichi returned to his original, normal posture.
It seems that a few years have not brought much change; the Lemon Bar still looks much the same as it did in the old days, but whether it be the decorations on the bar, the expansion of the storefront, or even the change in music, one can see the passage of time.
Silently and without a sound.
It was also everywhere.
So it's—" Gin sized him up, contemplating whether the other man's recent actions were accidental or intentional—after all, if Akai had stepped one inch closer, he estimated he would have had to resort to violence: "Deliberately spying on my preferences?
Don't be so harsh, Boss," Akai Shuichi said, undeterred by him. He turned his head with a light chuckle, his voice low and husky, appearing instead to be in high spirits—at least for him—as he teased, "Besides, it wouldn't be a big deal if such a trivial matter were discovered, would it?
"Even if it is a small matter, in the eyes of someone with ulterior motives, it might inadvertently become a weakness." Gin did not take the bait. He turned his head to look at the other man, his blue-green eyes shimmering under the light, like two tiny suns.
Okay, okay," Akai Shuichi said, appearing to concede. "I promise I won't tell anyone else.
For a moment, Gin was almost speechless—was this his way of clarifying that he wasn't a man with ulterior motives?
Akai Shuichi didn't look like the type to be so "unreasonable," did he?
He was almost somewhat helpless, simply asked straightforwardly, "What exactly do you want to say?"
It's nothing really." Akai Shuichi's lips curled slightly into a faint smile, but the expression lasted only a few seconds before vanishing. "It's just..
He looked up, his green eyes meeting a pair of equally green eyes.
I'd like to buy you a drink.
Gin looked at him silently.
The latter looked back without changing his expression, his handsome features revealing a faint persistence and a nearly imperceptible probe: "Do you like Whisky?"
Gin slowly curled the corners of his mouth into a slightly mocking arc. "If you are asking about Scotland, I suggest you just speak directly."
Akai Shuichi lowered his eyes, avoiding the other man's overly sharp gaze, slowly calmed his racing heart: "Before Scotland was dealt with, I had met him—"
The sniper saw everything that happened that day, it was impossible to hide it from Gin—and since he was currently working under Gin, given the man's suspicious nature, it was better to confess proactively rather than letting the truth come out.
“I know.” Gin tilted his head slightly, his silver hair falling naturally over his shoulders, with a few slightly longer bangs covering his eyes, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.
If this answer was within Akai's expectations, then the information in the next sentence caused even this composed elite agent's heart to tighten.
I knew it at the time. Cavendish gave me a call," Gin said, not minding revealing a bit of information to Rye—out of kindness, also due to a certain sense of mischief. "Otherwise, did you think you would have escaped so easily?
Ignoring Akai Shuichi's startled expression, Gin cast his gaze toward the bar not far away, where the brilliant light fell upon his eyes, appearing like starlight shattering within his green eyes.
The Silver-haired youth spoke unhurriedly, "Didn't you say you were going to buy me a drink?"
Akai Shuichi stared at his profile for three seconds, then gave a calm smile: