"It's nothing." Having regained his usual composure as Rye, Akai Shuichi's response remained nonchalant, except—
He raised the book in his hand and spoke softly, as if it were the most ordinary inquiry: "I didn't expect you to buy this kind of book specifically."
As he saw the title of the book clearly, Gin lowered his green eyes slightly. "I just bought it. What of it?"
It's nothing.." Akai Shuichi replied unhurriedly. "I'm just curious.
In that instant, Gin almost suspected that he had learned something.
Some.. things that he could never possibly have come into contact with.
"Because I saw some annotations on here.. that don't look like your handwriting," the black-haired youth explained proactively the next second.
Gin's gaze darkened.
An emotion, long absent, surged into his heart unexpectedly, as he felt that unmistakable sensation in his chest—an emotion that was clearly foreign, yet not entirely unfamiliar.
The silver-haired youth lifted his gaze gloomily, his tone laced with danger: "What are you trying to say?"
Akai Shuichi did not answer.
He was just looking at him.
It was like an inspection, like curiosity.. or perhaps just simply looking at him.
Gin couldn't tell the difference, he simply couldn't be bothered to.
After a long time, the Black-haired youth lowered his eyes slightly. "It's nothing.. It's just curiosity, like I said before."
Gin suddenly felt a surge of mockery.
This emotion spread from his heart, growing wildly through his veins, eventually taking root in his internal organs, accompanied by a belated surge of almost sharp Pain—
He wanted to laugh loudly, he wanted to vomit.
Do you know me well?
Do you care about me that much?
Are you that certain this isn't my handwriting?
What right do you have to feel 'curious'?!
Countless acerbic questions were stuck in his throat, nearly bursting out, but in the end, he only spoke with a sneer, his gaze terrifyingly cold.
“I am not that cowardly yet.”
He said.
As the hoarse voice drifted through the empty living room, he also clearly saw the flash of doubt in Akai Shuichi's eyes.
He did not explain anything, nor did he want to explain anything.
He was just exhausted.
..
My friend, I still have a bit of doubt—is it because you are too cowardly that you use flaunting your pain as your pride?
I am not that cowardly.
-----------------------
Author's Note: (1) The Count of Monte Cristo
To be honest, when Gin was acting arrogant and defiant, he probably never imagined that one day someone would dig up his wounds like this—even if Akai Shuichi is completely innocent.
I've finally finished catching up on my debts.. Now, only today's update is left.
I can post it a little bit later!
..
Thank you to the Little Angels who cast Overlord votes or provided Nutrient solution for me~
Thank you to the Little Angel who provided Nutrient solution:
Huajianci 28 bottles; JZ 10 bottles; Tiannan Dibei Little Angel 7 bottles; Lada Dahao, Guizhi 5 bottles; Snare " Suo Bu Zhu Si 2 bottles;
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 105: Then you.. shouldn't look at it this way..
Akai Shuichi was a bit dazed.
He didn't consider himself someone who knew Gin very well.
As fellow members of the Black Organization, even though their true stances were opposed, he held a level of interest in Gin that far exceeded that of an ordinary person—for various reasons: such as Gin's status within the Black Organization, his personal charisma, the trouble he would bring as a future opponent.
And also based on selfish motives.
Whether it was the mutual respect between strong individuals, the attention directed toward that youth's fleeting appearance in the bar several years ago, or the fact that their essences were so similar yet fundamentally different..
However, the actual time Akai Shuichi and Gin spent in contact was not much.
As one of the Core members of the Black Organization, Gin has many Subordinates, but he himself is truly outstanding and in his prime, having no need to rely on his Subordinates.
And this man, who could not be called the pillar of the organization without exaggeration, always had no shortage of matters on his hands.
Even though Akai Shuichi has been one of the Black Organization's most outstanding Cadre in recent years, he cannot match Gin in terms of either experience or seniority, given how many years Gin has been steeped in the underworld. Naturally, his status within the Black Organization has not reached the level of being comparable to Gin, the organization's Top Killer.
The power of choice has always rested with Gin.
Not to mention that Gin has always been cautious; although he seems to appreciate him for certain reasons, however, Akai Shuichi was certain that Gin would never let his guard down around him.
Even if they are colleagues now.
Akai Shuichi was not without his own tasks to attend to.
As an undercover agent within the Black Organization, besides completing the organization's own missions, he also had to exhaust himself providing information to the FBI to prevent further losses.
There were also plenty of instances where they worked around the clock.
Most of them were busy with their own affairs; even when they did have contact or had fought side by side, it was never much.
At the very least, compared to Borse, who serves as Gin's confidant, or Vodka, who follows Gin around all the time, even Heine, who has a rare good relationship with Gin, they all have more contact with Gin than Akai Shuichi does.
But then again..
Akai Shuichi also understood Gin.
Even if it was only a part of it.
Whether for professional or personal reasons, driven by those faint yet persistent and lingering emotions, the amount of time he "watched" Gin far exceeded his own expectations.
And he had almost never seen this man.. so unraveled.
Faintly, he felt that he had touched upon a secret.
A secret he was never meant to know.
He should stop. Akai Shuichi thought; whether it was for the success of the undercover mission or for.. provoking Gin, it was not a good idea.
Reason told him so, sounding a sharp alarm.
"What does this have to do with being cowardly??" Akai Shuichi heard a slightly low male voice respond slowly.
There were only two people in the living room, Gin did not speak.
He realized belatedly that it was his own Voice.
Okay..
Actually, there are times when he really shouldn't be this curious.. But to be honest, this feeling is different from the curiosity he felt when trying to solve a case or uncover a mystery.
At the very least, Akai Shuichi was certain that, in those moments, he would never have been this impulsive.
In this situation, a more appropriate way to put it would be—at certain times, when facing certain people.. rationality always goes offline.
This isn't good. However, this is also not something that can be easily controlled.
Akai Shuichi thought resignedly.
..
"I don't know what you're referring to." Akai Shuichi gazed seriously into Gin's eyes.
Two pairs of incredibly similar green eyes met, one like a cold, sharp blade, while the other was like a tranquil pool.
But I think—" the young FBI agent suddenly curled the corners of his mouth slightly, forming a smile that seemed somewhat out of place: "You probably have nothing to do with cowardice?
Is that so?
If the answer is no, I think it's quite unbelievable.
Gin did not respond.
At this moment, this untimely smile seemed to possess a strange, magical power, suddenly instilling the Silver-haired youth with a sudden desire to speak.
He had always been skilled at exercising patience.
He is a significant Core member of the Black Organization; he is the Assassin who became famous as a youth; he can kill innocent people without even blinking, he can manipulate others in the palm of his hand for the sake of profit.
He does not fear pain; even if hit by a Bullet, he can analyze the battle situation and issue commands without changing his expression. He does not fear bloodshed; to remain lucid, he can even harm himself. He also does not care about Emotion; to him, Betrayal and Death are part of daily life.
He has always been skilled at endurance.
No one knew what he was truly thinking, or what he wanted—the only girl who might have touched her heart had died long ago.
Vermouth did not know. When she heard the news of the death of Sherry's family, a hint of surprise appeared on his gorgeous face, then she turned to look at him, at his indifferent expression.
Gin thought she might be a little disappointed.
Brandy did not know. When he negotiated the deal with him unhurriedly, his gaze was tolerant and his tone was certain, however, what he had guessed was not the whole Truth.
Gin thought that he might have truly seen something.
Heine did not know. When he questioned sharply because of Sheila, his eyes and brows were filled with indignant Pain and vigilance.
He never commented much on Shiratori Midori's death.
Gin felt that perhaps what he had said that day was a "truth" he had once considered.
Vodka and Borse naturally did not know either. They might truly worship Gin, they might truly be loyal to him, but that was all. They had no need to know those private thoughts.