After a period of chaos, the conclusion to this party once again involved Phantom Thief Kid returning the Gemstone and making a successful escape.
As Shuichi Akai had said, she was very interested in Phantom Thief Kid's methods; after Kid made his appearance, she excused herself and left composedly.
Nana vaguely saw that Conan seemed to have gotten involved again.
Having observed all of this, Shiratori Nana applauded all the participants of this incident in her heart, then raised her hand and drained the bright orange-red cocktail in her wine glass in one gulp.
The slight acidity of the orange juice mixed with the richness of the liquor, while the salt grains on the rim of the glass stimulated her taste buds. Nana's throat moved as she swallowed the liquid swirling between her lips and tongue.
Cocktails generally have a low alcohol content, this Tequila Sunrise is especially suitable for a Girl to drink. Nana did not feel any discomfort, but since she does not usually drink much, having a glass down her throat now caused a slight physiological flush to color her cheeks.
It's time to go home.
She thought.
She had previously agreed with Yaji that he would pick her up after the party ended. At this moment, she had a bit to drink, so driving was likely impossible, dressed like this, she couldn't take the Tram either.
Nana touched her slightly flushed cheeks and walked toward the doors of the Banquet Hall.
However, in the very next second, Nana's eyes widened in surprise.
Green eyes reflected the figure in the corner of the Party, a figure that almost dissolved into the darkness.
The man's face was mostly obscured by her black hat, making it difficult to see clearly for a moment. She had a tall and slender build, with long, powerful legs wrapped in black suit pants, a slim waist that did not lack a sense of strength. Her proportions were perfect, almost enough to be a model.
Nana's eyes lit up. She stepped forward a few paces, the name "Zhenjun" almost escaping her lips.
Gin raised her head slightly, revealing a face partially hidden beneath the brim of her cap.
The moment she saw the man's face, Nana's footsteps stopped.
She froze at first, closing her eyes as if in disbelief, the moment she opened them again to face the reality of it all, Nana's eyes suddenly widened. Her green eyes expanded with shock, the name 'Zhenjun' hovered on her lips, yet she found herself unable to call it out.
Nana looked at the man a few steps away in a daze, her thin lips trembling slightly as the flush on her cheeks vanished rapidly.
A few steps away, Gin stood all alone, her face deathly pale.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Today's word count is a bit higher than usual; I finally let Gin make an appearance.
Gin isn't going to.. (silence) that fast; at the very least, he has to give the things to Nana.
..
Thanks to Meow Unspeakable Little Angel for the landmine, love you mwah~
Chapter 157: Chapter 141: Dazed, Stunned; Clanging..
This was the first time Nana had seen Gin looking so haggard.
This man was always calm, powerful, composed, usually clad in a black trench coat, her green eyes cold and fierce like a Shinigami harvesting lives.
—or rather, he was a Shinigami.
However—
The man before her was pale to an almost unreal degree, his green eyes were bloodshot, looking at first glance like a vengeful spirit struggling to crawl out from the abyss. His back remained straight, as if nothing could crush him, yet his thin lips trembled slightly.
There was an abnormal flush on Gin's face, making Nana almost suspect for a moment that he might have a fever.
Following Gin into an unknown Street, Nana's heart was filled with worry; she was not worried about her own situation, but was wholeheartedly worried about Gin.
After a long time, the Silver-haired man finally stopped his pace.
Nana breathed a sigh of relief and immediately jogged a few steps toward Gin. "Zhenjun, are you okay?"
Gin did not answer her.
The man's once cold and sharp Green eyes now held a sense of trance, or rather, her expression was one of trance and daze.
She just stared blankly at Nana, as if he didn't recognize her. After a long time, the Silver-haired man finally snapped out of his trance and let out a solitary laugh.
That laugh sent a chill down Nana's spine.
She could faintly sense a bitter taste within it, but no matter how hard she tried, she simply could not imagine it.
Zhenjun.. what exactly did she go through?
Before she could voice her question, Gin moved first.
The Silver-haired man took a step toward him, his gaze carrying a hint of a half-smile and a drunken, hazy confusion. Gin approached her, then slightly lowered her head.
Gin seemed like he wanted to say something to Nana, but in the end, he said nothing at all, merely gazing at her with a look she couldn't understand, before her lips curled into a faint smile.
Her lip color was very white, a white devoid of any color.
The man took off the black leather gloves from her hands, exposing her fair left hand under the moonlight. Her long, powerful fingers and slightly calloused knuckles were like a work of art carved from fine white jade.
Gin raised her hand and gently touched Nana's face.
The evening wind carried a hint of chill, making Nana, who was wearing a small green dress, feel somewhat uncomfortable, the skin exposed to the air even developed a few rough goosebumps.
However, at this moment, Nana discovered with surprise that Gin's hands were even colder than the night air.
The sensation of a hypothermic hand touching her cheek was unpleasant, but Nana had no time to dwell on it; she looked up helplessly at the man before her.
The man's mouth drooped again.
Her eyes were indifferent as her finger lightly brushed against Nana's cheek, pausing for a few seconds before pulling away.
Under the hazy Moonlight, Gin's expression was indistinct.
Nana felt that Zhenjun seemed a bit off tonight.
She smelled the faint, ethereal scent of liquor on Gin.
—Has she.. been drinking?
Just as she was lost in her wandering thoughts, Gin finally spoke.
The man's voice was even lighter than before, Nana heard the hidden raspiness within it, causing her heart to skip a beat. Her Finger moved, her fair knuckles curling unconsciously, her brow furrowed.
"Take this for now." Gin calmly took a small box out from her coat, about the size of a palm. The box was beautiful, with a pure white base and dark green patterns; it was a rectangular leather case with a subtle, modern minimalist style.
Gin's hand, wearing leather gloves once again, easily and simply handed the box to Nana.
Nana was dazed for a moment, then reached out and took it.
"What is this?" she asked curiously, a faint, uncomfortable foreboding stirring in her heart.
.." Gin still did not answer this question; he merely lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes and brows exuding a hint of aloof coldness. "This is for your Sister.
Nana??
Nana!!
The girl looked completely bewildered. "Zhenjun.."
She hesitated, "Are you telling me to burn it?"
Gin froze for a moment, then turned her head, a rare smile appearing on her lips. "No."
She took a deep breath, her gaze filled with both longing and a hint of resolve: "Nana, you keep it for now."
At this moment, Gin's words contained no command, giving off an almost gentle illusion.
If there is a chance, give it to your sister; if not..
The Silver-haired man's gaze drifted for a moment.
If not—" She seemed both relieved and unable to find peace, so he simply spoke with a smile, "Then leave it at your sister's grave.
Before she could even react to Gin's words, Nana stared dumbfounded as Gin handed the box to her, then turned and left without a second thought.
She only said those few words to Nana, handed her such a mysterious gift, then left.
The Black trench coat traced a beautiful arc against the night sky, but Nana's heart was as unsteady as the hem of a coat in the wind. She simply chose not to overthink the meaning hidden in Gin's words regarding her Sister's recent situation, her trembling hands reaching out to touch the White box that had been shoved into her arms.
Her fingertips trembled like falling leaves in the wind. Nana pressed her lips together, turning them pale, then, with a forceful movement of her hands, she opened the white box.
The box was lined with velvet; the silky fabric not only felt exquisite to the touch but also lent a touch of elegance to this Gift. The design of the gift box was ingenious, featuring ancient and elegant patterns on the exterior, while even the internal White patterns were delicate and refined.
Just a box like this would probably sell for a lot of money.
However, the gift inside the box was what truly mattered.
A necklace.
..
With just a single glance, Nana was captivated by this necklace.
She was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened, her green eyes narrowing slightly in surprise, her bloodless lips parted involuntarily.
She gasped.
The moment she snapped out of it, Nana hurriedly took the Necklace out of the Box—she had wanted to pull it out directly, but fearing she might damage the Necklace, she could only take the treasure out as carefully as possible.
She stared at the Necklace under the Moonlight for several seconds. The Moonlight was cold and vast, offering no words, as if silently validating Nana's suspicions, causing the Girl's other hand to twitch involuntarily.
The next second, the Box in her hand suddenly fell to the ground.
She stared with wide eyes at Gin's receding figure, that unwavering black silhouette piercing through her vision so deeply that the girl could not care about anything else, she rushed forward in a single stride.
The high heels on her feet hindered Nana's speed, the little dress she wore also restricted her free running, however, at this moment, the girl could not care about anything else.
She only knew that she had to catch that person.
..
When she caught up to Gin, Nana was a mess.
At some point, one of the Green high heels had fallen off the Girl's foot. The sensation of her bare feet stepping on the Ground felt terrible; Nana's toes were rubbed red, but even worse—she had also sprained her ankle.
Waves of pain throbbed through her ankle, but Nana ignored the warning, even as it began to swell.
She limped after the person in front of her, but Gin completely ignored her intentions, walking forward on her own, leaving Nana feeling quite aggrieved.
I look like a total loser who has upset her girlfriend and is chasing after her, apologizing incessantly without being acknowledged.
As such a thought flashed through her mind, Nana pouted slightly, then couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
Better not think about so much for now.