A statement regarding Past.
So Amuro Tooru set down the wine glass in his hand and turned his head to gaze at him, his greyish-purple eyes carrying an unreadable light.
“Is that so..”
This, too, was not a question.
In comparison, this sounded more like an affirmation, carrying a hint of curiosity and benevolent inquiry, as if it were a quiet yet encouraging, "And then?"
Gin's gaze drifted into mid-air, landing silently upon a certain point in the void; at this moment, a subtle olive sheen seemed to shimmer within his cold green eyes.
She pursed her lips in a faint smile and said indifferently, "It was probably.. several years ago."
"At that time, Heine and I.. could be considered peers—I mean, in terms of ranking within the Black Organization." The Silver-haired man lowered his eyes, raised his hand to bring the wine glass to his lips, took a sip of the colorless liquor from the glass.
Back then.. was it a case of youthful arrogance?" He tilted his head slightly, his silver hair scattering slightly with the movement, his tone somewhat uncertain. "In the spare moments between missions, he would also come here to drink and relax.
A faint, gentle smile escaped Gin's lips: "We used to have a few drinking contests back then."
Amuro Tooru looked at Gin, who seemed immersed in his memories, his own lips curled up slightly.
"Who won?" he asked softly.
The blonde-haired youth did not speak loudly; amidst the clamorous background noise, his voice was exceptionally soft—just loud enough for that person opposite to hear.
As if unwilling to disturb a shallow, old dream.
“Me.” Gin turned his head toward Amuro Tooru, his olive-green eyes no longer possessing their usual coldness. Under the light, his expression even carried a hint of warmth.
Gin let out a low, deep, mellow chuckle from his throat, much like the rich Gin in his glass: "I always win."
This wasn't really something to be proud of, Gin was long past the age of taking pride in such things.
—Even when he was still a youth, he rarely felt pride over such things.
However, perhaps it was because this scene and these circumstances allowed one to invisibly escape from all sorts of heavy Pressure, or perhaps it was because he felt something while reminiscing about the past—
She actually repeated what he had just said once more, with a childish sense of near-arrogance:
I always win.
Under the light, Gin's green eyes seemed to be filled with starlight, reflecting directly in Amuro Tooru's eyes.
After a pause, the Blonde-haired youth still asked a question.. that he shouldn't have asked.
And what about him?
The question came just as abruptly, Amuro Tooru did not even bother to name "him."
However, the blonde-haired youth knew that Gin would understand who he was referring to.
Gin cast a slow glance, with not a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
Obviously, he understood the implication of the words spoken by the person opposite; however, when he looked at Amuro Tooru, he used a gaze that held no doubt and no displeasure, merely a pure, steady stare, gazing at Amuro Tooru.
A few seconds later, Gin let out a light chuckle. He raised his hand and tapped the tabletop lightly with his index finger, then said in a voice identical to his previous narration, "He always sits aside and watches."
Sometimes she orders a cocktail for herself, sometimes she drinks a glass of Lemon water.
"Occasionally, Vermouth would come over too," Gin added after a pause.
These are memories sealed away for many years. Back then, they had certainly been stained by blood and slaughter, they had certainly abandoned what seemed like useless conscience, they had certainly drifted further and further away on the path of the Underworld—
Yet, it was not as if they hadn't had years of unrestrained youth.
It was just..
This was, after all, a scene that had been sealed away for a long time.
..
Back then, that girl would sit to one side, ordering a glass of Lemon water and watching them, frowning slightly after they had drunk too much liquor, though she rarely stopped them. He would only occasionally offer a reminder to the Youths when they lost their sense of propriety, would also arrange for a reliable person to take them home.
And that girl had disappeared into Time ten years ago, leaving behind only a coldness that slept without waking.
Cavendish, who used to have a smile on his lips and was mocked by Heine as a 'smiling tiger,' remains an important member of the Black Organization; undoubtedly, from here on out, they will only be at odds.
Even that tiny, pitiful shred of "friendship" had long since been abandoned by them.
Vermouth seemed as usual, Time was exceptionally lenient toward this woman; her glamorous appearance was like a rose that never withers. As an insider, Gin naturally understood how much Vermouth loathed this "gift."
His words and actions remained as mysterious as ever, as if she were shrouded in an impenetrable veil. From time to time, she would still approach Gin, a faint smile playing on her lips, her warm breath brushing against his cheek.
Kiehl's Original Musk perfume lingered around her wrist, the scent of musk and ink faint and elusive, as if everything had never changed.
But Gin had a vague feeling that, in the end, she had changed after all.
However, Gin was not surprised by this.
As for himself, hasn't he also.. changed, more or less?
In the past, he would never have even thought about believing in some inexplicable System, would never have cared about Nana if she didn't align with his values, would certainly never have even considered the betrayal of the Black Organization.
Heine.. perhaps the one who has changed the least?
That man was as flirtatious and uninhibited as ever, as reckless and unrestrained as ever, as fond of "seeking death" before him as ever..
However, has he not changed at all?
Gin still remembered the expression he had when he saw the Fantasia Cocktail placed before him at that time.
Heine's blue eyes carried an indescribable, obscure meaning. He stared at that brown cocktail for a long time, then turned his head to look at him, appearing as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Heine's expression had caused Gin a great deal of confusion for a long time, but in the end, he did not investigate it.
After a long time, this youth, who at that time still seemed flippant, curled his lips into a smile and said, "Thank you."
Born in late October, Heine is a Scorpio, the Fantasia Cocktail is a cocktail specifically designed for the Scorpio zodiac sign.
Has he not changed in the slightest?
It is not.
It's not.. really.
It's just that Heine rarely shows it.
Memories of the past rolled in, for a moment, Gin's heart was filled with a complex mixture of emotions, making it almost impossible to describe exactly what they felt like.
It was just—
The Past is just the Past.
He had always seen things clearly.
..
After leaving the Bar, Gin and Amuro Tooru walked side by side along the quiet path.
It was already late at night, a bright moon hung silently in the pitch-black sky, noiselessly casting its Moonlight, which belonged solely to the dark night, upon the world.
"You should go back." After walking a few steps together, Gin came to a halt under a tree and said to Amuro Tooru beside him.
His voice was very calm, but his tone was very certain.
Amuro Tooru slightly raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at the seemingly composed Gin and spoke in a tone that sounded relaxed and casual: "Are you trying to get rid of me so soon?"
However, Gin did not give him a result.
He put his hands in his pockets, the hem of his black trench coat was lightly stirred by the evening breeze, rising into a beautiful curve.
"You should go back," Gin repeated, his tone not changing in the slightest.
His words directly interrupted the words Amuro Tooru had used to try and ease the atmosphere, a momentary standoff fell between the two.
They stared at each other. After a long silence, Gin spoke again, "If you stay any longer, you'll be in trouble."
The Night wind was a bit too cold, as it blew against their faces, it brought an extra chill.
You actually.." He paused, a slightly helpless bitter smile rising on Amuro Tooru's face. He continued, his voice even slightly low: "You actually don't need to say it out loud.
Gin has already defected from the Black Organization, while he remains a Black Organization undercover for the Japanese Public Security.
If he stays any longer, he's going to be in trouble..
Gin's words were indeed correct.
But, did Amuro Tooru not know?
Of course he knows.
It was just that occasionally, within reasonable limits and when it made no difference to stay for another minute or two, he wanted to play dumb.. that was all.
It was just that he chose not to say it out loud.
..
Gin looked at Amuro Tooru silently. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint, elusive smile in his green eyes. "Let's head back.."
"Besides—" the Silver-haired man drawled.
Moonlight shone upon him, draping him in a thin layer of silver gauze. The man's silver hair seemed to merge with the moonlight, blending into a unique, cold elegance.
Gin spoke slowly, his voice carrying through the evening breeze as he added, "It's not like we won't meet again."
After all, even though he had already defected, he had no plan to leave Japan for the time being.
Under this premise, even if the two of them would have different focuses after parting ways today, it was not as if they would not have the chance to meet again.
Amuro Tooru blinked his eyes.
She slowly curled her lips into a faint smile, then said softly, "Indeed, but—"
The blonde-haired youth also imitated Gin's mannerism by drawing out his tone, his greyish-purple eyes brimming with smiles: "But, I certainly don't want to take on a mission to hunt you down."
Just think about it, Gin's defection would inevitably cause a massive uproar within the Black Organization; perhaps, he could take advantage of the situation to push things forward?
However, Gin's position within the Black Organization could be described as "unshakeable." Judging by the importance the Black Organization places on Gin, once he defects, the person in charge of hunting him down will certainly be no ordinary person.
Thinking about it carefully.. someone like Rum would probably take over.
Tsk..
Thinking about it like this, it really is a bit unpleasant.
To be fair, it was one thing to have an Akai Shuichi who claimed to be his Nemesis, but why did it have to involve something like assassination..