The unconscious Vermouth was casually tossed onto the bed by Gin. The woman's face was almost peaceful while she was 'sleeping,' her golden hair scattered across the white bedsheets, her fair skin contrasting beautifully with the white pillow, her vivid lip color adding a touch of brilliance.
However, that brilliance failed to enter the eyes of the two people in the room.
After a long silence—
Shiratori Midori laughed softly.
She knew that person's preferences, knew that person's personality, knew that person's coldness and ruthlessness, knew that person's worldview that differed from the rest of the world, also knew that person's weaknesses.
In the eyes of Shiratori Midori, Gin was not a perfect person.
But without a doubt, he is the man she cannot let go of.
The person he could never let go of, even until the moment of Death.
But at the same time, she also knew that she was not a perfect person either.
She has many virtues, enough to make her an extremely outstanding person and enough to allow her to hold her own in the treacherous Dark World; however, she also has various weaknesses, such as the moment her mental state collapsed in the past, which was caused by her own character weakness.
Since she was not a perfect person, why bother forcing others to like her?
The Brown-haired girl thought so, tilting her head slightly. She casually rested the handgun beside her on her lap; her finger moved slightly before quickly returning to a state of calm.
A trace of a smile, incredibly light and thin, appeared in her eyes.
“I know.”
She spoke softly, her expression calm, as the wateriness in her green eyes transformed into a pool of shattered tenderness before vanishing without a trace.
“You don't know,” Gin shook her head in denial.
Silver-haired man walks forward [male], looking at his Old friend [unknown]. His Green eyes are clear and bright, with a silent solemnity in his expression, however his gaze was faint.
Faint and gentle.
He gazed at her, as if looking at a distant dream.
You are very good.
Gin heard herself say that.
Midori's shoulder twitched slightly.
Her pale lips moved slightly.
The girl seemed to want to say something, but she didn't know how to say it, so those emotions that were difficult to express in words ultimately turned into a sigh.
You are very good.
This was the evaluation given by the Silver-haired man, who had become sufficiently mature and steady more than ten years later, it was also what that immature youth had said to his friend many years ago.
—Or perhaps, they were once more than just friends.
But that is all in the Past, it has already become nothing more than a memory.
“You are wonderful, truly wonderful,” Gin said seriously, word by word. “But I cannot be with you.”
He pressed down hard on Shiratori Midori's shoulder, ignoring the girl's tears streaming from her eyes and her trembling body, forcing her to stare into his eyes.
Looking at what?
What did you find?
Perhaps, more than ten years ago, at that noisy Masquerade of the Black Organization, amidst the whispering of everyone, from the very moment their eyes met, she saw him.
Perhaps, more than ten years ago, in that brilliantly lit Bar, amidst the vast crowds, from the very moment he walked toward her, Shiratori Midori saw only him.
Or perhaps even earlier, the girl's trembling hands comforted Gin, who had been forced into making a decision, as she struggled to smile and say, "You don't need to feel burdened either. After all, the decision you made was your own; it just so happens to be the same as mine."
Her green eyes were bright, as if they were burning with fire.
So dazzling.. that light seems as if it will consume life itself.
Gin remembered this scene for many years.
Today, he slowly revealed the Truth.
You place too much importance on me.
..
It was too important.
Perhaps Gin did not understand it back then, but many years later, as she recalled every little detail of Time, pieced together the truth of the past from those wandering years, experienced all the loves and hates of the world, Gin gradually understood.
He understood the ugliness of Love.
Ti Nesi Menya Reka, Mrs. Shimabukuro, who committed murder in a Russian Restaurant, the Waiter, who, knowing it was a dead end, was still willing to take the blame for his lover, screaming at the top of his lungs, "It was me, I did everything!"
Even though he clearly knew she did not love him, she still wanted to fight to the death.
At that time, Gin thought that Love was not a good thing, it was also far too much trouble.
He understood what kinship was.
Even after many years of not seeing each other, even though they had become strangers, even though they did not share the same parents, Heine was still able to recognize this Sister the moment he saw Sheila.
Does Heine not know that Sheila is putting himself in danger? Does he not know that if Sheila makes one mistake, he will fall into eternal ruin? Does he not know that once the truth is revealed, even he will lose his life?
He knew it all.
However, even so, Heine still chose to protect Sheila.
No matter how many times he repeats it, no matter how many years they are apart, his choice will never change.
However, Heine didn't lose out much.
Because for Sheila, he was also an existence worth protecting even at the cost of his life.
At that time, Gin thought that this would probably be something that could be exploited.
He understood what faith was.
Scotland's gentle smile carried a determination that would never retreat. He walked step by step toward an end of life and death, step by step sliding into an abyss of no return, but from beginning to end, he never once regretted it.
He faced death with composure.
Gin knew that the man named Morofushi Hiromitsu might not have been acting for the Government or the Public Security he had joined, but he was certainly acting for the ethereal yet tangible concept of Justice.
Is it important? It probably isn't.
But someone, who clearly should have sneered at it, had ultimately changed his strategy because of it.
He understood what it meant to be soft-hearted.
A clear palm print was visible on Nana's fair skin, her pale little face bruised and discolored, looking like a steamed bun that had been ruined. She pursed her pale lips and looked at Gin, attempting to force a smile, but her face contorted the moment her muscles moved.
Niwang Yaji's gaze toward her was very warm, Gin thought.
The hearing aid in Nana's ear is very cold, Gin thought, really cold.
And then what?
Then, in the Hotel, the two women engaged in a heated dispute. For the sake of so-called 'Love', Chikamoto Chieko could harm a completely Innocent woman, ultimately even sacrificed her own life.
The obscurity and sadness of the Seven Deadly Sins begin here.
And then, there was the tragic life of Byrrh.
She hated her "husband," and she hated the two children who should never have been born.
She hated them, she hated everything in the world; it was empty and devoid of any interest.
However, in the end, when faced with the tender cries of a young child in critical condition, faced with the moment an innocent yet not-so-innocent child stood on the line between life and death, she finally softened.
The moment she resumed her research on 'Silver Bullet' was likely the countdown to the end of her life.
She did not lack opportunities.
She could have chosen to return to the Black Organization, she could have chosen to hand over her Child, or she could have chosen to live a good life.
But in the end, she did not do so.
I am probably the person who hates you most in this world; I wish you were dead.
But.. little brat, don't die.. so soon.
And then?
Then, there were Nana's cries through the rainy night.
She gripped the hem of Gin's coat tightly, looking up just as she did back then, but her face was filled with heavy, grieving despair.
Gin saw the words she wanted to say but could not bring herself to utter.
Can you please not die?
Can you please not leave me all alone?
Can you please just stay alive?
And—
Brother.
And then, there was the entanglement of love and hate between Brandy and Madra.
Even if she was in pain and despair, even if his heart was covered in wounds, she still listened to Brandy.
After personally killing her most important person, did she feel that life was no longer worth living?
Perhaps.
Otherwise, why else would they have chosen to commit suicide?
Is there anything else?
There is.
Akai Shuichi pulled him desperately toward the sea surface; his eyelashes, soaked by sea water, were beaded with water drops, as the sunlight fell upon the water drops, it refracted a light like scattered stars.
Less than half an hour later, the person who had just risked their life to save him delivered a heavy punch to her.
Before this, Gin had seen the words written in the book by this Black-haired FBI agent, but she never imagined that he would really follow her into the sea, regardless of the consequences.
Akai Shuichi had told him he loved him, more than once.
Does Gin believe it?