Now, he probably believes it.
Is there more?
There are many more.
The bright smile Amuro Tooru gave him when he looked at him, the atmosphere that made one unconsciously relax during their bickering;
Miyano Akemi's gaze softened, he let out a deep sigh as he looked at his wound.
Shimabukuro Kimie was almost submissive, following orders blindly, yet he uncharacteristically pleaded with Takao Haruki to take care of him; Takao led him on journeys to far-off places, although there was an element of watching the drama unfold, he truly did hope that he could live a more relaxed life.
Heine and Sheila's several instances of helping, although it was a cooperation, however, the sincerity within it could not be hidden;
From Italy to the UK, from Europe to Asia, Borse followed him with undivided devotion, working back-to-back without a single word of complaint.
..
So many, so many emotions; so many, so many feelings.
Some were bright, some were dark, some were beautiful, some were ugly; some were as pure and flawless as the brilliant cherry blossoms just budding on a branch in Spring, while others were as twisted and foul as the stinking seaweed tangled together in the tide.
Gin does not necessarily possess them, but he does indeed understand them.
It turned out that, without him even realizing it, he was no longer a man alone.
But in the very beginning, the Youth in the rain, disheveled and wretched; the Youth who was taciturn, cold, arrogant; the Youth who trembled while holding the corpse of the dying girl in the Punishment Room—
What does he have?
His girl died, before she passed, she planted a seed in his heart with her own life.
More than ten years have passed, that Seed has finally blossomed.
And Gin finally understood the Shiratori Midori of that time.
..
You place too much importance on me," Gin said. "That isn't good.
Shiratori Midori tilted her head back and smiled softly, "Not good for whom?"
In someone's green eyes, there was a faint, lingering sorrow.
Not good for you.
Not good for you.
After all these years, I have finally come to understand you as you were back then, I can finally lead this Emotion to its conclusion.
It was not a satisfying ending, but without a doubt, it was the most appropriate one.
For a long time, to Shiratori Midori, the existence of Gin was like a faith.
She cared for him, valued him, relied on him, defended him, loved him.
The child who was forced to join the Black Organization in his youth, the girl who once felt out of place among her classmates and family, the girl who could not speak of her suffering to those beside her—
For a long time, the person who fit her best was Gin.
Shiratori Midori accompanied Gin for many, many years.
And was not Gin also the only light in the young girl's life?
But Gin told her, "Your life is no longer what it used to be."
You no longer have to carry any burdens, no longer have to live in constant fear while committing crimes, no longer have to tremble with anxiety over whether the people beside you are safe, no longer have to do things you do not want to do.
You can cry, you can laugh, you can break down, you can lean on others.
But—
"Midori." Gin's voice overlapped with the youth from Shiratori Midori's memories, echoing softly in her ear.
The Silver-haired man reached out his hand and brushed the stray hair from the girl's ear: "You should go see different scenery."
You should go see different scenery, go see other people.
In your eyes, I shouldn't be the only one.
This is not good.
—It's not good for you.
Many years ago, Shiratori had already sensed that her mindset was not right.
She was by no means a weak person; it was simply certain mental illnesses that were beyond her control.
Midori also tried to adjust, but in the end, it ended in failure.
Before leaving, she wanted to help Gin.
Help this best friend.
I will give you everything I can give you.
"You will not be afraid to try and connect with the emotions of others, because you know that no matter what, I am here, my feelings will always be with you. Because you have something to rely on, you won't have to worry about having nothing, so you will try to feel things outside of the 'circle'." (1)
Regardless of what happens, she hopes Gin can live a happy and joyful life—even if she is no longer in this world.
Her love was too heavy; it was not just Love, but also friendship and family affection.
It was too pure, too heavy.
But it was just right for Gin at that time.
He wants to help his youth, even if she is to walk toward death.
And now, Gin also wants to help her.
..
To me, you are a very important person.
And that is precisely why I cannot be with you.
They were once Companions who supported each other all the way, a bond for one another, the people they trusted most.
For them, Love perhaps had long since ceased to be such an important matter.
“Even if it is not Love, you are still a very important person to me,” Gin said slowly.
So, you should also go and see other things—instead of only looking at me.
He gazed deeply, so deeply at the girl before him, as if he were about to touch his soul: "I will not abandon you."
Don't be afraid.
I will not abandon you.
So, do not be afraid.
—This was her promise, it was something he would definitely fulfill.
So, do not be afraid.
Go meet more people, make more friends, let go of the knots that once weighed on your heart, live a carefree life in this vast World.
Do the things you wanted me to do back then.
Many years ago, you held my hand and said in a complaining tone that I should make more friends.
Many years later, it was I who asked you to let go of that overly painful past.
We are still friends, still people who value each other deeply.
But we will also have lives of our own.
This is what I want to say to you; I know that you can definitely do it.
..
Can she?
Shiratori Midori asked herself in her heart.
It can't be, can it?
She had kept that person in her heart for so long, from before her death to after. For Shiratori Midori, her name seemed to have been inextricably linked with Gin, a relentless connection that would never end.
Is it possible?
It can, right?
For Shiratori Midori, what Gin represented was never just Love.
They relied on each other, grew together, trusted one another.
Now, it is a matter of saving one another.
Just as Gin said, even if they are no longer by each other's side, they will not abandon one another. If the other were to encounter any hardship or pain, would they simply stand by and do nothing?
So, there is no need to worry.
They are still each other's emotional backbone.
The bond of having grown up side by side had not ceased to exist; rather, it was being maintained in another form.
So, is it possible?
It should be possible.
As long as he still kept her in her heart, as long as she remained one of her most important people, as long as the name Shiratori Midori still held a place in Gin's life.
So, even if they cannot become lovers, it is not an unacceptable thing.
The brown-haired girl blinked her eyes and let out a long breath.
I will go and try.
Shiratori Midori unconsciously reached out to touch her Necklace, feeling the nearly cold, yet still brilliant Green diamond.
In a daze, she seemed to have returned to many years ago, back to that bloody and gloomy Interrogation room.
She looked at the Silver-haired man before her, her expression dazed and her mind clouded.
Shiratori Midori raised her hand and brushed it against Gin's pale cheek.
"Back then, did I tell you—" she said softly, her voice halting and her words stumbling, making her speech almost unintelligible.