Little Angels who provided Nutrient solution: Su Yuqing 5 bottles; Jinxiu Weiyang 1 bottle;
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 221 Chapter 202: Even if one stays on the path, one must eventually part..
By the way, what about you?
After a moment of silence, Amuro Tooru spoke again, a hint of seriousness coloring his eyes and brows.
Just leaving Japan?" the Blonde-haired youth [male] asked softly, as if afraid to disturb something. "Where will you go after that?
Gin blinked, a hint of interest rising in his eyes: "You guess?"
Europe?" The first choice landed on the correct answer, but Amuro Tooru did not seem to insist, continuing to make his guesses. "The Middle East? Or perhaps—
He drew out his voice: "You plan to go to the USA?"
No." Gin shook her head. "I don't plan to go to the USA.
He raised his eyes to look at Amuro Tooru: "I'm going to Italy."
The blonde-haired youth looked thoughtful.
Heine invited you.
—As expected of a detective with such sharp intuition, he had touched upon the truth in just a brief moment.
Gin praised him inwardly, but he did not actually voice the compliment, merely giving a slight nod. "I suppose so."
"Really.." the Blonde-haired youth muttered softly, his voice so low that even with Gin's hearing, he couldn't hear clearly what he was saying.
The Silver-haired man sent an inquiring look.
Amuro Tooru shook his head, indicating it was not important.
He paused, then continued asking.
What's next?" Amuro Tooru used a Tissue to wipe the Dirt off the Tabletop. "Do you have any Plan?
One of them drank his coffee as if nothing were wrong, while the other was lost in thought; for a moment, it truly felt like they were just chatting.
However, both Amuro Tooru and Gin understood one thing.
This meeting will likely serve as a farewell.
Not long after, Gin would be leaving Japan, in a while, Amuro Tooru would be heading to Hokkaido—perhaps he might even catch the last snow in Hokkaido.
And given their status and position, there seemed to be no need for any farewells.
So—
Using a public trip for personal business once.. it doesn't seem to be a bad idea.
“I'll probably stay in Italy for a while.” Gin thought for a moment before giving his reply. "However, I'm not sure how long I'll be staying."
The specific time would depend on how quickly Gin and Heine could take over the Italian family's influence. The matter was fraught with uncertainties; even though Gin had done his research, he could not guarantee that no mistakes would occur.
What about Akai Shuichi?
As if unwilling, when Amuro Tooru mentioned that name, his tone always carried a hint of grinding his teeth—which, for some reason, made Gin feel it was rather amusing.
“Akai Shuichi..” Gin repeated the name as well. The next second, he lifted his eyes to look at Amuro Tooru, a hint of amusement seemingly coloring his tone.
He stated solemnly, "As for this question, you'd better go ask him yourself."
“..”
The expression of the Blonde-haired youth turned strange in an instant.
How should I describe it?
Even if it's that kind of expression—distorted and trying to maintain composure after accidentally eating something inedible for a split second, like onion, chili, or Sichuan peppercorns or winter melon, yet being too embarrassed to spit it out.
Gin: ……
Is it really worth it?
Thinking back to those years, when every time I saw you all I felt like I was having a myocardial infarction, you didn't make an expression like this!
In that moment, even though he was roughly the same age as Akai and Amuro, Gin felt a sudden, inexplicable illusion of being a Father.
He conceded, "I am not exactly sure of the details, but—"
Will he also be going to Europe?
Using official business for personal gain.
That person sneered in evaluation.
Gin: ……
For a moment, he actually found himself speechless.
Whether he was acting out of self-interest or out of pure altruism, it seemed that no matter what Akai Shuichi did, Amuro Tooru found him quite disagreeable.
Speaking of which, Gin sometimes couldn't understand when the two of them had actually formed this grudge.
It seems it was back when it was Scotland, wasn't it?
Or perhaps.. even earlier?
But no matter when it was, Scotland's death had likely become an inextricable knot between Akai Shuichi and Amuro Tooru. Even though Amuro Tooru now clearly knows the Truth and no longer targets Akai Shuichi at every turn like he did in the Past, truth be told, the bickering between the two has never truly ceased.
Perhaps it is because, even if the knot has been untied, the grudge born from that knot still remains.
Gin let out a helpless sigh in his heart. She turned her head and looked out through the transparent glass window.
..
Gin suddenly remembered a past event.
At that time, Shiratori Midori had only just 'died,' and he was still a Cadre of the Black Organization; although he was valued by the Core members, he was, after all, still a growing seedling.
He was unsettled by Shiratori Midori's death, yet overjoyed by the possible hope brought by the System.
He saved Shiratori Midori's sister, looking at the little girl's pale face and her dark eyes.
He suddenly wondered, was his gaze.. just like Shiratori Nana's?
No.
Gin looked at that person in the mirror and answered his own question easily.
It was different.
For a period of time, he would inexplicably pay attention to the reactions of those on the verge of death during a Mission. For an Ordinary person, this was not an easy thing to do, but for an Assassin like Gin, there was always an abundance of specimens.
Some were weeping bitterly, some were acting with righteous indignation, some were trembling and unable to utter a single word, some were pale, struggling to keep themselves calm.
And some had eyes filled with nothing but deathly silence.
Gin's subordinates have taken countless lives.
The Deceased's behavior before death could also be described as diverse.
Gradually, Gin felt that he should have moved on—after all, after a period of time, he no longer observed the reactions of the Deceased before death.
But sometimes—especially in the dead of night—an indescribable sense of Loneliness always creeps in.
They were neither heavy nor light, quietly tapping against Gin's thoughts.
They would not affect Gin's life; as long as he calmed his mind or intended to do something else, they would dissipate—as if they had never appeared at all.
But..
They always appear.
They appear from time to time.
Gin was not bothered by this.
On the contrary, most of the time, he found it quite interesting.
Later, he encountered another person. In the beginning, he didn't pay too much attention to that person—even though the youth named Amuro Tooru had appeared in the Plot more than once, looking dashing and heroic.
But this had nothing to do with Gin.
There were plenty of formidable people, there were never a shortage of capable ones.. If that blonde-haired youth wanted to catch his eye, he would have to at least manage to survive first.
And then—
And then what happened?
Then, a man named Morofushi Hiromitsu, codename Scotland, died.
Gin saw certain different emotions in Amuro Tooru's greyish-purple eyes.
Intense, sorrowful, painful, broken, and—
Firm.
It was as if a fire was burning brightly within those greyish-purple eyes.
This look was different from how he used to look, different from how Nana used to look.
Gin thought that it turned out the look in everyone's eyes when they lose someone important to them is not all the same.
..
Is Tokyo.. lonely?
Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't.
Gin did not find the answer.
..
Tokyo is undoubtedly an international metropolis; not to mention the bustling crowds, the vehicles on the roads are never few. Fortunately, the Government has never been stingy with its funding for public transportation, which has helped avoid many potential traffic jams.
—Of course, Gin felt that the excessively expensive taxi fares were also an important reason why people chose buses and subways.
The windows were clean and bright, so the world outside the Cafe reflected into Gin's green eyes without any obstruction.
Their conversation began in the afternoon, as time slipped away silently through every syllable, it was suddenly Sunset.