Listening to a girl who looked like a University student talk about her sister in a Cafe did not seem like something Akai Shuichi would do. Of course, this didn't mean he couldn't, it was just a matter of whether he wanted to do it or not.
However, Akai did not show even a hint of impatience; besides his naturally reserved and composed nature, it was also because Akai knew that Shiratori Midori would not waste his time with a bunch of nonsense.
.. Well, after all, their relationship had not yet reached that level of intimacy.
“Some of the women in Nana's friend list have mediocre rankings in ranked matches during the day, they even make some baffling mistakes when playing duo queues.” Shiratori Midori chuckled softly, her smile devoid of any contempt, possessing instead a sense of almost gentle teasing.
He thought such a life was very interesting, she also thought that a Girl who could live such a life.. was also very interesting.
Shiratori continued, "However, once night falls, their achievements become dazzling; their points and rankings rise rapidly, their playstyle leans towards offense." (1)
I have never encountered anything like this; after all, my high school life was quite monotonous." Shiratori Midori lifted her eyes, looking at Akai with a faint, enigmatic smile. "But I guess you probably understand what caused this phone call.
He blinked his eyes, his mood suddenly relaxed a little.
And I think you should also understand.. what I want to say?
Akai Shuichi nodded.
Talking to a smart person is so convenient.
"Do you need me to pay?" Akai Shuichi glanced at the two drinks on the table, which were practically just decorations, asked in a deep voice.
He already understood the purpose behind Shiratori Midori's specific invitation to meet him, so this conversation today should also come to an end.
It wasn't that Akai had any issue with Shiratori, but considering the inexplicable, awkward relationship between the two of them.. this was likely the Result Shiratori wanted.
As expected, Midori took the opportunity provided by Akai and began to climb down the ladder he offered: "Then I'll have to trouble you."
She tilted her head slightly and continued, "To thank you for your generosity—"
If Gin asks you any questions that are difficult to answer.. you can pin the blame on me.
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Author's Note: (1) Adapted from a relatively popular meme (phenomenon?)
Chapter 225 The Decameron: Heine Side Story (Part 2) Gin actually has..
Heine was actually a bit stunned when Gin knocked out a certain handsome-looking high school student with a club.
Earlier, the Silver-haired man had suddenly suggested going on a Roller Coaster. Although this idea was a bit strange, Heine decided to just assume that Gin had a youthful heart and wanted to experience the fun of a Roller Coaster.
As for what Gin said—that it was to better observe others from a high vantage point and to facilitate a Transaction?
Stop joking.. no matter how you look at it, that reason is so strange!
And big brother, if you don't want to attract others' attention.. instead of choosing to hold a transaction in a crowded Amusement Park, you should change this outfit of yours!
Do you have any idea how much you look like you want an extra □□?!
.. Okay, you were anyway.
But just how much of an obsession do you have with this outfit of yours..
If Gin could hear Heine's inner monologue, he would probably tell Heine that this isn't his obsession, but rather comes from the Original Author's perfunctoriness.
If it were just Gin's sudden whim to go on a Roller Coaster, it wouldn't be a big deal. However, the following Plot took a sudden turn, completely catching Heine off guard.
.. A murder case had occurred.
The arrival of the Police did not make Heine feel flustered; if anything, it was the sudden murder case that left him feeling slightly surprised.
The blonde-haired man glanced at Gin beside him, a murmur rising in his heart; that man had his hands in his pockets, looking completely composed.
.. It was hard to tell whether he had expected this or if his psychological state was simply too strong.
Facing Heine's calculating gaze, Gin looked back without changing his expression, his demeanor remaining cold and indifferent, showing no signs of change.
This wasn't because Heine was suspicious, but purely because Gin's behavior was somewhat unusual, the excuse he gave was purely perfunctory.. It truly made one unable not to feel doubt.
What happened afterward told Heine that Not was not the most abnormal; there was only more abnormal.
Although Heine had long ago noticed the high school student tailing them, seeing Gin acting so composed, as if he hadn't noticed anything at all, he silently swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and remained silent.
He even began to wonder.. was there something more to this mission? Or had he simply failed to check the calendar before leaving? Speaking of which, when Sheila returned to Z Country last time, he brought a calendar.. should he hang it on the wall just in case?
However—
What kind of move is this?!
He stared fixedly at the Silver-haired man for a long time. Under the light of the night, the latter's cold face revealed a sense of detachment, her pale lips curled into a smile that seemed more like a mockery than a smile.
The dim yellow light shone upon Gin's face, strands of light dancing upon his eyelashes, Gin blinked his eyes.
He casually twirled the baton in his hands.
I didn't kill him, did I?
It seemed like a question, but it sounded more like a statement.
Heine glanced at Gin with suspicion, then nodded. "I suppose so."
He didn't quite understand Gin's unusual behavior at this moment.
Logically, the moment he discovered someone was following him, Gin should have been prepared.. or at the very least, he would have already struck with a lethal blow, rather than giving this half-hearted tap and going through the redundant effort of expressing "concern"?
If Gin hadn't performed normally in other aspects, he would have almost suspected that this guy had been replaced by an impostor.
But this did not stop Heine from saying the next words: "Do you need me to do it?"
When he said those words, Heine's expression was calm, he even looked somewhat eager to try. Killing a person or two was nothing in his eyes; instead, Gin's current strangeness made him feel even more excited.
The Silver-haired man raised an eyebrow.
He looked at the half-dead high schooler collapsed on the ground with interest, then suddenly spoke, "No need."
Doesn't the Black Organization have a newly developed poison?" Gin turned his head toward Heine, his baton hanging loosely as he pointed it toward the ground. "Force him to drink a bottle of it.
He paused, then added, "The one that is still in the experimental stage."
Heine thought for three seconds before finally realizing..
Isn't this APTX4869?!
He suddenly raised his eyes, staring straight at Gin, attempting to discern any unusual expression on that person's face.
However, Gin remained as immovable as a mountain, showing not the slightest hint of a joke.
This caused Heine to swallow back the words "Are you joking? This joke is a bit cold.." that were already on the tip of his tongue.
"Okay," Heine said helplessly.
After thinking for a long time, he finally lost to his trust in Gin—and of course, partly because he couldn't win against him—Heine responded by taking out APTX4869.
Gin decisively poured the solution down the throat of the High schooler on the ground.. This simple and brutal action caused some of the doubts in Heine's heart to fade away.
He did not doubt whether Gin wanted to spare that youth's life.
Firstly, although he knew that APTX4869 was not merely a poison, he was even more aware that the potency of this semi-finished product was now almost indistinguishable from that of a poison; secondly.. Gin was not a man of soft-heartedness.
Gin is not a killer by nature, but that is only because he pursues efficiency more than anything else, not because he dares not to kill.
"Let's go." The Silver-haired man's fingertips lowered, a drop of liquid slid down his slender fingers, dripping onto the ground and spreading into a dark circle on the ground.
His voice startled Heine from his contemplation, the latter said little, merely nodding in response.
Dim yellow Light shone obliquely upon the two of them, casting very long shadows on the Ground, as the Angle shifted, the proportions of the shadows changed constantly.
Flickering and indistinct.
It was as if the desolation of the dark night had suddenly increased by several degrees.
The two of them gradually walked away, their shadows slowly stretching forward.
Kudo Shinichi, left behind and whose fate remained unknown..
After finishing work, everyone naturally returned to their respective homes.
Heine didn't mind acting as Gin's driver, but Gin had already called Vodka before that. Thus, he was happy to take it easy and simply drove the car home ahead of schedule.
The moonlight was beautiful, the car's low beam made the road even clearer. He silently turned the steering wheel, driving through one crossroads after another.
Then he stopped the car.
Heine raised his eyes, gazing from afar toward his home.
The sky was black, the Villa was naturally black as well. It was shrouded in Night, exuding a silent tranquility.
However, it was not entirely black; in the darkness, a glimmer lit up upstairs, shimmering in the night.
Heine's heart.. suddenly settled.
He thought of Sheila's strange expression when he saw APTX4869, the vague speculations that had been lingering in his mind lately; he thought of the many intricate and inexplicable events from the past, that man far away in Italy; he thought of the faint yet real emotions within his heart, what Gin had said to him on the Roller Coaster..
He thought of many things.
Then, he saw the door open.
Sheila walked out from behind the door and smiled at him.
In an instant, it was as if he had returned to a long time ago, when he held the Little girl's hand, walking towards the school step by step.
This is probably.. what the feeling of home is like.
..
Sixth Story
Heine was unwilling to have much contact with his father.
This was clearly a piece of nonsense that required no further elaboration. After all, if he could endure the control of his Father, he wouldn't have had to go through the great trouble of leaving Italy and crossing the ocean.
But compared to the youth who had previously never faced any storms, Heine now understood better how to act.. At least, verbal reluctance in his heart was meaningless; what had always been effective was taking decisive action.
At that time, Heine, who was already somewhat well-known in □□, made a resolute decision to join an organization after thinking it over for several days.
Although he was somewhat displeased by this, it wasn't something he couldn't endure.. After all, to put it in corporate terms, it was merely changing his mode of operation from "freelancing" to "applying for a full-time job."
As for the choice of organization.. there is a certain art to that.
First of all, the organization must possess sufficient power—at the very least, it cannot be weak.
First of all, being weak means a lot of trouble.. She plans to change her work mode, but he doesn't want to choose a "Company" that is at risk of going bankrupt.