“Zhenjun!” the Black-haired girl grit her teeth, her right hand slapping the sofa. “He was someone you introduced to me!”
Gin froze for a few seconds.
She managed to extract the relevant information from her brain, letting out a belated "Ah" as he finally realized who the person Nana mentioned actually was.
Nana's description was largely correct, because although Gin did not introduce Kinda Ichichi directly, he had indeed acted as the matchmaker for Nana.
But you couldn't really blame Gin for forgetting about it. Kinda Ichichi was truly far removed from her life.. Even though this detective solved many strange cases in his daily life, none of them had anything to do with Gin. Gin once thought that the only connection between them was the occasional mention by Takao Haruki when she had nothing better to do.
They aren't even from the same scene! (Struck out)
It's not that Gin doesn't remember the connection between Kinda Ichichi and Nana. However, a long time has passed, Nana's life has gradually become more conventional; (in Gin's heart) as a tool, it is also time for Kinda Ichichi to exit the stage.
Aside from her relationship with Takao Haruki, Gin's interest in Kinda Ichichi was not even as great as her interest in Kinda Kosuke.
So it was him," Gin said indifferently. "It's been so long since he appeared that I almost forgot his name.
Nana..
Fine, Zhenjun, you just don't remember people's names, haha.
Nana was practically speechless. She rubbed her aching temples and suddenly let out a sudden burst of laughter.
If I didn't know your temperament.." Nana said, both exasperated and amused. "I would have thought you were intentionally trying to make me happy.
After all, after such an interruption, she really couldn't maintain any worried mood.
The originally gloomy atmosphere was swept away, Nana finally showed a relaxed expression, her smile appearing much more vivid.
So Gin didn't pursue the previous misunderstanding.
“Explain what happened,” Gin said nonchalantly, tilting her head slightly. “First, drink the water.”
The hot water in her hands carried a warmth that could soothe exhaustion. Nana nodded, accepting Gin's rare moment of care.
She began to speak.
..
Strictly speaking, Kinda Ichichi had not found Gin.
The person he suspected was 【the person behind Nana】.
Considering the recent turbulence and the mysterious behavior Nana had been exhibiting from time to time, Kinda Ichichi's suspicions were not unreasonable.
This guy really is quite an amazing detective.
She did not ask Nana directly.. such a direct approach would have been too abrupt and very hurtful. In a sense, the very gentle Detective chose to use indirect questioning.
To Nana, anything regarding Gin and her Sister was her reverse scale, an existence that could subconsciously trigger her alertness. This was a conditioned reflex brought about by long-standing paranoia, regardless of whether she was being cautious at the time, regardless of the inquirer's identity.
Therefore, even though Kinda Ichichi's inquiry was perfectly natural, Nana still sensed it.
She felt a sudden sense of panic.
If she could calm down, she would realize that this matter was actually not worth worrying about. After all, Kinda Ichichi had no solid evidence, Gin was not someone who could be taken down so easily.
But she found it difficult to calm down.
It is difficult for a person to remain completely rational, especially when it comes to the things they care about.
Moreover, Nana is different from Midori, different from Sheila, even more different from Gin.
She was a Victim, an outsider, yet she was uniquely not someone who had stepped into the Dark—even if the Person beside her had countless connections to the Black Organization.
Even though she was smart and sharp enough, she would still panic when facing difficult problems that involved the person she cared about.
And Gin was the person she cared about.
She was even subconsciously on edge, thinking only of how to quickly deliver the message to Gin—simply because she did not dare to gamble on even the slightest possibility of an accident involving Gin.
And now, she had already calmed down.
Nana swallowed her last sip of water with a bitter smile and said gloomily, "Just consider it an unnecessary extra step.."
She curled her lips, feeling ashamed of her panic from a few minutes ago: "Zhenjun must be laughing at me for being stupid.."
Gin said honestly, "No." Then she added a finishing blow, "But you really were quite silly."
Nana: ………
“So—” ignoring the increasingly depressed expression of the person in front of her, the Silver-haired man stretched his voice, "Do you have any plans?"
Nana blinked her eyes.
The black-haired female detective cast a tentative glance at Gin, asking hesitantly, "Zhenjun.. are you asking for my opinion?"
Gin nodded. "Tell me what you think."
Since he had nothing better to do anyway, he might as well take this opportunity to give Nana some guidance.
Nana felt overwhelmed by the sudden favor. She paused for a moment, then raised the glass in her hand:
Another bottle!
..
After the "Win a prize upon opening" and "Buy one get one free (not really)" moments, Nana held the hot water in her hands and began to reflect.
She did not believe Gin's current actions were a probe; if Gin really wanted to test her, there would have been plenty of opportunities, there would be no need to use such an obvious method.
So.. he was asking for her true thoughts?
Nana gripped the glass in her hands.
To be fair, she and Kinda Ichichi had a good relationship.
When she was still a novice in the detective profession, this Senior taught her a great deal. If it were not for Kindaichi, Nani's detective career would have been much more treacherous. Of course, after she had grown, she also repaid the favor by working with Kindaichi to solve some difficult problems.
And Kinda Ichichi's childhood friend Nanase Miyuki was also a cheerful and kind girl.
Nana liked them very much, just as she liked everything beautiful, pretty, clean. She would not be stingy in offering them help; if these lovers encountered any difficulties, Nana would also lend a hand within her power.
She truly considers them friends.
However, if the other side of the scale were Gin, Nana would undoubtedly choose Gin without hesitation—this choice was only natural, there was no need to even ask why.
People have their own circles of closeness and distance; naturally, their attitudes toward different people vary.
This "difference" is not a conflict at all; it is simply human nature. Just as most people, at the moment a fire breaks out, would choose to save their own Family rather than a Stranger.
Nana is no saint; she is just one of the "majority of people."
The experiences of her youth did not change Nana's longing for the light and her goodness, but they did have a real impact on her. She would not easily reveal her secrets, in social interactions, she habitually protected and hid herself, unwilling to reveal her true feelings without restraint.. after all, she did not know if danger was lurking right beside him.
This might be somewhat cold, but it was also a matter of helplessness.
But these were choices made only when one had to choose one over the other.
Under normal circumstances.. as an adult, Nana expressed that she wanted both.
Ultimately, besides the main reason of not wanting Zhenjun to have an accident, the reason she rushed over to tell Gin about the matter was also because she might have intended to protect Kinda Ichichi.
Once Kinda Ichichi and Gin clash.. Nana privately feels that the former truly has no chance of winning.
Wouldn't it be better to just play it safe and clash with Takao Haruki? Why take on such a high difficulty by challenging someone from a different cast?!
Since that's the case..
“Shifting the blame??” Nana suggested a plan hesitantly.
It wasn't that she lacked confidence in herself; it was just that when facing Gin, Nana always felt a bit guilty.
Doubting that she had done well, doubting that she had done well enough.
“Have some confidence,” Gin said. “You are right.”
This encouragement gave Nana a boost of confidence. She analyzed, "The forces currently involved with Azhen are the I. CPO, FBI, Black Organization, Japanese Public Security, the Mafia?"
“Zhenjun is going to Italy later.. so it's best not to involve the Mafia." his Finger tapped the Sofa unconsciously. "As for Kindaichi-senpai.. Japanese Public Security is also out of the question.. Then—"
“If you don't want to create a rift with that boy in the future, the FBI is not a good choice.” Looking at Nana lost in thought, Gin gave a nonchalant reminder.
Nana suddenly understood.
That's right, she had no connection with the FBI, Gin had already left a shadow by her side many years ago. If Kinda Ichichi's attention was drawn to the FBI, it would be difficult to maintain the lie in the future.
In that case, I. CPO won't work either." Nana drew a parallel, "Even though Sister will go to I. CPO in the future, connections in this regard are not easy to reveal.. so that only leaves—
The black-haired girl's brow twitched: "So, are you saying we should pin the blame on the Black Organization after all?"
Gin remained silent.
For a moment, a thought occurred to him: was it not a bit improper to screw over his former employer like this?
But he had lost his conscience many years ago. Although he did not lack emotion toward the Organization, Gin, who was currently being hunted by the Organization, had no obsession about protecting the Black Organization's reputation.
She waited quietly for Nana's decision.
"Forget it, let's go with that one," Nana decided.
She expressed without any psychological burden, "The Black Organization has played me for so many years anyway, so it shouldn't be too much to pay them back in kind, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Nana clapped her hands together and answered her own question: "Of course it's not too much!"
Gin's lip twitched.
The Black-haired girl, who clearly hadn't noticed Gin's reaction, lifted her face, her smile becoming significantly more brilliant: "I will make the remaining arrangements myself, so don't worry, Azhen."
After all, she wasn't a burden either.
Regarding what Nana said, Gin did not raise any doubts. This girl gave him many surprises and made him willing to trust her.
However—
He teased with a half-smile, "You worked so hard to run all the way here, just for two cups of water?"
This.." Nana stuck out her tongue. "I just couldn't think of it right away, that's all.
Nana coughed awkwardly twice, promising, "I will definitely think more in the future, I'll remember to stay calm."
"Just like that?" Gin continued to stare at her.
“……”Understanding the unspoken meaning in Gin's words, Nana appeared somewhat hesitant: "But.. if it really involves Zhenjun, I'll definitely still be anxious! I can't guarantee I won't do it again next time."
This attitude of "sincerely admitting a mistake, but doing it again next time" was truly enough to leave one speechless.
However, Gin also knew that it wouldn't change overnight, so he simply changed the subject: "Kinda Ichichi.. what kind of person is she?"