Although Gin was in no rush, although the FBI were indeed law enforcement officers, although..
Well, even Akai Shuichi realized his own abnormal behavior.
After receiving several strange glances from Gin, considering that his nemesis and lover said nothing—in fact, both of them knew that Gin was simply too lazy to speak—Akai Shuichi forced himself to act as if nothing had happened.
However, while one can turn a deaf ear to subjective factors, physical objective factors cannot be ignored.
—They have arrived at their destination.
Considering security and confidentiality, Heine arranged for a private plane with several layovers along the way. The people accompanying them were family members arranged by Heine, acting as pilots for the time being. Although Gin himself could fly a plane, neither side would let him fly all the way to Italy.
This involved arrangements on the Mafia side. Even though Heine and Gin were not stingy about telling Akai Shuichi the specific time and location, due to a sense of propriety and social etiquette, Akai Shuichi, as an FBI Agent, should try his best not to meet with the Italian accompanying personnel.
Both Gin and Akai Shuichi were well aware of this.
If it's just seeing someone off at the airport, this is about as far as it goes.
But neither of them moved.
After the black-haired agent turned off the Chevrolet, his left hand remained on the steering wheel. He did not speak, so Gin did not speak either.
After a long while, just as Gin was finally losing patience with this game of musical chairs and reached out to open the car door, Akai Shuichi finally made a move—he reached out and pressed the other man's wrist.
Gin looked at him calmly.
Actually, I had originally planned to choose a more formal occasion.
"Akai Shuichi said.
The Black-haired agent's expression was also very calm, with a slight smile on his lips, as he handed over a small box with somewhat stiff movements.
Akai Agent, who usually appeared as calm as if victory were already in his grasp and even remained as tranquil as still water while aiming a sniper rifle, was acting somewhat stiffly.
Gin blinked, then lowered his gaze to glance at the small box in the other's hand.
Wow, he really didn't expect this.
Akai Shuichi opened the box with one hand, his fingers pressing against Gin's right hand to hold it steady. Seemingly relaxed yet actually tense, he lifted the ring inside the box to the space between the two men.
He said nothing, merely gazing silently at Gin, but Gin understood his meaning.
In fact, in a situation like this, few people would not understand.
In the near silence of their gaze, Gin spoke first.
Akai Shuichi was already waiting for him to speak, waiting for him to give an answer.
"When did you buy the ring?" Gin asked.
Everything was the exact opposite of an hour ago. An hour ago, Gin was waiting for Akai Shuichi's answer, only to be met with an unexpected question; just one hour later, Akai Shuichi was waiting for Gin's reply, only to be met with an entirely unrelated question.
The Black-haired agent lowered his eyes, his fingers lightly brushing the band of the ring in a subtle movement.
He seemed even more nervous. Gin thought almost playfully.
Akai Shuichi looked up again, after meeting Gin's gaze once more, his tension dissipated significantly, replaced by a slowly rising sense of calm.
It wasn't because Gin's gaze had any soothing effect; it was simply that after meeting the Silver-haired killer's gaze, Akai Shuichi suddenly realized: no matter what the outcome, nothing seemed likely to change—at worst, he'd just do it all over again.
After realizing this, although he still felt somewhat uneasy, his heart gradually settled down.
This morning," the Black-haired agent replied. "I suddenly felt that I should buy a ring.
The time to purchase the ring was rushed. He went straight to the shop to buy one that was in stock; although he did not care about the price when choosing and picked the style he considered the best, it was inevitably inferior compared to the custom-made green diamond ring Gin had received before.
However, his original intention was simply to buy a ring; the significance lay in the ring itself, not in what kind of ring it was.
So he opened the small box.
The black-haired agent had a smile on his lips, his eyes carrying a hint of arrogance; his strength was beyond doubt, his soul was firm and powerful.
Gin gazed silently at Akai Shuichi, just as Akai Shuichi gazed at him.
Quite the unspoken understanding, isn't it?
Akai Shuichi heard the ambiguous whisper from the person opposite him.
After a single sentence, the Silver-haired killer suddenly lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, then, the laughter grew increasingly audible.
Gin does not laugh often, even more rarely does he show such a relaxed smile, one that is simply out of pure enjoyment.
"You know what?" The silver-haired killer smiled, took something out of his coat pocket, placed his slightly closed hand near Akai's hand, opened his palm.
A couple of days ago, I thought the same way.
Those pale, powerful hands, calloused from handling guns, could snap a throat.
At this moment, a ring lay in his palm.
..
Akai Shuichi was rarely seen looking so blank.
Whoa—" A few seconds later, the black-haired agent laughed. "It's really not convenient inside the car.. Should I be dropping to one knee right now?
Save it," Gin said, sounding a bit disdainful, a bit picky, a bit helpless, a bit playful: "Next time.
—“By the way, change a ring."
-----------------------
Author's Note: (1) In the original work, Akai also smiles often when facing Gin. What happened to the cool guy? 233333
Chapter 248: Chapter 226: Wait Until You Grow Your Hair Out..
After exchanging rings, Gin hesitated for a few seconds, which was rare for him.
He watched Akai Shuichi put on the ring with such natural ease that he paused, unable to help but raise an eyebrow. "Are you serious? We're both left-handed."
Giving a ring is one thing, but putting it on directly is quite another.
Especially since the Black-haired agent is also a sniper.
—It's not that Gin is unskilled at sniping; in fact, his sniping skills are top-tier, his crosshairs have taken many lives. However, his primary role is not that of a sniper; his leadership and organizational abilities are more suited to his position within the Organization. Sniping is merely something he does occasionally as a guest role.
But for Akai Shuichi, considering the current atmosphere in Japan and the prospects of confronting the Black Organization, it was as plain as day that the Black-haired agent would frequently use that skill.
"Just take it off when you're on a mission." Akai Shuichi had already put on the ring and didn't feel that there was anything wrong with it.
He was always calm and confident, he had the capital to be so, so Gin didn't say much upon hearing that; after thinking for a moment, he also put on the ring.
A perfect fit.
They had never measured each other's finger circumference, but with keen observation, good memory, occasionally overly intimate contact, they managed to avoid any blunders when choosing rings.
Gin unconsciously moved his fingers, feeling a slight sense of discomfort.
The sense of restriction brought by the ring was subtle; one wouldn't feel anything at all without paying close attention. However, whether it was Gin or Akai, both were people in dangerous professions, any abnormality on one's hands was sometimes synonymous with risk.
The Silver-haired killer was contemplating whether or not to take off the ring when his hand was grasped by another person.
If it had been in the past, or if it had been someone else, they would never have touched him so easily, but now, facing the person before him, he seemed to have grown somewhat accustomed to it.
But being used to it didn't mean he wouldn't react; Gin threw a questioning gaze toward him.
"Since you've already put it on, you might as well not take it off," Akai Shuichi said. The black-haired agent even took the opportunity to hold Gin's hand to admire it, nodding with satisfaction.
Gin..
“Did Heine also give you a ring? (1)” The FBI Agent was undeterred, even stating it quite boldly: "Since you're wearing mine, don't wear his."
Gin: …………
He couldn't help but look at Akai Shuichi with suspicious eyes: "Are you serious?"
Whether he was being serious or not was hard to tell, but at the very least, the Agent's acting was flawless. It was so convincing that even Gin was somewhat speechless, replying for the time being, "That ring was just a welcome gift, he has given them to more than one person."
Although the rings given to others were not as expensive as his green diamond.
And he certainly wouldn't wear it—it had nothing to do with the ring Akai Shuichi gave him; he simply had no intention of wearing it in the first place.
But after being interrupted by Akai Shuichi, he had no intention of taking off the ring; just as the other man said, if anything, he would just take it off during the mission.
But going to Italy wearing it like this.. Heine and the others aren't blind; how could they not notice?
Thinking about the possible reaction of his new boss, Gin began to feel irritated, his mood plummeted.
However, could it be that "being seen by others" was the reason Akai Shuichi wanted him to wear the ring?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at the Black-haired agent again with suspicion.
Akai Shuichi:?
Forget it, it's nothing.
Gin thought tolerantly.
However, since he had granted the other party a request, Gin also intended to demand one in return.
He raised his hand, his left thumb pressing against the edge of his ring, turned his head to look at Akai Shuichi, saying in a businesslike tone, "Let your hair grow long."
It must be said that, compared to FBI agents, Rye of the Black Organization actually fits his aesthetic better.
Akai Shuichi again:?
He really didn't expect Gin's reaction to be like this, he was stunned for a moment.
There were certainly quite a few things today that had come as a surprise to him.
Akai Shuichi had a strange expression; he didn't think this request was particularly unreasonable, but he found Gin's proposal for such a deal truly interesting.
It was interesting enough to be almost cute.
Since there was nothing to lose either way, the black-haired agent nodded without hesitation, indicating his agreement.
Then, he began to push his luck.
"When will I see you again?" he asked.
If this sentence had been said when the two of them were not yet so intimate, it might have been suspected of being an attempt to fish for information, but as for now.. it couldn't be said to be entirely without such intent, but at least Akai Shuichi's original intention was not so.
Hard to say." Gin was sometimes quite candid; he didn't care much whether Akai Shuichi was trying to fish for information or not. "It depends on the situation in Italy, it also depends on Heine's situation.
Blood relations aren't necessarily reliable; at least Gin doesn't think they are.