Pure white snowflakes drifted gently downward. Ritsu spread open his palm, trying to catch them, only to discover that the snow melted the instant it touched the warmth of his skin.
"I'm certain now that Rye is my older brother."
Rei froze slightly. After processing the information, he shifted his gaze toward the distant horizon and asked, "So what are you planning to do? Are you going to tell him the truth?"
"I don't think that would be appropriate."
Even though he now knew Akai was his brother, Ritsu still didn't dare say it aloud. His identity had been fabricated by the National Police Agency; if he revealed the truth to Akai, it would be far too easy for flaws in his identity to surface.
More importantly, he still didn't know what kind of mindset Akai had when entering the Organization. If Akai truly stood on the opposite side from him, then one day, he might personally send him to prison.
When it came to the greater good, he wouldn't hesitate to place justice above family ties. After all, he was a police officer. Arresting criminals and putting them behind bars was his duty.
Rei showed that he understood. Without saying anything further, he lightly clinked his beer can against Ritsu's and smiled.
"Then let nature take its course."
"Yeah. With identities like ours, we can't afford to take risks without absolute certainty about the outcome."
Ritsu took a small sip of beer, picked up a salted grilled chicken skewer from the convenience store bag, and looked at Rei.
"Once this mission's over, make me some fish and chips."
"How are you so obsessed with junk food that has zero nutritional value?" Rei said helplessly. Simple fast food like that gave him absolutely no chance to show off his real cooking skills.
"Junk food tends to be popular with young people."
Without changing expression, Ritsu subtly stepped aside and sighed dramatically. "Ah… looks like Bourbon's already entered middle age ahead of schedule."
"You brat, if you bring up age again, I'm gonna punch you!" Rei laughed as he raised his fist threateningly.
"Then start by paying me back for my phone."
"Cough… can't we just stop talking about the phone?"
Rei genuinely didn't have enough money on hand to buy a new phone. Ever since joining the Organization, he had divided his income into two portions. One for daily living expenses and car maintenance, and the other anonymously sent to the orphanage where he had spent much of his childhood.
So he really was broke.
"I know you've been supporting that orphanage all this time. If you're short on money, just tell me." Ritsu proudly patted his pocket, making it very clear that he had plenty of cash.
Rei noticed that the tip of Ritsu's nose had already turned red from the cold. Looking at the thin clothes under his coat, he said, "Let's head back to the car. You can still see the sunrise from the parking lot."
"Sure."
The moment the words left his mouth, a mechanical electronic voice came through the earpiece.
It was Curacao.
"Macallan, can you hear me?"
Ritsu shot Rei a look telling him to stay quiet. Raising a hand, he turned on the microphone and replied,
"I can hear you. What are your instructions?"
"Head to the abandoned warehouse at Pier Four in Minato Ward. I'll be waiting for you there. Move quickly, and you must come alone."
"Understood. I'll head over immediately." Ritsu turned off the microphone and shoved the unfinished beer into Rei's hands.
"I'll leave this to you to throw away. Looks like the mission's starting."
"Want me to drive you there?"
"No. Curacao specifically said I'm the only one going. It'd be bad if they saw you."
"Alright. Be careful."
Rei stuffed the trash into a plastic bag he had prepared earlier. He looked up at Ritsu's figure running westward and, for some reason, a strange sense of unease rose in his chest.
Like the phone that had fallen into Tokyo Bay, was it some kind of omen?
After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately chose to follow after Ritsu. As long as he maintained a safe tracking distance, he probably wouldn't be discovered.
...
Inside the abandoned warehouse at Pier Four in Minato Ward, Akai leaned against a load-bearing pillar. His gaze drifted outside, and when he noticed the snow slowly falling from the sky, he unconsciously frowned.
Snow again?
Every time it snowed, that piercing sound would ring in his ears.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he closed his eyes and recalled the conversation he'd had with Akemi the previous evening.
Beside the fountain in the park, Akemi had just gotten off work from the bank. After hearing what Akai said, surprise appeared on her face as she turned to him and asked,
"FBI? You, Dai-kun?"
Akai withdrew his gaze from the fountain and looked at Akemi with complete seriousness. "Yes. Tomorrow, I'm going to settle things once and for all."
In the end, he had fallen for her.
The reason he told her everything the day before the mission was because he hoped she would accept the FBI's Witness Protection Program.
Akemi forced the corners of her lips upward into a smile, trying to make herself appear less upset, but the worried curve of her brows had already betrayed her true feelings.
"You idiot. If you're going to lie…"
Turning her back to him, unwilling to become his burden, she desperately tried to force the tears back into her eyes as her trembling voice continued,
"If you're going to lie… at least do it better. That wasn't scary at all."
After spending three years together, how could Akai possibly not understand Akemi's personality?
Irritation rose in his chest again.
It was always like this.
Every time she cried, she refused to let him see it.
His expression darkened as he stepped forward in two quick strides and grabbed her shoulders. It was one of the rare times he initiated physical contact himself.
Usually, whether they were shopping together or relaxing at the apartment, she would be the one to wrap herself around his arm, rest her head against his chest, or gently dry his long hair after he showered.
She was always so gentle.
Always trusted him completely.
Always—
There had been far too much compromise and understanding from her side in this relationship.
Bitterness surfaced in Akai's eyes. Whether the plan succeeded or failed, it felt like he would never again experience the love she had given him.
So even he… could feel reluctant to let go?
"You already knew, didn't you?" When he said those words, his voice was calmer than he expected.
He reached out and touched the pulse at her neck, feeling the steady beat beneath his fingertips as he repeated,
"You already knew I was an undercover agent from some organization, didn't you?"
"…I didn't."
Seeing Akemi trying to avoid his gaze again, Akai forcibly made her look him in the eyes. His expression was no longer as calm as before; this rare display of panic was unlike him.
"You knew everything. Since you knew, why didn't you stay away from me? I've been using you this entire time!"
"Do you really have to make me say it?"
As long as he didn't say it aloud… As long as she kept pretending not to know… then he wasn't an FBI investigator.
He wasn't an undercover agent infiltrating the Organization.
He wasn't using her—
He was simply her boyfriend.
Her Dai-kun.
'If you don't say it, then I won't know.'
'Can't you just let me continue drowning in this false paradise of tenderness?'
"…"
Leaning against the load-bearing pillar, Akai suddenly felt the urge to smoke a cigarette to ease the frustration weighing on his chest. Lowering his gaze, he checked the time on his watch.
There were less than three minutes left before the time he had arranged with Gin.
Thinking about how Akemi had refused witness protection yesterday, he curled his lips into a self-mocking smile.
Precisely because it was her, she had refused. Because there was no way she would abandon her younger sister and leave alone.
Unlike him…
In order to achieve his goals, he could harden his heart and abandon everything. In the end, they were people walking completely different paths.
He couldn't force her to become someone like him, could he?
At last, the silent warehouse echoed with approaching footsteps. He opened his eyes and straightened up.
Had the prey he had painstakingly pursued finally arrived?