The lights went out.
Hiromitsu Morofushi failed to react in time, his mouth agape. In the darkness, he saw Yamawashi's fist, which had slammed heavily against the light switch, drop down along the wall.
Yamawashi covered his face, his lips moving slightly as if he were saying something silently, but he couldn't read the lip movements.
Finally, he said, "Goodnight."
There was no response.
**
Early the next morning, Hiromitsu Morofushi and Yamawashi stepped onto their destination, Mermaid Island, one after the other.
This was not the first time Hiromitsu Morofushi had set foot on this island, but it was undoubtedly the most opportune time for him to do so, the moment closest to uncovering the truth of this island.
The two of them arrived relatively late. Before the boat docked, Hiromitsu Morofushi had already seen the familiar figures from afar. The entertainment options on the island were pitifully few, so people who were idle and full of doubts naturally wandered near the shore, waiting for someone with inside information to share some free intel.
In places where members of the Organization gather, Yamawashi's role becomes immediately apparent. The lingering intimidation from Yamawashi's recent outburst in the interrogation room had not yet dissipated, his aura forcibly halted several people in their tracks, sparing them the trouble of engaging in superficial pleasantries.
He and Yamawashi were lovers, but this was the Organization, few people here would think that a romance was a matter of two people falling sincerely in love with one another. Moreover, given the vast difference in status and seniority between Scotland and Yamawashi, their relationship looked more like a casual affair; thus, even walking one after the other would not arouse suspicion, but would instead make people feel that it was indeed just a sexual relationship, which seemed much more normal.
Everyone was arranged to stay in a Japanese-style courtyard, with each room separated by a certain distance and some screening to ensure privacy, though it wasn't strictly enforced; anyone with intent could still pry. Hiromitsu Morofushi was content with this arrangement; he had come here specifically to investigate which member of the Organization was capable of writing their name next to the Boss's. He needed to know for certain whether that person had been brought to justice, or if they would one day lead the Organization to rise from the ashes while on the run.
He had studied the list of people invited to the island from the Organization. There were some he did not "currently" know, but three years later, he would be able to match them one by one, none of them fit the description of that mysterious figure.
He pondered privately: Since his rebirth, many things had been rewritten, the butterfly effect was real; he wondered if that mysterious Organization member would still come to the island to write down their name this time..
"Who are you looking for?" the person in front suddenly turned around and asked.
Hiromitsu Morofushi pretended not to understand: "Hmm?"
“I told you, don't do anything.”
Yamawashi's expression was somber. He had been in this gloomy mood since he woke up this morning, but at first glance, he looked much like his usual calm self, except for the slight downturn at the corners of his mouth. Hiromitsu Morofushi didn't dare ask for details, fearing he might trigger a bad mood; after all, there were only the two of them in the room, since Yamawashi was in a bad mood, there wasn't anyone else present to shift the blame onto.
He tried to change the subject: "I was just.."
Yamawashi opened the door and looked at him expressionlessly: "This is my last warning to you. Whatever you are planning, if you dare to act in a way that is inconsistent with your identity as Scotland, don't even dream of stepping a single foot out of this room in the next few days."
Hiromitsu Morofushi: ".. I understand."
Those gray eyes still looked at him as if he were a dead man. Left with no choice, Hiromitsu Morofushi steeled himself and added, "I won't do anything."
He wouldn't do anything, he thought; he would only flip through the roster to find someone, to confirm exactly who the person named Aotsuki was.
However, he still underestimated Yamawashi's strictness regarding maintaining Scotland's image.
In the afternoon, as he prepared to wander around the island to see if any unfamiliar Organization members had appeared, he opened the door and was blocked by Yamawashi, who had appeared outside the door at some unknown time.
The gray-haired young man sitting on the veranda looked up at him. Even though he was being looked up to, he was the one feeling nervous. Hiromitsu Morofushi tried to make an excuse for himself: "The scenery here is quite nice, I'm just taking a casual stroll."
Yamawashi said, "That's right."
He didn't know exactly what she meant by "correct," but it seemed to be heading in a positive direction. Hiromitsu Morofushi didn't dwell on it and took a step back on the surface: "How about you come with me? I'll be able to feel at ease if you're there watching over me. I promised you that I wouldn't do anything I shouldn't."
A black dagger plunged unerringly into the ground by his feet with a sharp ring, causing Hiromitsu Morofushi's expression to stiffen slightly.
Yamawashi said only one thing: "Go back."
Chapter 20
Yamawashi was the kind of person who would not easily change a decision once made; having decided to die quietly all by herself, she could naturally follow through on her word and ensure he did not leave the room even a single step.
Hiromitsu Morofushi sat helplessly in the room for two days, during which he was precisely intercepted by Yamawashi thirteen times.
The two of them were acting like they were in a contest of wills; one was doing everything possible to find a way around the other, while the other held his ground, refusing to let even a single mosquito fly past him. Both knew in their hearts that the other had ulterior motives, but the specific purpose had become less important; the key was whether or not they could achieve their own goals.
Neither of them intended for the other's plan to fail; they simply didn't want to see their own plans ruined. But reality is often quite dramatic; even when not intentional, one side's success inevitably comes at the cost of the other's defeat.
“Why are you so unwilling to let me go out?” Hiromitsu Morofushi lay on the tatami mat, the side of his neck still aching from a sweep kick from Yamawashi. The moment he was sent flying, his vision went black as he headed straight for the corner of a solid wood table, but Yamawashi grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back, narrowly avoiding disaster.
He was indeed no match for Yamawashi in close combat. After his fourteenth failed attempt, Hiromitsu Morofushi stared at the ceiling and let out a long sigh, trying to steady his breathing. "No one else would suspect me besides you. Besides, if I can't use this identity as Scotland, I'll be even more anxious than you. Do you really trust me that little?"
Silence.
There was no response.
There were clearly two people in the room, although they had fought each other here not long ago, it was as silent as if he were the only one there.
Hiromitsu Morofushi turned his head toward the doorway. He couldn't tell exactly how long Yamawashi had been on guard, because no matter what time he acted, as soon as he opened his eyes, Yamawashi was always standing not far away, like a breathing statue.
Yamawashi was wearing a black kimono today, the clothes the courtyard had prepared for them. With eyes cast downward, Yamawashi carefully wiped a dagger, the swaying shadows of the trees falling upon his cheeks as he said indifferently, "What are you dissatisfied with? You are trying so hard to imitate Scotland; isn't this exactly what Scotland is going through?"
Hiromitsu Morofushi faltered for a moment, all his prepared words crushed to dust and scattered by the wind. Lying there, he gazed at that back, which appeared even more slender in the kimono, said, "I will get out, Yamawashi. Not just me, but one day Scotland will be released too.. perhaps then, you will have a new perspective on him."
That is a matter between him and me.
Have you ever considered that Scotland might be quite different from what you imagine?
“Stirring up trouble between him and me won't do you any good.”
Hiromitsu Morofushi sat up, rubbing his aching neck as he explained, "That's not what I meant."
Yamawashi suddenly turned around. The sunlight streaming in from outside blurred half of his profile. His expression remained as usual—not gentle, not cold, but a kind of absolute tranquility, as if he were indifferent to everything.
Hiromitsu Morofushi had suspected that Yamawashi was mixed-race; his facial features were well-defined and sharp, yet at the same time, they possessed an indescribable tranquility. When he wore a simple style of kimono, that elegance became even more apparent.
Yamawashi, France's oldest brandy, was once active in France during his time as a mercenary, he could indeed speak French. When traveling to France to investigate Yamawashi, listening to the descriptions from those mercenaries, he assessed the possibility of Yamawashi being of mixed Japanese and French descent more than once, but no one could say where Yamawashi came from.
One day, an unstoppable new face suddenly appeared in the circle. He looked to be in his early twenties at most, possessed rare gray irises, spent his days wandering alone, refusing to say a single word unless absolutely necessary, which led everyone to believe he couldn't speak French. At that time, in an attempt to recruit that Asian man, Arnaud learned every language of the Asian countries he knew—though, of course, his proficiency was limited to mere greetings. Despite his persistent questioning, it was still a long time before Yamawashi truly joined the Arnaud Squad.
When mentioning the events of those years, most of the mercenaries—whether they were veterans with deep experience or those who had already retired from the life—could only sigh with emotion. Whether it was Yamawashi or Arnaud, or even the once-famous Arnaud Squad, they had all become mere topics of conversation for the future. Aside from the individuals themselves, no one could say for certain what exactly had driven them to turn against one another.
Hiromitsu Morofushi straightened his back, his hands resting on his thighs, kneeling on the tatami mat just like Yamawashi.
They shared a room, separated by no more than two meters, gazing at each other face-to-face and speaking words to one another that could not be said to anyone else, yet they knew nothing about each other except for the ways to make the other feel frustrated and compromised.
Yamawashi knew nothing about the real Scotland, Scotland was no better toward Yamawashi; he did not know where Yamawashi came from, he did not know Yamawashi's age or name, he did not even know why Yamawashi was willing to die for him; he only saw the outcome.
Then what kind of outcome did Yamawashi see from Scotland that spurred such selfless devotion?
"How did you and Scotland meet? Did something special happen that day?" Hiromitsu Morofushi asked a question he already knew the answer to.
Or rather, he knew part of the answer. He only knew what happened during that mission from his own perspective, but in Yamawashi's eyes, their brief time together that day might have had another side.
We can make a deal." Hiromitsu Morofushi observed Yamawashi's reaction. "He only said you met during an ordinary mission and that nothing happened. If you tell me exactly what happened that day, I won't go out again before breakfast tomorrow.
He pointed to his eyes, unaware that his tone had become much more serious, "You haven't slept much these past two days, you've got dark circles under your eyes."
Yamawashi looked at him strangely, with a look in his eyes that was somewhat familiar. Yamawashi would sometimes suddenly look at him, whenever their eyes met, Yamawashi would reveal this subtle expression, though he couldn't quite put a meaning to it.
"Even for you, staying up like this can't be easy, there are many days ahead," Hiromitsu Morofushi said.
Yamawashi stared at him expressionlessly, Hiromitsu Morofushi rubbed his nose.
.. He didn't look like he was in any discomfort at all.
After two days of wits and courage against Yamawashi, he completely understood why Arnaud had been so obsessed with bringing Yamawashi into his own team back then. This guy was hardly human; his physical abilities, combat skills, mental strength, strategic planning were all top-tier. If it weren't for his overly prominent weaknesses, he would have certainly become an invincible foe in the struggle against the Organization.
As Yamawashi's weakness itself, Hiromitsu Morofushi gave an awkward smile, feeling that this deal likely wouldn't go through.
He almost forgot that the most common Yamawashi is the one who refuses to answer and remains silent.
“Get some sleep for a while; I won't go out.”
His marksmanship is beautiful.
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously, Hiromitsu Morofushi blinked in surprise as he turned his head.
The young man sitting by the door said, "So remember that."
Hiromitsu Morofushi had grown used to waiting a few extra seconds, only speaking once he was certain Yamawashi had truly finished speaking. "Is it because of this?"
Yamawashi had already turned his back and continued wiping the dagger.
The room fell into silence, a silence that lasted until the celebration two days later.
The Organization members who landed on the island gathered together according to the BOSS's instructions. After the ceremony concluded, they left their names in the register, praying for the mermaid's blessing of eternal life.
Hiromitsu Morofushi signed his pseudonym, but with so many eyes around, he pretended to accidentally knock the register off the table. As he leaned down to pick it up, he used his body as a shield to quickly flip through a certain page, which clearly read 【Aotsuki】!
That person was indeed on the island as well!
He put the register back in its original place and cast a discreet glance around the room, taking in all the various types of people present. Many members with codenames were gathered here, all of whom he could name, there were also some islanders and tourists; however, when mixed in with a group of desperate fugitives, they were not difficult to distinguish.
"Looking for Yamawashi? He went back," Rye said, walking over.
Hiromitsu Morofushi then realized that Yamawashi was not there either.
The two of them had not come together; they had received instructions from the BOSS at the same time, Yamawashi had left ahead of him after warning him not to do anything unnecessary.
Hiromitsu Morofushi suddenly realized, his gaze burning as he looked at the registry, where names continued to be added.
Two more names would be added to that register: one was his alias, the other belonged to Yamawashi; even just a single name from Yamawashi would be enough to obtain a lot of information.
.. I have to find a way to get my hands on that roster.
Rye responded casually while probing for information: "What have you been up to these past few days? I haven't seen you out and about. Are you and Yamawashi—"
Thanks. I'm heading back now, let's chat again next time.
Rye, standing alone and disheveled in the wind: "??"
When he returned to the courtyard, Yamawashi was still sitting on the veranda. Hiromitsu Morofushi's hurried footsteps suddenly slowed down, stopping midway.
There were no entertainment facilities here; only Yamawashi would insist on staying in the courtyard. Their room was the only one with the lights on, the warm yellow light leaked through the cracks in the door, falling across Yamawashi's back and blurring into a soft silhouette. He did nothing, the dagger resting on his lap, simply sitting there quietly and gazing at the dim courtyard like a lonely oil painting.
Hiromitsu Morofushi knew that Yamawashi must have discovered him long ago, but simply chose to ignore it; he, too, did not want to disturb that person, but many things often turn out contrary to one's wishes.
He approached slowly with very light footsteps and sat down on the veranda; from a distance, they looked like an intimate couple.
I'm going out tonight," he said. "Don't stop me; I must go this time.
Yamawashi glanced at him, gave no answer, returned to the room with the dagger.
Hiromitsu Morofushi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, when he opened them again, he had regained his composure.
He looked toward the courtyard ahead, where the light was dim and the shadows of the trees were dappled, leaving nothing to be heard but an indistinct rustling. He was already very familiar with this courtyard; during the days when Yamawashi forbade him from leaving, he could only look up at the trees or down at the moss, measuring the bluestone slabs and gravel with his footsteps many times. He could not be more familiar with this courtyard; even in the darkness, he could recall every single detail.
He sat there until late at night, as the distant lights faded into silence, the door behind him opened without warning.
The sound was extremely faint, just like the person who opened the door.
Hiromitsu Morofushi spun around abruptly, an alarm ringing in his heart.