He turned his gaze away, looking out at the gray, hazy city, as if he were looking at somewhere far, far away.
Even now, I still really want to know—when you kill someone who loves you, is the expression on their face ridiculous or pathetic?
Hiromitsu Morofushi's blood seemed to freeze in his veins, his gaze trembling, unable to speak, he could only shake his head once more.
Yamawashi laughed, a rare sight: "Are you afraid? Or are you worried? But what reason would I have not to continue helping you? Haven't I never refused your requests before? Being a bodyguard is a profession, being a mercenary is a profession, being an assassin is a profession, being a police officer is the same. Whether you are a police officer or not is not important to me, but, since you are a police officer.."
He said, "Then everything will be even more logical, Scotland."
-----------------------
Author's Note: When Yamawashi died, his goal was actually achieved; he saw the expression on Scotland's face, so he smiled.
Chapter 39
This was the first time Hiromitsu Morofushi truly brought Yamawashi into the sight of Public Security.
In the past, Yamawashi helped Public Security through practical actions, but his true purpose was to rescue Scotland; his assistance was a compromise made under duress, rather than an act of allegiance.
The image of Yamawashi actively cooperating in the eyes of Public Security was a lie beautified through his layers of deception; only from this moment forward could Yamawashi be considered truly willing to work for Public Security.
Hiromitsu Morofushi had deliberated for nearly half a month, it wasn't until the night before the secret meeting that he finally made up his mind, asking Yamawashi if she wanted to go together.
He explained the reasons for doing so and left room for refusal, but Yamawashi agreed easily and calmly, without the slightest hesitation, making those half a month of hesitation seem unnecessary.
Everything is just as Yamawashi said. When have I ever refused your request?
Hiromitsu Morofushi breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Yamawashi through the quilt.
To be able to lay down her weapons and go alone with him to Public Security's territory just to see Scotland, she could naturally also agree to his proposal without any reservations simply because he was Scotland.
Perhaps influenced by their last conversation, Hiromitsu Morofushi always felt that if nothing happened tomorrow, Yamawashi wouldn't care much, but if it were a trap, Yamawashi would actually be even happier.
His arm tightened unconsciously.
Daytime thoughts lead to nighttime dreams.
In the early hours of the morning, Hiromitsu Morofushi suddenly woke with a start.
His back was soaked in cold sweat. He pressed his hand against his forehead, gasping for breath, as the person beside him sat up as well.
He gazed into those calm gray eyes in the dim room, feeling so dazed that he couldn't tell if this was a dream or reality.
On the night Yamawashi committed suicide, he rushed onto the rooftop, looking across the night sky from a distance, Yamawashi suddenly gave him a smile.
In all the memories regarding Yamawashi, that was the first time Yamawashi smiled at him.
Later, while disguised and blending in with the ranks of French mercenaries, listening to those rumors and legends about Yamawashi, he could never help but wonder: what did that final smile from Yamawashi truly mean?
Because he saw him once before he died?
Because he successfully helped him?
Because..
The answer traveled through time, he never imagined that the truth was because it had seen his expression.
In a game of wits between an undercover agent and the Organization's top brass, no matter which side falls, suicide and homicide are essentially no different. Love, hate, life, death—what Yamawashi wanted from him was the expression on his face when he faced death.
Why would he be curious about such a thing?
Before they met, in those years before their lives had intersected, what kind of life had Yamawashi lived to become curious about such a thing?
Amidst heavy thoughts and the comfort of his lover, Hiromitsu Morofushi fell into a deep sleep.
..
Aotsuki woke up exceptionally early.
Scotland woke up startled the previous night, they closed their eyes together again, but he did not fall asleep again, lying motionless all night long.
Light sleep stems from the instinct for survival. The days when sleep was impossible had become distant long ago, buried along with Training Camp No. 57, but accepting the presence of a living person with clearly audible breathing nearby who remains completely motionless is still extremely challenging.
The ability to accept sleeping in the same room, or even in the same bed, mostly stems from not caring whether one will be killed by this person in their sleep.
The movement of getting out of bed was extremely careful, yet the other person on the bed was still woken up by the noise. Aotsuki turned his head apologetically, his gaze falling on his wrist, which was being held tightly; only then did he realize that Scotland hadn't actually woken up.
He sighed, restrainedly breaking free from that hand, before leaving the bedroom, he turned back for one last look before gently closing the door.
In less than ten minutes, an abrupt crashing sound came from the direction of the bedroom. Without even having time to set down the ceramic bowl in his hands, he hurried over to investigate, just as his gaze met the eyes of someone stumbling out of the bedroom.
Before he could even ask Scotland what happened, Scotland was the one who first showed a look of relief, as if saying, "I'm glad you're okay."
Putting the two of them together, Scotland still looked like he was the one with something on his mind.
He never pried into Scotland's private affairs; if Scotland didn't want to talk, he wouldn't ask. He nodded and went back to continue preparing breakfast.
The disguise techniques learned from Vermouth proved useful; after completing the disguises, they headed out together.
As a member of the Organization, he was going to attend a secret meeting belonging to the police.
It wasn't that he hadn't had contact with the police; people like them were quite common to him, but the last time he had acted alongside the police toward a common goal was ten years ago.
He fought side by side with the new colleague to escort the employer to safety from an ambush; to be precise, it should be said that the colleague was protecting the employer, while he was protecting both the employer and the colleague.
At that time, he did not know that the person was a police officer, but he had felt doubts due to the doubled workload. Upon hearing this, Training Camp No. 57 laughed loudly. As for whether this employer had known the truth all along, he had no way of knowing.
Passing through the winding secret passage, the view gradually opened up. Aotsuki narrowed his eyes; the lights overhead were somewhat dazzling, much like the spotlights aimed at suspects in an interrogation room.
Including them, there were only five people in total, one of whom was hiding in the shadows and had not yet revealed himself.
Scotland nodded toward the two of them and began the introduction: "This is Yamawashi."
The person opposite them nodded politely, their gaze carrying a hint of hesitation and vigilance, but beyond that, there was no further communication, they went straight to the main topic.
This meeting was held to discuss a high-ranking member of the Organization, whom Public Security has been investigating and pursuing, though progress has not been particularly optimistic.
He thought that he should have been allowed to participate in this kind of mission long ago; he didn't know all the high-ranking members of the Organization, but those people would certainly know him.
He thought that, whether as a member of the Organization or as an undercover police officer, his lover never knew how to properly utilize his power and status within the Organization.
Perhaps it was because his first mission after receiving his codename was to be carried out together with him, which led to the current misunderstanding that he wasn't particularly important within the Organization; rather than his status, Scotland's attention was focused more on his actual strength.
Unfortunately, the status he obtained within the Organization had nothing to do with his personal abilities from beginning to end.
He sat beside Scotland, listening quietly to the conversations; no one asked him any questions, no one made any demands of him.
His arrival was merely to demonstrate sincerity; this was the way out Scotland had long since prepared for him.
It turns out Public Security had already tracked down Kurumaru Soshi.
The registry of Mermaid Island—no wonder Scotland was so insistent on going out that day.
Finding the name doesn't prove anything; finding the person is the key.
Aotsuki.
Aotsuki raised his head a beat late.
This name has appeared twice next to Kurumaru Soshi..
There has never been any intelligence..
This person..
The surrounding voices of analysis suddenly became clear.
Speculations about Aotsuki's life, about Aotsuki's status in the Organization, about Aotsuki's relationship with Kurumaru Soshi..
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
With every wrong assumption proposed, more errors extended from every wrong line of thought, as if every single word and sentence were laughing at him:
Yavin, your life is a mistake.
Hiromitsu Morofushi caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye that the person beside him was slowly curling their lips into a smile.
Yamawashi?" Hiromitsu Morofushi said in a low voice, "Is there a problem?
Yamawashi hung his head, his expression unreadable, replied, "This is my first time attending a meeting like this."
Hiromitsu Morofushi felt an inexplicable moment of panic, but he suppressed the strange sensation in his heart and asked, ".. Hmm?"
What I mean is, thank you.
His assistant slowly raised his head, the shadows and bright light shifting between his eyebrows. The smile on his face seemed to overlap with that mysterious smile from the night on the rooftop, he said to him, "This is truly.. very interesting."
Chapter 40
On the way back, Yamawashi asked, "Have you been troubled by that person all this time?"
Public Security has been trying every possible way to investigate this name, but so far they haven't been able to link it to any member of the Organization, though this person seems to have connections to the Ino family.
Seeing Yamawashi lowering her eyes in thought, Hiromitsu Morofushi comforted her, "This isn't a problem that can be solved in the short term, so there's no need to rush. I only brought you here today because I wanted you to make an appearance; don't let it weigh on your mind.."
"I know that name," Yamawashi said.
Hiromitsu Morofushi barely reacted to the meaning of that sentence.
Aotsuki is the name of one of the BOSS candidates' subordinates.
Hiromitsu Morofushi immediately thought of Kurumaru Soshi.
If Aotsuki was a follower who existed even before Kurumaru Soshi became the Organization's boss, then it would be perfectly reasonable for him to have the special privilege of having his name engraved alongside the boss's.
Yamawashi seemed to be reminiscing about something, speaking very slowly: "He wasn't that formidable a character; by the time you find him, he might already be dead."
Hiromitsu Morofushi said, "Rather than seeing him dead, I want to bring him to justice."
Yamawashi had spent a considerable amount of time in the Organization, so it was normal for him to have heard some untold stories, but he had likely only heard rumors and didn't know much about them, so he didn't speak again.
As they approached the Safe House, Yamawashi suddenly spoke out of turn, saying, "When I left the Organization, it was to gain my freedom."
Hiromitsu Morofushi turned his head in surprise.
Yamawashi rarely mentioned his past.
He wondered what Yamawashi had gone through, he also wanted to be a listener who could allow Yamawashi to speak her heart out candidly, without interruption.
“At that time, I firmly believed that even if the outside world wouldn't be better, it would certainly be different.”