Chapter 13
“No, wait, what’s going on?” Just back from a business trip to Northern Europe, Tequila hadn’t even changed his clothes when he was startled by the aggressive Chianti.
She looked scary. The last time Chianti was this angry was when some clueless kid drew an Ultraman on her car.
“Don’t even think about it,” Vodka looked away, a hint of weariness in his voice. “Big Brother transferred Chianti abroad precisely because she always spoiled Kazuya.”
“That kid Kazuya stirs up trouble every few days, Tequila, you know that too, right?”
Because of Asuka Kazuya’s instigation, Tequila’s partner still believed Tequila would shoot him in the back, so he always stuck to the walls during missions and reported to Rum before every departure, saying that if he died, it would definitely be related to his partner, Tequila.
How could Tequila endure this? Of course, he couldn’t. The boldest thing he had ever done to Calvados was to replace his compressed biscuits with ghost pepper flavored ones. Admittedly, it was satisfying to see Calvados cry from the spiciness, but Tequila still couldn’t escape the fate of tripping over his own feet during missions and rolling all the way to the police station the next day.
With Tequila’s precedent, everyone in the organization adopted a “if I can’t beat him, I’ll avoid him” attitude towards Calvados, applauding whatever he did on the surface, only cursing him behind his back.
Thinking of this, Tequila couldn’t help but ask:
“Actually, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a long time.”
“Vodka, why doesn’t Calvados retaliate against you? How have you survived under him until now?”
…
What was that supposed to mean?! He hadn’t done anything, why would Kazuya retaliate against him?—
Besides, although Kazuya might indeed get promoted, they were still at the same rank now, right?! How could they assume he had become Kazuya’s subordinate?!
“Ahem.” Vodka coughed, pretending to be profound in front of Tequila. “Of course, it’s because my relationship with Kazuya is special. After so many years together, his attitude towards me is naturally different.”
Tequila: “…”
Tequila: “Really? Does Calvados know that you just snitched on him to Gin?”
Vodka: “If you put it that way… Tequila, how much will it take to shut you up?”
Just a few minutes ago, as soon as Tequila arrived at the base, he heard Vodka reporting to Gin that Calvados had used Gin’s card to treat someone to dinner. Gin seemed indifferent, initially not even looking up, just replying casually, “Let him be.”
Then Vodka, not giving up, added: “Chianti said Kazuya used your money, Big Brother, to treat the police to dinner.”
“…”
Vodka: “Rounding it up, wouldn’t that mean you treated the police to dinner, Big Brother? That’s too much! If we really pursue this, Rum might think you’re on the police’s side, Big Brother!”
Tequila thought this made sense, but Gin didn’t scold Calvados, instead telling Vodka to shut up darkly.
Maybe he should pay out of his own pocket to install those ability nullification devices in every base.
Although it was a bit expensive, and he might have to work for the organization for another three to four years for free, Tequila’s desire for revenge against Calvados had surpassed his desire for money. The mere thought of teaching Calvados a lesson made him so happy he couldn’t sleep for three days.
“The Whiskeys aren’t here.” Seeing Tequila immersed in his own world, Vodka looked at Chianti. “Chianti, what do you want with them?”
Chianti snorted: “Partners should trust each other. I hate people who play with feelings the most.”
Vodka: “…”
Vodka: “How come Kazuya’s imagined dating partner has changed again after just a few hours?”
Rum said that before Big Brother came to Japan, Kazuya tormented Bingo, and after Big Brother came, he tormented Big Brother. He didn’t know if Bingo had developed Stockholm Syndrome, but despite being freed from Kazuya’s psychological attacks, he became hostile towards Big Brother.
“Playing with feelings?”
Hearing his name, Bourbon, who shouldn’t have been at the base, leaned against the corner. Seeing them all look at him in shock, he raised an eyebrow nonchalantly.
“Calvados, tell me, isn’t it you who has always hated me, playing with my feelings?”
…
When did he come out? Wasn’t he supposed to be on a mission?
Asuka Kazuya silently stopped Chianti. Since he hadn’t received a reply from the executive officer, his attitude towards Bourbon was a bit subtle.
“That was a misunderstanding,” he replied. “Vermouth taught me a lesson, I won’t torment you anymore, okay?”
“Oh.” Bourbon said casually. “So you’re admitting you hated me before.”
“…So what?”
“Nothing. It’s just that I don’t think I ever said I hated you, so it’s you who played with my feelings.”
Asuka Kazuya’s CPU overloaded.
Where did Bourbon go for training these past few days? How come he suddenly couldn’t argue with him?
“Don’t change the subject.” Unable to refute, Asuka Kazuya retorted. “How did you bypass the surveillance and enter the base?”
“That’s basic for an intelligence officer.”
Bourbon didn’t bother explaining, just straightening up, his crossed arms loosening.
“And Gin seems to think you’ll mess up the next mission because of personal feelings, so he specifically asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Miyano Akemi.
Bourbon had no objections. After all, Miyano Akemi was Elena Miyano’s daughter. Although she probably didn’t remember him, this mission had a lot of room for maneuver, much better than Gin asking him to kill her directly.
As for Calvados…
After the Matsumoto Yamato incident, Bourbon specifically went back to Public Security.
Although there was indeed no information about Calvados in Public Security’s database, and his investigation was inexplicably terminated after being discovered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs—it was precisely because of this that Bourbon became suspicious of Asuka Kazuya’s identity.
An ability user, very young, there were only a few secret agencies directly under the government, and very few of them could intervene in Public Security operations.
After some thought, Bourbon came to the conclusion that “Calvados is probably also an undercover agent.”
Then the remaining question was how to get along with Calvados.
Before obtaining concrete evidence, Bourbon couldn’t reveal his identity, but his previous antagonism was based on the assumption that Calvados was a criminal. Coupled with Matsumoto’s words before his death, “I was able to live this long thanks to Kazuya,” Bourbon could more or less guess why Calvados tormented everyone in the organization equally.
“Fine,” unaware of Bourbon’s thoughts, Asuka Kazuya narrowed his eyes. “Then if things go wrong, it’s also your fault, I’m not taking the blame for you.”
“It’s okay,” Bourbon replied quickly.
He went along with his words, even smiling at Chianti.
“After all, we’re in a mutually deceiving, broken-up relationship, Calvados. It’s only natural that you won’t take the blame for me.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
After many years, Vodka once again saw something resembling exasperation on Asuka Kazuya’s face.
His green eyes didn’t blink, his thick eyelashes casting small shadows on his irises. Calvados’s facial muscles tensed, seemingly grinding his teeth in anger.
So sometimes looks were important in their line of work, like Kazuya, even when he was angry, he wasn’t intimidating at all.
As long as he wasn’t retaliated against, Bourbon found teasing him quite amusing.
“Tell Gin I’m not coming back for dinner tonight.”
“Kazuya,” Vodka interrupted him quietly. “Big Brother never waits for you for dinner anyway.”
“…” Asuka Kazuya gritted his teeth and stormed out.
Vodka guessed he was probably going to kick Bourbon’s car a few times before going to find Miyano Akemi. However, Bourbon remained unhurried, even exchanging a few words with Chianti as he walked past her.
He didn’t know what they talked about, but Chianti’s attitude seemed to have improved considerably.
“Insidious and cunning. I knew no good would come from someone Vermouth brought in.”
Asuka Kazuya sat in the passenger seat of the Mazda. As soon as Bourbon opened the driver’s door, he heard him mutter this.
Bourbon fastened his seatbelt: “I’m just telling the truth.”
“But Scotch said you were taken away by the police? I thought you’d be clamoring for Gin to pick you up.”
“I smell a conspiracy.”
Asuka Kazuya said faintly, sliding down in his seat a little.
“Is the next conversation going to be like this? If I answer that you guessed correctly, you’ll call me childish. If I answer no, you’ll insinuate that I don’t care about Big Brother.”
Bourbon: “It seems you’re still thinking clearly.”
Asuka Kazuya didn’t speak.
He looked exceptionally well-behaved when quiet, his delicate profile illuminated by the changing neon lights.
Just when Bourbon thought he wouldn’t talk for a while, Asuka Kazuya suddenly spoke after the car passed through the tunnel.
“Bourbon,” his voice was cold, “you’re not a cop, are you?”
…
Bourbon subconsciously hit the brakes.
He turned to look at the young man beside him, not answering the question directly: “Even if you’re angry, you don’t have to slander me like this.”
Asuka Kazuya was expressionless: “Only cops are so good at sowing discord, especially those from Public Security. That’s the experience I’ve gained these past few years.”
“Is that so?” Bourbon chuckled. “Which department are you from then?”
Asuka Kazuya pursed his lips, looking down at the information the executive officer had just sent him.
[Just as you guessed]
[Bourbon’s real name is Amuro Tooru, graduated top of his class from the police academy, he was secretly recruited into Public Security after graduation, and is a colleague of Matsumoto from the same department.]
Asuka Kazuya deleted the message.
“Not telling you.”
As he spoke, he slid down a bit further in his seat.
Damn it.
Asuka Kazuya thought.
Couldn’t they have sent it later? He had been planning to use his ability to make Bourbon drive into the sea.
Bullying criminals was upholding justice, bullying colleagues would earn him a disappointed look from Ango-senpai.
Asuka Kazuya pulled a long face, pulling down the hood of his hoodie to cover his eyes.
Bourbon observed for a moment.
“Calvados,” he said, “you should know that even if you cover your eyes like Scotch, it’s not very intimidating.”
“…”
Asuka Kazuya’s hand paused.
He seemed embarrassed at having his thoughts exposed. Bourbon watched him slowly turn around, completely facing away from him.
“I’m still angry.”
In the quiet night, Bourbon heard him muttering.
“Evil Bourbon, don’t talk to me.”
