Chapter 15
Bourbon’s words were effective. They coexisted in the apartment for a few days, and Asuka Kazuya didn’t really bother him. Bourbon watched him go out early and return late every day with a swimming ring, his face radiating happiness.
Finally, one day, Bourbon couldn’t help but ask where he was learning to swim.
Asuka Kazuya casually said he was going to the swimming pool. He didn’t expect Bourbon to ask this, and while answering, he even showed off that he had recently progressed from breaststroke to backstroke and would soon learn freestyle.
Bourbon: “…”
So it really was literal swimming.
Bourbon: “Is that so? That’s amazing.”
Then Asuka Kazuya hummed a tune and went out again.
Bourbon wasn’t interested in the kind police officer who was teaching him useful skills, but this mission did give him a good excuse to act freely.
For example, in the past few days, whenever Vodka asked if he was free, Bourbon could refuse with the excuse, “Calvados said he’ll make me pay if I slack off.” Vodka not only had no objections but also replied sympathetically, “I understand,” subtly comforting him that there was hope if he persisted.
It seemed Vodka still didn’t know that Calvados had used his salary to purchase a one-hundred-year membership for a certain video website.
Thinking of this, Bourbon opened the inbox of his other phone.
Asuka Kazuya infiltrating the police department was a warning. Although he and Morofushi Hiromitsu, aka Scotch, were both from Public Security, one was in the National Police Agency, and the other was in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Since Gin had already taken action against the Metropolitan Police Department, he might have planted other moles besides Asuka.
Bourbon—or rather, Amuro Tooru—relayed this information back to Public Security, reminding them to retrieve Scotch’s file or add unlocking conditions other than the password.
[They said they appreciate the lead, but this matter still needs to be reported to the higher-ups. Many undercover officers are involved, and with the approval process and written materials, it will take at least half a month to implement.]
[We will continue to follow up on other matters. Superintendent Kuroda told you to be careful.]
Amuro Tooru deleted the reply.
Japan’s police system had undergone reforms in the last century. Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Shrine Agency, etc., were ostensibly abolished, they were actually just renamed.
He didn’t reveal to Asuka Kazuya that Scotch was also undercover, as mentioned before, Amuro Tooru didn’t completely trust him.
Revealing himself was a last resort after knowing that Asuka Kazuya was investigating him. Moreover, Asuka seemed to have been targeting him since he joined the organization, and Amuro Tooru was afraid that he would do something drastic to torment him.
In short, get along with that guy first.
Amuro Tooru thought blankly.
Although Asuka didn’t seem very reliable, his information network was indeed wider than his.
As his apparent “older brother,” Amuro Tooru turned his attention to Vodka, who had often been on missions with Asuka Kazuya.
“One hundred years! How many years can he even live?! Can’t he buy it himself?! Does he plan to make the membership a family heirloom?!”
Vodka, who had just received the deduction notification, was on the verge of a breakdown after answering Bourbon’s call.
However, he was still driving. Gin pressed his Beretta against his head, replying indifferently, “Shut up.”
Vodka shed tears.
Vodka felt wronged.
Vodka thought, as expected of Big Brother, even when his bank card was charged twenty million for a villa, he remained unfazed, unlike him, who wanted to die together with Kazuya after being charged four million.
Seeing that Vodka had calmed down, Gin withdrew his gun.
“What did Bourbon ask?”
“He asked what Kazuya’s hobbies are.” Vodka gripped the steering wheel, driving towards the mission location. “He’s probably about to be driven crazy by Kazuya, thinking of how to appease him and reduce the torment.”
What hobbies could Kazuya have? Besides annoying people, Vodka couldn’t think of anything, feeling it was a vicious cycle.
“But Chianti said Kazuya wants to find love recently. He asked Chianti to compile the members’ information when she was on a business trip and seemed very happy when he got it.”
Gin narrowed his eyes, recalling Calvados requesting access to the database a long time ago.
Misunderstanding Gin’s silence, Vodka glanced at him a few times while waiting for the red light, trying to salvage his image in Big Brother’s eyes.
“It’s okay, Big Brother,” Vodka said. “Kazuya is just trying something new, I believe he still loves you the most, Big Brother.”
Gin’s train of thought was interrupted, his face turning uglier than if he had eaten a fly upon hearing this.
He took a drag of his cigarette, his tone indifferent: “Your brain seems to be deteriorating recently. If you say that again, you’ll retake the training camp assessment.”
Vodka didn’t dare speak, feeling that Big Brother was indeed angry.
If Kazuya wanted to torment him, so be it. He hadn’t even called Big Brother after spending time with Bourbon recently. What was so good about that gloomy Bourbon, even asking others about his hobbies? Where could he find such a good man like Big Brother, who didn’t even pursue it after being scammed for tens of millions, outside the organization?
After the car stopped, Gin got out alone. Vodka stayed in the car as backup, as usual. He thought for a moment, then sent a highly misleading message to Bourbon.
He, Vodka, was Big Brother’s staunch supporter even if he was scolded!
He hid his achievements and fame!
[Kazuya likes cute things, he said looking at them improves his mood, why don’t you try it?]
Ten minutes ago, Amuro Tooru, after receiving Vodka’s reply, fell into deep thought.
He guessed that Vodka might be misleading him, but choosing the lesser of two evils, Amuro Tooru called his subordinate, and within half an hour, a truck full of stuffed animals was parked in front of their apartment.
While moving the things, Amuro Tooru ran into Miyano Akemi, who was just getting off work. She was surprised by his actions, then greeted him with a smile.
“Are those for your younger brother?”
“…Something like that.”
“Oh~” Miyano Akemi smiled. “That brings back memories. My sister also liked these when she was little. Just a reminder, children are at the teething stage now, it’s best to filter some things out.”
The child in your mouth is eighteen years old, he shouldn’t be stupid enough to put things in his mouth.
Amuro Tooru smiled: “Thank you.”
After a few more simple exchanges, the small talk ended with Miyano Akemi receiving a phone call.
Asuka Kazuya returned after his swimming lesson at 5 pm. Having accepted Hagiwara Kenji’s advice to get along well with his “family,” he unusually didn’t eat alone when passing by the curry shop, ordering a portion for his “hardworking Oniisan at home.”
He had even thought of what to say to make Bourbon thank him, but when he opened the apartment door, he saw a sea of fluff.
Asuka Kazuya was rarely speechless. But he took a step back, looked at the doorplate, walked in, walked out again, and was silent for a full half-minute before squeezing out a “Whoa.”
He didn’t expect Bourbon to have such a hobby.
Asuka Kazuya liked strange things. Perhaps because he was often dressed as a girl when he was young, he particularly resisted cute items. He hadn’t mentioned this to many people, after all, he didn’t hate fluffy things, he was still willing to keep pets like cats and dogs that could play with him.
Asuka Kazuya walked into the entrance, feeling itchy all over, uncomfortable everywhere.
“Bourbon?” he called. “Are you home?”
Bourbon, buried in toys, looked over.
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
Asuka Kazuya: “Should I pretend I didn’t see this?”
He carried the shopping bag, intending to sit on the sofa, but there were two teddy bears on the sofa. Asuka Kazuya paused, looking like he had been punished by Gin to stand in a corner.
“…”
Amuro Tooru was silent.
“It’s Amuro Tooru,” he corrected. “Vodka told me you like these.”
So it wasn’t Bourbon who liked them.
Asuka Kazuya breathed a sigh of relief: “That scared me, I thought we’d have to live like this from now on.”
Amuro Tooru raised his hand, catching the teddy bear he threw: “Are they that scary?”
“Not scary,” Asuka Kazuya said casually. “It’s just that these things remind me of a certain pervert who made me wear dresses.”
A military doctor, huh? He would report him once the war was over.
Unfortunately, the Special Abilities Division didn’t arrest that guy in the end. The last time Asuka Kazuya heard about him, he was still working as a doctor on the black market. He didn’t know if he was later captured by the Port Mafia to treat their old boss, and then beaten to death by that irritable old man.
Amuro Tooru: “…”
Amuro Tooru: Is that really a proper place?
“And why did you ask Vodka what I like?”
Asuka Kazuya asked, putting down his shopping bag.
“It’s nothing,” Amuro Tooru explained. “I just thought that we might have to live together for a long time, and it might be a slip-up if the landlord asks next time.”
Asuka Kazuya thought for a moment and was easily convinced.
After all, he didn’t know what Bourbon liked, and he wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable answer if someone pressed him.
“Alright,” he said. “I like playing games, and sphinxes, they look cool to ride—of course, I’m just thinking about it, I have an Egyptian colleague, he might scold me if I say that.”
“How much did these cost? Will Rum reimburse you?”
Amuro Tooru: “I can use other excuses.”
Amuro Tooru was as skilled at this as he was at his main job of investigation. As long as the mission was completed successfully, Rum usually wouldn’t pursue it.
Asuka Kazuya pondered.
“Then I’ll keep one,” he said, picking the smallest one from the pile.
“What about you, Popo-Tooru?” Asuka Kazuya asked. “What do you like?”
…You’re not just forgetting, you’re making things up!
Inexplicably given another nickname, Amuro Tooru couldn’t bring himself to smile. The reason he gave just now was made up. After careful consideration, he chose a compromise.
“Working out.”
“…Hmm.” Asuka Kazuya was quiet for a few seconds. “Your life is so boring.”
Amuro Tooru gave a strained smile: “Give me back the unicorn, don’t force yourself.”
“No.”
Unexpectedly, Asuka Kazuya refused quickly.
His long golden hair draped over his shoulders, his khaki trench coat blurring his outline. Amuro Tooru watched him put it in his pocket, where he usually kept his gun.
“This is the first time someone in the organization has given me a gift, Popo-Tooru, I’ll treasure it.”
Amuro Tooru suddenly couldn’t say what he had prepared.
“And I’ll give you a return gift too.”
Amuro Tooru had no expectations for this, guessing he would see a truckload of barbells in a few days.
“Thanks,” he said perfunctorily. “It would be even better if you didn’t call me Popo-Tooru.”
Asuka Kazuya refused: “I can only accept one gift at a time, we’ll talk about that next time.”
“Also, do you know what they do at the police academy? The two friends I know tried to persuade me to go back for retraining. If it’s fun, I might consider it.”
Amuro Tooru stopped his plan to get back at Vodka. He was skeptical of Asuka Kazuya’s popularity in the Metropolitan Police Department and wouldn’t let him go to the police academy and torment a group of students full of aspirations for justice.
So Amuro Tooru paused, joining Vodka in deceiving him: “It’s not fun at all, sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 3 am, the instructors there are even scarier than Gin.”
“I see.” Asuka Kazuya seemed to understand. “Then I’ll tell the executive officer to have those instructors train Gin.”
Amuro Tooru fell silent, watching Asuka Kazuya give him a grateful smile.
“I’m really sorry for targeting you before,” he said. “Popo-Tooru, you’re such a good person.”
