Chapter 340
This is the first time I've ever seen vodka cry, even though I've known him for so long.
After ruling out the possibility of Gin's death, Usui Saiki circled around Vodka, then, nestled on Vodka Sweatman's back, stroked his chin: "You wouldn't happen to... have your idol's career collapsed, would you?"
Vodka was shocked. How did Usoppei Saiki know he was a fan of celebrities?!
But then he thought, this is Usui Saiki, the one who recognized Akai Shuichi as an FBI agent on their first meeting... So it's alright.
The fact that they only brought this up now, without mentioning it in front of the other codename members, is already showing them a lot of respect.
Perhaps he had been manipulated too much, because Vodka actually felt a sense of gratitude towards Usui Saiki.
Having just learned of his idol's scandal, he was in a vulnerable state and had no mood to argue with Usakabe Saiki. So, after opening and closing his mouth a few times, he resigned himself to his fate: "...Yes."
"Sigh, it's okay. It's normal for celebrities to have their stories fall apart when they're fans," Bo Yezhaiji comforted him. "Even your idol might have his story fall apart!"
Vodka's conditioned reflex: "My brother can't possibly be an undercover agent!"
Bo Yezaki shrugged: "You still have the energy to speak up for Gin? I think you're not that into this idol. Why don't you use your energy for supporting Gin instead? You don't think he'll fall from grace, do you?"
Vodka didn't want to talk anymore.
Expecting Usakabe Saiki to comfort people is just plain stupid.
All he wants now is to go back to his little nest, hug the merchandise of his idol that hasn't collapsed, and have a good cry.
But before that...
"Did you just take a picture of me without my permission?" Vodka asked suspiciously. "Delete it right now!"
Bo Yezaki raised an eyebrow: "Then what price are you willing to pay?"
Vodka: "...What do you want?"
"Where do you usually live? I don't mean one of those spacious, safe houses, but a place where you can relax and feel at home," Usakabe asked curiously. "You know where I live, but I don't know where you live. Is this how you treat a friend? I'm going to make a scene."
Vodka was extremely unwilling: "How about you change the terms? My home is a bit far away..."
“Vodka, there’s something you might not know,” Bo Yezai said quietly. “I created a group chat, and quite a few people are in it. What if I post the photo from earlier in there…”
Vodka tensed up: "You wouldn't do that, would you? We're friends!"
"How could I possibly be your friend? I don't even know where you live," sighed Bo Yezai. "Of course, I believe you wouldn't want Gin to see this vulnerable side of you, right? Although I won't send it directly to Gin, I can't guarantee what the group members will do..."
Vodka raised his hand, his face contorted in pain: "Enough! I'm taking you back!"
Anyway, since Bo Yezaki already knew that he was a fan of celebrities, and there was nothing else in that house, it was just a warehouse where he stored his fan support items, otherwise it was no different from an ordinary house, so he could just take it there.
It's not like we're going back to our hometown; he's very easygoing about it.
He was just a little regretful that he shouldn't have clicked on the pop-up news while walking down the street. Not only did he learn about his idol's marriage, but he also saw incredibly detailed descriptions of their relationship… He was devastated, truly devastated. If he wanted to be in a relationship, he shouldn't be an idol; he should be a proper actor or singer! Idols are for people to dream about!
Usoppai felt he had found new fun and happily followed Vodka back to one of Vodka's residences.
It's very ordinary; even the sign outside has the common surname "Yamada."
There was no messy scene that you would see when a single man lives here. Perhaps he is used to cleaning up after missions. Vodka has maintained good hygiene habits. I haven't been here for a while. Apart from the dust, everything else looks pretty clean. It's ready to welcome guests after a little wiping.
However, Usakabe Saiki didn't come here just to chat over tea. As soon as he entered, he urged enthusiastically, "Quick, let me see what kind of idols you like!"
Vodka was initially sullen and not very happy, but after showing him his treasured photos and clippings, he found himself in the mood and enthusiastically started recommending: "—You dance incredibly well! I even have a video here, do you want to see it?"
Bo Yezaki remained unmoved: "Who was that whose house collapsed?"
Vodka: "…………"
With a dark expression, he took stacks of commemorative albums and photo magazines off the bookshelf: "This is the person."
While Usoppai was reading, Vodka bent down and dragged a cardboard box out from under the bed.
Bo Yezaki asked, "What are you doing?"
“These need to be put away,” Vodka said unhappily. “I feel uncomfortable having them out there.”
"...You can sell it secondhand, right?"
"Too much trouble." Vodka waved his hand. "We can just burn it all down when we get the chance."
With his sensitive position, how could he have time to keep an eye on second-hand platforms? He would get uneasy if he didn't reply to the other party for a while, and sending packages would be troublesome. Who knows if he would have a task at the last minute?
So Bo Yezaki casually flipped through Vodka's collection, while Vodka diligently sorted out the things he didn't want.
Looking at her idol's photo, Usoppei suddenly remembered and asked, "Speaking of which, where's my photo? You still haven't found it? Did you burn it too?"
Vodka was sweating profusely, still unable to find it. He had actually wanted to say it was lost a long time ago, but he thought that Usoya Saiki would be angry, so he could only hope to buy some more time: "Give me a little more time, theoretically it shouldn't be there... uh!"
Vodka, who had been searching for photos for years, suddenly realized something at this moment.
He pushed the box in his hand aside, then started rummaging under the bed, counting the years, and pulled out a box from the deepest part, then began searching through it.
Usoppei guessed what was going on: "You didn't accidentally mix my photo with your idols who have fallen from grace, did you?"
Vodka wiped his brow: "After all, I bought quite a lot of photos before. If the house collapses, I won't look at each one carefully. I'll just glance at the back to see if it's a photo and throw it back into the box..."
The cardboard box was large, full of paper products, and very heavy. The photos were small items, so it took turning the whole box upside down to find them.
While Vodka was busy, Bo Yezaki wasn't idle either. He spread out all the idol support items, especially eye-catching things like posters, from the bed to the floor, and then stood at the door and quietly took a picture of Vodka with these support items.
When I have the chance, I'll show it to Conan Edogawa and say that I've met a fellow fan.
After taking the photos, Usoppei Saiki felt there was no room left in the house, so he didn't bother going back inside and went straight to the living room to watch TV.
Persistence pays off; after searching for two hours, Vodka finally found the photograph of the Bo Ye Zhai Notes.
Damn it! Ever since Usakabe Saiki asked him for the photo, he's been searching for it at every hideout or safe house he's visited before. He's been searching for years and still hasn't found it, and now it's here!!!
Vodka, supporting his back, struggled to his feet and limped with his slightly numb legs to the living room, where he handed a photo to Usakata Saiki, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV like an old man: "Your photo!"
Usoppei glanced down.
The photo shows a boy who is about ten years old, wearing a dark blue yukata, with clean white hair and no accessories. His pale green eyes are looking at the camera in a cold and indifferent manner.
Although his face hadn't fully developed yet, he already had a tall and straight posture, sharp as a drawn sword, fierce and piercing.
Vodka muttered to himself, "You were so cute when you were little! When I saw you in Hakata, I almost didn't recognize you! I had to check several times!"
For ordinary people, it's natural to think that the talkative and cheerful Saiki Usaba is better now, but Vodka has a psychological trauma and thinks that the silent Saiki Usaba is more adorable.
And look at Usui Saiki in the photo, with his silver hair, green eyes, and indifferent expression, he looks just like the eldest brother!
They were definitely cuter when they were little!
Among Ariel's belongings, the only one related to his adopted son is this photo.
You were clearly a teenager back then, why didn't you take more close-up photos? Or did you have close-up photos, but they weren't saved?
Vodka was baffled, but at least he had finally found the damn photo, which meant he was finally free.
Usoya Saiki held his own photo, somewhat absentmindedly.
[I remember you said that the data used to complete the character design was automatically created by the system using data, right?]
System: [Yes.]
Usoppei: [Can't you just copy a photo directly from your memory?]
System: [Then you need to grant authorization so we can access your memories... but you haven't granted authorization.]
If authorization were granted, it would already know what this kid did in his past life. Why would it need to contribute suspicious points that are completely useless?
However, the system also noticed something strange about Usui's current reaction: [Is there something wrong with this photo?]
"This is a photo from my childhood," said Usakawa Saiki quietly. "I'm going to file a complaint against you."
System: […I'm innocent! We have regulations! It's impossible to do this without authorization!!!]
How do you interpret this photo?
The system crashed first: [I also want to know if you're lying to me! Were you this serious when you were little?! Is this really your true personality now?! Which one is closer to your true nature, Hanakawa Shinryu or Usui Saiki?! Tell me!]
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