Chapter 18
Oda Sakunosuke ultimately did not give a clear answer to Ye Yihe's proposal.
While he didn't say anything definitive, he didn't deny the possibility of it either.
But in Ye Yihe's view, someone like Oda, who seems very introverted and whose outward demeanor shows almost no emotional fluctuations, is tantamount to acquiescing if he doesn't say no.
Moreover, before they were released from the detention center the following day, the other party was still earnestly teaching Japanese using the Bible, and one could vaguely sense that he was in a good mood.
The temperature dropped even lower at night. Ye Yihe roughly estimated that the narrow single bed could barely fit Oda, who wasn't particularly strong, and him, but there was only one blanket.
Oda Sakunosuke had the same idea, and he chose to let Ye Yihe sleep alone in bed while he sat against the wall at the foot of the bed.
"I've had experience working two days straight without rest when I was a hitman before."
Faced with Ye Yihe's questioning, he calmly and slowly blinked his blue eyes, which were dim under the wall lamp, and said in his usual flat voice, "So, there won't be any problems after we go out tomorrow. I won't force myself to be strong."
"What if that person can't find his subordinates, and the terms of the deal become invalid?"
In the cold, damp, cave-like cell, Ye Yihe, wrapped in a blanket, only showed half of his head as he looked at him.
In a sense, this body was truly frail and utterly intolerant of the cold. Without the warm, comfortable furry hat and cloak, the thinly dressed Ye Yihe felt herself shivering with cold.
Was it because of the temperature drop and the loss of warm clothing...? On his way to the theater, he did notice that a strong wind was blowing in this seaside city, and the shop signs fixed to the exterior walls were being blown by the wind, making a slight creaking sound.
“If he doesn’t fulfill the deal, I’ll take you out with me.”
Compared to Ye Yihe, who was wrapped up in a blanket, Oda Sakunosuke, who was relaxed, was only wearing a long-sleeved shirt and work pants, with his arms crossed in front of his chest; even with his back against the cold wall, he still seemed to be well adapted to the indoor temperature.
"I can go out anytime I want."
He closed his eyes to rest, and when he said those words, his tone remained calm, as if he were discussing something as trivial as what to wear tomorrow.
He agreed to make the deal with that person only to obtain a legitimate identity document from official channels. If he were alone here, he might have preferred to ask the other person to replace his unpalatable prison food with curry.
While creating a fake identity isn't difficult, it's ultimately just a one-time tool used to complete tasks, and there's always a risk in maintaining it long-term. It's not as convenient as a real identity document.
"…………!"
Ye Yihe's difficulty in expressing himself in Japanese does not mean he cannot sense the meticulousness beneath Oda Sakunosuke's aloof exterior.
Therefore, he tucked the bag down a bit and gave his newly acquainted friend an exceptionally happy smile, "Thank you, Oda Sakunosuke."
He stumbled a little when he said the middle of the name, but it wasn't a big problem.
"It is Oda, Sakunosuke."
Oda Sakunosuke earnestly corrected his pronunciation and punctuation, but his tone was not very serious—not even as hoarse and indifferent as when Ye Yihe first met him.
"Oda Sakunosuke".
In the darkened cell after the lights were turned off, Ye Yihe recounted his story fluently, earning a soft "hmm" from not far away as a response to his name being called.
After that brief "yes," the room returned to silence, and Ye Yihe closed his eyes contentedly.
That said, the name Oda Sakunosuke always gave him a subtle sense of déjà vu...
………
the next day.
Ye Yihe was not surprised by his stuffy nose and cough, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
The bedding provided by the detention center was so thin that even though Oda Sakunosuke gave it to him, he still woke up two or three times in the middle of the night from the cold.
Oda Sakunosuke remained silent, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, probably because he hadn't expected this body to be so frail.
Fortunately, the person who came to make the deal yesterday kept his promise, and he did have influence with the higher-ups in the police force. As a result, Ye Yihe and his group were released by the guards in a friendly and respectful manner this morning, and even the things that had been taken from them were returned to them in their original condition.
Ye Yihe put the original owner's anti-freeze gear back on and finally felt much warmer.
In addition, he not only got his phone back, but also obtained a Japanese passport—a very useful form of identification for a country that has not yet fully implemented identity cards, even when traveling abroad in the future.
The phone screen lit up with several calls from Ivan calling back, but unfortunately he was already locked up and didn't answer any of them.
Oda Sakunosuke retrieved his two favorite guns and their holsters, along with some loose change.
There was even an evidence bag containing only a bare wire, which Ye Yihe stared at curiously for a moment.
"For unlocking."
Oda Sakunosuke explained succinctly.
It was just a very ordinary piece of titanium alloy wire, but because it was easy to use and didn't take up much space, I always carried it with me.
Do you have a place to live?
After successfully leaving the detention center, Oda Sakunosuke asked Ye Yihe a question, only to be met with a slow, deliberate shake of his head.
The original owner might have had it, but he was completely unaware of it, which is equivalent to not having it.
"Where's the money?"
He shook his head again and held up a zero with his finger, indicating that he was penniless.
"…………"
For once, Oda Sakunosuke looked at Ye Yihe with a questioning gaze, as if to ask how he had managed to survive here.
Ye Yihe was also very curious about how the original owner of this body had survived.
After a moment, Oda Sakunosuke spoke again, "If you don't mind, you can stay at my place. It's just not very comfortable."
As a killer who must conceal his whereabouts and residence, this decision to share a place with others carries a great risk.
If the other party intends to plot against him, he will be extremely vulnerable to a meticulously planned sneak attack the moment his residence address is exposed.
To be honest, he wasn't afraid of that at all. Oda Sakunosuke thought to himself calmly.
Besides... seeing Ye Yihe's obvious surprise and joy, he also felt that his idea wasn't bad.
"Thank you, Oda... um, Sakunosuke."
Ye Yihe was really happy; he no longer had to live on the streets!
If he really faces this situation, he might choose to go back to the detention center, where at least he'll be provided with food and lodging.
Although Oda Sakunosuke was already a renowned teenage assassin in the industry, and his fees for each job were far higher than those of second- or third-rate peers, he was not a person who pursued material enjoyment, which could be seen from his ordinary and monotonous attire.
Not to mention that when he lived in the cramped cell of the detention center, he was able to take it all in stride and even compliment the air conditioning.
Following the conventions of movies where people with special professions often take detours to cover their tracks, Ye Yihe originally thought that Oda Sakunosuke would also lead him through the city's streets in a roundabout way, covering at least six kilometers more.
Unexpectedly, Oda Sakunosuke carefully counted out a few coins and took him onto the tram.
After swaying on the train for half an hour, he was led off the platform by Oda Sakunosuke. They walked a total of no more than a hundred meters to a low building made of red bricks.
"This is it."
Oda Sakunosuke explained to him, "I used to work in other cities, but I only recently moved to Yokohama."
Ye Yihe blinked in surprise upon witnessing the assassin's speed at returning home for the first time, "...?"
Eh... is it alright to come back like this...?
"Is this alright?" Ye Yihe asked hesitantly.
He is actually the kind of person who acts rather cautiously.
The words were short, but Oda Sakunosuke subtly grasped what Ye Yihe was trying to express.
Even if I stood right in front of them, no one would believe I was [the assassin].
Both his age and appearance are the best disguise for his identity as a killer; on the contrary, if he keeps wandering the streets, there is a chance that the police will come to question him about whether he has run away from home.
Ye Yihe nodded knowingly.
This is a red brick building that was built quite a while ago. The two-story exterior walls are not even painted, and you can see the cement filling the gaps between the bricks. The once beautiful crimson tin roof has rusted extensively from years of wind and rain, and no one has maintained it.
Even if someone said it was an abandoned old warehouse, Ye Yihe would believe it.
But Oda Sakunosuke led him up the creaky iron staircase to a solid wood door that had been covered with a layer of patina by the passage of time.
When they passed by the aunt who seemed to be their neighbor, she greeted them warmly and happily, saying, "This is the first time I've seen you bring a friend home, Sakunosuke."
“Yes.” Oda Sakunosuke nodded.
Because he didn't have his key, Ye Yihe watched helplessly as Oda Sakunosuke used the piece of wire the guard had given him to pry open the lock. "..."
“This is very convenient; we don’t need to carry anything extra,” Oda Sakunosuke explained earnestly.
Ye Yihe: ...Indeed, apart from feeling like a thief even when entering his own home, he has no other flaws.
The furnishings in this apartment were equally simple. Ye Yihe even felt that the style was not much different from the detention center where he had stayed last night, except that it was a bit larger, had a window on the wall, and had an additional kitchen and bathroom.
"I'm going to buy groceries. What would you like to eat?"
Oda Sakunosuke led Ye Yihe on a brief tour, and after giving him half of the tatami mats in the bedroom, he asked a question.
It was already noon, but he hadn't forgotten that Ye Yihe was still suffering from a severe cold.
"I'll make up your bedding first. You can lie down and rest for a while before I come back."
Upon hearing the keyword, Ye Yihe's eyes lit up slightly.
Cooking is something he excels at.
Ye Yihe rolled up his sleeves and then let Oda Sakunosuke order the food.
In return for taking me in, you can have whatever you want to eat.
"Then,"
After a moment's thought, Oda Sakunosuke spoke again, his tone revealing a barely perceptible hint of expectation.
"curry."
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