Chapter 28 Night Talk: Thank you for your hard work, Ryusei, during this time.
Tomorrow is a workday, and Kenji Hagiwara and the others still need to go to work. The class president is also in a hurry to get back and have a long phone call with his girlfriend.
Just like they did during their trip to Kyoto two years ago, everyone tacitly left space for Rei Furuya and Ruki Kitagawa, and left the bustling villa under the moonlight.
After everyone left, Furuya Rei stacked the bowls and chopsticks on the table, picked up one stack, and walked towards the kitchen.
He had barely taken two steps when he turned back to look at the person standing motionless in front of the table, raising his eyebrows: "Don't just stand there, help me out." His tone was affectionate.
The light was still the same warm color, but the feeling it gave people was completely different.
Kitagawa Ryusei paused for only a moment, then chose not to take offense at the other party's overstepping of the bounds, picked up the cleaned tableware and took it into the kitchen.
Rei Furuya, wearing an apron, rolled up his sleeves and diligently washed the dishes at the sink.
Even from behind, this person's proportions remain perfect: broad shoulders, long legs, and a tall figure. The apron belt is tied in a bow at the back, outlining a slender waist.
"You and Jingguang didn't come here just for a meal, did you?" After admiring the view for a moment and having feasted his eyes, Kitagawa Ryusei spoiled the mood without any hesitation.
"Did you get the ledgers?"
Rei Furuya paused in his dishwashing, turning back with a helpless look in his eyes, which, upon closer inspection, also carried a deliberately feigned grievance: "Is this the mature Ryusei after starting work? Even good looks can't seduce you anymore."
In the past, the other person would never have talked about studying at a time like this.
Caught peeking, Kitagawa Ryusei looked away and forcefully suppressed his evasive tone: "It wasn't that tempting to begin with."
Rei Furuya clearly didn't believe it and retorted without hesitation: "Looking into other people's eyes when you say something like that makes it more convincing."
But since the topic of ledgers had come up, he had something to ask: "Aren't you in the Criminal Investigation Department? How did you get involved with the organization? Hiro said this is the second time he's met you during a mission."
This wasn't the most tactful way to put it, but being able to ask it calmly already represents the absolute limit of what Ryougu Zero could achieve.
God knows he almost exploded when he heard the news. He was so restless in the safe house that he lost all enthusiasm for banding together to exclude Ray.
Knowing how emboldened the organization he infiltrated was when facing the police, he even considered at the cat shelter today how he should silence Rai to prevent him from reporting to the organization if Kitagawa Ryusei took the ledger.
Fortunately, the mission was completed smoothly, and Kitagawa Ryusei did not come into contact with the target in front of Lai. The other party disliked trouble and even offered not to report today's incident in order to avoid affecting the assessment of mission completion.
...It's still not safe enough. Thinking of this, Furuya Rei's expression was dark and unclear, and it was unknown what he was thinking.
"Unfortunately, I was seconded to an unscrupulous colleague at the same level and is now specifically in charge of cases related to this organization. I'll inevitably have to deal with them in the future." Kitagawa Ryusei lowered his eyes, showing little emotion when he mentioned this matter.
Although the Special Investigations Unit always followed the Zero Group, there was no subordinate relationship between the two groups. The Zero Group leader was said to be just a police inspector of the same rank.
Given this organization's habit of killing people all over the country, the Criminal Investigation Bureau was bound to run into them sooner or later. The involvement of the Zero Group only accelerated the process a little.
While assisting Team Zero, the Special Search Team also has its own missions.
Originally, I thought Kitagawa Ryusei was just investigating some major criminal case related to the organization. But when I heard the word "borrowing," Furuya Rei's eyes widened in disbelief, and he froze like a steel plate.
...Could it be what he's thinking?
Before heading to the United States, Furuya Rei had instructed Kazami Yu to also apply for a criminal investigation team specifically for Zero Group. He was aware that this proposal was rejected and the subsequent outcome.
Later, during his communication with the liaison officer, Rei Furuya gained some understanding of the Special Investigation Team. What was Yuya Kazami's description of them back then...?
—A group of arrogant and fierce people whose leader acts erratically. Apart from their work level far exceeding expectations, they are completely inconsistent with Rei Furuya's original vision for the team.
—This is the image of the Special Investigation Team that Furuya Rei summarized based on his understanding of the rigor of his subordinates' speech.
The young man, suspected to be the head of the special search team, was standing not far from him. He had a fair and handsome face, with beautiful peach blossom eyes, and the alluring red mole on his nose was tempered by his calm demeanor.
Just by standing there, one can't help but feel a sense of reliability.
He slowly tilted his head, no longer washing the bowl, letting the water flow freely down his fingertips.
Turning to look at Kitagawa Ryusei, she realized that something seemed amiss.
So, what does "unscrupulous peer colleague" mean...?
Perhaps thinking this was a good topic, Kitagawa Ryusei avoided the content that couldn't be said in the confidentiality agreement he signed with the Zero Group, and simply explained his and his subordinates' grievances against the Zero Group in the most peaceful tone, before finally asking: "And you, you still don't know whether you belong to the National Police Agency or the Metropolitan Police Department."
"Ha, haha," if Kitagawa Ryusei looked closely, it wouldn't be hard to notice that Furuya Rei's back was stiff.
After hearing Kitagawa Ryusei's impression of the Zero Group, he almost blurted out "Metropolitan Police Department".
However, his will to survive couldn't overcome his guilt for lying to Kitagawa Ryusei, and Furuya Rei could only say sullenly, "...Police Headquarters." He didn't say another word.
Although I don't want to lie, I'll keep the matter of Group Zero a secret for as long as possible...
Rei Furuya was on the verge of tears, feeling that this was the retribution for his hearsay.
Originally, I had planned to have Kazami Yuya prepare a confidentiality agreement for Kitagawa Ryusei, who now knows his undercover identity, but it seems that it's no longer necessary.
Ryouku Zero thought to himself, finding joy even in hardship.
Kitagawa Ryusei was not surprised by the answer: "That's true."
As the top student in the police academy, it's only natural that he was entrusted with an important task by the National Police Agency upon graduation.
"What's the full name of that long-haired man today?" Now that they were on the topic, he figured he might as well ask, "Are you teammates in the organization?"
Kitagawa Ryusei looked serious when he asked this question.
Just a moment ago, he was immersed in the world of fantasy, but after hearing what he said, Furuya Rei suddenly felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy: "Why are you asking this?"
Unaware of the change in his tone, Kitagawa Ryusei bluntly said, "I want to know more."
Three huge exclamation marks floated through my mind, and the alarm buzzed in my ears.
Rei Furuya turned off the tap, turned around, and walked a few steps toward the young man, placing his hands on his shoulders with a serious expression.
"There's not much to know about Ryusei. He's extremely dangerous, cunning, and a formidable assassin. He doesn't have a good reputation in the organization I'm infiltrating; he's arrogant and treats human life like dirt. In short, you shouldn't have too much contact with him."
He wasn't satisfied with saying all that in one breath, so he planned to take a breath and continue.
"Wait a minute," Kitagawa Ryusei interrupted, completely bewildered. "I just asked for his name."
While this is all important intelligence, isn't this attitude a bit too serious?
Could it be another assassin similar to Gin?
"I'm just worried you'll be misled!" Furuya Rei didn't think he was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Kitagawa Ryusei was even more puzzled, to the point of disbelief: "Why would I be bewitched by a criminal?"
—Isn't it because you said you liked black hair, green eyes, and pale skin before!
"..."
The room fell silent, and Furuya Rei suddenly realized that he had spoken those words aloud.
The topic shifted too quickly; one moment it was a spy thriller about exchanging intelligence, and the next it jumped to a melodramatic late-night soap opera. Kitagawa Ryusei was like an innocent bystander watching Kamen Rider fight Sadako, completely bewildered and unsure of what to say.
"...When did I ever say such a thing?"
Rei Furuya's gaze was deep and unwavering as he recited a time without hesitation, specifying the year, month, and day: "It was in Hagiwara's dorm room, Hiro's question, the one you asked in front of everyone. It was a clear day, and the moon was a waning crescent..."
It sounds like it's true, and the other party has a lot of witnesses.
Feeling deflated by the blond youth's gaze, Kitagawa Ryusei's tone wavered: "...Wasn't I talking about you back then?"
"No!" Furuya Rei was indignant, almost gritting his teeth.
...That shouldn't be the case. Kitagawa Ryusei didn't know what she was thinking at the time, why she dug such a big hole for him.
"Would you believe me if I said I made it up back then?"
Seeing the young man's overly concerned expression, Kitagawa Ryusei felt that he lacked confidence when facing Furuya Rei in this matter.
"So what is your ideal type?" Furuya Rei asked, knowing he should press his advantage.
This matter had been on his mind for a long time, to the point that he now found fault with everything about Lai.
What's so good about green eyes? They're creepy and scary. Doesn't long hair get in the way when fighting? You might as well shave it off. Being too white makes you look unhealthy, like a vampire.
"I..." Kitagawa Ryusei looked at Furuya Rei's face, still hesitating on how to answer the question so as not to embolden the man. He had barely uttered the words when he realized, "Wait, why should I answer?"
They're still arguing!
Before he could push the person away, Kitagawa Ryusei was suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace.
They were caught completely off guard.
An excessively high body temperature enveloped the young man, choking him to the throat and rendering him unable to utter a single word.
“Because I never wanted to separate from Ryusei,” Furuya Rei said in a low voice, his previous toughness gone, as he wrapped his arms around the young man’s waist, pressed his cheek against his neck, and breathed on that small patch of skin. “I want to know how Ryusei feels about me right now.”
He said in an almost submissive tone, "Because of Ryusei, you make me feel that perhaps I still have the right to ask this question."
The embrace was warm and familiar, making it impossible not to want to respond.
Once a person has thoughts of losing control, they will be swallowed up by the emotions they desperately suppress.
Since this person returned, Kitagawa Ryusei has been holding his breath, and he hasn't been able to let go of it until now.
He understands Rei Furuya's current work.
They knew the dangers better than anyone else, and what the consequences would be if they made a mistake.
but……
"You were the one who said you liked me first..."
Finally, Kitagawa Ryusei couldn't help but hug the person in front of him back, burying his face where the other couldn't see him, his voice muffled on his shoulder.
At that moment, Kitagawa Ryusei heard the sound of his protective shell shattering.
"...You were the one who said you didn't want a long-distance relationship."
You were also the first to leave without a word.
For two whole years, there was no news, no explanation given.
This time, it was Furuya Rei who stood there stunned, bound by the young man's arms, which weren't particularly strong, making it difficult for him to move.
These are the words I said to Kitagawa Ryusei on the day the sports meet ended.
Rei Furuya remembers every word, and can even recall the angle of the sunset and the fragrance of the hydrangeas that day.
“I’ve said it before, I’m a person with an exceptionally strong desire for control,” Kitagawa Ryusei said, gripping the young man’s clothes tightly with both hands. “Mr. Zero, I really am seriously trying to control my urge to lock you up.”
From the moment he saw him again, Kitagawa Ryusei began to struggle with such thoughts.
He had been wearing the skin of a "police academy student" and "Inspector Kitagawa" for too long, and only now did he realize that he had not become the completely upright person he had pretended to be.
Every time I see Rei Furuya after we parted ways, and he takes the initiative to approach me, the criminal instincts flowing in my blood can't help but clamor.
Furuya Rei successfully ignited them.
"sorry……"
His response was an even tighter embrace from the blond youth and a trembling whisper.
“Although every ‘I’m sorry’ I’ve said before was sincere, I still want to say it again,” Furuya Rei patted the young man’s back with one hand and stroked the back of his neck with the other: “Please forgive me, Ryusei.”
"I didn't cry." So I didn't want any comfort.
Kitagawa Ryusei did not let go of his hand when he said this.
Rei Furuya responded gently, "I know."
“You should be afraid,” Kitagawa Ryusei said again.
Fearing he would follow through on his word and abandon his mission for personal gain, they locked him up.
But in Furuya Rei's greyish-purple eyes, there was a glimmer of starlight: "I will never be afraid of Ryusei."
Not only would you not be afraid, but you would also find Ryusei's honesty in having such thoughts adorable.
“Of course, the only exception is that you’re afraid Ryusei will stop liking me,” he added playfully. “So, please feel free to possess me.”
Kitagawa Ryusei's lowered eyelashes trembled as she remained silent, still immersed in his embrace.
"We're back together now, right?" The blond youth looked up, his eyes filled with anticipation and focus.
It seems to glow under warm-colored lights.
Who could resist such a gaze, such a Rei Furuya?
Kitagawa Ryusei still couldn't.
"Arguing with Mr. Zero is really a difficult thing," he said sincerely.
Even after all this time, this person still only needs to stand in front of him to make his heart flutter.
His eyes, which had previously held only scattered stars, now seemed to hold the sun. Furuya Rei slowly curved his eyes, revealing a sincere and radiant smile.
He lowered his head slightly, lightly touched the corner of the brown-haired youth's mouth, and quickly separated like a dragonfly skimming the water.
"You've worked hard these past few days, Ryusei," he said.
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