After returning from the research institute, Ritsu originally planned to shower early and go straight to bed.
Instead, the moment he got home, he found Rei standing in front of the full-length mirror in the living room, adjusting the suit he was wearing.
Walking over with confusion, he asked, "Are you heading out on a mission or something? Why are you dressed so formally?"
Rei replied with a question of his own. "You didn't know the Organization is holding a year-end party?"
"Huh?" Ritsu seriously wondered if something was wrong with his hearing.
A year-end party? What kind of thing was that? Why did he know absolutely nothing about it?
No, more importantly, wasn't the biggest issue the fact that the mighty Black Crow Organization actually held year-end parties?
What, were they all going to gather in some giant auditorium and sit below the stage listening to everyone report their annual achievements?
For example,
How many people they killed this year.
How many payments they recovered.
How many times they successfully deceived the police.
Or perhaps how much valuable intelligence they stole, and how many damaging documents they destroyed.
Ritsu couldn't help imagining Gin standing behind a podium giving a speech, with Vodka beside him adjusting the microphone.
The mental image was too horrifying to look at.
"You sure you didn't say that wrong? The Organization is really hosting a year-end party?"
"Yeah. I was shocked too when Caymus told me. You should hurry and change into something more formal as well. It starts tonight at midnight."
Caymus was the head of the Intelligence Division and Rei's direct superior.
Previously, Ritsu and Gin had suspected she might be connected to the forces behind Finlandia, but after investigating, they ruled out the possibility of her being a mole.
"Who holds a year-end party in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" Ritsu rolled his eyes in complete disbelief.
"Wouldn't it be better for everyone to just rest in bed during their vacation? Why go through the trouble of organizing something this unnecessary?"
Seeing there was less than an hour before the party began, Ritsu headed into his bedroom and dug out one of the few formal outfits he owned.
He wore a white low-collar T-shirt layered beneath a white dress shirt, with the dark blue suit jacket Vermouth had mailed him some time ago over top. He paired it with black dress pants and casual leather shoes.
Once fully dressed, he stepped out of the room and looked toward Rei, who was busy styling his hair.
Unable to resist teasing him, Ritsu said, "Don't tell me you've spotted some prey and are planning to turn the year-end party into a matchmaking event? Spring is still months away, yet Bourbon already can't wait anymore."
Using hair wax, Rei slicked half his hair back, giving himself a partial pompadour style. The hairstyle completely changed his aura.
He looked more mature now, with even a slight touch of gentlemanly elegance. Though this gentleman leaned more toward the hentai variety.
Very much the refined-scumbag type.
Speechless, Rei jabbed him in the arm with his elbow and snapped, "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you seriously think I'd be interested in anyone from the Organization? You know what type I like."
Ah, true. Finding someone in the Organization similar to Elena Miyano would definitely be difficult. Though if his preference was simply older women, there were still a few candidates around.
Speaking of Rei's first love, Ritsu suddenly realized something. It seemed Rei still had never met the Miyano sisters.
"This party only includes the Operative Division and Intelligence Division?"
"Yeah. Why? Got someone you're interested in from another department?"
"No. I just thought if she came, I could introduce her to you."
"To who?"
Only around Rei did Ritsu reveal a more relaxed side of himself. Smiling faintly, he said, "Sherry. The daughter of your first love. Don't you want to meet her?"
Rei paused while tying his necktie. After a brief moment, he let out a quiet laugh and shook his head.
"No need. Let's get going. The venue's pretty far from here."
His feelings for Elena Miyano could be called love. But more than that, it was admiration for someone so warm and kind.
She had filled the maternal affection his childhood self had always longed for. Now, the things he needed to do were twofold.
One was helping the National Police Agency investigate the Organization.
The other was uncovering the true culprit responsible for Elena Miyano's death. And making that person pay.
"We're leaving already? Isn't Rye coming?"
"He got assigned to a mission in Hokkaido two hours ago."
"Oh. Then let's go."
Sliding into the passenger seat of the RX-7, Ritsu curled into a comfortable position.
He hadn't paid much attention earlier, but once Rei got into the car and reminded him to fasten his seatbelt, his gaze landed on the bandages wrapped around his neck.
Frowning, he asked, "You got hurt again?"
"Sherry already treated it, so don't worry. Also, stop using the word again. You make it sound like I'm injured all the time."
"You don't get hurt often?" Rei retorted irritably. "Need me to list every single incident to refresh your memory?"
Puffing up his cheeks in dissatisfaction, he glared at him angrily.
Yet in Ritsu's eyes, the expression almost looked like he was pouting.
A buff man acting cute…
The sight instantly reminded him of a certain idol otaku who once made a pitiful "uwu" expression at him. Just remembering it was enough to give him goosebumps.
"No thanks. You just reminded me of something unpleasant."
"Hah?"
"Unsafe driving causes grieving families, so keep your eyes on the road and drive properly."
"..."
Rei let out a helpless sigh. Around him, Ritsu always relaxed and became his true self again.
Still, that sharp-tongued personality of his was oddly punchable, especially paired with that poker face.
But what could he do? As the older brother figure, it was only natural to spoil his younger brother. Unlike a certain blind idiot who couldn't even recognize his own little brother.
Meanwhile, Akai, who had just arrived in Hokkaido, suddenly sneezed hard. Confused, he glanced out the window.
The weather wasn't even cold, though?
After about thirty minutes of driving, they arrived at a secluded bar in the Tokyo suburbs.
The establishment was a private bar that only served Organization members. The bartenders and wait staff were all lower-ranking operatives.
Looking at the cars parked behind the bar, Ritsu noticed Rena's Citroën BX Hatchback. As expected, she had come too.
Though honestly speaking, the parking lot practically looked like a miniature luxury car exhibition.
Vodka really was flashy. Even though he could've ridden here together with Gin, he still insisted on bringing out his own vintage car for a spin.
Seeing the growing number of parked vehicles, Rei let out a soft snort.
"Once we go inside, let's pretend we're not close. Everyone besides us is an enemy. Standing out too much wouldn't be good."
"Wouldn't pretending not to know each other be weirder?" Ritsu replied calmly.
Ever since meeting that person, he no longer felt much tension about things like this.
"We've lived under the same roof for how long now? If we still acted unfamiliar, that'd be suspicious as hell."
"But what if this is a trap?"
"Stop being paranoid. If the Organization really wanted to execute someone, they wouldn't go through this many extra steps. Just enjoy the party."
"Maybe work stress has made me overly sensitive lately."
"Then don't drink later. Go home and get proper rest."
"You should worry about yourself more. You can barely handle two drinks."
"Shut up."