Don't worry about the numbers of the chapter, it wasn't an error.
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Crouching down, Akai placed the beluga whale plushies into the arms of the two children and gently patted their heads. The gesture reminded him of his father back then, and memories surfaced unbidden, he wondered how that child was doing now.
"You both did something wrong, so shake hands and make up. If you do, I'll give you these plushies."
"…"
'Why did he say that catchphrase?'
Ritsu's azure pupils suddenly shrank, his brows knitting tightly. That phrase, one that always echoed in his mind whenever it snowed and that face that had always remained blurred in his memories…
It was as if the fog had been lifted.
"Fifty-fifty. That makes us even."
Ritsu clenched his fists as he looked at Akai. The missing pieces of his memory finally fell into place. Back then, as a child, he had been arguing with someone over something.
The father who had said those words looked very similar to Akai. He even habitually wore a gray newsboy cap, and just like Akai now, he had gently patted his head.
His father shared the same catchphrase as Akai and even resembled him.
Could he be… his older brother?
No, he couldn't jump to conclusions so quickly. If it turned out to be a mistake, it would cause serious trouble.
After the two children reconciled, Akai took them to the counter to pay, along with the gift he had chosen for Akemi. When he turned back, he noticed Ritsu was nowhere to be seen.
Looking around, he spotted him still standing in the same spot, lost in thought. He walked over, puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
Ritsu's feelings were complicated. If the man in front of him really was his brother, then by joining the Organization, wouldn't he now be standing on the opposite side?
Keeping his expression neutral, he casually said, "I didn't expect you to handle situations like that. Is 'Fifty-fifty' your catchphrase?"
"You could say that. Let's go, or they'll think we slipped away."
"Yeah."
Better to observe a bit longer.
After all, his own appearance didn't resemble Akai's that much.
It could just be a coincidence.
From the moment he heard Akai's catchphrase, Ritsu became distracted. He could barely remember what they did afterward in the aquarium.
His gaze kept drifting toward Akai, which made Akai uneasy. As an FBI agent, he was naturally perceptive, and Ritsu's sudden change in behavior raised his suspicions.
Could his identity have been compromised?
But he hadn't done anything unusual.
Each harboring their own thoughts, the two returned to the apartment. Inside, they found Rei asleep at the dining table. Only then did they realize, they had forgotten to tell him that they wouldn't be coming back for dinner.
Hearing the door open, the light sleeper slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the two he had been waiting for finally return, he spoke with clear displeasure.
"I even made dinner and waited for you to come back. Couldn't you at least say you weren't coming?"
The food on the table had long gone cold, and it was obvious from his expression that Rei was genuinely upset. Ritsu quickly gave Akai a light shove on the back and said apologetically, "Bourbon, sorry, we forgot to let you know."
Taking the hint, Akai also offered an apology. But it clearly didn't appease Rei. With a dark expression, he returned to his room. Left with no choice, Ritsu followed after him to try and smooth things over.
The two of them had grown unexpectedly close, much more so than before. Knowing that Rei didn't like him much, Akai didn't bother joining them. Instead, he sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and leisurely lit a cigarette.
He had managed to restrain his urge to smoke in front of her, but once he was away… quitting seemed impossible.
Entering the room, Ritsu saw the still-sullen Rei. This time, however, his expression turned serious. He decided to share what had happened today, getting an outside perspective might help.
"Zero, I need to talk to you."
"?"
Rei was momentarily stunned. Ritsu had always been cautious. Even now, when there were no bugs listening in, he still called him "Bourbon." It had been a long time since he'd heard his real name spoken aloud.
He set aside his lingering annoyance and asked with a frown, "Is it something important?"
After confirming through the door crack that Akai wasn't paying attention, Ritsu locked the door and moved closer to the window.
"You remember how I get headaches whenever it snows, right?"
"Of course. You said it's connected to your lost childhood memories." Rei paused, then said in surprise, "Don't tell me you remembered something? But it didn't snow today."
Ritsu nodded. "You could say I remembered it because of someone… When I was with Rye today, he suddenly said the one phrase I remember."
"You mean… he might be your family? But you two don't look alike at all, even your eye colors are different."
"I can't be sure. But I'm certain he's connected to me somehow. He looks very similar to the father in my memories."
Finding someone familiar inside the Organization was not a good thing. After a long silence, Rei spoke slowly,
"Ritsu, whether he's connected to you or not, I want you to remember… who we are."
That's right.
They were public security officers.
Even if Akai really was his relative, what could they do?
Trying to persuade him might seem like a good option but if the other party refused and exposed that secret to the Organization, they wouldn't just lose family ties. Their undercover mission would fail and in the worst case, it could cost them their lives.
That was the reality of the world. Even blood brothers could turn on each other over small matters, some would even kill family members for inheritance.
Rei's words were a warning, their identities were not something they could gamble with. One wrong step and there would be no turning back.
"I understand."
Ritsu had no intention of confronting Akai about it. But the matter had become a thorn in his heart—there was no way he could treat things as if nothing had changed. Letting out a sigh, he said, "We should head back out. If he starts getting suspicious, that'd be trouble."
"Yeah, let's go."
As soon as Rei opened the door, he was hit by the strong smell of smoke. Seeing the knit-cap-wearing man in the living room, cigarette in one hand and a can of beer in the other,his temper instantly flared.
"Rye! How many times have I told you not to smoke indoors? Why won't you listen?!" As the one who handled most of the apartment's cleaning, Rei stormed over, pointing at the ashes on the floor. "Look, there's ash all over the ground!"
"…Sorry."
Akai nearly choked on his beer. He had completely forgotten the rule about no smoking indoors. Bending down, he quickly picked up the ash and hurried to the balcony to finish the remaining half of his cigarette.
Ritsu stepped forward helplessly to help clean up.
As expected, the only person who could instantly set Rei off like this was Akai.
In the end, it was better to let things take their natural course. Pretend not to know, and continue as usual.
Even if, deep down, he had already come to believe… that this man was his brother.
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Bonus chapter @20 PS