Tokyo's first snowfall arrived on New Year's Eve, filling the streets of Toriyacho with a festive atmosphere.
Holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate milk, Ritsu stood at the entrance of a convenience store, having just finished his final mission of the year.
Snowflakes carried by the night wind clung to his black sleeves. Against the dark fabric, the crystal-clear flakes stood out vividly, though they quickly melted into water.
After tossing the empty paper cup into the trash, Ritsu slipped his hands into his pockets and headed toward the parking lot.
Standing at a crosswalk waiting for the light, the headlights of a car parked across the street shone directly into his eyes. The glare made him frown instinctively, and a sharp pain pulsed at his temples… the same sensation again, whenever it snowed, the pain would come.
Pressing one hand to his temple, Ritsu quickly crossed the street when the light turned green and slipped into the relatively warm car.
"Fifty-fifty. We're even now."
That phrase again.
The blurry figure in his mind seemed about the same height as him, but his face was impossible to make out. He only had a vague impression that the person might be wearing a hat.
Buzz. Buzz.
His phone vibrated. Ritsu snapped out of his thoughts and swiped to answer the call.
Without checking the caller ID, he assumed it was Shiho asking why he hadn't returned to the institute yet.
"I'll be back soon."
There was a brief pause on the other end before a low voice spoke.
"Macallan. It's me."
Gin.
Realizing who it was, Ritsu immediately straightened his tone. "Gin-san? At this hour… is there an emergency?"
"Bunkyo Ward, Kasuga Town 2-chome, Building 13, Room 502. Come here now."
Before he could ask what the place was, the call ended.
Perplexed, Ritsu called Shiho to let her know he might have another task and wouldn't be able to return tonight, asking her to take care of Kurotan.
Back at the laboratory, Shiho felt a bit down after hearing the news. It was their first New Year's Eve since meeting, and she hadn't expected they wouldn't spend it together.
Besides, he was the only person in the entire institute she actually wanted to talk to.
Familiar with the routine, she opened Macallan's bedroom door and picked up Kurotan, who came running toward her.
"Your owner abandoned you again… let's spend New Year's together today."
----
Meanwhile, Ritsu arrived in Bunkyo Ward and followed Gin's instructions to an ordinary-looking apartment building, likely one with relatively cheap rent.
Climbing the stairs to Room 502, the door opened before he even rang the bell. Standing inside was Vodka, dressed in a purple sleeveless tank top, no sunglasses, no hat.
For a moment, Ritsu wondered if he had the wrong place.
Why was Vodka dressed so casually? And why purple again? He really liked that color, didn't he?
"Macallan, you're here. Come in, have a seat."
"This place is…?"
Bending down to arrange a pair of slippers, Vodka smiled. "I bought this apartment. It's in a quiet location with no neighbors nearby, pretty nice."
So this was Vodka's home?
As Ritsu changed shoes, he looked around. The place was clean, but what caught his attention were the marks on the walls, something had clearly been removed. Judging by the size, they were probably posters.
"Want soda or juice?"
"Either is fine."
Vodka grabbed a chilled bottle of cola from a small fridge and handed it over, then pointed toward the living room. "Come on, the Red and White show has already started."
Walking into the living room with his drink, Ritsu saw someone seated on the sofa. Gin, wearing a dark green sleeveless turtleneck.
It was the first time Ritsu had seen him without his hat and heavy black coat.
His exposed arms were even paler than his face, with well-defined muscles, clearly someone who kept up regular strength training. Truly a model worker of the organization, constantly on missions yet still making time to stay in shape. A master of time management.
Watching the Kohaku Uta Gassen on TV, Ritsu sipped his cola, wondering why Gin had called him here tonight.
"Matsushita Nao is really pretty," Vodka commented.
Plopping down onto the sofa, Vodka squeezed Ritsu toward Gin. Turning his head, Ritsu noticed Vodka was holding a bottle labeled "TUNDRA" vodka.
So the organization really drank their own codenames?
Then he watched as Vodka lifted the bottle and drank straight from it. Ritsu's lips twitched.
As expected of someone from a "battle-hardened nation"… treating strong liquor like a beverage.
After finishing nearly half the bottle, Vodka let out a satisfied "Ahh—!" With his current outfit, he looked exactly like a middle-aged laborer who had just finished a day's work and was downing an ice-cold drink at home.
"This brand of vodka really hits the spot!"
On the other end of the sofa, Gin leaned back with one leg crossed over the other, elegantly lighting a JILOISES cigarette with a match before exhaling a stream of smoke.
Ritsu, sitting in the middle, didn't smoke or drink. He obediently held his cola and took small sips, silently thinking, 'If these two keep this up, one's going to get liver disease and the other lung cancer sooner or later.'
In past years, Vodka had always spent New Year's Eve on missions with Gin. Spending it like this, with someone else, actually made him quite happy. Despite his large, intimidating build, he was surprisingly afraid of being alone.
"Macallan, do you like the Red Team or the White Team?" Vodka asked.
Thinking of what Vodka had just said earlier, Ritsu replied, "The Red Team, I guess?"
Truth be told, he wasn't interested in either. Compared to watching Kohaku, he'd much rather be back at the institute sleeping.
"What about you, boss? Who do you think will win, Red or White?"
"Black."
"??"
Vodka and Ritsu exchanged confused glances.
This was clearly a two-choice question, where did "Black" come from?
That wasn't even an option.
Gin, however, saw no issue with his answer. With a cigarette between his lips, he stood up, walked over, and picked up a wooden box from the table. Returning to the sofa, he handed it to Ritsu.
"Take it."
"??"
Ritsu accepted the box, feeling the weight of a bottled liquid inside. Looking at the engraved text, he realized it was Macallan Scotch whisky, a rare 1962 edition.
Glancing at his watch, Vodka smiled. "Looks like it's past midnight. Congratulations, you've reached the legal drinking age. This is a gift from the boss."
"Happy birthday, Macallan!"
"…Thank you."
Clearly, Ritsu hadn't expected this. He glanced at Gin, who stood silently smoking, his emotions complicated.
So these two "notorious criminals" had called him here… just to celebrate his birthday?
His mind drifted back to last year's birthday, on the rooftop of the police academy. His most unforgettable New Year's Eve.
Back then… he had chosen the White Team.
But now,
he was surrounded by darkness.
Looking down at the bottle of Macallan in his hands, he murmured silently to himself.
'Happy birthday… to twenty-year-old me.'
'Congratulations on becoming an adult.'
----
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Bonus chapter @100 PS