The ocean-blue Bugatti slowly pulled into the underground parking garage.
The entire drive had passed in silence, leaving an awkward atmosphere hanging between the two of them.
Truthfully, Ritsu had only invited Akemi to live with him because he wanted to protect her.
But now, he was starting to regret it.
After all, living under the same roof while maintaining multiple identities was going to be nothing but trouble.
When they reached the top floor by elevator, Akemi couldn't help looking around curiously. She couldn't help marveling inwardly.
'The higher-ups in the Organization's Operatives Division really are loaded...'
After scanning his fingerprint and unlocking the apartment door, Ritsu glanced back at Akemi, who was still admiring the view outside.
Taking out his phone, he said, "This is my contact information. I've installed a remote unlocking system on the door. If you need to get in, tell me first and I'll unlock it remotely."
He paused before adding, "And don't go out unless it's necessary."
"Wouldn't it be easier to just register my fingerprint?" Akemi asked bluntly.
"This is my safe house."
His voice turned cold. "I don't allow other people unrestricted access."
Leaving those words behind, he walked into the apartment. Only then did he realize his palms were drenched in sweat.
'I wonder if my acting was convincing...'
The reason he refused to register her fingerprint wasn't because he distrusted her. He simply wanted to know whenever she entered or left.
His safe house was exceptionally secure. If anyone unauthorized came in, he'd receive an alert on his phone immediately.
Akemi narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
The more she observed Augier, the more contradictory he seemed.
Like his other identity, Onizawa.
Would someone who devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Organization really work so hard to become the police department's legendary detective with an incredible case-solving record?
Following him inside, she immediately noticed the enormous aquarium dominating the living room.
Looking at the little lemon shark swimming happily inside, she couldn't help thinking...
'After working my whole life, I still might not live as comfortably as that little shark.'
"Is that your pet?"
"Yeah. It's called Gingerbread."
A lemon shark... Named Gingerbread.
His taste in pets was unique. His naming sense was equally unique.
After wandering around the apartment, Akemi realized she'd somehow lost sight of Augier.
A moment later, he reappeared carrying a huge pile of blankets.
"Your room is here."
He tossed them onto the bed before adding coldly, "Don't wander around. You might end up getting yourself killed."
His mouth was making threats but his actions honestly showed he was worried she'd get cold.
Akemi fought hard to keep from laughing. Deliberately, she asked,
"If we're pretending to be married... are we sharing a bedroom?"
Bang!
Caught completely off guard, Ritsu walked straight into the doorframe with a loud thud.
Steadying himself, he kept a straight face and replied frostily,"You only qualify for the guest room."
Inside, however, his heart felt like an entire herd of elephants was stampeding through it.
This definitely wasn't love at first sight.
It was a full-scale emotional traffic accident.
He had nearly lost his composure.
'It's only been a little over two years since I last saw Akemi...How did she become like this?'
Lowering her head, Akemi desperately swallowed her laughter.
'Just as I thought. To make absolutely sure, I'll try that.'
"Should I call you Onizawa-san?"
"Mm. When we're outside, just call me by my name."
"Then, Onizawa..." She smiled sweetly.
"Can you cook? I haven't had dinner yet."
Ritsu threw the blankets onto the bed when the question completely caught him off guard.
His cooking had improved...
Slightly.
Unfortunately, it was still firmly in the category of edible but not tasty.
Still...
If someone actually wanted to eat something he made...
Maybe...
"I can cook."
"...?"
Akemi blinked.
'Did I guess wrong?'
Walking over to the refrigerator, she opened it. It was exactly what she'd expect from a Japanese man living alone.
Other than drinks, there wasn't a single ingredient inside.
"The refrigerator's empty."
"Food delivery is pretty convenient these days."
Ritsu pulled up a grocery delivery app on his phone and tossed it to her.
"Order whatever you want. I'm always willing to invest in someone helping me complete a mission."
"Then I won't hold back."
The convenience of the internet age truly was remarkable. Less than thirty minutes later, all the groceries arrived.
Carrying a large bag into the living room, Akemi smiled at the now-disguised Onizawa sitting on the sofa.
"The ingredients for nikujaga are here. I'll leave the cooking to you, Onizawa-san."
"Tch. Fine."
Akemi had deliberately chosen nikujaga. It was one of the most common home-cooked dishes in Japan.
It also happened to be one of her favorites.
'But... If he's really Tōru... There's no way he can make it.'
Ritsu had already rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt and put on the black apron he'd only worn once since moving into the apartment.
After secretly glancing toward Akemi sitting on the sofa, he quietly took out his phone and searched for a nikujaga recipe.
Once he'd memorized it, he put the phone away and started washing the vegetables.
Traditional nikujaga consisted of five essential ingredients:
Potatoes.
Carrots.
Onions.
Pork belly.
Konjac knots.
None of them could be omitted.
Fortunately, his knife skills weren't bad. After neatly finishing the prep work, his confidence skyrocketed for no apparent reason.
Recalling the recipe from memory, he poured an "appropriate amount" of cooking oil into the pan.
Then, he immediately threw the still-wet slices of pork belly into it.
CRACKLE! POP! SPLAT!
The pan exploded like an entire concert of popping candy. Hot oil splattered everywhere. It was exactly the kind of disaster that would earn a beating from your mom.
"Hss!"
Ritsu jerked his hand back instinctively after getting burned by flying oil.
Sneaking a glance toward the living room, he saw Akemi engrossed in a variety show on television. He let out a long sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness... she didn't see that.'
Treating the frying pan like a dangerous enemy, he quickly grabbed the lid and cautiously maneuvered it over the pan.
After stirring things around with a wooden spatula until the pork looked... mostly cooked...
He reached for the bottle of rye whiskey sitting nearby.
The recipe had said that adding a little alcohol would remove the pork's odor and add sweetness.
Without hesitation, Ritsu picked up one of the whiskeys he disliked the most and poured it straight into the pan full of hot oil and rendered pork fat.
The next instant,
WHOOSH!!
The kitchen turned into a fire show.
"!!!"
'That's not what the recipe said would happen!'
With lightning-fast reflexes, Ritsu slammed the lid over the pan.
It was exactly like extinguishing an alcohol burner in chemistry class by covering it with the cap.
'...Why am I comparing cooking to a chemistry experiment?'
Then he remembered that alcohol burners were usually capped twice.
So he lifted the lid... And covered it again.
"...That should do it."
Although...
Something smelled rather questionable.
"But the pork should be cooked now. Time for the next step."
Back in the living room, Akemi suddenly caught a whiff of something burning. Wrinkling her nose, she looked toward the kitchen.
Smoke was beginning to drift out. Alarmed, she hurried inside.
The moment she entered, she saw Onizawa staring solemnly into the pot. Walking over to look, she witnessed something she'd probably never forget for the rest of her life.
Inside the pot was an unidentified thick gray-black substance that shimmered with an eerie green glow.
Large bubbles rose ominously as it boiled over high heat.
It looked less like stew and more like someone had thrown an entire jar of volcanic mud face mask into a pot and started cooking it.
"You... What exactly are you making?"
Ritsu frowned at her and answered matter-of-factly, "Nikujaga."
"That is not nikujaga!"
Akemi was about to protest further when she watched him calmly scoop up a huge spoonful, preparing to taste it.
She immediately reached out to stop him.
"You're Tōru after all, aren't you?"
"...!"
Ritsu's eyes widened. He stared at Akemi in complete disbelief.
'When did I blow my cover? That can't be right... I'd said so many cruel things.
Even Shiho, who knows me better than anyone, didn't notice. So why did Akemi...?'
"Tōru?"
He forced himself to stay calm. "Who's that?"
"Stop pretending."
She smiled knowingly. "Only Tōru could create cooking this... horrifying."
"..."
The corner of Ritsu's mouth twitched.
So after all the effort he'd put into acting... The thing that exposed him... was his cooking.
'...And seriously?
That was a little harsh. What do you mean only I could make something this horrifying? It doesn't look that inedible.
It's just... A strangely colored ink stew... maybe?'
"..."
'On second thought, better not taste it after all.'
----
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