The sea near dusk was anything but calm beneath the cold winter winds. Waves crashed against the reefs, sending sprays of water into the air before rolling ashore to gently caress the soft white sand.
Gazing at the orange-red sky painted by the setting sun, Ritsu had already shed his disguise. He lit a cigarette and leisurely admired the beautiful scenery before him.
After finishing the cigarette, he took out his phone and skillfully dialed Megure's number, quickly running through the wording he had prepared in his mind.
"Hello? Onizawa-kun? Aren't you on vacation with your girlfriend today? How do you still have time to call me?"
The imaginary girlfriend excuse was useful no matter the occasion. Although, this time, Ritsu actually did have a "girlfriend."
One he was even planning to enter a fake marriage with.
"Inspector Megure, I just received an anonymous tip claiming that Mayor Kuroiwa of Moon Shadow Island is involved in heroin trafficking. The caller said they've left evidence with the front desk of the inn."
"What did you say?!"
Megure shot to his feet from the sofa in surprise, startling Reiko Kuroiwa, who was currently being questioned across from him. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he hurried outside and lowered his voice.
"Onizawa-kun, are you serious? I'm actually on Moon Shadow Island right now. There's been a murder here."
"A murder?" Ritsu feigned surprise, his tone gradually becoming serious. "Then it's very likely connected to Mayor Kuroiwa and the others' heroin trafficking. The victim... was it Hideo Kawashima?"
"That's right! How did you know? Don't tell me..."
"Yes. He was one of those involved in the heroin operation. The caller also said that the death of Keiji Aso twelve years ago was connected to them."
Megure's brows knit tightly together.
He had never imagined that tiny Moon Shadow Island had become a base for heroin trafficking.
Had this murder never occurred, the wrongful death from twelve years ago would never have resurfaced, and no one would have uncovered the dark secret they had buried all this time.
"Onizawa-kun, do you know who made the report?"
"He called himself Shinichi Wada, but it's probably a fake name. It's an alias Dr. Watson used in the Japanese edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes."
'Shinichi Wada?!'
Megure's expression turned awkward.
'So this is what happens when you don't read Sherlock Holmes...'
He hadn't realized that the sharp-witted dark-skinned young man had been using an alias the whole time.
But this wasn't the time to dwell on the caller's identity.
"Onizawa-kun, I can't talk any longer. I'm taking the team to Mayor Kuroiwa's house right away!"
"Understood. Good luck, Inspector Megure."
Ritsu ended the call and stroked his chin in satisfaction.
'My lying skills are practically perfect.'
Now all he had to do was leave the island. The rest could be left to the police.
Stepping onto the ferry's deck, he looked toward the public hall in the distance.
It was time for peace to return to this island.
And now, it was finally time to deal with his own affairs.
Like, for example...
If he was going to have a fake marriage, then the wedding ought to at least look convincing.
Even now, Ritsu still hadn't fully processed the fact that the Miyano sisters were actually his biological cousins.
He had long believed he was completely alone in this world.
To suddenly discover that he had two younger cousins, the feeling was difficult to put into words.
A lone wolf was strong because he had nothing to worry about. But once that lone wolf found a pack of his own, could he really adapt to this new life?
That was what worried him most.
"...I just hope everything goes smoothly. One wrong step, and the whole game is lost."
...
44, 5-Chome, Mita, Minato Ward.
Driving into the underground garage of the safe house, Ritsu parked his beloved car and picked up the honey cake he had bought along the way.
If her tastes hadn't changed, Akemi should like it.
He took the elevator to the top floor. After scanning his fingerprint and unlocking the security door, he was greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked food.
Not instant noodles.
Not frozen meals.
Real home cooking.
"Takashi, welcome home."
"...!"
Ritsu's eyes widened.
The once cold, impersonal house suddenly felt warm.
Like a home.
And for the first time...
Someone was actually welcoming him home.
"...I'm home."
Wearing a white apron and still holding a kitchen knife, Akemi poked her head out from the kitchen with a smile.
"There weren't any ingredients in the refrigerator, so I went to the supermarket nearby. If you'd replied to my messages a little earlier, dinner would already be on the table."
Ritsu scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Somehow, whenever he was around Akemi, he stopped feeling like the older cousin. Instead, he always ended up being the one looked after.
"My phone was on silent, so I didn't hear it. Were you waiting outside for a long time?"
"Not really. Less than half an hour."
She was still the same as before.
Kind.
Patient.
Always considerate and understanding.
After changing into his slippers, Ritsu walked into the kitchen. Glancing at the clear chicken soup still simmering in the pot, he said,
"A-Akemi... come with me for a second."
"If we're pretending to be husband and wife, and you're already stumbling over my name like that, how are we supposed to make it convincing?"
Akemi lowered her head with a quiet laugh.
Even though his appearance had changed drastically, he was still the same person at heart.
"I-I'm not like you. I've never been in a relationship, so of course..."
His voice stopped abruptly.
He noticed the subtle change in Akemi's expression. Only then did he realize how insensitive those words had been.
'Way to put your foot in your mouth.'
He rubbed his forehead awkwardly and brushed his hair back. He never should have brought that up.
She had probably just remembered the FBI agent who was now far away in America.
"...I'm sorry."
Unexpectedly, hearing the apology only made Akemi feel relieved.
Whether he was Moroboshi Dai...
Or Rye...
Or Shuichi Akai...
Only after he had left did she realize that the feelings she had invested in him hadn't been nearly as deep as she'd believed.
Living alone these past days had merely returned her to the life she'd once known. After her parents died and Shiho went overseas to study, hadn't she always lived like this?
She had already accepted it. And she had let go of that relationship built upon deception and manipulation.
"Takashi... the one who should be saying 'I'm sorry' isn't you. Don't steal that guy's lines."
Thinking of the man who hadn't hesitated to shoot him, Ritsu honestly didn't resent Akai. If their positions had been reversed, if he had been the one whose cover was blown and had tried to escape...
Without knowing the other's true identity, he would have pulled the trigger too.
The true culprit behind everything... was Rum.
The one who had orchestrated the entire scheme and manipulated Akai from behind the scenes.
He was the real mastermind.
As for his older brother, Ritsu was simply annoyed with him. He just wanted to pay him back with two punches for those three bullets.
"Akemi, when I finally get the chance to beat him up, want me to give you a call so you can get in a kick too?"
A mischievous glint appeared in Ritsu's eyes as he asked hopefully.
Akemi hadn't expected Ritsu to have such a devious side. Covering her mouth as she laughed, she replied,
"Takashi, I think you should be more worried about yourself. I know Shiho very well. If she finds out you're actually alive and that you're an undercover police officer fighting for justice, she'll definitely..."
She paused deliberately.
"...ignore you."
Just hearing that made Ritsu's entire body ache for some reason. That tiny pause had been incredibly meaningful.
It was obvious what she'd really wanted to say,
—"She'll beat you to death."
"Speaking of which, I'm actually looking forward to meeting my little sister when she was younger. Shiho was absolutely adorable as a child... though she was a real crybaby."
"Let's keep Onizawa's identity a secret for now. If you spend too much time together, the Organization might become suspicious."
Akemi seemed to recall something amusing and smiled.
"I was thinking the same thing. Teasing my little sister every now and then sounds pretty fun. Maybe I'll even get to see some interesting expressions."
"..."
'Who would've thought Akemi had a black-bellied side too? She'd hidden it incredibly well.'
"Let's put that aside. Come with me first. I'll register your fingerprints in the door lock."
"Okay. By the time we're done, the chicken soup should be ready too. Go wash your hands so we can eat."
"Mm."