This Damned Competitive Spirit
When I called out that codename, the blond young man sitting there froze momentarily before quickly flashing a smile. “I believe this is our first meeting?”
“Yeah,” I responded, walking over to pull out the chair next to Vermouth and sitting close to her. Leaning my elbow on the table with my chin propped in my hand, I said lazily, “Your entry documents passed through my hands, so I remember.”
And the memory was quite vivid because his appearance was rather striking.
A mixed-race look with dark skin and light blond hair – plenty of distinctive features to remember. With my excellent memory, I naturally recalled him immediately.
Though I had to admit, Bourbon seemed somewhat unphotogenic. He looked better in person than in his photo.
Maybe it was a matter of presence. The intimidating aura and that faint, elusive sense of danger about him made people want to take a second look.
But Vermouth definitely didn’t call me here just to identify someone. Before coming, she hadn’t mentioned there would be a third party present…
I turned a questioning gaze toward Vermouth. She smiled back at me, apparently having noticed my confusion, and explained casually, “We just happened to run into each other.”
Hmm… So during our originally scheduled one-on-one meeting time, Bourbon happened to come looking for someone and we coincidentally crossed paths?
Whatever, it’s none of my business anyway.
Although I usually avoid meeting new people, Bourbon wasn’t exactly new. And with such a striking appearance, he was probably less likely to be an undercover agent… In any case, we wouldn’t have much interaction afterward.
After some thought, I decided it didn’t matter and directly addressed Vermouth: “Where are the documents?”
Vermouth pulled a brown paper envelope from her pocket, holding it between her index and middle fingers as she passed it over.
I took the envelope and opened it right then and there, quickly scanning through the list before stuffing the paper back inside and returning it to Vermouth. “Understood. I’ll help, but I can’t guarantee absolute completion or that I’ll put my heart into it.”
After all, this wasn’t my mission. At most, I was just doing Vermouth a favor by agreeing to lift a finger.
“Understood. I’m just glad you’re willing to help verify things,” Vermouth replied, already accustomed to my disclaimers. Her smile turned somewhat resigned as she took the envelope with one hand. Instead of putting it away, she pulled out a lighter and set it on fire.
The envelope was clearly specially treated with accelerant – bright flames instantly erupted, quickly consuming the paper.
She released it into the ashtray beside her hand.
After completing this series of actions, Vermouth looked at me again, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “Still giving Gin the cold shoulder? Need me to offer some advice?”
“We’re not giving each other the cold shoulder. And no need – I’m well aware no one can give me any useful advice anyway.”
I waved my hand, rejecting her “kindness.” After all, aside from Gin and me, no one could possibly understand the true nature of our relationship, so of course they couldn’t offer proper advice. I didn’t think Vermouth could provide useful suggestions either – after all, she hadn’t managed to win over Gin herself!
Of course I couldn’t say that outright. If I did, it might trigger Vermouth’s competitive spirit, and that would be troublesome.
Thinking this, I slowly added: “Besides, I haven’t been seeing much of Gin lately anyway. I need to head over to Sherry’s place soon.”
Vermouth raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, tapping her slender index finger against her chin with a thoughtful hum before smiling. “Speaking of which… I haven’t given you a reward for agreeing to help me this time.”
After saying this, she suddenly leaned in, placed a hand on the back of my head, and kissed me on the cheek.
I struggled symbolically. After she released me, I wiped the kissed spot with the back of my hand and frowned. “Don’t do that. What if you leave a lipstick mark and Sherry misunderstands?”
The smile on Vermouth’s face didn’t fade. “Wouldn’t that be even better?”
…True. Vermouth had never liked Sherry, reportedly due to a case of “hating the crow for the sake of the rook”—she deeply disliked the Miyano couple.
Wait, could mentioning Sherry have actually triggered her competitive side? What exactly was the grudge between Vermouth and the Miyano family? That remained an unsolved mystery.
After a few seconds of silence, I pointed sternly at the third person who had been watching the show without saying a word. “Don’t do this. Look, there’s an outsider here. What if Bourbon gets the wrong idea and thinks all the women in our Organization are like that?”
Bourbon clearly hadn’t expected to be dragged into this. After a moment of silence, he put on a fake smile and distanced himself. “Don’t mind me.”
“I still need to mind a little.” I checked the time and stood up. “You two probably have other things to discuss, right? I won’t disturb you any further.”
I glanced at Bourbon and habitually bid farewell casually. “It was nice meeting you. Your hair color is quite lovely—I like it.”
Without waiting for a response, I headed straight for the door.
As I walked, I took out a compact mirror from my bag to check, continuing to rub the lipstick mark on my face. It wasn’t that I was genuinely worried about Sherry getting jealous, but it was just too conspicuous. Felt like stepping outside would be like coming out publicly.
But… the favor Vermouth asked for wasn’t difficult—just a matter of convenience.
“Though there’s no real danger, I’ll need to use that identity…” I rubbed my cheek and hummed thoughtfully. “Oh well, it’s about time to bring that alternate identity online anyway. I wonder how Nana’s friends are doing these days…”
Meanwhile, elsewhere, in a bar
The bar’s dim yellow light cast a soft glow, with various bottles and glasses on the counter catching hints of the halo. Paired with low jazz music, the entire atmosphere felt relaxed and soothing.
The mood between the two people sitting at the bar counter appeared equally calm.
Bourbon gently swirled the glass in his hand. The ice cubes clinked against the sides with a crisp sound, while cold air rose from the surface of the glass, condensing into a thin layer of mist.
His gaze shifted from the beads of water on the glass to the silver-haired woman beside him.
Vermouth’s platinum blonde hair cascaded like a waterfall. Even with her bangs partially covering her face, it was clear she was in a good mood as she ordered from the bartender: “Angel’s Kiss, please.”
Watching the bartender retrieve the drink from the counter, Bourbon suddenly formed a guess about the identity of the black-haired girl from earlier. “So that was Cocoa Wine?”
Angel’s Kiss is a cocktail based on Cocoa Wine. Vermouth typically drinks strong liquor, so her sudden order of this cocktail that completely contradicts her usual taste and personality clearly reveals the identity of the person who just left.
To be honest, Bourbon had initially only intended to meet Vermouth this time. Running into another member of the Organization—and a codenamed one he hadn’t met before—was an unexpected bonus… and one he’d frequently heard rumors about.
During his time in the Organization, Bourbon, as an undercover agent of Japan’s Public Security Bureau, had always aimed to gather as much information as possible. Being part of the intelligence division, he had long been familiar with the name “Cocoa Wine.” Of course, the rumors about her were not only numerous but also wildly varied, some even bordering on absurd, and Bourbon didn’t find them entirely credible.
However, thanks to today’s encounter, he could confirm a few of those rumors.
First… Cocoa Wine possesses a photographic memory and holds over 50% of the Organization’s intelligence in her mind. While the latter part remains unclear, the former was evident from how Vermouth handed her documents, which she memorized instantly, and Vermouth’s trust in her was such that she didn’t hesitate to destroy the materials on the spot.
Second… her relationship with Gin could be glimpsed from her conversation with Vermouth. Considering Vermouth’s attitude and that kiss earlier, their emotional ties might be even more complicated than the rumors suggested.
“Ah, Bourbon, this is your first time meeting her, right?” Vermouth picked up the shot glass in front of her. Angel’s Kiss is traditionally served in a shot glass, using Cocoa Wine as the base, topped with white cream and a cherry. It’s called “Angel’s Kiss” because the red cherry on the cream resembles a kiss left by an angel.
It’s a low-alcohol, sweet, visually appealing cocktail.
Bourbon smiled in response. “Yes, though it’s my first time meeting her in person, I’ve long heard of her reputation.”
That was true.
Despite Cocoa Wine being somewhat of a tech geek who dislikes meeting new people and has a fixed, narrow social circle, her connection to certain individuals and the memorable, often outrageous events surrounding her have placed her among the top three most discussed topics in the Organization’s gossip.
“Hmm… that child really is a center of attention.” Vermouth tilted her head to glance at the blond young man beside her. “What’s your impression?”
Bourbon smiled as he gave his assessment: “Just judging by appearances, she certainly lives up to her name as a sweet wine.”
The black-haired girl was tall with striking, glamorous features, but her facial contours weren’t sharp. When she smiled, her overall demeanor lacked any edge, instead carrying a non-threatening, sweet charm.
Hearing this, Vermouth shot him a meaningful look. “Don’t get any ideas about that child. Consider this a warning.”
Bourbon’s expression remained unchanged, his lips parting slightly with a faint smile, his tone inexplicably carrying a hint of confrontation. “Oh? Because she’s your and Gin’s little darling?”
Vermouth didn’t deny it, withdrawing her gaze as the curve of her lips deepened. “You could say that.”
Bourbon didn’t press further, his gaze returning to the glass in his hand as he lowered his eyes to conceal his thoughtful expression.
Setting aside Vermouth for now… regarding the relationship between Cocoa Wine and Gin, he had heard no less than five different rumors.
While everyone tacitly acknowledged their unusual relationship and emphasized Gin’s almost pathological absolute protection of Cocoa Wine… the interpretations of their relationship varied dramatically.
Some claimed it was psychological manipulation and PUA, others said Cocoa Wine herself was a witch who secretly practiced curses and placed hexes, while conspiracy theorists argued that Cocoa Wine possessed significant value herself which explained Gin’s behavior. There were even those who claimed Cocoa Wine’s existence was Gin’s retribution… In comparison, theories about grooming like the Tale of Genji or genuine love sounded so normal they seemed almost mundane.
When Bourbon first heard these various theories, his reactions ranged from “I never thought someone like Gin would have such tastes” to “This sounds fake, are they just acting?” to “While I don’t know the truth, those spreading these rumors probably have some grudge against Gin.”
After meeting Cocoa Wine in person… Bourbon felt the truth hadn’t been clarified but had instead become increasingly enigmatic.
However, it seemed he wouldn’t be getting any answers from Vermouth for now.
Bourbon smoothly changed the subject: “Speaking of which, what did you ask Cocoa Wine to help you with? Does it relate to my mission?”
“Nothing important,” Vermouth said with a laugh. “Just had her help gather some information about the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s internal affairs.”