Case Closed: He’s Just Not Up to It
Hello everyone, my name is Natsume Natsuki. I’m twenty years old, having returned from America less than half a year ago. I live in the Tokyo metropolitan area, unmarried with no boyfriend, but I do have a male guardian. Both of us work for an international criminal organization where members use alcohol-related codenames. Regardless of what my guardian thinks, I absolutely refuse to work more than eight hours a day.
I don’t smoke, and when I drink, I only take small sips and never get drunk. My bedtime is irregular, but I always make sure to get ten hours of sleep every day. I usually take some sleep aids before bed and sleep soundly until morning. I don’t see doctors because I’m medically trained myself. I think I’m perfectly normal—at least more normal than Liang Ying. Though I do yearn for a peaceful life.
Even now, my life is far from peaceful, but that’s alright—I have my wits about me!
After saying those words, I quietly watched him, trying to appear innocent.
The silver-haired young man stared at me for a moment before gloomily looking away, his face showing faint impatience. Still, he didn’t pull his hand away to push me off.
He seemed unhappy to be around me, yet he wouldn’t let me stray too far either. When I was younger, I once ran away from home after he scolded me, only to be dragged back when he found me. After that incident, he’d still glare at me reproachfully, but he stopped being verbally aggressive.
I flashed a mysterious smile and glanced over at Vodka, signaling with my eyes: See? I told you so!
Vodka: “…”
Vodka once again wore an expression of wanting to speak but holding back, clearly not wanting to get involved as he hurriedly got in the car to prepare for driving.
Though by the look of him, he probably wished he could hide under the vehicle.
I wasn’t convinced by Vodka’s firm denial. What’s wrong with me? I’m one of the Organization’s most renowned beauties! I’m this cute with such an interesting personality! Just look at my codename—proof that the Boss himself recognizes my adorableness!
Isn’t having both a cute appearance and an interesting soul a double kill?! How uncultured!
Due to this morning’s laboratory incident, naturally I couldn’t go to the lab recently.
And Gin had no intention of keeping me around either, dropping me off at a random intersection after the mission ended.
I didn’t mind, waving at the black Porsche that drove off immediately after I got out, calling loudly: “Come home early!”
That’s right—home.
Because we live together.
So why bother hiding? You’ll have to return to me eventually anyway, sigh.
I first went to the French restaurant I’d reserved earlier, enjoyed a meal and thanked the chef, then went shopping to soothe my frightened little heart from today’s events. After taking a taxi home, I got down to serious business.
The lab disturbance appeared to be an accident, but the fact that someone could obtain a firearm and knew to take me—who’d only been at that lab for less than a week—hostage suggested there must be underlying reasons.
Of course, I wasn’t going to personally handle the interrogation—that’s not my expertise. Plus, it’s too troublesome.
So I decisively passed it to the responsible person, making a phone call: “…That’s basically the situation. So I’m leaving this matter to you, Ireland.”
“That’s doable… but why come to me instead of Gin?”
“Is Gin some kind of workaholic model that he needs to handle so many tasks? Saving me was already exhausting enough for him – I’d feel bad troubling him with this matter too.” After saying this, I paused briefly, my tone turning more serious. “Besides, if he gets involved, probably everyone at that research institute would be wiped out. Although our Organization has deep pockets, we can’t afford to burn through resources like that.”
“…” The person on the other end fell silent, likely recognizing the truth in my words. Though I couldn’t tell whether it was the first or second part of my statement that gave them pause.
“That research institute is also within Pisco’s territory. As Pisco’s foster son, handling this should be perfectly normal for you, right?” I reminded him.
“Understood.” He responded noncommittally before bringing up another matter. “So you’re still planning to use that fake identity now that you’re back?”
I replied lazily, “Yeah, my real identity isn’t suitable for public activities, at least for now. Help me set up that identity properly – I might need to use it later.”
The fake identity Ireland mentioned was one I had used three years ago when I first returned to Japan, named “Masuyama Nana.” It was the identity of Pisco’s foster daughter, with “Nana” taken from the abbreviation of my real name, Natsume Natsuki.
Pisco’s name is Masuyama Kenzo, a board chairman of an automobile company… though of course, he reached his current position through the Organization’s support.
Since I wanted to create a reusable fake identity that could withstand scrutiny, it naturally had to be built using our own people for cover, with all the proper documentation. So I fabricated a half-true identity: having moved to the US with my parents at age six, then returning to Japan for high school after my parents died in a plane accident, with guardianship transferred to a distant relative, Masuyama Kenzo.
After using this identity for one year of high school, the cover story was that “she” went to study abroad in America, while I resumed my real identity to work on projects at the research institute. Currently, I’m responsible for the programming section.
Having successfully outsourced the task, I checked my email one more time, stretched lazily, and went to take a bath.
After finishing my bath and drying my hair, I sat at the living room table with my hair down, wearing blue-light glasses, typing furiously on my laptop.
Gin returned just as I was about to complete this week’s experiment report.
I hit enter and turned to greet him: “A Jin, you’re back! I’ve already made coffee for you – it’s ready to drink.”
This “A Jin” was what I called him.
Because Gin’s real name is Kurosawa Jin.
He glanced at me without reacting to the greeting, going straight to get the coffee before sitting on the sofa, frowning slightly. “What kind of ridiculous clothes are you wearing?”
“Hmm? You mean this?” I looked down and tugged at my T-shirt, which read “KGB is for me.” It was a custom-made T-shirt I’d ordered recently, and this was my first time wearing it.
“A Jin, you know I’m a KGB fan.” I adjusted my glasses. “You’ve seen my collection of KGB badges before, haven’t you?”
The silver-haired young man seemed to recall past events, his expression darkening further, but he said nothing more.
After finishing my work, I closed my laptop, removed my glasses and placed them on the table, then tiptoed over to the sofa and squeezed in beside him. Then… I reached out to grab a handful of his long hair and quietly began braiding it for fun.
“…Natsume Natsuki, are you repeatedly testing my limits by provoking me?” Gin’s voice was cold and devoid of warmth.
But there wasn’t much anger in it. After all, with how often this happened, one’s tolerance threshold naturally increased. After all these years, he should have grown accustomed to my antics.
“Not at all! I clearly know exactly where your limits are. Look, over all these years, have I ever done anything you found absolutely unforgivable?” I declared with an air of righteousness, widening my eyes to gaze at him innocently, my tone sincere. “It’s just that you’ve been so unhappy lately, A Zhen, and I’m really worried about you. That’s why I keep clowning around to cheer you up. Come on, give me a smile.”
“…Cocoa Wine.” The silver-haired young man stared at me expressionlessly for a moment before speaking.
I made a shushing gesture at him, maintaining my previous attitude. “I’ve told you to call me by my name when we’re off duty. We should keep work hours and personal time separate. Aren’t we using codenames for confidentiality? Since there are no secrets between us, using codenames feels so cringey and embarrassing.”
Gin remained silent, looking as though he wanted to hit me, but he restrained himself and ultimately compromised again. “Natsume Natsuki.”
Only then did I smile, tilting my head to look at him. “What is it?”
Gin reached out and gripped my chin, staring at me impassively as he enunciated each word clearly. “What will it take for you to become more obedient?”
His grip was a bit forceful, causing a faint ache in my jaw. But I knew he wouldn’t actually harm me, so I didn’t take it seriously.
Hearing his words, I was momentarily speechless, my eyes widening in disbelief. What?! Wasn’t I already being obedient enough?! Compared to how I treated others, I was being exceptionally considerate! What more could he possibly want?!
Gin was just being too greedy. I shouldn’t indulge him.
With that thought, I reached up with both hands to grasp the one holding my chin, lifted my head to free myself, then leaned down to kiss the captured hand before looking up with crimson eyes, wearing a sincere expression and speaking with utmost earnestness. “But I was born with a rebellious spirit.”
He clearly paid no attention to my obvious attempt at deflecting, instead narrowing his eyes slightly as he withdrew his hand—but not completely. Instead, he moved it to press against the back of my head, pushing me forward forcefully. Caught off guard, I stumbled forward, my hands landing on his chest.
I’m not a dull person. On the contrary, I’m quite perceptive. So, from his aggressive movement and assessing gaze, I immediately sensed something in this dangerously charged atmosphere.
But I had no intention of avoiding it. After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, my eyes lit up and I moved even closer, wrapping both arms around the other’s neck until I was practically sitting in their lap, my expression brimming with anticipation.
Then, I watched as their expression instantly shed its aggressiveness, returning to its usual neutrality. They raised a hand to press against my shoulder, applying force in the opposite direction to push me out of their embrace.
I was momentarily bewildered but didn’t resist, instead slipping out of their hold while complaining with a hint of dissatisfaction, “Aww, I thought something was going to happen.””
“Go to sleep,” Gin said expressionlessly.
I secretly scoffed, then followed up with a yawn and obediently stood up to head toward my room: “You’re so capricious, A Zhen… Well, good night then!”
Upon reaching my bedroom door, I paused with my hand on the doorknob, glancing back. The silver-haired youth on the sofa briefly showed a flicker of irritation, but quickly concealed it upon noticing my gaze, instead frowning at me with a questioning look.
I gave them a sweet smile, opened the door to enter my room, and closed it behind me. Leaning back against the door, I let out a long sigh.
Hmm… Today’s probing seems to have narrowed down the range of possibilities further.
I raised a hand to stroke my chin, deep in thought. Either there’s some extraordinary hidden circumstance… or he just can’t perform.