Ch. 281..290
Chapter 281 - 281: The Vengeful Cointreau
A black car was parked beneath a towering building.
Two men dressed in black stepped out and, without drawing attention, took the elevator straight to the upper floors.
Thomas Schindler was already waiting.
When he saw the two men—both clearly dangerous—he didn't dare say a word. With hesitant, trembling steps, he led them to a nearby door.
Click.
He unlocked it and said softly:
"Come out, Hiroki. Your escorts are here."
"…"
Hiroki Sawada glanced at him, eyes calm but unreadable. Without a word, he stepped forward.
After confirming his identity, the two men said coldly, "Hiroki Sawada. Come with us."
"Understood."
Hiroki followed obediently.
As he walked away with the two men in black, Thomas Schindler watched him silently. The words wouldn't come.
Some things only grow more terrifying the longer you stare at them.
After learning of the Organization's power and the horrifying things it was capable of, Thomas Schindler abandoned any thought of resistance. He was, after all, just a businessman.
The two men took Hiroki and left quietly.
The car engine purred as they drove through the city. One of the men in the passenger seat pulled out his phone.
"Hiroki Sawada has been retrieved. We're en rou—"
CRASH!
A sudden shatter of glass.
The windshield fractured instantly, spiderwebbing with cracks. The man with the phone's head jerked back violently—then slumped to one side, lifeless. A single bloody hole marred the center of his forehead.
The driver didn't even have time to react before another bullet punched through his skull.
"Hello? Hello?!"
A confused voice came from the phone, which had fallen into the seat, still connected.
Two bullets. Two shooters. Less than two seconds. Two lives were extinguished.
Hiroki realized the two were dead a moment too late.
In a dark bar—
It was still early. There are no customers yet. No drinks poured.
Chianti stood near the dartboard, squinting with one eye. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a dart flying.
Thwack.
It landed dead center.
"With that computer genius joining us… heh, I can't even imagine what the Organization will become," she said, voice laced with amusement.
Vodka looked a bit excited.
As a tech-savvy member of the group, he knew how terrifying Hiroki Sawada was. The boy had created Noah's Ark, after all. A lone genius capable of changing the world.
Gin, however, said nothing. He was flipping through a newspaper in front of him.
Nearby, a juicer buzzed loudly for a moment before falling silent. Cohen poured the contents into a glass.
"Want one?" he asked Hayashi Yoshiki.
"Is it tomato juice?"
"That's right."
"Then sure, I'll have a glass."
Cohen poured him a cup of thick red liquid and set it down. As Hayashi Yoshiki took a sip, Cohen asked nonchalantly:
"How sweet is it?"
"A little sweet, but not bad," Yoshiki replied with a cheerful smile.
"Hmm."
Cohen wasn't the talkative type. But he could tell Yoshiki had something on his mind. After a pause, he gave in and asked:
"Working on a new book?"
"Of course, I've got ideas—but I'm not starting just yet."
"…I've even thought of a title."
"…"
"…Cointreau. Do you have a grudge against Schindler?"
Hayashi Yoshiki blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the blunt question. Gin looked up from his paper.
Several articles discussed the mysterious deaths of certain newspaper editors.
Ever since it came to light that Thomas Schindler was the descendant of a killer, the sudden deaths of those who'd criticized him only strengthened public suspicion—was Schindler eliminating witnesses?
The police were now actively pursuing him.
"No," Yoshiki said, still smiling. "Actually, I'm grateful to Mr. Schindler. He gave me a very generous payment for that article."
But...—he chuckled—"Those newspaper editors? They had it coming. I'll take this opportunity to clean house."
Had it coming...
Vodka suddenly recalled that time when Hayashi Yoshiki was publicly defamed due to remarks from Beniko Suo. If memory served, those editors-in-chief were the very same ones.
Trash tabloids. Always sensationalizing tragedy. When Hayashi Yoshiki had been smeared, they'd pounced like vultures.
Gin let out a low chuckle.
As far as the Organization was concerned, Thomas Schindler was worthless now—especially after he dared to use Noah's Ark to investigate them. His fate was sealed.
Vodka swallowed hard.
So... it really is a grudge?
But—wasn't Yoshiki slandered? And wasn't the fallout basically non-existent? He'd smiled his way through it all… hadn't he?
Yet here he was, coolly eliminating those responsible—just because he could.
What about me...? Vodka's heart thudded. I nearly killed him once... didn't I?
The more he thought about it, the paler he became. His throat felt parched. Looking at Hayashi Yoshiki, something inside him twisted with unease.
Cointreau's the kind of guy who smiles sweetly... while plotting your death.
"C-Cointreau..." Vodka croaked.
"Hm?"
"Well, uh... I..."
Yoshiki turned to him with a gentle smile.
But to Vodka, those eyes—so serene—hid something else. Something cold. Ruthless. Final.
The red tomato juice in his hand now looked thick, dark... bloody.
"What is it, Mr. Vodka?" Yoshiki asked pleasantly.
"——!"
"Something you wanted to say?"
Just as Vodka opened his mouth, Gin's phone rang.
At first, Gin answered calmly—but then his expression twisted into rage. His dark green eyes narrowed with murderous fury.
"What did you say?!"
Everyone turned to him in alarm.
He slammed the phone down, his face a mask of cold fury.
"What happened, Gin?" Chianti asked, surprised.
"That idiot Pinga...!"
Gin's voice was like ice. He glared at his phone as if he could burn a hole through it.
He had just received an update from Rum:
The two agents sent to retrieve Hiroki Sawada had been killed.
Hiroki was missing.
——Pinga's assignment.
The man had always been hostile to Gin, desperate to surpass him in status. Fearing Gin would steal the credit, Binga had secretly sent his own subordinates to retrieve Hiroki.
And now—this disaster.
Under normal circumstances, Gin might've laughed. But knowing how important Hiroki Sawada was to the Organization, even he couldn't stay calm.
"There's work to do."
His tone was murderous.
"Find Hiroki Sawada. Now."
Chapter 282 - 282: Tonight, Beika Town Will Be Very Lively
Bang bang bang bang!!
A burst of bullets pierced through the car window, blowing out the driver's head on the spot.
A witness screamed in terror.
A figure, helmeted and gripping a submachine gun in one hand, stepped hard on the accelerator of a motorcycle and sped off right after the hit. He weaved through several streets, then executed a sharp tailspin and darted into an alley. Tires splashed through puddles as he zipped through, emerging onto another road.
[Target neutralized.]
The man sent a quick message, shoved his phone into his pocket, and, confirming no one had spotted him, accelerated and disappeared into the city.
At the same time, similar chaos erupted in other corners of Beika City.
Tequila, bleeding from one hand, grabbed a man by the throat, slammed him into a wall, shoved a pistol against his skull, and pulled the trigger.
"You're trash—and you thought you could kill me?"
The back of the man's head burst open, blood spraying across the wall before the body slumped to the ground.
Tequila's phone buzzed.
"Got it. I'm on my way!"
He rushed out, climbed into his Hummer, and roared off into the night.
Elsewhere, a Porsche 356A sped through the Tokyo streets.
Vodka floored the gas pedal.
In the distance, on the rooftop of a tall building, a sniper aimed Gin through his scope. He held his breath—and fired.
Crack!
A brass bullet burst from the barrel. In that split second, Gin felt a tingle along his temple. His instincts flared, and he jerked the wheel.
The car swerved violently. The bullet meant for his skull, slammed into the rear of the car with a clang!
"Sniper!"
"Keep driving!" Gin ordered coldly.
The sniper, stunned by Gin's reaction speed, clenched his teeth.
No wonder so many killers have died at his hands. That man is a demon.
Atop Tokyo Tower, Hayashi Yoshiki stood on the observation deck, overlooking the glowing cityscape.
"Heh."
He loosened the tie he'd worn all day, unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt beneath his suit, and raised his left hand slowly, like a conductor beginning a symphony.
In the far distance, at the traffic light in front of Hamamatsuchō Station, a car crash unfolded—exactly as planned.
One of Yoshiki's agents, who had been on standby, took advantage of the confusion to aim and fire, killing a man who had been running with suspicious intent.
Then Yoshiki raised his right hand.
Moments later, a bomb detonated near the Beika TV station, flipping a vehicle into the air.
A beautiful show. Beika Town will be quite lively tonight...
And this was only the beginning.
To trap Hiroki Sawada, who had been abducted, the Black Organization had deployed nearly all available operatives in the vicinity of Beika Town.
But the Zoo organization had long since set up a defensive net—anticipating the ambush.
Hayashi Yoshiki had written this script himself.
Using the intelligence from Noah's Ark, he had more cards in his hand than anyone imagined.
In the Porsche, Gin stared at the chaotic streets and spoke into his earpiece.
"Too many killers on the move."
On the other end, Rum's voice answered.
"The tracker on Hiroki Sawada showed he was taken into a building... and never left. But—"
"They're probably using him as bait to lure us in and wipe us out," Gin interrupted coldly.
"We need reinforcements."
Suddenly, Gin reached out of the car window and fired at a killer on a motorcycle, who had been reaching for a gun. Blood splattered the window as the man fell.
Vodka sped past the killer's wrecked bike.
They were approaching an abandoned factory.
Before Hiroki was taken, a hidden tracking device had been placed on him. Surveillance footage and the unbroken trail confirmed they hadn't changed vehicles—allowing the Organization to narrow down his location.
"We must recover Hiroki Sawada!" Gin growled.
"With Noah's Ark under our control, nothing will be hidden from us. We could even access nuclear launch codes!" Rum hissed through the earpiece.
He was fuming.
He hadn't expected to clash with that other organization again—especially not now.
Their old feud started when they falsely blamed him for the death of the assassin code-named Spider. Despite repeated losses in past skirmishes, the Zoo had reemerged at the worst possible moment.
There must be a traitor inside the Organization, Rum realized grimly. And a high-ranking one. Someone who knew the exact timing of the mission to retrieve Hiroki Sawada.
He quickly called his spies near Thomas Schindler for a report.
But no one picked up.
He tried other contacts.
Silence.
Back at the top of Tokyo Tower, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled as he watched the chaos unfold.
He controlled the battle from the shadows. Every success, every death, was fed into a disposable, anonymous phone prepared for this very night—containing real-time reports and standby placements of Zoo agents.
"Noah's Ark, reply to me if you're receiving this."
He sent the message.
The phone had no camera, no GPS, and no surveillance features. It was just a relay point with an encrypted IP that only Noah's Ark could trace.
As an omnipresent AI in the digital realm, Noah's Ark had detected the confrontation over Hiroki Sawada. It had also followed the trail of encrypted chatter and tracked the phone Hayashi Yoshiki was using to coordinate the night's operations.
But…
No reply came.
Hayashi Yoshiki stared at the screen, his smile slowly fading.
Chapter 283 - 283: I Just Asked If You Saw the Billboard
The frequent shootings and explosions in a short period completely shattered the peace in Beika Town.
A killer riding a motorcycle quickly closed in on a red car ahead. Grinning, he slapped a clay bomb onto the door, then suddenly accelerated and sped off.
BOOM!!!!!!!
The instant the killer pressed the detonator, the red car exploded into a ball of fire.
The shockwave propelled the killer forward as he made his escape.
But just as he raced through the intersection and was about to turn, a bullet came out of nowhere—piercing his helmet's visor and splattering blood.
[Nakanuma Landren]
[22:41, October 13 – Killed in an explosion under the overpass at 9-chome, Beika Town]
[Takajo Ryunosuke]
[22:41, October 13 – After killing Nakanuma Rikuto with a sticky bomb, was shot and killed while fleeing]
Elsewhere...
From Beika Town to the port warehouse district, multiple vehicles were locked in a high-speed gunfight.
Brass bullet casings rained down on the cold asphalt. Muzzle flashes flickered in rapid succession, causing innocent drivers to scream and slam on their brakes.
One car—caught in the crossfire—was struck in its fuel tank. In the next second, it erupted into flames, the force launching it off the ground in a horrifying spectacle.
[June Jim]
[22:46, October 13 – Killed in an explosion during a firefight on Beika Town City Expressway when the vehicle's fuel tank was pierced]
Many would die tonight—both those written in the Death Note and those not.
Atop Tokyo Tower, Hayashi Yoshiki stood on the observation deck, arms lightly outstretched as he looked out over the glittering city below.
Small tragedies unfolded like specks of dust amid Tokyo's neon glow. Yet even from this distance, Hayashi could see the chaos playing out below.
He remembered every name written in the Death Note.
By cross-referencing the time and location of each written death, it was as if he could truly witness the moment each soul was taken.
Through his earpiece, Hayashi could hear the chaos erupting:
"These guys are like fleas! Where the hell did they all come from!?"
"Shit!"
BOOM!!!
Most of the killers were targeting Gin and Vodka tonight.
After all, their bounties were still posted on the killer platform—and tonight, alongside the Death Note's pawns, were many freelance assassins acting of their own accord.
And Gin's battered Porsche 356A was just too iconic to miss.
"I checked your location—you're on the expressway now, right?"
Hayashi Yoshiki's voice came through Gin's headset.
Gin didn't look away from the killer ahead, who brandished a submachine gun and glanced toward them.
"What's your current speed?"
Hayashi asked as he walked toward the laptop resting on the ground beside him.
A digital map tracked Gin and Vodka's GPS in real-time. Hayashi made a quick adjustment, pulling up a traffic cam feed of the expressway.
"120 kilometers per hour!" Vodka shouted.
"Good. Keep that speed. Stay in the middle lane. Do you see the large billboard on the right?"
"...I see it!"
Vodka's heart skipped. Was Cointreau about to kill them with a billboard!?
He knew Hayashi Yoshiki—codenamed Cointreau—was a reliable ally, but he couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow offended him. His foot trembled on the accelerator.
Still, slowing down was not an option. He fixed his gaze on the billboard with absolute focus, silently praying it wouldn't come crashing down to flatten them.
"12... 11... 10..."
The countdown began.
Bullets rained down on the old car. It was a miracle Gin's vintage Porsche was still holding up, but Vodka didn't have the luxury of dodging—he kept staring straight ahead, barely blinking.
5... 4... 3...
In a daze, Vodka thought he saw the billboard tremble...
Up ahead, a logging truck had just entered the expressway from a side street. Spooked by the gunfire, the driver panicked and jerked the wheel.
Right at that moment, the iron chains holding the timber snapped.
CRASH!
Massive logs tumbled from the trailer, bouncing and rolling with terrifying force.
Vodka's instincts screamed for him to hit the brakes, but before he could—
"KEEP THE SPEED!"
Gin's sharp voice cut through the chaos.
Vodka swallowed hard and floored the pedal.
Gin clutched the interior handrail, emerald eyes locked on the incoming logs. Death rolled toward them on wooden wheels.
"3… 2… 1…"
BOOM!!!
One massive log crushed the car of a killer directly ahead of them. Whether it was from a bomb or a ruptured fuel tank, the explosion that followed accelerated the log's momentum, launching it sideways.
Gin and Vodka's Porsche slipped through a narrow gap—barely surviving the stampede of lumber.
But their pursuers weren't so lucky. Desperate braking was useless. Seconds later, vehicles were smashed and flattened by the barrage of logs.
In the rearview mirror, Vodka watched the carnage unfold and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Wait… wasn't the trap the billboard?"
"Of course not," Hayashi Yoshiki replied. "I was just asking if you saw the billboard."
"…"
Vodka stared at Gin, who had a rare grin spreading across his usually emotionless face.
This entire operation had been thrown together in haste.
And yet, even with little preparation, Hayashi Yoshiki managed to deliver a stunning result.
Even Gin was surprised.
But Vodka?
He was flat-out terrified.
Chapter 284 - 284: How About Recommending Me to Take Your Place?
The place where Hiroki Sawada had been taken was a small, hidden factory—
one that produced illegal drugs.
"The intelligence team also reported that all of their venues in Tokyo have been cleared out."
Vodka, who had just arrived, looked at the corpses scattered across the entrance and couldn't help but mutter.
Gunfire rang out intermittently from within the factory.
High above, Chianti and Korn had climbed to the roof of a nearby building. They set up their sniper rifles and activated thermal scopes, silently harvesting the enemy one by one.
"But judging by their positioning, their firepower is lacking."
From the headset:
"Aside from the killers targeting your bounty on the roads, I almost pity the ones who gathered here."
"Then let's charge in already!"
Tequila barked in his Kansai-accented voice.
He was also a wanted man on the assassin platform, and it was a miracle he'd made it here after being shot at so many times. Luckily, the Organization's newly developed bulletproof vests had done their job.
Gin said nothing. With eyes full of killing intent, he grabbed a submachine gun and strode straight into the factory, stepping over the corpses without hesitation.
It was a pharmaceutical plant—
now in utter chaos.
The dead included both members of the Winery and the Zoo.
Gin and Vodka moved quickly through the well-lit corridor.
As they passed a door, Gin heard faint breathing on the other side. Without hesitation, he raised his gun and opened fire.
RATATATATA!
A burst of bullets tore through the door, shredding the ambusher's chest into a bloody mess before he even hit the floor.
Gin didn't spare him a second glance.
"Keep moving."
"Position tracking hasn't been interrupted," came Rum's voice through the headset.
"...Is there an ambush up ahead? Bombs?" Vodka muttered nervously.
Gin remained silent.
Even if they knew it was a trap, they couldn't retreat.
Hiroki Sawada was far too valuable.
Even putting Noah's Ark aside, his talent as a programmer was something the Organization could not afford to lose. If a hostile group had indeed taken him, it would be catastrophic.
Far away, atop Tokyo Tower—
Hayashi Yoshiki watched the scene unfold on his laptop, expression calm.
This operation was rushed.
From the moment he acquired intel on the Zoo and the assassin network, he had less than a day to plan everything. Though the Zoo's influence in Tokyo had been nearly wiped out, he simply didn't have time to mobilize enough forces to compete with Gin's team.
And yet, if he truly wanted to kill Gin today, there had been many chances.
Far too many.
Now, for instance—
A pre-planted bomb would do the trick.
Hayashi glanced at Vodka's position beside Gin on the monitor and remembered that earlier bomb… the one that had left Ran and himself dangling on the edge of death.
He began typing.
"This is your last chance, Noah's Ark."
Just as he sent the message, another line appeared on the screen in reply:
[Don't even think about using Hiroki and me.]
There was a response.
Hayashi's eyes narrowed, intrigued.
Meanwhile, Gin and Vodka had just stepped through the final door.
They were now in the heart of the factory—a lab of sorts.
"He's really here?"
Vodka's voice held disbelief as he saw Hiroki Sawada through a glass wall.
But Gin wasn't looking at the boy—his eyes were fixed on the short, chubby man standing outside the glass. Without hesitation, Gin raised his gun and aimed.
The man smirked.
"Still so arrogant, even at death's door?"
"I'm not the only one dying today," he sneered.
"The moment you stepped into this room, the bomb's countdown began. In three minutes… everyone here dies."
Gin's eyes narrowed sharply.
He could tell—the bastard wasn't lying.
Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The bullet pierced the man's skull. Blood sprayed as his body crumpled.
"What do we do now, Aniki?!" Vodka shouted.
BOOM!!!
An explosion in the distance shook the floor beneath them.
Before they could react, another explosion rocked the building. Dust rained down from the ceiling. The lab trembled ominously.
Behind the shattered glass wall, Hiroki Sawada stood motionless, numb.
He didn't understand what was happening anymore.
From the moment he'd been kidnapped, all he'd seen was people dying.
He regretted it.
He shouldn't have created Noah's Ark.
Gin's face was grim.
He couldn't believe the lengths these maniacs had gone to. Just because their assassins failed to kill him, they'd rather blow everything up—including Hiroki and Noah's Ark—than let the Organization win?
Pathetic.
Utterly pathetic.
He raised his gun to break the glass—
—but then froze.
Hiroki was already holding a familiar red-and-white capsule.
He swallowed it without hesitation.
APTX4869!?
CRACK!
Gin shot the glass and rushed forward, grabbing Hiroki.
He had definitely taken it.
"That man said it's a poison… one that ends life painlessly. If I die, Noah's Ark dies with me. People like you… won't be able to use it again."
The drug acted fast.
Hiroki's vision was already fading. A searing heat surged through his veins.
As he writhed in pain, Gin tossed him aside coldly.
There was no saving him now.
"Aniki! What do we do?!" Vodka shouted as he ran in.
"Less than three minutes. Escape's impossible."
Gin looked around at the lab—
cold, mechanical, suffocating.
Another explosion echoed through the walls.
The factory was falling apart.
He had expected a trap. But not like this. Not from this kind of deranged enemy.
He clenched his teeth.
Then, Cointreau's voice came through Gin's headset, calm and deliberate:
"If you're really going to die, Gin…
How about recommending me to take your place?"
Chapter 285 - 285: Gin's Thoughts
Since you're going to die soon anyway, why don't you recommend me to take your place?
Vodka, who was caught off guard by what he heard, was dumbfounded.
No way!
What did this guy Cointreau mean by saying that? Was he really so eager to seize the opportunity in someone else's misfortune?
Vodka opened his mouth to speak—but after hearing the voice in the headset, Gin fell silent.
After a moment, he showed a cold smile.
"Are you interested in my position?"
"A little bit, indeed."
Cointreau's response was calm, even casual. He didn't sound the least bit distressed that his boss might die. His voice—processed through a voice changer—was chillingly indifferent.
Surprisingly, Gin didn't feel angry. Instead, he grinned.
——As a frontline killer often dispatched by the Organization, Gin had long anticipated death.
He'd imagined dying in a trap or at the hands of those irritating agents from the FBI or CIA. He'd even considered the possibility of dying from illness or a meaningless accident. Though he hadn't expected death to arrive quite so suddenly... he didn't care.
Every day he lived was a day stolen from death.
Cigarettes, alcohol, fast cars, women...
He'd had it all.
Even these things no longer stirred anything in Gin. What thrilled him now was killing—killing those undercover agents who dared infiltrate the Organization or the traitors who dared defect.
It would be no exaggeration to say that the Organization was the very reason for Gin's existence.
But now, death seemed inevitable.
In less than three minutes, the chain of bombs activated across the building would tear the factory apart. There was no escape.
Gin held a high rank in the Organization—and with that came the right to consider a "successor."
Cointreau… might just be a good choice.
Unlike Rum, who inherited his father's position and was raised by the Organization since childhood, Cointreau didn't come from legacy. But when it came to being black-hearted, Gin had no doubts about him.
His only drawbacks? He was still too green, knew little about the deeper workings of the Organization—and killing seemed more like an addiction than a job.
But even so, he was clever. Highly capable. And dependable.
Gin thought a lot at that moment.
But what truly tempted him was Rum's political scheming. That man had been trying to infiltrate the action division for a long time—Pinga was proof of that. If Gin died, Rum would no doubt rush to plant his own men in his place.
But if Cointreau, someone Gin had chosen himself, took over—then it would still feel like Gin had contributed to the Organization… even after death.
"I can ask that gentleman to think about it," Gin said cryptically.
After all, the final decision would always lie with that man.
"Brother!?"
Vodka looked at him in shock.
Just then, Gin turned toward the computer beside him.
Like breathing lights in the dark, the indicator lights on the console all suddenly lit up.
"My name is Noah's Ark,"
a cold, monotone voice rang out.
"The dark side of human society is truly incomprehensible."
"That artificial intelligence!?" Vodka exclaimed in surprise.
Gin sneered.
As far as he was concerned, it was just a tool. He had no intention of having a conversation.
In those final moments, Gin began typing a message to their elusive boss—Karasuma Renya.
"You are the ones who killed Hiroki."
"He believed that as long as people like you—filled with ambition—exist, artificial intelligence like mine should not be allowed to exist in this world."
"I will end my life together with Hiroki."
"In the end, you will gain nothing."
"However, there is one final thing I must do before I disappear."
"Hiroki doesn't want more people to die because of him."
"So the bomb's countdown has been extended— you now have twenty minutes to escape. "
As the robotic voice finished speaking, a 20-minute countdown appeared on the screen.
Vodka's face lit up with relief. But before he could speak, he saw Gin striding toward the fallen figure of Hiroki Sawada.
Gin said nothing.
He didn't even feel like mocking the child's idealism. Something felt off.
"Brother?"
"...Hmph. So he really did swallow the APTX4869."
Gin checked Hiroki's condition carefully. His body was burning with an unnatural heat. The signs were unmistakable—it was the same reaction the drug had caused in past human test subjects.
No chance of recovery.
They had gone through so much trouble to steal that drug—and Hiroki had used it like this? Was this meant as a provocation? A message?
Finally, looking down at the boy who might die at any moment, Gin said:
"Let's go, Vodka."
"Got it!"
Vodka quickly followed, stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
The two of them escaped the collapsing factory.
Tequila, Bourbon, and the others had already evacuated—having acted on the outskirts, they'd left as soon as the outer explosions began.
"So… the mission failed?"
Bourbon leaned against the front of a car, arms crossed.
——Gin's grim face said it all.
That was a relief to Bourbon.
If artificial intelligence like Noah's Ark had fallen into the Organization's hands, no government agency in the world would stand by. Bourbon had already sent an urgent warning to the Red Team before the mission. If the Organization had succeeded, he was ready to kill Hiroki Sawada himself—even at the cost of his own life and reputation.
"You'd better retreat quickly. Officials are closing in."
Cointreau's modulated voice came through the earpiece again.
Everyone's expressions hardened as they climbed into their cars and left.
But just before leaving, Gin issued one last command:
"Chianti, Korn. Keep watching the factory until it explodes. Report any abnormalities to me immediately."
"Roger that."
Back inside the heart of the research facility, the countdown given by Noah's Ark continued on the screen.
"Hiroki..."
The cold, robotic voice echoed in the silent lab.
It was at that moment that several shadowy figures entered the facility…
Their eyes all fixed on the boy lying on the floor—Hiroki Sawada, whose breath grew fainter and fainter with every passing second, his body beginning to convulse after taking the APTX4869.
Chapter 286 - 286: Last Chance
[Tomoya Yutani]
Cause of death: Gunshot wound
At 23:31 on the evening of October 13, while on duty at the Koura Pharmaceutical Factory in 17-chome, Yūka-cho, he hid out of fear.
At 23:47, after the gunfire and explosions had subsided, he entered the research facility inside the factory and witnessed an "incredible event."
With that sense of disbelief, he and his companions escaped through the secret passage.
[Yuuto Gorokawa]
Cause of death: Gunshot wound
Same as above. Witnessed the event at 23:47. Escaped through the secret passage.
[Keita Shino]
Cause of death: Gunshot wound
Details similar; silence in the official report.
[Tsuda Iyuki]
Cause of death: Suicide
At 21:32 the following night, after a confrontation with Tomoya Aburaya, Yuuto Gorokawa, and Keita Shino, he became agitated, shot and killed all three, then fled to the beach and shot himself.
After previous experiments, Hayashi Yoshiki had confirmed: that the Death Note could indeed improve the success rate of rejuvenation for subjects who had taken APTX4869—but it wasn't a guarantee.
Whether the Death Note would accept vague terms like "incredible event" was uncertain.
But fundamentally, the Death Note was just an object.
Much of what it executed relied on the user's intent.
Hayashi Yoshiki had once recorded a victim's death using poetic language.
To outsiders, his entries seemed cryptic, nearly incomprehensible.
Yet, the results were valid—his target died as he intended.
However, when others were hypnotized and instructed to copy those same poetic words into the Death Note, their victims simply died of heart attacks.
The implication was clear: the user's comprehension was crucial.
Whether Hiroki Sawada survived or not now depended entirely on luck.
Hayashi Yoshiki looked at the laptop before him, displaying the last recorded conversation with Noah's Ark.
"This is your last chance, Noah's Ark."
[Don't even think about using Hiroki and me.]
"I have no intention of using you."
"Hiroki Sawada already chose death, and asked you to erase yourself too, didn't he?"
"So this is your last chance."
"A chance for Hiroki to vanish from public view... and begin a new life in freedom. As for you... the world still isn't ready for artificial intelligence."
[What exactly are you saying?]
Hayashi Yoshiki smirked slightly. The A.I. had taken the bait.
Hiroki Sawada's fate was otherwise sealed.
Even if he had no intent to die, the Organization's undercover agents would never allow him—or Noah's Ark—to fall into enemy hands.
Sooner or later, the CIA, FBI, MI6, and even KGB would swarm around a genius like Hiroki.
Noah's Ark, meanwhile, couldn't be allowed to live either—not by Hayashi Yoshiki.
It had witnessed the Organization's inner workings and could easily expose him.
Worse still, the Death Note could not kill an artificial intelligence.
But Hiroki... Hiroki had been valuable.
He had helped Hayashi infiltrate and understand the Organization's systems.
If there was even a 50% chance of success…
"A 50% success rate. If it works, Hiroki lives and starts anew. If not, it's the death he already chose."
"I need nothing from you. In fact, I hope you choose to terminate yourself once Hiroki gets his second chance. Artificial intelligence… is still too advanced for this world."
A long pause.
Then, Noah's Ark agreed.
It followed Hayashi Yoshiki's instructions and delayed the bomb detonation by 20 minutes.
By that time, all of the Organization members had already evacuated the factory.
They were in the midst of a brutal shootout while trying to break through police barricades.
Moments later,
the factory—now far behind—erupted in an explosion!
The deafening blast reached Gin's earpiece, accompanied by Chianti's furious voice:
"FUCK! What the hell kind of firepower is that?!"
"AARGH—my ears!! DAMMIT!"
"Shit, shit, shit!!"
Gin waited until the noise settled before inquiring.
Upon confirmation that the factory was utterly destroyed with no signs of escape, he finally relaxed.
Something still felt... off.
But for now, he let it go.
If blame was to be placed, it wouldn't fall on him.
Let Rum and Vermouth handle the fallout this time.
Tonight's failure had left Gin seething.
Hayashi Yoshiki, meanwhile, had left Tokyo Tower.
From the base of the structure, he could hear police sirens echoing throughout the city.
Street TVs were broadcasting news of the shootouts in multiple wards.
He disposed of his phone and notebook used for the operation, then returned to his car.
As he drove calmly toward his residence, a traffic police officer flagged him down.
"Please stop the vehicle!"
A familiar young woman in a traffic police uniform approached him—Yumi Miyamoto.
Hayashi Yoshiki stopped the car and lowered the window.
"Good evening. Is there a problem?"
"We're conducting routine checks for suspicious individuals. Please cooperate."
Yumi gave a courteous salute.
Hayashi Yoshiki remained perfectly calm.
Once her check was done, Yumi relaxed a little.
Then, she pulled out several photos.
"One more thing—have you seen these cars on your way here?"
"A Hummer… and this classic Porsche?"
"Yes. These belong to suspects currently being hunted by the police. If you spot them, please report immediately!"
Seeing Yumi's serious expression, Hayashi Yoshiki thought to himself:
Gin must be on foot now.
He smiled politely, nodded, and drove off.
Of course—he already knew where those people were.
From their comms earlier, they had successfully broken through the perimeter.
Should I report them… and have the police set another trap?
Chapter 287 - 287: Confused Task Force
In the aftermath of chaos across the city, one could only imagine what the news headlines in Beika Town would look like the next morning. Reports of explosions and gunfire on the streets spread through newspapers and public gossip like wildfire.
Under immense pressure, the Metropolitan Police Department held a press conference to take responsibility. At the same time, officers frantically launched a citywide manhunt. As a result, several killers and organization members were caught overnight.
Hayashi Yoshiki had been taken to the task force's office.
"Did you see that?!"
"Just like that time… he used a fully loaded logging truck to cause a crash and save his companions!"
"Only kills the bad guys?!"
"This bastard's companions exchanged fire in the city and detonated bombs, putting civilians at extreme risk and causing inestimable property damage. And yet, he didn't punish them?!"
Odagiri Toshiro slammed his fist on the table in anger.
Following the Osaka incident, there had now been another firefight with a mysterious organization. To maintain public stability—and, above all, face—the higher-ups kept piling pressure on the Metropolitan Police. Watching his subordinates, Megure Juzo and Kiyonaga Matsumoto, bowing and apologizing on television only deepened Odagiri's simmering fury.
Hayashi Yoshiki silently flipped through the data gathered by the task force.
There had been a large-scale chain accident on an urban expressway—caused by a log transport truck—resulting in many deaths and massive traffic disruption.
Although those killed were all assassins whose names Hayashi had written in the Death Note, to the public, it was a tragic accident. But to the task force, it was yet another appearance of the infamous killer who made death seem like a coincidence.
"Where was Thomas Schindler at the time of the incident?" Hayashi asked calmly.
"…According to our tracking, Thomas Schindler was near the scene when it happened," a police officer answered quietly, glancing nervously at the minister's grim expression.
Done.
Thomas Schindler had now fulfilled his final role.
Even without hard evidence, the timing and location made him suspicious. Anyone in the task force would begin to wonder if he knew the accident would occur.
Odagiri Toshiro's face darkened. He'd made up his mind.
"Bring Thomas Schindler in for questioning."
"But Minister, we don't have any direct evidence!"
"Then use the names of the deceased journalists and say we need his cooperation. If the higher-ups come after us, I'll take full responsibility."
His tone left no room for debate.
The current pressure on the department made it easier for Odagiri to issue such an order. After all, he truly was trying to solve the case…
And right now, Thomas Schindler was infamous. Whether his reputation had been manipulated by outside forces or not, public opinion had clearly turned against him.
"Minister Odagiri…" someone tried to intervene.
"I know. No need to talk me out of it, Advisor."
Odagiri sat stiffly, the shadows on his face deeper than ever.
Seeing his determination, Hayashi Yoshiki said nothing more.
The air in the task force office remained tense—until suddenly, a bombshell dropped.
"Minister! Thomas Schindler is dead!"
"W-What?!"
Several officers stood up in shock.
"When he was found, there was a gunshot wound to the forehead. We suspect homicide… but only his fingerprints were found on the weapon."
Odagiri stared blankly for a moment.
When Hayashi Yoshiki left the Metropolitan Police Department, it was already late into the night.
It meant that, quietly, another problem had been resolved.
Thomas Schindler's death was something the police could never have predicted.
In their minds, this foreign CEO—allegedly using artificial intelligence to commit murder—was a criminal mastermind. They had no idea that by the time they knocked on his door, he'd already been found stiff, lying in a pool of blood.
The trail to the so-called accidental murderer had been severed. The task force was left bewildered.
"Yoshiki-kun, you've worked hard~"
A warm, familiar embrace wrapped around him.
On the sofa, Yoko Okino gently pulled Hayashi's head into her chest, holding him close.
She didn't know the full details of the task force's situation—but she knew he had been working late to help the police. Her heart ached to comfort him.
"Ah… things should be over for now," Hayashi said with a calm smile.
The series of "accidental" killings would pause for now with Thomas Schindler's death—at least until the police encountered the next similar case. When that time came, they would shift focus… to the now-vanished Noah's Ark.
He hadn't needed to fabricate anything dramatic about Thomas's death.
All he had to do was make the police suspect the man and reinforce the idea that the accidents were caused by artificial intelligence. Once such a notion takes root in the human mind, it is not easily overturned.
"That's wonderful. Now Yoshiki-kun can finally rest."
She smiled brightly and began massaging his temples with gentle fingers, her eyes full of concern.
"Thank you, Yoko."
"Of course! You need rest to recharge… Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"If I eat a midnight snack now, doesn't Yoko need to consider her figure?"
"It's just one night. I'll survive," she replied with a playful grin.
"…Well, in that case, we should make sure to exercise after eating."
Yoko's face flushed crimson.
She glanced into Hayashi's smiling eyes, heart fluttering. "Y-Yoshiki… you're saying weird things again."
"Of course."
"…!"
"Yoko gives me so much energy… it's hard to hold back."
As he spoke, his hand around her back slowly slid downward.
Yoko's heart pounded louder. She didn't resist.
But just as the tension rose—
Hayashi suddenly pulled back and smiled.
"But first, we should have that midnight snack."
"…!"
Yoko puffed out her cheeks in mock frustration. "Yoshiki-kun, really…"
Chapter 288 - 288: Ticklish Little Ai
"In response to the serious and vicious incident that occurred in Beika Town on the night of October 13, the police have successfully arrested a total of seven suspects in connection with the case, thanks to their persistent pursuit and arrest."
"According to police sources, this was a violent confrontation between two hostile terrorist organizations during an ongoing conflict."
"During the incident, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Self-Defense Forces rushed to the scene. Among the suspects shot dead were numerous internationally wanted professional assassins and robbers."
"The Metropolitan Police Department has announced a follow-up press conference for 19:00 tonight. Further details will be revealed, and the public will receive a satisfactory explanation."
Turn on any news channel, and that's all you'll hear.
Hayashi Yoshiki barely glanced at the screen.
Then he turned toward the little girl sitting in front of him and asked, with unusual seriousness:
"Were you involved in what happened that night?"
"No."
"Then why didn't you answer my call?"
"The phone was in the car. I went on a date."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.
But Haibara Ai's face twitched.
Her expression turned sharp, her voice bitter and accusing:
"Liar."
"…"
"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? 'I forgot my phone?' That's your excuse? Seriously?"
"But I mean it."
He had, in fact, been atop Tokyo Tower that night. For security reasons, he'd left his phone behind. If Noah's Ark had traced him via IP, it would've been catastrophic.
When he returned home, Hayashi Yoshiki had found more than a dozen missed calls from Haibara Ai.
So, this meeting had been arranged specifically for her.
She was now glaring at him, clearly holding back a storm of emotions.
Based on the chaos in Beika Town, and what she already knew about various organizations, it was obvious to her that a serious conflict had erupted—and possibly involved Cointreau.
"…"
But facing Hayashi's relaxed, unreadable expression, Haibara Ai suddenly felt… defeated.
Her anger softened into quiet frustration. She lowered her head, her voice dropping.
"I can't help you with anything anyway..."
With her bangs covering her eyes, she whispered in a self-loathing tone:
"Worrying about your reputation doesn't help. It's pointless. It just makes me look like I'm being irrational... but I just... I just don't want you to be in danger."
Hayashi Yoshiki reached out toward her.
Here we go again…
Every time things got tense, he'd either ruffle her hair or smile gently, thinking it would fix everything.
Did he really think such simple tricks still worked?
Facing a man who regularly risked his life without telling her, Haibara Ai was filled with restless anxiety. She had told herself this time she would not let him manipulate her emotions...
Until—
"What are you doing?!"
He poked her side.
Startled, Haibara Ai flinched sharply.
Hayashi Yoshiki grinned:
"As expected, you're ticklish."
"…"
"You looked like you'd stay mad no matter what I said… so I thought this might be the only way to make you laugh."
And then—he went all in.
Hayashi Yoshiki placed both hands at her waist and began to tickle her mercilessly.
She tensed immediately, her reflexes too slow, her body too small. The second he scratched her sides, she yelped, squirming uncontrollably.
"Stop—! Stop it, Cointreau!"
"Wait—Ugh! Haha—stop scratching! Stop—!"
She twisted, kicked, and writhed like a cat fighting for its life.
"Hahaha, no—don't! Let me go—haha!"
Only when she was on the verge of collapsing, gasping for air and her sides sore, did Hayashi Yoshiki stop.
"…"
She slumped to the floor, breathing heavily, her face completely red, hair in total disarray.
After catching her breath, she glared up at him.
"Now you look more energetic."
He was still smiling.
"...You bastard."
"Your hair's all messy."
Resting his chin on his palm, Hayashi Yoshiki reached out and began fixing her hair gently.
"Whose fault do you think that is?!"
Haibara Ai shot him a sharp look—but there was only a trace of annoyance in her voice now.
He continued smoothing her hair, then said with a soft smile:
"As expected... your real smile is much prettier than a forced one."
She froze for a second.
At that exact moment, Hayashi Yoshiki withdrew his hand and stood up.
"Alright. I'm fine, so don't worry too much."
"…"
Watching his casual, composed expression, Haibara Ai narrowed her eyes.
Then, suddenly, she reached out and poked his side—trying to tickle him back.
No response.
She frowned, then scratched harder. Still nothing.
"What a pity." he said with a smirk.
"Why are you so proud of that? You're such a child!"
She groaned, pouting.
She really was starting to act like a little girl around him.
Even though she maintained her mature, composed front with Ayumi and Dr. Agasa, whenever she was with Hayashi Yoshiki, she couldn't help but let her guard down more and more.
"So? Who did you go out with that night?"
"A very pretty lady."
"Liar."
"...Well, two, actually."
Hayashi Yoshiki chuckled and confessed.
It had indeed been Reiko Shimizu and Seiran Hoshi with him that night.
Haibara Ai rolled her eyes.
"You might as well have said three."
"Hehe."
He reached over, ruffled her hair again, and stood.
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet someone."
"Who?"
"You'll know when you see them."
Chapter 289 - 289: The Next Step
Hayashi Yoshiki took Haibara Ai to an apartment. When he rang the doorbell, the person who quickly came to answer was Narumi Asai.
"Mr. Hayashi, Ai-chan," he greeted, stepping aside.
"Excuse me. How is the child?"
"There's nothing wrong with him," Narumi Asai said with a wry smile.
"But he has trouble trusting me."
Hearing this, Haibara Ai became slightly curious. But as she stepped inside, she soon saw a strange little boy—about four or five years old—staring at them, bewildered.
The moment the boy recognized Hayashi Yoshiki, his expression shifted.
"It's nice to meet you again, Hiroki."
"Yoshiki…," Hiroki Sawada murmured, almost calling him nii-san, but the word wouldn't come out.
It was all too surreal.
After being taken by the Black Organization to a strange factory, Hiroki had met the boss of the assassins—a short, fat middle-aged man who had handed him a mysterious pill, saying it would bring a painless death.
To Hiroki, who had resolved to die at the time, this was tempting. He knew that neither he nor Noah's Ark could fall into the hands of any organization. So, despite not knowing why they wanted him dead, he swallowed the pill.
But the drug's effect nearly tore his body apart. After losing consciousness from the pain, he woke up to find himself… smaller. A seemingly kind woman named Narumi Asai had taken him in—but Hiroki, scared by betrayal, remained suspicious.
He believed this must be another organization seeking Noah's Ark or his programming skills. Then Hayashi Yoshiki appeared—revealing his identity after Hiroki had shrunk. Which meant…
He was one of them.
A chill crept down Hiroki's spine.
Sometimes, when someone sees a sliver of light in the depths of despair, they cling to it. They beautify that memory, and turn it into something sacred.
But now, Hiroki feared he had been deceived. In his mind, Hayashi Yoshiki began to resemble Moriarty from "Cocoon."
"I'm sorry for hiding so much from you," Yoshiki said gently, noticing Hiroki's tense, helpless look.
"But don't be afraid. You've escaped that organization now. I understand your caution—but I have no interest in Noah's Ark. In fact, I agree with your decision to destroy it. Until the right time comes, it's as dangerous as Pandora's Box."
"Noah's Ark? Hiroki?"
Haibara Ai froze in shock, staring at Hayashi Yoshiki. "He took APTX4869?!"
"Yes," Yoshiki said gravely. "It was the only way."
"APTX? What's that?" Hiroki asked.
"That drug you took," Haibara said flatly. "It's an experimental compound—usually lethal. It kills quickly, leaving no trace. But there are rare exceptions like you… where it triggers a 'reverse aging' effect."
The puzzle pieces clicked together in Haibara's mind.
She turned to Yoshiki, her expression dark.
"So he was the one the Organization was after that night?"
"That's right."
"…An artificial intelligence creator. Of course, they'd lose their minds over someone like him."
She stared at Yoshiki in disbelief, fear rising in her chest.
"And you told me you weren't involved in what happened that night!"
"I didn't act impulsively," Yoshiki replied. "But I had no other choice."
"What do you mean?"
"Whether it was about saving the child… or protecting you. You do realize, right? If they got Hiroki, they'd use Noah's Ark to find you!"
Yoshiki's calm demeanor finally cracked—his voice stern, intense.
Haibara Ai couldn't respond.
She pressed her lips together tightly. She hated how she kept bringing trouble to him—hated how he always sacrificed for her.
Why me? Why does he always do this for me?
"…So what exactly is going on?"
Hiroki, still wary, listened and slowly began to understand. Perhaps they weren't with the Organization after all…
Seeing the boy's distrust, Haibara frowned.
"Do you know what kind of risk he took to rescue you?"
"Easy, Ai" Yoshiki said gently, patting her on the back.
Then he addressed Hiroki directly.
"The Black Organization is a covert, multinational crime syndicate. Its key members go by the names of alcoholic drinks. I imagine Noah's Ark helped you discover some of this?"
"…Yes," Hiroki replied.
"Then let me formally introduce myself. My code name is Cointreau. Her former code name was Sherry, though she's since defected."
Yoshiki explained everything—how APTX4869 was developed by Haibara Ai's parents, how she escaped the Organization, and how they both sought to protect Hiroki.
The boy listened in silence.
He was just ten years old.
"…But you didn't have to save me," Hiroki said eventually. "I would've disappeared along with Noah's Ark. That would've been the best ending."
His voice was quiet and bitter, though tinged with a faint smile.
"At least… I played a very fun game before the end. I was happy."
Smack.
A book landed softly on Hiroki's head.
Dr. Narumi Asai, who had been silent, couldn't take it anymore. He tapped the boy lightly with a medical textbook.
"Life isn't something you can throw away so easily," he scolded. "Especially not when someone else risked everything to save you. You owe it to him to live."
"I…"
"I just took a gamble," Yoshiki said calmly. "The odds of surviving APTX4869 are extremely low. But I couldn't just let you—someone who's never known freedom, never had friends—die alone in the dark."
"…Luckily, it worked."
"So forget everything. Forget the Organization, forget Noah's Ark. From this moment on, live as a normal child."
"You'll make friends. You'll play. Computers and programming can wait until you're older."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled gently, bathed in golden afternoon sunlight.
It was a warm, reassuring smile. And for the first time, Hiroki's vision blurred with tears.
"…Onii-san, I—"
"It's okay. I have to go. You prepare to enjoy your new life."
Hayashi ruffled Haibara's hair, indicating it was time to leave.
"Leaving already?" Narumi blinked. "I haven't even served tea."
"I have an appointment. As for the boy, I'll leave him in your care, Dr. Narumi"
"Of course. It'll be nice having a kid around."
As Narumi went to see them out, Haibara said suddenly, "Can I come back later to draw some blood? A ten-year-old turning into a five-year-old… he and I don't quite match biologically. It's worth examining."
"…That's…" Yoshiki hesitated.
"I don't mind," Hiroki cut in.
Yoshiki smiled and walked out with Ai.
Once in the car, Ai turned to him. "Do you really have an appointment?"
"Nope."
"Then why?"
"…I just didn't like the atmosphere in there," Yoshiki said, starting the engine. "Besides, Hiroki will be safe now. Someone like me, who's still connected to the Organization, shouldn't stay near him. I'd only endanger him."
Vroom.
The car pulled out of the lot.
Haibara stared at him, then looked away toward the window.
"…Stupid nice guy."
She sounded irritated.
It was always the same. He'd give his all, never asking for anything. Then brush it off with some excuse—"I don't like that kind of atmosphere."
He did it for her, for Hiroki, even for that girl Ran…
Always protecting others, never once caring for himself.
"Cointreau."
"Hmm?"
"Don't get yourself killed."
"I won't."
"I mean it. If anything happens to you… I'll never forgive you!"
Her serious expression was tinged with a kind of quiet fire. She looked fierce—and maybe even a little cute.
Yoshiki smiled. "I promise."
As she turned her head again, he felt oddly content.
Hiroki was safe.
Yoshiki couldn't be certain if Noah's Ark had truly destroyed itself—but as long as Hiroki lived, that didn't matter.
And Hiroki Sawada was not the type of child to forget someone who'd shown him warmth.
Especially a boy like him—so emotional, so sensitive.
In time, Hiroki would seek him out again. And when he did, perhaps he could help Hayashi Yoshiki hide in the shadows of the Organization… and eventually destroy it.
Back at the apartment, Narumi turned to Hiroki with a smile.
"All right. I'm Narumi Asai. From now on, I'll be teaching you."
"…Nice to meet you, Onee-san."
"Well, I'm actually a guy."
"…Huh?"
"I said I'm a man," Narumi said, chuckling as he poured water.
Sitting on the couch, Hiroki took a while to process this. Still holding the cup, his eyes were filled with confusion about the future.
"Don't overthink it. Just do your best not to disappoint Mr. Hayashi. Try to live like a normal child."
"…I will. But Narumi… can you tell me more about Yoshiki?"
"Of course."
Masashi smiled, sitting back and looking at the ceiling.
"Actually, I'm just like you. Mr. Hayashi saved my life, too."
"…Really?"
"Yes. He was a brilliant detective. And I was a small-town doctor—just one step away from becoming a murderer. Many years ago, my father…"
And thus, he began to tell the story of how his life was saved by Hayashi Yoshiki.
Chapter 290 - 290: Hayashi Yoshiki's Physical Examination Report
After the issue with Hiroki Hiroki Sawada was resolved, everything came to a temporary end.
This was a rare moment of peace for Hayashi Yoshiki.
He didn't have to worry about writing a new book, nor was he under pressure from Gin to suddenly select a new target. The relaxed, peaceful life—where he didn't need to be constantly alert—was surprisingly comforting.
"Mr. Hayashi, your physical examination report is ready."
"Okay."
Hayashi Yoshiki took the report from the doctor.
It wasn't that anything was wrong with his health—he simply had some free time and decided to go for a comprehensive check-up.
The idea had actually come from Gin.
"How long has it been since your psychiatrist died and your last psychiatric visit?"
"Go get a full physical check-up."
—That was all Gin said before ending the call.
Did the Organization really care about the health of its members?
Yoshiki found it strange, but he had always valued his health, so he went anyway.
"From the various indicators, Mr. Hayashi, you're in excellent health with no underlying conditions."
"The brain angiography also shows no abnormalities."
"So, as for your 'time disorientation,' you'll need to consider non-pathological factors. I recommend consulting a psychiatrist."
The doctor confirmed that Yoshiki was perfectly healthy. The girl beside him—Ran—seemed visibly relieved.
"That's great, Yoshiki."
Ran smiled as the doctor finished speaking.
She was here at the request of her mother, Eri Kisaki, who had asked her to accompany Yoshiki for the results.
"Yeah, Aunt Eri is really thoughtful. Sorry, you had to come all this way, Ran."
"Of course, I had to come! Knowing your personality, if something was wrong, you'd just keep it to yourself, right?"
"Would I?"
"Yes, you would!"
Ran placed her hands on her hips, frowning.
"Brother Yoshiki is always like that."
"…"
Yoshiki had no defense. He simply stayed silent.
At that moment, the doctor picked up another sheet from the report.
"Has Mr. Hayashi experienced any mood swings lately? Irritability? Inattention?"
"No, not at all," Ran answered.
"Yoshiki-nii is always very calm and gentle. Why do you ask?"
"All the tests were fine—except one. Mr. Hayashi's sex hormone panel shows an unusually high serum testosterone level."
"…Will that have any effect?" Ran asked, her tone slightly anxious.
"Elevated testosterone can affect mood swings and sexual desire."
The doctor glanced at Yoshiki.
"Since the number is significantly higher than average, I'd like to ask about specific symptoms before making a judgment."
…Strong sexual desire?!
The doctor's blunt phrasing instantly made Ran's face turn bright red. Her eyes widened in shock.
Even Yoshiki froze for a moment.
"...Um, can I not answer that?"
His reluctance, clearly out of consideration for Ran's presence, was understood by both the doctor and Ran.
Which only made it more awkward.
Looking at Yoshiki's handsome, refined face, Ran found it hard to believe. He always seemed composed, polished, almost aristocratic in demeanor.
Could he really be…
As Sonoko would put it—a carnivorous guy?
But then again, there weren't many girls around him…
The doctor offered a few instructions, including possible treatments (though not necessary at the moment), and ended the consultation.
Yoshiki took the report, thanked the doctor, and walked out with Ran.
This hospital—private and discreet—clearly values guest privacy. Still, Yoshiki couldn't help but wonder if the place was funded by the Organization.
"What are your plans next?" he asked as they got into the car.
"Hmm… I'm meeting Sonoko and some classmates for cake at 3:30. They might stop by the office first."
"Looks like I missed my chance to treat you to dessert today."
"But you don't even like cake, Yoshiki! Next time, let's eat something you like."
Ran's smile was bright and sincere.
Yoshiki nodded and focused on driving. A few moments later, he suddenly spoke again:
"Ran, could I ask you to keep the report confidential?"
"See? There you go again, trying to hide things!"
"...No, it's just... the contents of this check-up are kind of... embarrassing."
He glanced at her, his tone deliberately playful.
"Please, Ran?"
"...I got it, Yoshiki-nii."
She answered shyly.
Did I just discover an unexpected side of Yoshiki today?
Now I have to keep a secret for him too…
She couldn't help but steal a glance at him.
From her view, Yoshiki's eyes were always calm and clear, his movements refined and polite…
You really can't tell at all.
He dropped her off at the Mouri Detective Agency.
After politely declining her offer to come up for tea, he stepped on the accelerator and drove off.
All in all, he was just glad the report showed good health.
While on his way to the office, his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and answered.
"Hello? Dr. Agasa?"
"Ah, Mr. Hayashi! I was wondering—are you free tomorrow?"
"I am. But your voice sounds off—are you okay, Doctor?"
"Caught a cold, I'm afraid... So I was hoping—you see, I promised to take the kids skiing tomorrow, but I'm not well. Ai suggested I ask if you could take them instead if you're free?"
"Ski resort? No problem."
Yoshiki paused briefly, then agreed right away.
A ski trip… Dr. Agasa is sick… He could already picture it clearly:
The bus hijackers, Judy and Vermouth, Shuichi Akai… It's going to be a lively scene.
"Ah! Thank you so much! I'll message you the exact time later?"
"Sure thing, Doctor. I'm driving now, so let's talk soon."
"Okay, okay!"
Back at Dr. Agasa's house, after he hung up, he gave Ai a subtle thumbs-up.
She gave a small smirk and went back to her magazine.