The air was thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol. On a small wooden stage that could be stepped onto in a single stride, two handsome men stood performing together. The dim yellow lighting mixed with other colors, casting a hazy purple glow from overhead lamps. Even the dry ice machine was working diligently to create an intoxicating atmosphere.
Seated around them were women dressed in revealing outfits, some with bold tattoos on their arms. They laughed and chatted frivolously, clearly not here to appreciate the music, but rather discussing whether they could successfully hook up with the handsome performers after the show.
Under the lights, Ritsu stood tall and elegant in a black suit. He placed the violin steadily against his left collarbone, letting the weight of his head rest naturally on the instrument. With the bow in his right hand, he moved as if casting a spell, producing a stream of flowing, melancholic yet lively melodies that filled the bar's first floor.
Beside him, Akai played the piano with a faint smile, his fingers dancing across the keys. Even he was surprised, despite it being their first time collaborating, they had achieved such perfect musical harmony.
Setting aside their relationship within the organization, Akai found himself able to appreciate Ritsu as a person… unfortunately, they were destined to stand on opposing sides.
"Handsome guys playing music really are a feast for the eyes. When did the boss hire such good-looking performers?" a girl with heavy black eyeliner and wine-red short hair said with a grin, cupping her cheeks.
"I like the violinist, totally my type. I bet he's strong in that department too. Just look at the way he handles the bow, you can even see the muscle definition in his arms through that suit."
The girl with electric-blue long curls chewed gum noisily, her words bold and unrestrained. Her burning gaze was fixed on Ritsu as if she wanted to devour him whole.
"I think the one in the top hat is pretty good too. Mature men are charming, and experienced."
The more reserved-looking girl in a dress, with black hair, rested her chin on her hand and sighed at her outspoken companions. "Can you two tone it down? Why not just enjoy the performance? Their coordination is amazing especially the violinist, he's basically at Lindsey Stirling's level."
"You understand music, we don't. Music's nothing compared to handsome guys, can music fill your stomach? Hahaha!"
Lost in his performance, Ritsu didn't hear the teasing happening just a short distance away. He focused entirely on playing Masquerade, one of his favorite violin pieces. The gentle melody gradually shifted, as if declaring that something was changing.
White bled into red, trampling over the boundaries once upheld.
A wine glass raised with ease through a masquerade hall, this was a conspiracy. It was impossible to tell whether a gentleman had disguised himself as a devil, or if Moriarty had removed his mask only to reveal himself as Holmes.
As the music swelled, it eventually softened and came to an abrupt stop, like the last glimmer of light in a dark abyss being extinguished.
Silence returned. Everything would come to an end, the finale.
Ritsu slowly lowered his violin, standing against the light on stage. Wasn't he also playing a part in a masquerade? Wearing a mask, living as someone else, going through each day with false pretenses, all for the final curtain call.
He really shouldn't have chosen this piece. It made him oddly sentimental.
Applause rose from below. The black-haired girl in the dress praised them enthusiastically, but Ritsu didn't take in a single word. Instead, he looked at Akai annoyedly and said with faint disdain, "You missed two notes just now."
"…"
Akai felt a bit speechless. Did this guy have absolute pitch? He thought he'd gotten away with it but was caught on the spot, it felt like being discovered by his father after stealing a crying child's building blocks back in the day.
That memory brought to mind a kid with always-reddened eyes, like a little rabbit. He wondered how that child was doing now… come to think of it, the color of that kid's eyes was quite similar to the man in front of him, though their personalities and skin tones were completely different.
"Sorry about that. Couldn't quite keep up with your violin," Akai said, putting on an unfamiliar, slightly awkward smile as if they weren't close.
"Are you two treating us like we don't exist?" the wine-red-haired girl snapped.
Though Ritsu was currently playing the role of a bar performer, it didn't mean he had to be polite to these women hitting on him. Besides, they were likely members of the Kurokawa group and he had no fondness for people like them.
Not because he believed all gang members were bad but the Kurokawa group, at least, was nothing good. They extorted protection fees from elderly people who couldn't fight back. Just a bunch of bullies preying on the weak while dealing in illegal arms, nothing more than trash.
"Have you ever seen air that talks?"
There was no warmth in his icy blue eyes. Already in a bad mood, Ritsu didn't bother holding back. In fact, stirring up trouble here would benefit Rei's operation, it would create enough chaos for him to deliver the drink unnoticed.
"You—! You're just some part-time worker, and you dare talk back to me?! Don't think a pretty face lets you walk all over us!" the blue-haired girl snapped, spitting out her long-chewed gum.
Ritsu tilted his body to dodge it, frowning before letting out a cold smile. "Oh? And who was it just now… hoping to be the one getting ridden?"
Akai's eyes widened in shock. Words like that coming from this guy? Had the sun risen in the west today? This was the same guy who avoided eye contact during kissing scenes on TV.
Probably anger talking. As soon as he said it, Ritsu regretted it. His expression darkened as he stopped looking at them, packed up his violin, and picked up the case, heading toward the bar. His hour-long shift was over anyway, he'd done enough acting.
Akai followed, packing up his own things. He coughed lightly, about to ask where Ritsu had trained his verbal skills, when he noticed the man's ears, red as if they were about to bleed.
Ah. No real improvement after all.
So he was just bluffing. No wonder he left so quickly.
Ritsu felt a bit frustrated. Even he didn't expect himself to say something like that. Vermouth's face flashed in his mind and he covered his face with one hand.
'Damn it, this was definitely her influence.'
Otherwise, he'd never say something so bold and explicit.
Loosening his tie irritably, Ritsu adjusted his earpiece and whispered, "Bourbon, how's your side? Nothing unusual here so far."
Instead of Rei's voice, a series of soft tapping sounds came through, Morse code. It seemed he wasn't in a position to speak.
[Inside the private room. Target has already taken the drink. Preparing to withdraw.]
"Got it."