December.
Heavy snow fell in swirling sheets; this year, Japan's winter was abnormally cold.
When Asou Akiya looked back on it, the chill felt harsher than in years past, as though the entire city were withering and freezing over beneath the cold.
Because Asou Akiya's leave had ended, Randou was practically shivering from head to toe, trembling as he stubbornly insisted on going out with Akiya, citing his reason as reporting for duty at the Port Mafia. To make a French former spy turned newly awakened ability user—someone who loved going on strike—this proactive, fearless of the cold, could only mean one thing: this was true love.
Asou Akiya glanced at Randou sitting in the passenger seat. After turning on the car's heater, he leaned over and pulled Randou into his arms for a brief embrace.
Randou's body, stiff with cold, gradually softened.
In a low voice, Asou Akiya said, "It's freezing. Let's wait until spring."
The other replied clearly in French, "I want to go."
Asou Akiya had never restricted Randou's outings; he was free. And yet the magic of love had bound that free soul, making the unrestrained French wind linger at Asou Akiya's fingertips.
Randou pressed his soft lips to Akiya's cheek, leaving a kiss that melted away the clinging wind and snow.
"I won't let anyone hurt you, Akiya."
Within the perilous Port Mafia, Asou Akiya had no one to protect him. How could Randou stay at home in peace, waiting for his lover to fight through open gunfire and hidden blades, only to return in haste with an exhausted body?
"Ha—so cold—Akiya, turn the air conditioning up a bit, please, I'm begging you."
"No problem, my dear."
Seeing him immediately expose his true fear of the cold, Asou Akiya looked helplessly at the dashboard. The temperature inside the car needed time to rise—just like love, which also needed time to settle and deepen.
After about ten minutes, Randou straightened up, fastened his seatbelt, and gave the order, "Let's go."
Asou Akiya stepped on the accelerator, driving toward the Port Mafia headquarters.
This time, he was fearless.
Come on.
This wretched era, this wretched weather—he and Randou would draw nourishment from the darkness and grow stronger within it.
...
In the span of a single month, the Port Mafia Boss had visibly aged, his features far more worn than before.
The middle and lower ranks of the Port Mafia were not sharp enough to notice the change, but the upper echelon trembled with unease, wishing they could be sent on business trips far away. They had keenly sensed the Boss's volatile moods, as well as a kind of frenzied brutality born from weakness.
"A bunch of useless trash!"
"The protection contract with the shipyard was voided? Who the hell went to negotiate that?!"
"All those problems that cropped up in the second half of the year—none of them resolved even now? And the Takase Group—an organization that only came into existence a few years ago—dares to take advantage of the situation, seize my territory, and even defeat one of our Mafia squads?!"
"The casino's operating share has shrunk? And why, exactly?!"
Under the Boss's furious tirade, the three executives lowered their heads. Only Oosa spoke up in defense, albeit briefly. "Yokohama is practically half a concession zone now. The casinos run by foreigners have armies backing them—we don't dare seize them openly. And these days, many Japanese people worship foreign things and are more interested in novelty—"
The Port Mafia Boss's sinister gaze snapped onto Oosa. "Shut up!"
Oosa's breath caught in his throat.
In the past, it had been hard to feel it clearly, but now it was obvious: the Port Mafia was the Boss's absolute one-man rule.
The Boss did not need explanations. What he wanted was the sheer satisfaction of scathing reproach—
An outlet for his dissatisfaction!
An outlet for his rage at Yokohama slipping beyond his control!
Executive Nishida suddenly spoke up. "Boss, Asou-kun's leave has ended. He came back today." It was a perfectly timed spark to fan the flames, and the Port Mafia Boss immediately focused on his personal money-maker. "Asou Akiya is back? Resting and recovering for a whole month—he had it easy. Is his body softer than a woman's, or what?!"
Oosa sighed inwardly: surviving a sniper's bullet and taking a month to recover was hardly excessive.
Another executive, Yagishita, who was nearly numb from being scolded, offered a piece of intelligence. "Boss, there's something odd about the death of the executive candidate Watanabe Yukinari. We originally thought it was connected to Kimura Semei's death, but one of my subordinates discovered traces of Kimura Semei moving around outside. This Black Lizard member doesn't seem to be dead."
The Port Mafia Boss barely managed to suppress his anger and asked, "Where was he found?"
Traitors were more serious than anything else.
Yagishita swallowed and replied hesitantly, "Restaurants, convenience stores, train stations, and… adult novelty shops."
The Port Mafia Boss thought he had misheard. His gaze went blank for a second. "Where?"
Executive Yagishita replied calmly, "My subordinates obtained his purchase records. He bought all kinds of condoms and adult products—more than eighteen different types. According to the shop owner, this person has peculiar habits: he personally tried every item once, and only bought a second time if it was good."
The moment those words fell, the Boss's office descended into silence.
Executive Nishida's mouth twitched. "Truly… astonishing."
Executive Yagishita shrugged indifferently. "An adult's freedom—provided he isn't a traitor to the Port Mafia."
After hearing his two colleagues speak, Oosa made it clear he had no desire to comment.
Once the Port Mafia Boss had confirmed Kimura Semei's situation, he immediately issued the order to deal with the traitor.
The second order was—"Send Akiya-kun to see me."
The Port Mafia's newcomer registration office.
The headquarters staff were not unfamiliar with Asou Akiya. Seeing that he had brought a newcomer to join the Port Mafia, they did not make things difficult and followed standard procedure with their questions.
"Mr. Asou, the person you're introducing is a foreigner. What is his current nationality?"
"Japanese."
"Does he speak Japanese?"
"Yes."
"Any criminal record?"
"No."
"Any experience killing?"
"No."
"Before joining the Port Mafia, did he serve in any other criminal organization?"
"No."
"Can you fully guarantee his background and act as his guide?"
"Yes."
Asou Akiya stood in front of Randou, becoming his guarantor.
Randou watched his lover answer each question, deep in thought. If he were ever to betray the Port Mafia, Akiya would likewise die without a burial. This was precisely the responsibility and trust bound up in being a "guide."
Asou Akiya had Randou fill out the form. Randou shivered as he picked up the pen, read it through, and then wrote down his information.
Under languages, he filled in Japanese, French, and English.
Under previous occupation, he wrote freelance.
Under special skills, he straightforwardly wrote: "Ability user."
Under personal relationships, he… filled in single, in accordance with the confidentiality agreement he had discussed with Akiya before coming. Within the Port Mafia, they would not expose their relationship in front of others, to avoid gossip—or worse, having Asou Akiya and Randou treated as each other's weaknesses. Once the doors were closed, however, they could do whatever they liked.
Randou suddenly noticed that the form even had a section for sexual orientation, and he was startled.
Japan really was quite open, after all.
He stole a glance at Akiya and saw him chatting with colleagues, so Randou quietly filled in his sexual orientation.
[Both men and women are acceptable.]
He was absolutely scribbling nonsense—just throwing up a smokescreen to cover the relationship!
Asou Akiya, upon seeing the form: "..."
Randou, do you really think I'd believe that's fake? You clearly have the potential to be a full-fledged bisexual heartbreaker!
"Not bad." Asou Akiya patted his shoulder like a senior, then said openly and straightforwardly, "Randou, once this form is submitted, there's no turning back. I'll ask you one more time—are you willing to join (marry into) the Port Mafia?"
Randou froze, his ears ringing for a moment as he wondered if he had misheard.
Don't say it like you're proposing, okay?!
"Yes, I'm willing." When he answered, Randou felt a trace of embarrassment. That was strange—his skin wasn't usually this thin. It had to be Akiya's tone; it was way too weird!
The colleague in charge of screening newcomers laughed and said, "Mr. Asou, there's no problem with the form. You can have him stay here for an ability check. There's no need to explain it in detail to anyone—he just needs to prove that he has an ability."
Asou Akiya replied gently, "Alright, thank you for your help. Please take good care of him—he's my friend."
The colleague, flattered, said, "You're too polite. We won't make things difficult for him."
After that, Randou had to stay behind alone to face the others.
[Akiya, go. Don't make people suspicious.]
[Be careful.]
Asou Akiya did not linger or cling to him. Their gazes met, trust passing silently between them, and he clenched his teeth and left Randou's side.
From this moment on, he knew that Randou would step beyond the range of his protection.
He felt a little sad.
And at the same time, a little relieved—as though he had finally waited for this day to arrive.
How could a fish in the water possibly force a bird to remain underwater forever, never again remembering the taste of flight?
In the Port Mafia Boss's office, the Boss received two pieces of news at the same time: Asou Akiya had brought an ability user into the Port Mafia, and that person's name was "Randou," with his identity registration handled directly by the Port Mafia itself.
"Boss, I answer your summons."
After receiving the call, Asou Akiya stepped forward and saluted before the increasingly aged old man.
His body was clearly stronger than the other's, young and vigorous, yet he kept his head respectfully lowered, appearing almost humble. This was not only the result of the Port Mafia's internal hierarchy, but also because he possessed nothing but the ability to make money while lacking the martial strength to protect himself. In front of the Boss, he had no qualification to speak casually.
The Port Mafia Boss said bluntly, "You brought your lover into the Port Mafia?"
Asou Akiya replied with a carefully prepared answer. "Randou recently awakened an ability and is no longer an ordinary person. He also has a close relationship with me, so it is only proper that he serve the Port Mafia."
These utterly patriarchal words, devoid of any concern for personal autonomy, were something Asou Akiya would never dare say in front of Randou.
But when dealing with the Boss… there was no helping it.
The Port Mafia Boss let out a mocking laugh. It seemed that whenever he saw this man, he could always find something to sneer at.
"You want him to protect you, so you couldn't wait to bring him into the Port Mafia, is that it? Akiya-kun, don't forget the organization's rules. Newcomers need to be tempered for several years, and ability users generally do not serve in clerical departments. Only after you are promoted to executive candidate will you be qualified to have an ability user provide you with close personal protection."
"Boss, I'll remember that."
Asou Akiya accepted the reprimand without even blinking.
"However, I'm not someone who ignores the safety of my subordinates," the Port Mafia Boss said, his tone shifting. "Little Kouyou, come here." From a hidden door in the Boss's office stepped out a young girl in a kimono. She came to stand beside the desk, gazing at Asou Akiya with a blank expression, like a finely crafted doll.
The Port Mafia Boss disliked Asou Akiya's little schemes, and at the same time feared that he might collude with ability users within the organization.
Money—this was one of the things he valued most.
Talent—he did not want to miss that either.
He trusted no one, except those completely under his control, such as Ozaki Kouyou.
The Port Mafia Boss smiled and said, "Akiya-kun, Little Kouyou will be responsible for protecting you for a period of time."
Asou Akiya's mind jolted.
Something this good—had his treatment really been upgraded so suddenly?
He met the Port Mafia Boss's gaze, and a chill crept into his bones. What kind of look was that—so cold and violent, it didn't seem as though he were looking at a subordinate at all, but rather at some object that wasn't fully under control.
But how could a person ever be an object?
"It's close personal protection—consider it an advance on the benefits you'll receive as an executive candidate," the Port Mafia Boss said without the slightest trace of emotion. "As long as you meet my requirements, earn one billion U.S. dollars, become an executive candidate, and then rise to executive, you may do whatever you wish with her. Ability users are no different from ordinary people in my eyes."
Ozaki Kouyou's face instantly drained of all color.
Asou Akiya: "..."
This Port Mafia Boss—who seemed as though he belonged to the FFF Squad—brooked no argument. Ignoring the resistance radiating from Asou Akiya, he wielded emotional sabotage and sowing discord with practiced ease, all the more so because he had recently discovered that the head of the Intelligence Division had been rather close with Little Kouyou.
"During the period you work at Port Mafia headquarters, private relationships are not permitted."
"Yes…"
Asou Akiya answered, his feelings a tangled mix of worry and reluctant relief.
What he truly wanted to say was—
Boss, you dare to say it, and I dare to agree, but the three of us have the same word hanging over our heads!
A big, bold word: "DANGER"!
...
On the very day Randou joined the Port Mafia,
the Port Mafia Boss went completely off the rails and gifted him a fake green hat, forcibly driving a wedge into the couple's relationship.
Watching others suffer discomfort filled the Boss with an inexplicable sense of physical and mental satisfaction.
Young people should be throwing themselves wholeheartedly into serving the organization.
What's the point of talking about love at all?!