"Latin?" The members of the Translation Department exchanged puzzled looks.
Latin originated in the Lazio region of Italy and belongs to the Indo-European language family. Through the spread of the once-mighty Roman Empire and the influence of the Catholic Church, it had become one of the common languages of Europe.
The people in the Translation Department made their living through translation work. The languages they typically studied were popular and practical ones, such as English, German, French, Chinese, and so on.
There were members who also knew Italian. However, Italian was a modern language that had developed from Latin, much like the difference between modern Chinese and Classical Chinese. Ordinary people rarely studied the subject deeply enough to master Latin itself.
"Senior Takekawa, do you know Latin?" one of the department members asked.
The Translation Department consisted of a little over a dozen members, making it a fairly standard clerical division. Naturally, they did not want to be left helpless when a colleague from the combat division came to seek their assistance.
"What Latin? What kind of document would even require Latin?" Takekawa Izumi had just returned from eating a sandwich outside when he ran into everyone's plea for help.
After working for long hours, hunger was unavoidable. Outside their office stood a vending machine—a thoughtful addition provided by Asou Akiya.
Takekawa Izumi's gaze landed on Randou, who stood out immediately from the sea of men dressed in suits.
At a single glance, he knew this was absolutely the sort of person one should not casually provoke.
The Port Mafia had no official dress code, but nearly everyone owned at least one black suit. It helped reinforce the organization's intimidating image.
People who dared not wear black suits generally fell into one of two categories: members of the combat division, or individuals with exceptional talents.
And then there were the high-ranking executives who simply disliked wearing black suits.
Randou wore a pair of fluffy earmuffs that looked almost absurdly cute, yet his bearing and elegance elevated them into something fashionable. His posture and demeanor were impeccable, making his buttoned coat appear remarkably stylish.
He possessed a pair of misty gray-green eyes.
His black hair curled naturally.
His features were refined and sharply sculpted.
The outer corners of his eyes did not tilt upward, while the inner corners curved slightly downward, giving his gaze a uniquely distinctive appearance.
There was another immediately noticeable characteristic.
He was pale.
Europeans were fair-skinned by nature, and French people were especially known for it.
From the side, his cheeks formed clean, straight lines. His chin possessed a subtle widow's peak, and his face was somewhat smaller and more delicate than that of the average American. He lacked the roughness and ruggedness often associated with Americans, yet there was nothing remotely feminine or androgynous about him.
Having interacted with foreigners on many occasions, Takekawa Izumi found himself unconsciously trying to guess the long-haired young man's ancestry.
There seemed to be traces of Gallic features in his appearance.
Then again, Gallic and Germanic characteristics often overlapped, and without striking red or blond hair, it was difficult to determine his nationality with certainty.
He had to admit that his observational skills were nowhere near as sharp as Akiya's.
If it had been Akiya, the young man would probably have identified the stranger's origins after only a few more glances.
"Hello," Takekawa Izumi said. "I'm Takekawa Izumi, one of the people responsible for the Translation Department."
"Hello, I'm Randou."
Randou did not shake hands with the middle-aged Japanese man. Instead, he responded politely.
Knowing some of the little quirks common among foreigners, Takekawa Izumi withdrew his hand without the slightest offense and said optimistically, "I can probably translate some Latin, but I wouldn't call myself proficient. My knowledge is mostly limited to business documents. I'd suggest you think it over first. We don't want to ruin a translation for a colleague."
Randou recalled that Akiya knew Latin and could not help feeling puzzled.
Why were there so few people in the Translation Department who understood it?
"Is Latin that uncommon?"
"Not exactly uncommon..." Takekawa Izumi answered honestly. "It's just that there's no practical use for it in Japan. Other than reading ancient Western texts or training one's analytical thinking, nobody really goes out of their way to learn Latin."
He himself was only half-qualified.
Back then, in order to teach Asou Akiya, who had developed an interest in Latin, he had crammed for several months straight. Only after that did he barely dare claim that he possessed a rough understanding of the language.
When Randou heard the phrase "training one's analytical thinking," he smiled.
So that was the reason.
Akiya truly was diligent and eager to learn.
"It's fine. I only want a child to be able to read it. If you could help me translate it, that would be wonderful."
Randou handed the book he had brought with him to Takekawa Izumi.
"I've heard your name many times. Akiya told me that he received a great deal of guidance from you while working in the Translation Department. In a sense, you could be considered my senior as well."
Unaware that he had just been called "senior" by a Transcendent and was unknowingly experiencing the greatest moment of glory in his life, Takekawa Izumi looked surprised.
"You know Akiya?"
Randou nodded.
"We've known each other for many years."
Takekawa Izumi clicked his tongue in amazement and gave him another thorough look from head to toe.
"A Frenchman?"
Randou smiled faintly.
"Yes."
The members of the Translation Department instantly lost all interest in their work.
Their gazes drifted toward the conversation again and again.
A Frenchman.
If he was French...
Then surely he knew Asou Akiya's lover!
Back then, Akiya had spent ages praising that lover of his.
Fair skin. Extraordinary beauty. Elegant bearing.
At close range, one could even catch the soft fragrance of his hair, a scent so enchanting that it left people intoxicated.
Considering Akiya's own appearance and sense of aesthetics, everyone could imagine just how beautiful this French lover must have been.
After all, Asou Akiya had fallen in love at first sight.
Then fallen even deeper at second sight.
He had repeatedly declared that for the rest of his life, it would be impossible for him to ever love a second person.
Those stories had thoroughly whetted the appetites of his coworkers. The old perverts had been so jealous they could practically spit acid, and even now they had not forgotten. Over the years, they had constructed in their minds the image of a breathtaking French beauty with flowing black hair like dark clouds.
They had waited all these years.
And yet not a single one of them had ever seen Asou Akiya's girlfriend.
This person was, without question, the Translation Department's most mysterious "foreign family member."
Holding onto a sliver of hope, Takekawa Izumi asked, "Do you know Akiya's lover?"
Randou answered calmly, "I do."
Takekawa Izumi slapped his thigh.
"You know them?! That's wonderful! We've practically been driven crazy by that guy. When he was pursuing them, he talked about them so much that it sounded like something out of a fairy tale. But the moment he succeeded, he clammed up completely and refused to let any of us get even a single look. I've been curious about my future sister-in-law for years. Looking at you now, I finally realize that the brat probably wasn't lying!"
The French young man standing before them could also be described as fair-skinned and beautiful, possessing first-rate looks and extraordinary bearing.
Using him as a benchmark, it became easy to believe that Asou Akiya's lover truly was as stunning as he had claimed.
Surrounded by Akiya's former coworkers and subjected to their collective scrutiny, Randou found the situation amusing.
How exactly did Akiya describe me to all of you?
I'm standing right in front of you, aren't I?
At that moment, Randou felt genuinely happy.
Everyone knew about Akiya's love and devotion.
Akiya had never hidden the fact that he had a lover.
After joining the Port Mafia, Randou and Akiya had been forced to conceal their relationship.
Logically, Randou understood the necessity of doing so.
Emotionally, however, he could not help feeling a little bothered by it.
Who wouldn't want their love to be open and aboveboard?
Who wouldn't want it to exist openly beneath the light?
Because of Asou Akiya, Randou—the "insider"—received an exceptionally warm welcome from the Translation Department.
Tea.
Snacks.
A comfortable seat.
Everything that could reasonably be offered in a shared office was promptly provided.
And naturally, there was no shortage of gossip.
After all, this topic involved a mystery that had haunted the Translation Department for years.
Thanks to Asou Akiya's tireless efforts to shower everyone around him with secondhand romance, the matter had practically become a lingering heartache for every male coworker in the department.
Of course, the female coworkers had not fared much better.
Quite a few people had taken a liking to Asou Akiya over the years.
Every single one of them had been mercilessly rejected.
One of the most heart-wrenching reasons he had ever given was:
"Sorry, but you're not as good-looking as my lover."
What the hell was that supposed to mean?!
How could a looks-obsessed person be so shamelessly confident about it?!
A female employee two years younger than Asou Akiya could no longer hold herself back and eagerly asked:
"Mr. Randou, is Mr. Akiya's lover really that beautiful? More beautiful than the girls in our Mafia?"
Takekawa Izumi desperately signaled at her with his eyes.
Watch your question!
What if this guy is a relative or something?
The female employee no longer cared.
"I just want to know the answer!"
Randou remained perfectly composed.
"Yes."
—Of course I'm better looking than all of you.
A second female employee immediately snatched the conversational "microphone" away from her male coworkers and asked:
"I heard foreign women are very open and passionate. They've been living together for so long. Do they have any children?"
Randou hesitated for a second.
"No."
—Two men can't exactly produce children.
The female employee looked delighted by the answer.
Randou felt slightly dissatisfied, but it was not as though he could casually explain that they had adopted Ranpo.
Besides, he and Akiya did have children.
Two cats.
At last, the third question finally reached Takekawa Izumi.
He immediately blocked the others from speaking.
"Enough. Stop fighting me for a turn."
"Akiya's family circumstances are a secret. He doesn't like talking about them, so we shouldn't pry too much. All of you need to stop looking as though you're sharpening your tools and preparing to steal someone else's partner."
Displaying the kindly demeanor of an elder, Takekawa Izumi turned toward Randou.
"Randou-kun, Akiya said three years ago that he had fallen in love at first sight. He's been dating this person for so many years now. Do you happen to know when they're planning to get married?"
This was the truly fatal question.
Takekawa Izumi had long suspected that Asou Akiya was being strung along by someone and therefore unable to get married.
Given Akiya's personality, after living together with his lover for so many years, he would certainly have been willing to take responsibility for the relationship.
Every time conversations among coworkers turned toward marriage, Akiya would quietly sit off in a corner, silently drinking hot water by himself.
Randou maintained a calm expression on the surface.
"Marriage?"
Takekawa Izumi nodded seriously.
"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with his lover, and I don't need to know every detail. I just want to know when I'll finally get to attend the wedding banquet we've been waiting years for."
Afraid that Randou might not understand how much importance Japanese people placed on marriage, he added:
"In Japan, we're generally more concerned with formal marital relationships. Akiya is sharp and calculating when it comes to work, but I'm worried that when it comes to love, he's acting entirely on emotion."
Randou felt uneasy.
He took a sip of hot tea.
The unfamiliar fragrance of the tea spread across his lips and tongue.
Holding the teacup with both hands, he looked almost like a gentle sheep surrounded by a crowd.
"I... don't know."
"You don't know?" Takekawa Izumi asked. "They don't have any plans to get married and have children?"
A deep frown appeared on his face.
He sighed inwardly.
Akiya, you've really been deceived by a French beauty.
Women from that romantic country truly aren't suitable for Japanese men.
Randou hurried to defend himself.
"After all, they've only been together for three years."
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone present was rendered speechless.
Three years!
A normal Japanese man would already be carrying a child by then!
Takekawa Izumi's mouth twitched.
"Randou-kun, it's been three years. They've done everything they should have done by now, haven't they?"
Randou nodded instinctively.
Takekawa Izumi continued:
"Does that person spend Akiya's money?"
Randou nodded again.
"Do they live in Akiya's house?"
Randou nodded once more.
Takekawa Izumi lowered his voice.
"You won't repeat this conversation, will you?"
After receiving a promise of confidentiality, the veteran employee immediately began speaking up for Akiya with righteous indignation.
"I swear, you French people have hearts that are far too big. Akiya wears a diamond ring every day and has bought plenty of luxury goods over the years. Those were obviously all for that person!"
"And yet you think they're merely dating?"
"Who spends that much money over three years?"
"This is someone preparing for marriage!"
The men of the Translation Department found themselves nodding repeatedly.
Takekawa-senior's words perfectly reflected the thoughts of Japanese men.
None of them had been born wealthy or privileged.
They worked hard and struggled upward because they wanted to provide for their future wives.
Asou Akiya was the model they all aspired to become.
But looking at things now?
The guy had it rough!
They had long heard about the romantic and passionate nature of French people. Akiya had spent so much money over the years, yet he still had not managed to completely secure the French beauty's heart.
For all they knew, that French beauty might simply be treating him as a backup option while living in Japan.
One of the female employees suddenly complained:
"Now that I think about it, there were a few times when Mr. Akiya was short on money and asked whether any of us knew about side jobs that paid well. His girlfriend must have completely drained his wallet."
Takekawa Izumi sighed.
"That did happen..."
More than anything, he hoped this Frenchman could pass a message along to Akiya's lover.
If they could be together, then they should get married.
If they couldn't, then they should break up sooner rather than later.
There was no point dragging things out forever.
"Akiya is a really good person," Takekawa Izumi said earnestly. "He likes that French lover of his so much that whenever he found even a single black strand of hair on his clothes, he'd smile with this unbelievably sweet expression."
"I don't know why he's so lacking in confidence when it comes to relationships. He always says he's like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat—that the fact the other person was willing to look at him at all is already a stroke of incredible luck."
"He never asks to be together forever. All he wants is for that person to feel happy while staying by his side."
"No matter where you ask, you'll hear that Akiya is an outstanding person. He's an orphan. His parents were members of the Port Mafia. He lacked proper care while growing up, so perhaps that left him with a bit of an inferiority complex."
"The impression he gives me is that he's incredibly passionate and stubborn when it comes to love. He pours all of his feelings into a single relationship."
"When outsiders see that, they can't help feeling envious."
Takekawa Izumi shook his head.
"I've probably talked too much. If you're related to her by blood, please forgive me."
"As his senior and his friend, I genuinely don't want to see them continue dragging things out like this."
"Japanese people may be conservative when it comes to love, but that doesn't mean honest people deserve to be taken advantage of."
Randou's body stiffened.
The world seemed to spin around him.
He stared blankly at the people who were standing up for Akiya's sake.
It suddenly felt as though...
He had unintentionally been taking advantage of Akiya for years.
As though he had forced Akiya into constantly working harder and earning more money.
Was that really how things looked?
Should he and Akiya have gotten married already?
I haven't prepared myself mentally for marriage yet...
W-Wait... can't we just stay passionately in love forever?
Panic overtook him.
His heartbeat fell into disarray.
A faint tingling sensation spread through his fingertips.
Lowering his head slightly, he allowed the fluffy earmuffs to conceal his ears.
Hidden beneath them, they had already turned so red that they looked ready to drip blood.