December 24th, Christmas Eve.
Even though it was a Western holiday, the festive atmosphere on the streets was incredibly lively. In Shinjuku, many men and women wore Christmas-themed outfits, and outside shops stood Santa Clauses handing out apples, symbolizing peace and safety.
Having just finished a mission, Ritsu planned to buy something to eat before heading back. Unexpectedly, he ended up with a Christmas Eve apple and after walking just two hundred meters, he somehow had a Santa hat and a reindeer headband added to his hands.
Did those people really think these things suited him?
He bought a combo of smoked salmon and roasted turkey nearby, and picked up two slices of tiramisu for dessert. Since he hadn't reached the legal drinking age, he couldn't try the traditional mulled wine.
Driving his beloved car back to the research institute, the security staff at the entrance politely bowed in greeting. Ever since Ritsu became a member of the operations team, Gin and Vodka had been visiting the institute less and less frequently. The entire facility now treated Macallan as its new boss, their attitude growing increasingly respectful.
They never even questioned him about his comings and goings.
The cold laboratory obviously wasn't a suitable place to eat, so Ritsu put the food in his bedroom before standing at the door and knocking in Morse code, suddenly deciding to test whether the genius girl inside understood it.
The door didn't open immediately, it took a moment.
Shiho, dressed in a white lab coat, stared at him with a cold expression, her tone laced with helplessness. "Are you that bored? Wouldn't it be easier to just come in and tell me?"
"Just testing your IQ. Come on, let's eat."
"My intelligence needs testing? You really have nothing better to do."
As soon as the door opened, a black blur leapt toward him. Reacting quickly, Ritsu caught the uninvited guest with both hands, nuzzled it affectionately against his cheek, and said, "Kurotan, you're getting heavier and heavier."
"Meow!"
Kurotan really was a female cat, she even seemed sensitive about her weight. As if understanding her owner's comment, she squirmed in dissatisfaction to protest.
Animals really do grow fast. Not long ago, she had been a tiny coal ball that fit in one hand. Now she had more than doubled in size. Shiho reached out and took Kurotan into her arms, saying with conviction, "Ignore your clueless owner. You're not fat at all, you're super cute."
Clueless owner… well, the "shorty" had said that more than once. Not that he couldn't accept the label.
"If you ever become a mother and have a daughter, you'd definitely spoil her rotten," Ritsu teased.
"And if you ever become a father…" Shiho paused, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes as she continued, "Ah, sorry~ I think a dense guy like you might not even get the chance to become one."
"…."
Ritsu rolled his eyes, admitting defeat. Why did everyone seem to think he was destined to be alone for life?
With a dark expression, he went into the bathroom to wash his hands, then took the food out of the insulated bag and arranged it on the small round table. He also turned on an electric fan facing the wall, just to circulate the air in the windowless room.
A cat's diet needed to be carefully controlled in both quantity and nutrition, but since it was a holiday, a little indulgence was fine. Canned cat food with a bit of chicken breast and salmon, plus Kurotan's favorite goat milk pudding, it was quite a feast.
"Wash your hands and come eat. This place's roasted turkey is pretty popular."
"Oh? Then you're not planning to wear that Santa hat over there?"
Ritsu paused, his usually expressionless face showing a rare hint of helplessness. "I'm not a kid. What, do you want to wear it?"
"As if. I don't want to wear something that childish."
They sat on the floor. Because of his long legs, it was a bit uncomfortable being pressed under the table, but there was no helping it. The organization only provided a small bedroom, not enough space for a proper dining table and chairs.
The roasted turkey gave off an irresistible aroma. Once Shiho returned after washing her hands, Ritsu didn't hold back, directly tearing off a turkey leg and taking a bite.
The skin was roasted to a crisp perfection. One bite filled his mouth with rich juices, but not greasy at all. The turkey was stuffed with potatoes, onions, and celery, the fresh aroma of the vegetables blending perfectly with the meat. Dipped in a sauce made from chicken stock, red wine, and other ingredients, it was perfectly savory and left a lingering taste.
"This sauce is pretty unique. Feels like it'd go well with toasted bread too."
Shiho, who usually controlled her calorie intake at night, focused mostly on the smoked salmon appetizer. Thin slices of baguette served as the base, topped with smoked salmon and avocado, then finished with a creamy yogurt sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice. The rich combination of textures actually whetted her appetite.
After hesitating for a while, Shiho finally reached for the turkey. She glanced at Ritsu with half-lidded eyes and muttered, "If I gain weight, it's definitely your fault."
Swallowing his bite of turkey, Ritsu took a small sip of cola, silently insisting that had nothing to do with him. If she couldn't control herself, how was that his problem? He wasn't taking the blame.
Just as he was about to spear a roasted potato with his fork, the phone resting on his thigh vibrated. Taking off his disposable gloves, he picked it up and saw it was Vodka calling.
Without stepping outside, Ritsu answered directly, "Vodka, what's up?"
"Macallan, there's a medical checkup tomorrow. Don't eat anything after 10, and don't drink water either."
A medical checkup? The organization actually required health screenings? And on Christmas, of all days. Wasn't Christmas supposed to be for couples? Did that mean… the organization was full of lonely "old folks"?
"Got it."
"Oh right, does the institute cafeteria still provide meals?"
Ritsu blinked in confusion. "The cooks are on holiday today. No dinner service."
"Ah… forgot about that." Vodka seemed to set the phone down and turned to Gin, who was leaning against the car. "Aniki, how are we handling dinner?"
"We'll just grab something from a convenience store."
"Got it. Macallan, I'll hang up now."
"…Alright. Talk later, Vodka."
Even on Christmas Eve, those two workaholics were still on duty. The saddest part was having to settle dinner at a convenience store during such a festive time.
Why did that feel a little pitiful?
"What did Vodka say?" Shiho asked, having not caught the conversation.
"Oh, just reminding me about the medical checkup tomorrow."
"The operations team's checkup is indeed scheduled for tomorrow. You'll probably see a lot of unfamiliar faces."
"Really? The doctors handling it wouldn't happen to be from some research institute, would they?"
"Of course. The organization has its own doctors," Shiho said, as if recalling something. A slight smile curved her lips, her tone turning amused. "Ah, that reminds me of something interesting."
"What?"
"There's a good chance Taylors will be the one doing your physical. Be careful, she really likes men of your type."
"My type? What kind of type am I?"
Shiho looked him up and down, then recalled a shoujo manga she had read before. Calmly, she said, "A wolf on the outside, but actually a rabbit on the inside?"
"…Huh?"
What kind of description was that? He didn't understand it at all.
Wolves and rabbits were completely different concepts, weren't they?
For the first time, someone with exceptionally high intelligence found himself unable to comprehend something.
It seemed there were still plenty of things left for him to learn.
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