As if infected, Kashuu Kiyomitsu couldn't help but laugh as well. He slowly placed his hand on the outstretched hand of Yamato no Kami Yasusada, raised his chin, and looked arrogantly haughty.
"Idiot Yasutsuya, how could I possibly be nervous?"
"Yes, after all, he is our Lord Kiyomitsu." Yamato no Kami Yasusada shrugged casually, then tightened his grip and slowly pulled the person in front of him closer.
Kiyomitsu Kashuu used to think that getting married was a stupid thing, that binding oneself to one person for life was a stupid thing, and even listening to the pastor's vows while lurking at a wedding was a stupid thing. But today, as he stands here, hand in hand with the person he has decided to spend the rest of his life, listening to the pastor's vows, he feels that this must be the happiest moment of his life.
"By the way, when did you confess these things to Mr. Okita?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu glanced at Okita Souji sitting at the front and asked teasingly.
"I regret to inform you that this wasn't my honest confession; it seems Mr. Okita knew from the very beginning." Yamato no Kami Yasusada helplessly spread his hands. "I say, Kiyomitsu, do you really have to bring up these unromantic topics at a time like this?"
"Then I think it's even more insensitive of you that you still haven't said a word," California Kiyoshi said with a shrug and a provocative smile.
"So, it's really hard to tame a tsundere."
"What did you say... um!"
Yamato no Kami Yasusada ended the lingering kiss amidst the cheers and whistles of the crowd. He smiled as he looked at Kashuu Kiyomitsu, whose face was flushed. Under the other's embarrassed and annoyed gaze, he took out a ring from his pocket and slowly put it on the ring finger of Kashuu Kiyomitsu's right hand.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu felt the coldness on his knuckles, seemingly still a little dazed, before Yamato no Kami Yasusada pulled him into his arms with a strong pull. At that moment, he felt as if his ears were filled with many sounds: the booming of cannons, the playing of music, the cheers of his friends, the shouts of the crowd, and... those tender words lingering in his ears.
"I love you."
Three months later.
"The target is approaching point A, in about one minute."
"Received." Lowering his hat brim and holding his breath, Kashuu Kiyomitsu tightened his grip on his Glock 18, trying to relax his facial expression. He then straightened his waiter's uniform, pushed the pre-prepared food cart, and slowly walked towards the group in front of him.
"Prepare to make contact with the target. 5, 4, 3, 2... Wait, there's a sniper, clear out and lie down!"
Horikawa's voice on the radio was initially calm and steady, but before the countdown was even over, his tone suddenly rose. Years of cooperation made Kashuu Kiyomitsu immediately abandon the assassination mission, duck down, and hide behind the dining car.
There was a sharp whistling sound of bullets cutting through the air, and a small crater was immediately left where he had just stood.
"The sniper is at my three o'clock position, probably in the building next to yours, Ansada!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu reported quickly, dodging the remaining shots while using the ballistic rays left on his infrared goggles.
"Received." Soon, a deep voice came through the earpiece.
On the top floor of a skyscraper a few hundred meters from Kiyomitsu Kaku, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, wearing a thermal imaging camera, was crouching behind the railing. After adjusting his sniping target and assessing factors such as wind speed, he gradually slowed his breathing. His deep blue pupils behind the scope narrowed slightly, and after repeatedly pausing his index finger, he immediately pulled the trigger.
"Target hit."
"Roger that." Kashuu Kiyomitsu bowed and rolled to the side. Amidst the smoke grenades from his comrades, he propelled himself forward with his toes towards the mission target, who had nowhere to hide. After a few soft gunshots silenced by a suppressor, the battle was successfully ended.
"I didn't expect things to go so smoothly today. You can't even tell this is your first time working together." Horikawa's heartfelt exclamation came through the radio. The two, who were preparing to leave after the mission, couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.
“After all, I’m the one who knows that guy best.” The two paused simultaneously, then said in unison.
"Help, Ken-san, I've been shown up like that again—!"
These hands may have been stained with countless drops of blood, and witnessed the cries of souls killed by gunfire.
But when it comes to my only destination in this world, the trigger that symbolizes death, it will never be pulled.
Because I cannot kill my beloved.
-Fin