“Oh! No, I didn’t mean to imply anything. I just found it kind of amusing is all. I meant no disrespect.” Takagi replied nervously. “Sorry…”
“Ah, not to worry at all, Takagi-keiji! So long as there’s no trouble, I can easily see how it could be so amusing. Perhaps we need to have a deduction battle some day to make it official?”
Hakuba offered a smile, worries sated by the sincere and polite reply. As expected, his trust had not been misplaced.
“Or, rather, I’d love to work on a case with you. I haven’t done nearly enough in the office as of late. I think my renewal permit to work internally has been sorted and approved, at any rate…"