She deserved that…
“Your prevarication is pointless, Hakuba-kun. I did not ask you to sit with me so that I could listen to you complain,” she snapped, crossing one leg over the other and placing her hands delicately in her lap. “You know very well that I did not request your company to ridicule you so I would ask that you do me the same courtesy.“
She didn’t mean to bark at him but he was acting very unlike himself, or perhaps it had really just been that long since they had seen each other. People could change their attitudes so quickly some times.
Leaning back against the chair, she tilted her chin down to look up at him, more defensive than offensive. Maybe that would get him to relax a little. She had no use for a puffed up detective. He would probably just sit there in his bubble of rage for the rest of the visit.
"If we can come to a cordial agreement then perhaps we can get somewhere with this conversation. Otherwise, you can be on your way,” she remarked, allowing just a hint of irritation into her voice. “I’m sure you have so much shopping to do. A new outfit to impress, perhaps. You always looked good in red.“ She was rambling casually, trying to get him to calm down, though it was true. He looked handsome in red and white and she sort of missed giving him little bits of advice like that.
Hakuba managed to have a somewhat placid, neutral expression on his face for most of Akako’s chiding. But the flirting… and the irritation… It was almost too much. The detective sighed with a huff and leaned back in his chair, arms folding across his chest.
"All right, all right. I apologize. I’m certain you can’t blame me for being… defensive.” But even with those words, he was laying back the bristled quills. Reluctantly, but doing so regardless. “No need for shameless flattery, I believe we both know where we stand on the issue of attraction…” Namely that, at one time, he’d thought of her as quite beautiful and had made that absolutely clear. And, he thought, she had liked him well enough, as well.
He didn’t manage to force a smile at first, but the scowl faded, at least. “What do I owe the pleasure of your company this afternoon, Koizumi-san? I… do hope that it’s not only fashion advice, because you very well know that I prefer the color blue.” It was a tease. And with it, did come an uneasy half-smile. Hesitant, half-hearted, but an effort nonetheless.