Heiji tried to ignore the sarcasm, however much it grated on his nerves. He had already decided to sit with Hakuba through lunch, and even if they devolved into a shouting match, he would still do it, dammit.
True to his word, it didn’t take long at all for them to arrive at the restaurant. “Yo, Katsura-han!“ he greeted the owner. They then proceeded to have a small conversation, during which he failed to introduce Hakuba (let that pompous ass take responsibility fer his own damn self), and ordered finished by ordering his usual. He did make a few recommendations to the other detective, though.
Hakuba, to his credit, did a good job of hiding how much Heiji’s faux pas hurt. Not being introduced formally was not only insulting between them as colleagues and rivals, but didn’t do anything for his relationship with the restaurant’s owner. At best, he’d come off as anti-social, with Hattori being polite and not introducing him because he didn’t want to talk to the man. Which wasn’t true. Further, he was clearly with Hattori since they’d come in together and had exchanged words, so not being introduced made him look lesser. Like a child or pet. Not worth it.
Still, as to not offend the owner or make anyone uncomfortable by openly bringing up Hattori’s insult, the foreign detective simply remained neutral. When he had his turn to speak and order, he nodded politely and looked over the menu card while Heiji gave his recommendations.
Damn, so much kanji…
The half-brit could read most of it just fine. He’d been reading and speaking Japanese along side English since he was very young, but trying to order in an unfamiliar restaurant, with unfamiliar food, under pressure, made it a little harder than it should have been. And he had to do it fast, less Hattori decide that Hakuba was somehow weak for not immediately knowing what he wanted.
"Ah, I’ll… try the, ah…” Where was it? The thing that Hattori had gone on about? God, his eyes hurt. “The, ah, okinam…" Shit. ”The okonomiyaki, please.“
Hakuba winced. Hopefully, Heiji wouldn’t say anything. Hopefully, he also wouldn’t know the faint blush of heated embarrassment on his face. Going to lunch with Hattori Heiji had been a very, very bad idea.