The smile he gave him was strained at best. The reason he had to give up his high-profile career was still a touchy subject, especially considering that it still affected him. The ubiquitous group of criminals that had forced him into hiding in the first place were still out there. Even with his natural body back Shinichi was still in danger.
“I’ve asked the police to keep my name out of the news. Megure-keibu is doing me a favor similar to what I asked of you,” he added carefully, though that was sure to get Hakuba’s attention. How suspicious could he possibly be? “Sadly, I don’t get any of the credit anymore but that was never really the most important thing, but it still kind of sucks, you know?“
He fidgeted, trying to decide whether or not his hands fit better in his pockets or behind his head. Neither position seemed very comfortable in his nervous state.
"It’s for the best. At least for now, but I don’t really have to worry about it yet. I have another week or so of vacation left.” Ha. ‘Vacation’ was the nicest way to put it.
How awkward, for both alleged egotists to not feel comfortable talking about their own lives to the other. Hakuba spared the other detective a sympathetic glance, then nodded. Clearly, there was more going on here than Kudou-san could let on, and, well, that was never a fun position to be in.
Hakuba changed gears after a thoughtful shrug, walk continuing at an even clip toward the cafe. “I hope that you’re at least enjoying the vacation."
And then what? This chance to talk to Kudou-san, nothing interfering or interrupting, and he’d run out of intelligent things to ask about. He bit his lip and ran through lists in his head of what he could possibly bring up that might spark a good conversation. Something. Anything.
"Ah, I’ve been dying to ask, Kudou-se-” dammit “-san… As a fellow fan of Sherlock Holmes, just what is your favorite case? I know I’ve read the answer in an interview about you somewhere, but the title eludes me somehow…”
No. Hakuba hadn’t forgotten at all, but he wanted Shinichi to talk about it… to ramble about it like he’d done in said interview so that he could soak it all up and enjoy it. What better to spur conversation than to bring up something that they mutually shared a passion for without having to talk about themselves further than preferences and anecdotes?
CLEARLY THIS PLAN COULD NOT GO AMISS!