“Shhhhsh I wanted to so you can just, y’know, shut up. It’s the first season of Elementary; I hope you haven’t seen it.” She left on the wrapping paper and laid the dvd box set on the floor. Akira frowned. “As if I wouldn’t! And okay.
I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t got the largest friend group. But the friends I do have are more likely to stick around, you see? I’ve known Emi for going on three years, and hope to know her for the rest of my life. If she can put up with me I mean I’m pretty annoying-” She grinned at Hakuba’s eyes in the rearview. “I’m only kidding, of course. I’m hoping you and I can be life-long friends too. Maybe.” Akira made a small noise in her throat and moved on. “Oh no you don’t! I can pay for my own lunch mister. If you’re going to insist – which I’m guessing you are – I call frozen yogurt afterwards. Deal?”
The wind roared as they reached a little over freeway speed, and she almost had to yell ‘Deal?’ at Hakuba, but Akira laughed and threw her head back.
Hakuba listened as Akira spoke, letting her ramble on as he manuvered the car through traffic, maintaining a good clip along the way. Her admission quieted any sarcastic quips that he had planned, and instead he let himself grin in a settled sort of manner.
"Deal,” the detective replied. “Deal on the yogurt, and on the being friends. I don’t know how you put up with me, either; I’m downright insufferable, or so I’ve been told."
He shook his head, eyes rolling in amusement despite himself. "And… Elementary?” Hakuba asked, then laughed. “No, no; I keep hearing that I need to watch it, but haven’t yet. Tha-”
The detective had time to blink approximately once as the car came into view in his side mirror.
“Ah-”
The steering wheel jerked, grip lost. The car swerved, violent motion punctuated by the scream of twisted metal and squealing tires. Fighting for control, Hakuba watched as the lines in the road ahead turned sideways, fishtailing despite plenty of traction.
All too quickly, the same break-neck speed that Hakuba enjoyed in his sports car turned perspective into white knuckled panic. Bumper met divider, buckling the cherry red hood as if it were aluminum, which the detective only briefly saw before he lost track of everything.
