Shinichi grinned like a child and instantly buried his hands into her fur around the ears and rubbed. “AH, your such good girl.Very good girl."
Looking back up to Hakuba he continued in Japanese. “She’s beautiful Hakuba. Now,” He stood, smile some what gone already and dusted off his hands and jeans. “what do you need me for?”
The corgi couldn’t help herself, overjoyed with the attention and pets. She hopped up, dancing in place, tail wagging furiously until the man stopped paying attention to her. Even then, she just went back to looking between the two, sniffing, until she huffed and settled on the floor. Right, good dogs stayed down in buildings. And she was a good girl.
"Yes, thank you,” Hakuba said first to the compliment, then paused at the question, taken aback by the abrupt directness of it. He’d known that Shinichi was one for getting straight to the point, but the interaction with Twig had somehow made him forget, just temporarily, that they weren’t already friends.
…which was really kind of an odd feeling, as the half-brit really didn’t have friends generally, anyway.
“Ah… need you, well, I…” He shifted his gaze to the table, wondering if they were going to sit anytime soon as the pain in his back resurfaced, throbbing as the anxiety grew. But he could do this. They were… colleagues. He had to remember that.
Hakuba started again, voice tired, but stable. “As I mentioned in my letter and emails, I had a sort of question to pose to you, but it deals with ethics and nitty-gritty… really, I’d just like to chat, if you’re inclined. I’ve always wanted to meet you formally, and see how we hit it off as I’m to understand we have much in common. Since I’m here in Japan for the moment, and you’re no longer vanished, I thought it would be an ideal time to try.”