His smile made her smile more so, she always did love seeing him do so. It really could brighten up a room. Not that she had ever voiced something like that aloud. She’d been so afraid to.
But maybe she’d have the courage to at some point.
Reaching a hand out to take the pills, she couldn’t stop herself from moving to inquire about his questions. She didn’t get a chance to, however, as he seemed to get hung up on the multiple implications of his wording and she couldn’t help but to pause and watch him start to flounder about to explain himself. Rather unnecessarily so at that.
Slender fingers hovered over the pill bottle for a couple of seconds before the hand was quickly making it’s way back to her person. Oh no. Oh no. His embarrassed floundering was so adorable! A reminder that for all his calm collectedness he was just as much as an axious dork as she was. The smile turned into one of amusement before her hand was covering her mouth. It was in vein because seconds later she was laughing.
She was aware she didn’t laugh much, felt like she didn’t really have a reason to with all the death and destruction that surrounded her. There was always too much in her heart and mind to worry about then taking the time to laugh. Since attending the college with the Ekoda trio (as she had come to call them) she had laughed a lot more but she was certain that it hadn’t ever sounded like the laughter she was producing now.
To her, at the very least, it sounded so much more pure and open. And her sides were hurting so bad!
“N-nooo, why are you s-so… so precious?!"
The rambling came to a full and abrupt halt as Shinori spoke, and he blinked at her helplessly. Precious? She thought he was precious? Was this a good or a bad thing? Confused and started, the male detective stood there, expression falling with a head tilt to one side, not unlike a nervous golden retriever.
"Ah…” was all that Hakuba could say in response at first, then realized – finally – that she was laughing. Not at him, really, or at least not cruelly so, but she was genuinely amused. And it was infectious. He laughed, himself, turning his head with a bite of his lip. God, he was embarrassed, but it was so nice to hear her full of such good spirits, especially in light of all that had happened.
“Well, I don’t know about precious, but I’d accept ‘bumbling’ or ‘awkward,’ perhaps ‘hopeless,’ Kudo-kun…"
At work, Hakuba was professional, calm, and so very confident. Flirty, even. At university, he was quiet, withdrawn, and a little bit cold. And here, in his bathroom with her, he was tripping all over himself. But at least he’d remembered to put pants on, which he was then very grateful for.
The blush didn’t look like it was leaving any time soon, either. "But nevermind that; you’re gorgeous, your laugh is adorable, and I’ve made enough of a fool of myself. Shall I arrange something for breakfast? Or do you want to go back to bed?”