“And who are you referring to, exactly, Koizumi-san?"
“Who knows? Maybe it’s the young Japanese teenager with the big blue eyes and the cute laugh when he’s talking about solving mysteries and reading Holmes…?”
“Do you mean Kudou-san? We’re… the same age, I thought… aren’t we..? It… It doesn’t matter, Koizumi-san, senpai or not, I greatly respect my colleague and feel no shame in that.”
“I suppose that would depend on who was asking and for what purpose."
“I’m asking. Because it was always really funny.”
“No."
“And who are you referring to, exactly, Koizumi-san?"
“I suppose that would depend on who was asking and for what purpose."
“No… no I don’t. That was a decision made on the part of my agent at the time, actually, and I will have my statement about this fact finished soon to be published for you to read.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll get on it… now that it’s not my birthday I suppose it’s about time I get back to work…”
[There was no signal to its arrival, but at some point in the day, a (not exactly wrapped) package seemed to appear on the ground beside the front door. A tidy folder with several papers inside rest beneath a box of assorted chocolates; both carefully placed so they were out of the way but wouldn’t go completely unnoticed. On the folder was a sticky note with careful (probably too careful; a bit nervous) handwriting:
“I decided I didn’t want anything to do with this case,
and I wasn’t sure what to give you for the
occasion. It turned out to be rather interesting – maybe
you can make use of it.
Do what you’d like with these. My apologies.
Happy birthday.”]
–
“An interesting case from my beautiful colleague, Kirigiri-san? How curious… and so sweet that she remembered my birthday."
”…goodness, it… Hm. I… I think I shall tread lightly. I am curious, but caution is prudent. Not so much for my safety, but rather, the potentially personal perspective present in these papers…“
“No, I didn’t know. But I can’t really say that I’m surprised by it,” she answered to his first question. “You’ve displayed quite a few self-destructive tendencies already.”
She paused not really sure how to continue. On one hand she wanted to cause him strenuous discomfort but on the other hand… she really just wanted to lie and sugar coat it. Obviously, neither one of those things were going to be helpful.
“I’m not going to lie to you. My original goal was to make Kuroba-kun jealous, or at the very least, notice me. No matter what I did, he completely ignored my advances. You were a rival, the perfect opportunity to make him upset.” It was the truth, no matter how painful. Lying wouldn’t get her anywhere. “It didn’t work of course. It never does…
"But even knowing that, I hesitated to end our fabricated relationship.” She bit her lip painfully, trying to keep herself grounded in the present. “You were loyal, kind, a good listener… and completely genuine… that terrified me. It scared me to think that you weren’t there because of my spell. So I tried to end it before you got too attached. Strike two, right?
"I used you to get to him even though it’s completely hopeless. I know that and I think I’ve always known that… even before. I don’t expect you to forgive me but I need you to understand that it wasn’t all make-believe. I’m not that heartless.”
“Hah…"
Hakuba stood for a moment, watching Akako as he processed what she’d said, giving that cold, sort of heart-broken laugh.
"Please, allow me to reiterate. You cast a spell, used me to try to attract Kuroba-san, and when you found out that I had fallen for you, dumped me and pushed me away. Because it scared you… that you were getting attached?”
He shrugged, helplessly. “And now, you don’t want me because I’m worthless, soiled, and self-destructive. Too dirty and common for your tastes. And you wonder why I’m self-destructive."
Acid in the back of her throat. A throbbing headache; billions of words disappearing on unfathomable currents and others bold in their concern for her well-being. Hakuba-kun. Saguru. She swallowed iron and grit and acid.
[Hakuba-kun. I’m okay.] Akira pushed the thought on him, though her throat bulged and her tea and eggs and toast ejected from her stomach. Her head ached and vision swam with pink butterflies which landed on her bloodied fingertips only to be eaten by turquoise sharks and seaweed wrapped around her ankles except not seaweed jellyfish tendrils stinging burning her ankles and legs. She turned to catch Hakuba’s eyes, her own stinging with dust. When had she started crying? [Don’t worry. We’re gonna get out of this. I promise.]
Everything hurt, but the paramedics yelled platitudes at her and vibration shook the wreck of a vehicle as a chainsaw sliced through a door to release her and honestly she just wanted to sleep.
The voice confused him. Shook his already burning head. Hakuba stared helplessly, time passing in a mix of sights and sounds that he couldn’t understand. Foreign hands unbuckled his seat belt. Pulled him from the vehicle. He stared at the sky, vaguely aware that Akira wasn’t there anymore. She was already gone; loaded into the back of some vehicle.
They checked vitals. Hakuba recounted the steps, attempted to instruct them, was given a squeeze of his hand instead. Voices… voices.. Something about his father? Closing his eyes was harder and harder to undo.
…
Hakuba opened his eyes to a doctor touching his head with one hand, his wrist with the other. Confusion flickered and he grimaced. It was too bright – oh, a flash light.
“Two concussions in two weeks… Saguru-kun, you are one lucky kid. I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon."
Concussion. Again. The hospital.. car accident. Hakuba swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. "How’s… Akira-kun?"
