harajukuharuspex:

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?" 

harajukuharuspex:

Akira grinned at his (rather dumbfounded) expression. “There’ll be plenty of time for chivalry later, Guru-chan.” She rolled her eyes but nonetheless made an exaggerated show of pulling down the seatbelt and clicking it into place.

Ah, it had been quite some years since she last rode in a convertible. The wind wouldn’t do anything for her hair; in fact, it rather made her feel like ants had crawled across her scalp and burrowed deep before violent ejection. But the weather had proven to surpass her expectations, sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. She should’ve brought sunscreen, now that she thought of it. Oh well. Possible burns could be dealt with when they returned from their jaunt to the city. Maybe she could coerce Hakuba into bubble tea as well.

“Why, whatever gave you that idea? Of course it’s for you you silly billy, I said so over the phone.” She placed the package on her lap. “Should I tell you what it is? Wouldn’t want you to get in an accident trying to unwrap my mess of a wrap job.”

Hakuba cast a wary glance to the side to see his silly classmate and the box that she held before turning his eyes to the road. 

“You really didn’t have to get me anything, Akira-kun. Honestly, I’m just very glad that you were willing to come with me today. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s not as though I have a lot of friends at school, much less anyone who would go with me to Tokyo…” He sighed. “But I’ll throw in food, too, whenever we get hungry…”

Yes, Hakuba; attempt to sweeten the deal that she has clearly already agreed to. 

Safely on the freeway and into the furthest lane, Hakuba pressed the gas pedal in a way that gave the engine need to roar. He shifted gear, and settled the car into a speed that would cut at least five minutes from their journey. Not that time was really a pressing concern, at least yet; Hakuba simply loved to go fast.

harajukuharuspex:

“Shhhhsh I got you a present, hope you like it.” Akira frowned as Loki circled her ankles. She groaned. Dumb cat, always needing to be fed. Food poured and cat eating away, Akira dashed out the door, almost forgetting to lock it in her haste.

Jammed the elevator button, tapping her foot impatiently, run for the stairs and hear the elevator doors slide open as she descends the first five steps and sigh. Akira flew down nine flights of stairs and beamed at the waiting Hakuba. She hopped into the convertible without waiting for him to open the door (ergo her forgoing the skirt – jumping over a door is far more fun than chivalry). “Let’s go!”

The detective stared when his classmate literally hopped into his car, hand slowly retracting from the door handle. He had, in fact, intended to open the door for her but…  well, all right then! 

“Yes, let’s go indeed. Don’t forget to buckle up." 

Hakuba turned the car back on, smirking as the engine roared to life. He checked his mirrors, and pulled away from the curb and out into the city. They were headed for Tokyo, which was a 36-40 minute drive from their starting point. He stole a glance at her.

"Please don’t tell me that the box you’re holding is a gift for me." 

harajukuharuspex:

Akira swore as she pinched her finger in the necklace clasp for the third time. Damn thing. Damn bitten and torn fingernails. She managed to open and latch the small golden heart around her neck with sore and red fingers and sighed in relief. And pain. Really, she should just stop biting her fingernails.

Nah. She gnawed at her thumb as a familiar vibration echoed through the apartment. Oh shit. Where had she left her phone? It should’ve been in her pocket, where it always was, but then she had just changed into her brand-new jean shorts and before these shorts she had worn a skirt and- Aha! Akira held up the elusive cellular device, plucked from the first pair of shorts she had put on for the excursion calling her. And sure enough, the sneaky side-shot she’d gotten of Hakuba while in class had appeared on the display. She hit answer.

“Guru-chaaaan,” she replied, laughing. “Be down in a mo. I’m so ready! She’s going to be so surprised when she gets back. Also happy birthday you idiot, as if I wouldn’t notice.” Akira snatched her purse from the floor and keys from the windowsill. She held a brightly wrapped package under her armpit for the stubborn detective. Honestly.

The nickname grated him, but Hakuba only grimaced to show it. Oh, and she mentioned his birthday. Well, at least they were getting all of the nonsense out right from the start. He could only hope that things would improve from that point. 

“Ah, thank you, Akira-kun. But, really, this isn’t a trip about me so let’s keep that little detail as quiet and out of the way as humanly possible, please." 

He glanced toward the structure again, sighing internally as he waited for her to appear. The sooner they got going, the sooner they could pick up the package that was being held. Although he’d been assured by the shop owner that they would, indeed, hold it for another week, Hakuba didn’t want to risk any chances.