“It’s actually just around the corner,” he answered quickly, waving his hand noncommittally in the direction of the restaurant before continuing the conversation.
“I guess I don’t really have that same ambition but I still get it. You want to be better than other people, right?” he concluded. “But more importantly, you want to impress people. It’s about your reputation. You want to look good because that will make your father look good too.“
Hakuba didn’t act like a selfish person so his need to succeed didn’t really make sense if he was doing it for himself. His father, on the other hand, was a powerful man in the police force. Any action Hakuba took would reflect on his father, for better or worse.
"I think you’re doing a great job, so you should probably stop worrying about it so much.”
“Ah…” Such praise from his senpai. Hakuba rubbed the back of his head, combing his hair with his fingers in embarrassment – but at least it was the good kind of embarrassment. “Y-yes… I suppose that sums it up nicely, Kudou-san… Thank you very much for the high compliments."
It was true, to, at least as far as Hakuba was concerned. Doing well honored his father and helped to set himself apart… in a way that made it less about his mixed heritage and more about how much he was legitimately better.
Truly, Kudou-san was a most masterful detective to have figured that out, indeed.
"Ah, speaking of fathers… How are your parents? I must confess that I’m a great fan of your father’s novels…”