koizumiakako:

She didn’t even have the energy to counter that. After all, there wasn’t anything he said that wasn’t true. She wasn’t angry, or sad, or any other emotion that might be appropriate in her situation. She was just tired. The last thing she wanted to do was to keep fighting a losing battle but that’s all she had been doing since day one.

“Then I suppose I’ll just continue being alone. You’ve rejected my peace offering so all I have left to do is to keep trying in some vain hope that he’ll return my feelings one day… which he won’t. But I’ll keep doing it.”

Her shoulders slumped in a very dismissive way as she turned her attention to a wall to her right. Teaching herself how to not cry had been the most useful skill she had ever learned as a child and she was so grateful for it right then. But she had been alone for so long already, what was the rest of her life?

“You can return the gift if you like. The receipt is in the box. Then you can buy something you actually want. Maybe some new cologne and then you can spend the rest of it on a night out. Maybe find a new companion.” She took a deep breath before turning back to him and smiling her usual, distant smile. “I’ll keep away as best I can. No promises though, Tantei-san.”

"I will wish you the best of luck in your pursuits, Koizumi-san.” Hakuba answered, tone neutral, placid. Just the same way it was day in and day out. Likewise distant, likewise hurting, and always hidden. He watched her for a moment, lips drawn in a straight line, neither smiling nor frowning.

His mouth curved into a faint, but forced smile that never reached his eyes. He, too, was tired. “I appreciate your attention to detail; remembering my birthday, making a point of buying a gift of my preference, delivering it to me in person. Thank you.”

The detective offered her a bow, formal and respectful, then straightened up to show that, really, there was no victory in this. He got no joy from their argument. Nothing but pain in their concessions and admissions. It hurt. Everything hurt and there was no end to it. 

“I’m certain that I’ll see you around. I hope you have a pleasant rest of your day.”