Well, if he was going to sum it up so eloquently— Emi blushed at the (very thinly) veiled compliments, and let her hair fall back over her cheeks while ducking into her shoulders a bit. She would believe herself loyal, but… courage wasn’t technically her forte. It was a part of her almost completely separate from Emi Himura that displayed all of the courage, as far as she could tell. But he believed it was right, so how could she argue? “Well I hope that we’re both right, then. And thank you, for putting it into words so well.”
She eased her hand down along the vinyl safety belt which fastened her in her seat, fingers near the release button in preparation. His company had certainly done lengths to ease her discomfort, but it didn’t change her eagerness to have the ‘safety measure’ removed, and be out of the vehicle. Still, it didn’t distract her too much, contemplating his reply, and slanting her head a slight, “You would think yourself heartless, or that you struggle with emotions and matters of the heart, when in fact you’ve got a great capacity to love and show compassion, far beyond your knowledge?
Well I wouldn’t presume to know that as true about you, just yet, but I don’t struggle to believe that you are a kind, and tender person.” A true, and good meaning gentleman down to the marrow in his bones, whether or not he acknowledged the fact regularly.
The next question was quite unusual, and Emi thought herself defeated for a good moments time, but still though of an answer to offer in reply. "I will say that, yes, I have had Dip-N-Dots before, as in I have purchased it, and it has been in my possession for some time, but unfortunately, I’ven’t actually eaten any of the peculiarly composed treat.” He’d pulled the car into a stall by then and she unclicked the hold of her belt before continuing, (with a heightened sense of ease), "It was at a baseball game, in America, with my Uncle and his two sons, as well as my brother. I had bought the treat myself, and I was frantic to get back to my seat, as the line had been longer than I thought it would be, and the inning came back into play whilst I was gone. I run back to my row, and I’m easing my way through fans when suddenly-”
She threw up her arms for emphasis, and shook her head like an excited sports goer, painting the picture better, “GRAND SLAM! Everybody around launches up from their seats, throwing up their hands and shouting with glee, which I would have myself, had the great play not been neatly pursued with a man in front of me standing right into the small container of ice-cream-dots, sending the sugary treat all over his wife next to him. They didn’t get upset, only both of them laughed, and apologized, but I just grinned and shrugged it off, before meeting them with my arms tossed up, shouting the same cheer as everyone else, a bit belated, and returning somewhat dejectedly to my seat.
Then I stole my uncle’s churro and felt better.”
The comment about the tin woodsman left color on Hakuba’s cheeks, which he chose not to address, instead allowing her to smoothly transition into her story. He grimaced at the countenance of the climax of her story, but chuckled otherwise, shaking his head.
"I’m pleased to hear that a churro came to the rescue,” Hakuba remarked, and let himself from the car once it was parked, jogging around to the other side to get her door, which he held for her. “And that you really do seem to have a story for absolutely everything. I’m pleased. Very, very pleased.”
He offered his hand to her.
“And, perhaps shamefully, grateful that they ruined the experience for you. This museum just happens to have Dip-n-Dots here for a limited time as sort of a traveling exhibit with some American ‘technology of tomorrow’ that they’re putting on right now… so you will finally get your chance to experience it. Really, aside from one very important mystery that we need to solve here, Himura-tantei, ice cream is all this museum has to offer us tonight before we run on to the next course.”
