“Not at all. Can I request a truce in return?”
“…I think that’s agreeable and fair, yes. A truce. And potential friendship.”
Tag Archives: koizumiakako
“I’m not opposed to being friends, but I can’t… I can’t go through that again.”
“Pay special attention to the line about spine, Koizumi-san. Perhaps I’m just as bad as you say… it’s like they took your opinion of me and put it into a song."
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Hakuba would like to dedicate this to Akako because he’s like… 5 years old or something. Geez.
(Source: http://media.tumblr.com/)
She only nodded, strain evident on her face. A part of her had been wishing that maybe he would concede and allow her back into his arms but she scoffed at her own ridiculous idea. He would never and neither would she. Pride and determination would make sure of that.
As quickly as she could Akako turned on her heel, clumsier than usual, but managed to keep herself upright and striding away. There wasn’t any confidence ormalice in her step, just exhaustion and disappointment. “Try not to overwork yourself,” she called back hesitantly, not sure if she should say anything at all. But the deed was done. Now they could go back to normal…
Yes… back to normal.
The detective waited until she was gone, steeling himself against that compulsion to go after her, to stop her, to grasp her as he’d thought about countless times… and then he calmly gathered his things, checked the time on his pocket watch, and headed out for the day.
He had a friend/classmate to pick up for a trip to Tokyo. An afternoon to get away and distract himself from, well, himself.
Happy birthday, indeed.
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.”