Tag Archives: meitanteiosaka

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

Heiji tried to ignore the sarcasm, however much it grated on his nerves. He had already decided to sit with Hakuba through lunch, and even if they devolved into a shouting match, he would still do it, dammit.

True to his word, it didn’t take long at all for them to arrive at the restaurant. “Yo, Katsura-han!“ he greeted the owner. They then proceeded to have a small conversation, during which he failed to introduce Hakuba (let that pompous ass take responsibility fer his own damn self), and ordered finished by ordering his usual. He did make a few recommendations to the other detective, though.

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Hakuba, to his credit, did a good job of hiding how much Heiji’s faux pas hurt. Not being introduced formally was not only insulting between them as colleagues and rivals, but didn’t do anything for his relationship with the restaurant’s owner. At best, he’d come off as anti-social, with Hattori being polite and not introducing him because he didn’t want to talk to the man. Which wasn’t true. Further, he was clearly with Hattori since they’d come in together and had exchanged words, so not being introduced made him look lesser. Like a child or pet. Not worth it. 

Still, as to not offend the owner or make anyone uncomfortable by openly bringing up Hattori’s insult, the foreign detective simply remained neutral. When he had his turn to speak and order, he nodded politely and looked over the menu card while Heiji gave his recommendations.

Damn, so much kanji…

The half-brit could read most of it just fine. He’d been reading and speaking Japanese along side English since he was very young, but trying to order in an unfamiliar restaurant, with unfamiliar food, under pressure, made it a little harder than it should have been. And he had to do it fast, less Hattori decide that Hakuba was somehow weak for not immediately knowing what he wanted.

"Ah, I’ll… try the, ah…”  Where was it? The thing that Hattori had gone on about? God, his eyes hurt. “The, ah, okinam…" Shit.  ”The okonomiyaki, please.“  

Hakuba winced. Hopefully, Heiji wouldn’t say anything. Hopefully, he also wouldn’t know the faint blush of heated embarrassment on his face. Going to lunch with Hattori Heiji had been a very, very bad idea. 

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

Heiji grinned. Victory!

Wait. That would mean he’d have to spend the next hour or so with Hakuba.

…Victory?

He sighed inwardly. Sometimes he really didn’t know when to shut up. Damn his competitive nature. But he had won that not-argument fair and square, and he wasn’t going to back down just because it was Hakuba. So he was going to make sure the Brit had the best damn lunch he’d ever had.

…Dammit.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll pay fer my own, don’t worry.”

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He pointed down a side street before walking in that direction, not bothering to make sure Hakuba was following. If the Brit wanted to leave, that was fine with him. Well, no it wasn’t, and he’d probably yell at him next time he saw him for being rude, but at least he was providing an out. Sort of. “S’a little ways outta th’ way, but it’s closer ta here than the station is.“

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"I’ll trust your judgement, Hattori-san… you do seem to be the expert.”

Sarcasm? Not at all! 

Well. That was interesting. Hakuba considered not following, but it was only a brief, fickle thought. After all, to leave now would be a fairly serious offense. Superintendent General Hakuba’s son versus the Superintendent Supervisor Hattori’s son. A scandal in the making.

Actually, it struck the half-brit then that it was somewhat odd that the two hadn’t been forcefully paired together before. Surely, there was the distance to be considered, but a friendship between them could be a very powerful statement, PR included. 

Hm.

He followed after Heiji silently, letting the Osakan lead the way. 

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

“Oi, oi, I didn’t mean it like that. S’just that yer usually insultin’ me. S’weird ta hear ya offer ta pay fer lunch.” Oh, but it seemed that pompous attitude had returned, if only slightly. It probably said something about him that he preferred that high-and-mighty attitude to what looked to be a forced display of polite conventions.

“Ya won’t be able ta find it without a guide, yanno. An’ I’m sure it’s closer than whatever cafe ya wanted ta eat at.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and turned away a bit, attempting to look disinterested. “Buuuut if ya really wanna miss out on some’a th’ best food Osaka has t’ offer…"

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Hakuba stopped mid-step, considering. With his back to Heiji, he allowed himself to scowl at the ground til the count of five before he relaxed his rigid posture and put on that neutral facade he usually wore. 

Heiji had sort of apologized. At least almost. And he was right about the foreign detective being lost. Reluctantly, he turned to face Heiji, unable to hide the dry expression that came unbidden in response to the crooning Osakan trying to tempt him.

He let out a measured sigh. Then shrugged as if everything had just been in good humor. “Well, I can’t very well turn down something like that. I would hate to miss out on how great Osaka is or whatever. And if it’s weird, you’re welcome to pay for your own. Whichever suits your fancy, Hattori-san. I wouldn’t want to offend or impose.”

Inward huff. 

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

“Not jus’ food. I know all th’ best places ta go here. Just ask Kudo! Er, if ya see ‘im, that is.” It was pretty neat, that the detective was praising him instead of putting him down and calling him ‘childish.’

…Wait a second.

Heiji blinked in confusion. Hakuba wasn’t just being polite, he was also offering to pay for lunch? Suspicious…

He leaned in, scrutinizing the other detective. “Oi, are ya okay? Yer bein’…nice.“ Not that that was a bad thing, but considering the terms they had last left on, and Hakuba’s constant criticisms of him, he found it pretty strange of the Brit.

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"Ah… I’m… usually nice, Hattori-san.” Hakuba frowned. “Most people find my company to be quite agreeable. If, ah, that’s not…" 

It was difficult to control his temper. How could he be expected to stay calm with insinuations like that? 

"All you have to say is no. I appreciate your help.” Huff. 

He turned to leave, at least in the direction of where the train station was.

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

“A bit, yeah, made with noodles an’ any type’a seafood ya want.”

He snorted. “If yer talkin’ ‘bout that crap in Tokyo, don’ even bother. It jus’ doesn’t compare ta what we’ve got here. Osaka’s where okonomiyaki comes from, after all! An’ it’s not just good, it’s great. Best with octopus an’ bonito, too. And a’course ya gotta get th’ batter jus’ th’ right consistency…" He paused for a moment, blushing slightly in embarrassment. This was Hakuba he was talking to, not Kudo. And if the Brit made one crack about his ‘enthusiasm…’

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“Sorry.”

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Blink blink.

Hakuba watched Heiji, quiet and impassive, with only bewilderment as his expression. He’d known that he was excitable, but he couldn’t recall the other detective ever quite being so… so passionate about something. Safely passionate, that is.

“Ah… no, it’s fine.” The foreign detective forced a smile, brows knitting. “It seems as though I’ve found the expert for food in Osaka.” He tried to make his smile a little broader, to show that he was fine with the exuberant display, then added:  "That’s a good thing.“

And then, "Ah, with… that… said, would you.. like to come with me? I’ll treat… since you know the way." 

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

He sniggered. “Yeah, Osaka can be pretty confusin’ fer first-timers.“ He practically lit up when Hakuba asked him about food, though. “Oh, there’re some great places ‘round here! There’s this great okonomiyaki restaurant a li’l ways away. ‘Course, they don’t have coffee, but their toasted green tea’s pretty good.”

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“I’ve, ah, been here before…”  Hakuba said quietly to correct the error, but abandoned it in favor of the Osakan’s new enthusiasm. He blinked. Took a breath to steel himself, then nodded.

“Ah, green tea is just fine. More than adequate, actually. Okonomiyaki… is like a Japanese pancake, right? Seafood?” He looked skyward, thoughtfully. “I… think I’ve had that before. And it’s, ah, good stuff, huh?”

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

Heiji stared at Hakuba’s befuddlement, not expecting that. He’d expected a condescending greeting, or just flat-out ignoring, but a polite request? Especially after their last run-in? It really threw him for a loop.

“Er, no. It’s in th’ complete opposite direction an’,” he called up a mental map of Osaka, which only took him a few seconds, “I think ya got off two stations too late. Ya’ll wanna take th’ subway back ta…" He continued on, giving Hakuba directions to the library with no animosity attached. Later, he’d probably look back on this meeting with even more confusion.

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More frowning. Hakuba nodded as he listened to Heiji’s directions, taking mental notes of where he would need to go in order to get where he needed to be. 

“Huh. I’m… really not sure how I got so turned around. Thank you, Hattori-san." 

He looked toward the direction of where he should be headed, then rubbed the side of his face with a hand, tiredly.

"Ah, Hattori-san, if I could trouble you again… before I head out that way, could you point me in the direction of somewhere nearby to get some food?  And coffee, perhaps. I’d meant to stop by a cafe on the way there, but still have a ways to go it seems." 

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Hate Date in Osaka

meitanteiosaka:

whiteknighthakuba started following you

“Oi. What’re you doin’ here, Hakuba?”

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“I’m headed toward the library. Your city’s main public archives has a book that I’ve been looking for forev- Ah… this… is the way to the library, isn’t it?”

Hakuba blinked, confused as he glanced around curiously. Where was he? He looked back at Heiji. Huh. He didn’t recognize any of this part of the city. He must have been wandering again, lost in thought. Troubling. 

“Hattori-san. We meet again. Could you direct me to the library, please?”