“I didn’t ask.” The teen responded, dryly. Taxing? As if. He watched Hakuba’s face, gaze shifting down to the piano keys again as the detective’s hands glided across them, both curious and put off. Who did this guy think he was? Acting all suave and innocent… “Still going on about moonlight escapades… when will you give it up already?”
Kaito wondered, idly, how long it would take Aoko to figure out where he had ended up… and also whether his hope that she’d drag him away again might be foiled when she spotted Hakuba. What did she see in him, anyway? “And what about you? No date? That’s surprising with how much of a playboy you are.”
It was… frustrating, to say the least, to hear the denial time and time again. Hakuba knew who Kaito truly was, and he knew that Kaito was well aware of this. Add to that the playboy comment and the dry response, and it put a significant damper on his ability to pretend to be pleasant.
The detective stilled his hands, letting the notes die with chord unresolved, and tilted his head back to regard the teenager next to him coolly, mouth curved so very slightly downward into a frown.
“This is an event for the police, many of whom I consider colleagues and mentors. It is not a setting in which I feel comfortable bringing personal matters, which a ‘date’ would fall under. But, thank you, Kuroba-kun,” Hakuba remarked, voice dry, words quick, and tone perhaps a bit harsher than necessary. “It’s always good to know where I stand with people in their opinions of me.”
And where was that? Irritable, nosey, pretentious playboy. Insufferable. Hakuba glanced away, down to the piano keys, fighting back the urge to run. Kaito was too observant; he’d know that he’d hurt him with his words. He’d know he’d won. Hakuba forced a smile.
“Ah, so admired, am I. It’s so nice to have friends.”
