The voice hadn’t so much startled her but it was surprising to say the least. She had ventured a little further from Beika and hadn’t been expecting to see anyone she knew. It seemed that her idea had been correct, but this person still seemed to know her which was strange enough on its own.
“I am,” she replied, glancing over at him cautiously. Blond hair and mixed features, polite manner of speech, knowledge of her profession, young age… “You must be one as well. A detective, I mean.”
Guard up. He could still be one of them.
“Yes, that’s right.” It didn’t surprise him that she didn’t already know his name, though Hakuba felt a little disappointed, regardless. He wasn’t nearly as famous as Kudou, after all, and his travelling schedule kept him out of the Japanese limelight far too often– at least for Baaya’s taste, apparently, given how often she complained to him about it.
“Hakuba Saguru. A pleasure to meet you, Sera-san. I’ve heard good things about you. From…” Hakuba tilted his head to look her over, curiously. “America, if I remember correctly. At least recently.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Is that correct?”