[Day 14, afternoon: Erika]

[purrtagonist]

[YO ERIKA WHAT'S UP, Akira's catching her somewhere on the bottom floor after the debacle with Ichigo and a certain conversation with a certain someone underneath the aquarium tank]

Futayo confessed to killing Maki.

[and that's where he's starting this]

Comments

[very_good_end]

... [sighs]

I am going to be without an assistant...

[purrtagonist]

[h. . . ha. . .]

An assistant and a friend.

[gently reminding her]

[very_good_end]

An assistant.

[purrtagonist]

As you say, Erika. . .

[pushes away from the wall]

Anyway. . . I should probably-- let people know.

[very_good_end]

...

Will you go out with me the next night?

[purrtagonist]

[ah-- he blinks at her a few times, surprised by the question]

[. . .]

I-- [the way she asks that tugs at his heart, melts away some of his anger at her from earlier. because when she's like that, it's as if the rough, cruel and heartless great detective doesn't exist]

[when she's like that, she's only Erika]

. . . I will.

[and he nods]

[very_good_end]

...Thank you.

[little smile.]

I'll be asking what you think of whatever we find, so you had better be extra-stupid that night.

[purrtagonist]

I'll make sure to purposefully dumb myself down just for you.

[he's. he's joking, but it doesn't quite come off because he's so damn tired]

[very_good_end]

Good.

Until then, is there anything else?

[purrtagonist]

Only a vote to cast. That's all.

[very_good_end]

...Yes.

[purrtagonist]

[there's a pause]

[and then he reaches out to drop a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly]