Love At First Error (2/2)

It was official that today was Aoko's worst day in her life. She remembered reading about her daily horoscope that today would be her life's best changing point but screw it all. The only change that Aoko knew she was going to get was a couple of grey hair and a few stressful wrinkles after this.

Aoko had been sitting on a bench inside the freezing air-conditioned police headquarters, her feet shaking up and down with irritation for the past one hour. Her impatience was growing by every second that passed, but once her eyes glanced over at a lady who was limping towards the counter with a crutch and a bruised eye, her fingers brushed across her bandaged wrist and she sighed, thinking maybe her life wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Though she changed her mind when she realized it had been an hour since she was last contactable. Why? Because she'd lost everything and her phone was one of it.

She had knocked off class early that day and was walking back home, wanting to take a good shower and get into a nice dress when all of the sudden, a motorist zoomed past her and snatched her handbag, robbing her right in public. What made it worse was when the force from the pull caused her to fall forward, her good wrist became sprained and bruised.

"Nakamori Aoko."

The name jolted her feet up and she dashed to chair in front of the counter that called her name. The police officer looked tired and dreadful and Aoko couldn't help but allow her impatience to slightly die away. Not just her was having a bad day, perhaps. She sat on her seat and wrapped her fingers around the edge of the table. "I want to report a robbery."

The police officer turned towards his computer. "Please tell me more details about it. Where did it happen?"

It had been one long and draggy story that Aoko thought she was reading off a novel. The officer printed a copy of the document of her report and told her she would be informed if her items were (ever) found. She growled out in frustration and all the policeman did was to shrug and move on to call out for the next person at the waiting area.

Now what? Aoko slowly sauntered out of the room, folding the paper into her jeans pocket while trying to relieve some stress by muttering a list of fried food under her breath. Her wrist hurts, her shirt was slightly dirtied from the fall and all her valuables were gone. Her phone. Her precious wallet. The ticket that Kaito gave her-

Shit.

The ticket.

Kaito.

Aoko spun her head towards the clock on the wall and what came out from her throat sounded like someone's dying breath.

It was already 7:30pm.

She broke into a run.

That was right! She knocked off early today and was supposed to go home, take a good shower, get into a nice dress- AND meet Kaito for the comedy show tonight! That was the plan! And everything was all ruined because of this robbery- UGH! She slipped through the small gap of the automation door just before it closed and dashed towards the nearest bus stop. It must be Heaven pitying on her since the bus she needed to take arrived at the stop just in time, and fortunately, as well, there was enough loose coins in her jeans to cover the money for her ride. All that was left was to pray for the driver to drive a bit less slower than it already was.

Once the bus reached the stop where she needed to alight to get to the promised theatre hall, she sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her across the concrete pavement. Panting and heaving the hell out of her life, her eyes darted past the stairs of doom she had to overcome to see the entrance door.

Damn it. She grudgingly groaned in her head and was about to take her first stride when she noticed a figure sitting in the middle of the flight of steps.

She couldn't believe what she saw; it was none other than the black tousled-haired man she thought she wouldn't see, at least not right here and now. One of his hands was fumbling around with his phone while the other was resting against his chin. His eyes were staring straight ahead, distant and blue, the cold and lonely kind of blue. It had been ages since she had exercised and she hadn't even caught her breath after running all the way from the bus stop, but she wasn't going to stop. Her feet operated like how she wanted and climbed, even when the muscles at the back of her thighs were starting to scream in pain. It seemed her loud and clumsy figure instantly caught Kaito's attention as he moved his head towards her direction and stood up from his temporary seat once he registered she was here. He did his part to close the distance, his long legs shuffled down the steps in seconds.

"And there I was wondering if you've changed your number because you're pregnant." He drawled and pushed his phone into the back of his pants' pocket. The voice that spoke next suddenly turned into a vast contrast to his usual snarky tone. Serious and very calm. "I thought something happened to you."

They were standing on the same platform, and like usual, Aoko had to tilt up her head to look into his eyes since he was half a head taller than her. But before she could say anything, she brushed a fringe that was stuck to her sticky forehead aside, unintentionally revealing her bandaged wrist.

"Wait," Kaito frowned ominously. "Don't tell me I'm right."

"The thing is, you're always right." Aoko licked her dry lips, feeling a sweat trickled into one of her eyes. It was salty and painful.

He scrutinized her for a moment. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not just late, I screwed up again. I-" She lowered her head and choked back on a sob that had been hurting her throat since forever. "I lost the ticket. My phone too. Everything was supposed to be fine, but I got robbed this late afternoon and my handbag was gone. The ticket was inside, I'm sor-"

Aoko felt her shoulders being seized. She dazedly looked up, her eyes blinking away the tears that fogged up her sight and now, she had a clear view of Kaito's watchful eyes scanning over her.

"Have you reported to the police?" He peered down at her wrist. "Is that why your hand is injured? What did he do to you? Are you hurt anywhere else? Did he use a knife?" He took her arm and gently pulled it up to take a better look at her bandage. "You didn't fight off the robber, right? Please tell me you didn't."

"... Which question am I supposed to answer first?"

"All of it." He stated solemnly.

Aoko explained from the beginning till the end, that there wasn't any violence or bloodshed and her sprained wrist was the only thing she gained besides losing her belongings. And then again, like always, she apologized.

"I've wasted your tickets." She stared at the theater building, her lips turned downwards. "You should've at least gone in to watch the show."

"How meaningless is that?" Kaito scoffed and she thought she saw his tensed shoulders slackened. He ran a hand through his hair, preparing himself to blurt out the next sentence. "What's important is that you're alright."

It had been a pity. Aoko glanced at the building again and let out a desolate sigh. She wasn't sure if she was upset just because she had missed the show she was looking forward to for the whole week, then again, she thought it suddenly didn't matter to her. Maybe to Kaito, what was important was that she was fine. But to her, what was important was that he was still here, waiting for her despite the fact that she was late and uncontactable.

He didn't leave her. He didn't gave up waiting for her.

He was worried about her.

"Instead of idling here, let's go somewhere else." Kaito prompted and walked down the remaining steps to reach the pavement, abruptly breaking her thoughts.

Aoko blinked in wonderment and followed behind him. She was actually expecting the night to end and both of them to head home; There was no reason for them to hang out anyway. "Where can we go?"

"Have you eaten?"

She shook her head and shook it a second time. "I don't have the appetite."

Kaito paused in his tracks and considered for a moment before pointing at a direction that Aoko had no clue where it was supposed to be. "Let me bring you to a place." He trudged with slow steady steps, occasionally glancing at her feet. She knew what his actions meant and decided to clear his doubts by shaking both ankles and assuring the only thing she sprained was her wrist. He didn't say a word and continued to lead.

He brought her to a small garden she'd never noticed before, though one couldn't blame her when she hadn't got the time to visit parks or even jog. There were a few kids at the playground and a bunch of couple taking romantic strolls. Aoko wondered if anyone would mistake them as one too. She then took the wiser route of crushing the irrelevant thought like a bug.

She was debating with herself if she should ask him about where they were going when he suddenly stopped in the middle of a plaza, where a huge fountain was situated right at the spot. Its water sprouted beautifully into the sky and fell back like the shape of an umbrella into the massive ceramic bowl, which contained the clear water and coins ranging from rusty to brand new silver ones.

"It's pretty." Aoko wondered aloud and stood next to Kaito to get a better view.

"What is the colour of water?"

"Um, transparent?" She was too busy staring in awe to understand the meaning of Kaito's random question.

"Wrong. No wonder you only teach math."

Her little enchantment ended as she sent a scowl over his direction. "Then what's the answer? Mr. Know-It-All."

One side of his lips slightly tugged upwards. "It's purple."

His response was completely off that it took her back by surprise. "Huh?"

With a simple snap of his finger, the entire fountain turned to the very colour he just said. Aoko's eyes flew to the purple lights illuminating each specks of water droplets and she thought the fountain looked similarly, in the shape and colour, like an orchid blooming in spring.

"What the... Hazelnut." She gaped at the delightful scene, unable to speak any further as her eyes did all the work in being mesmerized by the beauty.

"Mummy, look! The fountain turned purple!"

"Wow! Did you see that?"

There were many squeals and elations erupting from behind. A crowd had gathered and Aoko glanced at them over her shoulder, noticing how their face were all lit with pure excitement. It was hard not to mirror those expressions.

"What's your favourite colour?" He suddenly asked.

Aoko blinked at him. "You're kidding me, right?"

He waited for her answer.

It must be real magic since he did already use her originally favourite colour to light up this fountain. Now that purple was not an option, she didn't know what to reply until something struck her mind. Instead of her favourite colour, she'd decided to choose Kaito's. On top of that, it was also the first thing she thought when she glimpsed at his eyes too.

"Blue."

"Blue." He began nodding, as if she had passed a test she didn't know she was taking. "Alright, I want you to tell yourself tomorrow will be a better day."

Her eyes twitched as she stared at him in disbelief. "... What?"

"Come on. Do it." Kaito pointed at the fountain. "It isn't going to change colour on its own."

"It did when you snap your finger." She blabbered.

"Exactly." He gave a pointed look. "And that's the instruction you need to do for it to turn into blue."

Aoko winced and glanced down at her shoes. It wasn't even her gut feeling. In all her life, it had been confirmed that no tomorrow would ever be a better day for her. "Must I really say that? It's pointless."

Kaito took a step closer and nudged her in the shoulder playfully. "You'd never know until you try."

She contemplated for a long while, her eyes drifting unwillingly to Kaito's. Like magic, it worked wonders in attempts to persuade her to agreeing by around 80 percent. Might as well, Aoko finally sighed to herself. After the effort he had put in to perform the first act, it would be a bummer if it wasn't completed. Besides, she still felt like she owed him for being unable to see the comedy show. The least she could do was to humor him. She took in a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "Tomorrow will be a better day."

"Louder." Kaito urged. "More energy in it."

"Tomorrow will be a better day." She mumbled.

"I'm pretty sure I've heard better than this, especially when you called me Kudo Shinichi and accus-"

"Tomorrow will be a better day!" Aoko exclaimed to her fullest potential.

As if the trigger had been activated, the fountain magically turned into blue on the exact cue once she finished her sentence. Purple orchid was now outdated. The fountain looked like a blue rose radiating under the moonlight. Mystical and unique. It was a sight to behold.

All the ohhs and ahhs were drowned away in the background as Aoko murmured, loud enough for only Kaito to hear. "It's really, really pretty." Maybe her favourite colour was blue after all.

He simply displayed a triumphant smile. "Glad you like it. And tomorrow will definitely be a better day."

"I don't know, but I think it might be, thanks to you." She bit her lower lip and glanced to her side, towards Kaito. Her eyes were wavering under the light. "I'm the one spoiling things and you're the one making them right."

"I would've made things right if I can turn back time to prevent that robbery, but I couldn't." He averted his gaze to look at the fountain. "I didn't make anything right, but this is the least I can do to cheer you up."

"Kaito..." It suddenly felt weird to speak his name, like the way it made her tongue curl brought strange effects to her chest, again.

"We can always see a comedy show another time if there's anoth-"

"No," She cut in firmly. "I'll rather see your magic shows."

He stared at her, almost amused. "Oh? Because you're impressed by my skills?"

It had always been the plan once Ran told her Kaito was a magician, though she never had the chance to say and tell him all along. And now this was it, she pretended to take the bait that had been swung towards her. "Isn't that great? One more audience for you."

"My seats are always filled up." He informed dully.

"Or I can be your assistant." The pain on her wrist had been long forgotten as she gleefully patted her chest. "But in a much more professional way. You know, with the sexy bunny tuxedo costume and all."

It was too late for her to realize the crap that had come out from her mouth, at least not until Kaito began snorting through his nose. "I didn't know you have such a sensual taste. Are you earnestly interested in wearing the costume?"

"Forget it." Aoko spat and deliberately turned to watch the fountains. Maybe she should have chosen red since it might be able to hide the blush that had tinted her cheeks. She forced herself not to look his way, but in the pit of stomach, she knew he was smirking at her.

The night ended well with Aoko's improved appetite and Kaito's dinner treat.

On the next (better) day, she woke up fresh and early to get her breakfast and newspaper. She temporary ignored all the news and flipped to the page of the daily horoscope. Based on her unlucky robbery incident yesterday, she should have stopped believing in these senseless things, but thinking back about how it all lead to that colourful night, it seemed her horoscope wasn't all that wrong as well. Although it wasn't something as amazing as her life's best changing point, it was still a new change;

Thinking was supposed to be done in the head. But whenever she started to think of Kaito, somehow, her heart responded instead of her brain.

.o.

To give Aoko some credit, she wasn't always the embarrassing one for all the mishap and misunderstanding she'd created. But of course, in comparison, Aoko still won the championship of being the joke between the two of them.

It occurred during Cheiko's birthday, which was organized on a yacht and floating in the middle of the sea. Everything went perfectly smooth, with all the great games and nice food, but there was only one disruption due to the missing performer, who was supposed to conduct his promised magic show after the scheduled fishing game (the birthday girl had won after she caught one that was as long as her arm). Shinichi was on the verge of suspecting if someone had thrown Kaito off the yacht since the latter couldn't be found anywhere, but Chieko argued this must be part of the magic show. The very magician had disappeared on board.

As if. Aoko, who was also invited to the party, decided to look for Kaito even though everyone was almost convinced with Chieko's remark. It really wasn't difficult to find him, thanks to his not-so-small body built. He was sitting at the corner of the empty kitchen floor, arms wrapping his knees to his chest. It was weird how no one noticed him, yet Aoko found him instantly when she wasn't really trying at all.

"What are you doing here? Everyone is waiting for your magic show." Aoko put her hands on her hips and stared down at him. "Don't tell me you've got stage fright. I've seen you performed so many times."

He remained silent and continued to squeeze himself tightly into a ball.

When she knew she wasn't going to get an answer, she slid down against the wall and sat next to him, her curiosity was shelved aside and replaced with a sense of worry. "Um, are you alright? You look a bit pale."

It took a while for him to admit. "I'm not feeling well." He muttered.

"Seasick?" Aoko pointed to the cabinets. "I'm pretty sure there's some medicines for that."

"It's not it." He shook his head, eyes still closed and brows were furrowed. "That previous game. Those stuff. I can't stand it."

"You mean the fishing-

"No."

"But the previous game is the fis-"

"No, don't say that word." He groaned and rubbed his temple. "It makes me ill."

"Ill?" How could someone be ill just by hearing the word fish? It was hard to believe, but watching Kaito struggling to get his grip together, it slowly dawned upon her that it wasn't a joke. He had a serious case of ichthyophobia.

She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, trying to stifle a laugher once she knew the truth. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be laughing at someone's phobia but- But this is the last thing I expect you to be afraid of."

Kaito didn't bother to respond. Like an unconscious revenge, he shifted his posture and laid his forehead onto her shoulder, shocking Aoko silent at his startling gesture. She stiffly stayed in the position, not knowing what to say until Kaito spoke.

"Give me one more minute." He muttered reluctantly. "This headache isn't going away."

"... Alright."

"And don't tell anyone else." His warm breath tickled her skin.

Finally, there was something Aoko could use to threaten Kaito when she had so much uneventful stories for him to mock her about, but seeing him like this, she couldn't bear to do it anyway. Although she wasn't sure if he could see it, she nodded to his request and moved her pinched fingers across her lips, zipping it into a thin line. "Never."

It had been one fun party.

Well, Kaito did say not to tell anyone else, and anyone else didn't include the owner of the joke. She occasionally teased and reminded him about it when they passed by a pet shop or a poster for an aquarium show, and his disgruntled face ended up being the image she registered in her brain before she headed to bed with a smile on her face. Aoko did try to help him to at least appreciate raw salmon and sushi, but no matter how hard she tried, he still couldn't get over it. She guessed the sushi date- DINNER. Yes. She guessed the sushi dinner had to be struck out of the list of things she intended to do with him, despite it being one of her favourite food hangouts.

But fish wasn't the only thing Aoko saw Kaito being not-Kaito about.

She happened to find that out on one of their dates- MEETUPS. Yes. On one of their meetups, she'd decided to give him one out of the pair of tickets she had won to the newly opened ice rink in town for entering in an instant-win lucky draw while shopping for groceries at the local supermarket. Keiko had a leg injury last year and wasn't very keen in the sport and Ran was currently too busy helping out at her mother's lawyer firm. The third person Aoko could think of was Kaito.

And after explaining about the whole ordeal to why she had the free tickets and why she was asking him out with it, he only gave a pained smile.

"I guess the only way around this is to cling onto the positive fact that I'm the third person you think about?"

She rolled her eyes at his egoistic words.

It seemed she'd mistaken the true meaning behind Kaito's pained smile. For the next hour at the ice rink, Aoko spent most of the time laughing at his remarkable stunts of trying not to fall rather than doing her actual skating. And out of guilt, she decided to buy some band aids for all of his cuts and bruises from the trusty supermarket, but eventually ended up getting herself into yet another chance at the instant-win lucky draw.

Aoko won the same tickets again (Kaito had come to a conclusion that the stupid lucky draw was all about promoting the ice rink. Seeing him so annoyed about this whole conspiracy and that he wasn't even able to skate in the first place, she told him she would be asking the fourth person to go with her. Instead of complying, he snatched one of the tickets and told her see you next week).

Besides sleeping with a smile on her face, it was a fun memory for her to laugh in the shower for no good reason too.

.o.

Pre-Christmas Sales! Storewide Discounts!

For once, Aoko couldn't care less about those fancy discount, not at the moment when the gift she was intending to buy was supposed to be meaningful and not simply because she wanted to keep her budget in check. There was still more than a week before Christmas, but she was going to meet Kaito two days later since he would be flying off at the end of the week for a Christmas tour held at several tropical countries, where they experienced sun and heat all year round (Her idea about knitting a pair of gloves for him was then thrown to the back of her mind). It was a bit disheartening to think that he wouldn't be in Japan on the real day itself (not like she was hoping for any mistletoe magic or whatever stupid thing like that oh my gosh), but an early celebration wasn't that bad too either. She would be going back to her old hometown to visit her dad on Christmas anyways.

Now, instead of worrying about how she wouldn't be seeing Kaito for Christmas, she was already facing a problem. Aoko had a plan on what to buy for all her friends and families, but for Kaito, she had no idea what to get for him, even after when she had been standing in the store for the past fifteen minutes and flipping through the bunch of free catalogues that were placed near the entrance.

"Nakamori?"

Surprised, she glanced to the voice until her eyes laid upon the blonde that was standing a distance away. Her mouth hung open for a long while and she only blurted out the word "Hakuba!" after she managed to untie the knot on her tongue.

The said man raised his left hand as a greeting, the shiny wedding ring on his finger glinted at Aoko's eyes. She wasn't sure if this was a mockery from fate, but it didn't matter to her anymore anyway. Ignoring those withered feelings, she beamed and watched him make his way towards her.

"It's been long," Hakuba initiated the start of the conversation. "How have you been?"

"Great. The same old thing. Living and all." Aoko shrugged kiddingly. "What about you? Why are you here? When did you come back from Britain?"

"Busy. It's just a two days business trip and I'm taking tonight's flight back." He pointed at the escalator behind Aoko's shoulder. "I'm heading to the ladies department to buy some stuff for my wife."

Best husband award. "For Christmas?"

"Just a simple souvenir." Hakuba smiled before tilting his head with mild puzzlement. "By the way, what are you doing here? This is the men's department."

"Uh," Currently surrounded by a bunch of racks filled with men's shirts and jeans, Aoko lifted the catalogue she had been hiding behind her back and showed it to Hakuba. There was no reason to hide the truth anyway. "I'm standing by here until I think of a gift to purchase."

"Oh." His mouth turned to the shape of an O and it remained like that for a few seconds. Aoko wasn't sure what that gesture was supposed to mean. Was it a growing custom in Britain?

"You've looked a lot much happier now." He added randomly.

Her face changed into a quizzical look. "Happier?" She responded with genuine interest.

"I may not be a good person to judge, but from all those times I've last seen you, this is your best." Hakuba smirked, one eye almost closing to become a cheeky wink. With the confidence in his tone, even Aoko was starting to believe she was indeed happier, and that was the weirdest part. Was she not happy before? Had she always been so depressing? It didn't take a second to pass for her to conclude in her head that yes, she indeed was depressing, with her low-self esteem problems and all. But now...

"Thanks. I guess you're right." In all honesty, Aoko had no idea what right she was even referring about, but she presumed she'd find out about it sooner or later. She hoped.

Hakuba smiled thoughtfully, luckily clueless to her real inner thoughts. "That's great to hear."

She fiddled with her thumb, suddenly feeling utterly self-conscious. It was weird to have her life analyzed like that. If this conversation happened three years ago, Aoko might giggle to her death for thinking how Hakuba had noticed her. For now, she just wanted to buy her gift and see Kaito as soon as possible-

It was then when Aoko realized she could use this opportunity to ask for help. She flipped through the catalogue absently and tilted it over to Hakuba. "I'm buying a present for a friend and I'm wondering if you have any suggestions."

Hakuba's eyes lowered to the brochure. "For Christmas?"

"Yeah," Aoko nodded her head in glee and stepped just a bit closer over to let him have a better look through the choices. "I was thinking of a tie or a belt, but there was something unpleasantly embarrassing about buying apparels that we, or rather I had in the past." Wear this tonight and whip me hard with it. Oh gross. Not that memory. "He recently changed his wallet too so I guess it wouldn't be wise to buy one." Aoko slumped her shoulders, despondent by her ultimate dead end. "I don't know what else to get."

He didn't even bat an eyelid. "How about perfume?"

Aoko's face lit up and she instantly flipped to the page where all the different brands of cologne were advertised. She felt her cheeks numbed from smiling too wide at all the choices she was spoilt for. "Why hadn't I thought of this? Silly me."

"That friend of yours must have smelt good for you to not think about it." Hakuba casually inputted.

"Yeah, you're righ-" Aoko's face fell and spun her head to stare at the smirking blonde, her neck almost snapped with the speed she used to turn. "Uh, no. I mean-"

"I can recommend this." Hakuba gently took the catalogue from her hand and flicked passed the pages while Aoko took the time for her flushed cheeks to turn back to its original colour. "I've been using this brand since many years ago. It's good."

Aoko managed to bite her lips together, luckily saving herself from agreeing to his words almost too quickly and readily even though it was true. To move on from her inner struggle of embarrassment, she closed the catalogue after marking the page and thanked Hakuba once again.

He shook his head. "It's no big deal. Glad I could help."

"I shall not keep you from going." Aoko playfully shooed him away. "You said your flight is tonight right? Don't waste your time on me."

"It's never a waste of time on you," Hakuba glimpsed at his watch and gritted his teeth. "Although yes, I think I shall take my leave to buy the gift. Will suggest for a reunion party soon if I come back to Japan again." He squeezed her shoulder in a reassuring manner before taking large steps around her and departing towards the escalator.

She watched him go, until he stopped on his track and whirled around, cupping both hands around his mouth to focus his voice better at her.

"Whatever that is making you happy, keep it."

Aoko blinked. Her life had always been the same since forever, so what was she supposed to keep? Not wanting to stall Hakuba's time anymore, she quickly shouted back "I will." in order for him to go and settle his things.

Seeming to be satisfied with her response, he was willing to let his back face her and march off. Aoko only looked away once his figure was gone.

Happy. Happy. Happy.

She focused on the catalogue and flipped past all the pages until she reached her marked page. Good. All she needed to do now was to find where the hell was the cologne's section in this large department store.

.o.

It was agreed in their text messages that they would be meeting under the humongous set-up Christmas Tree, just next to the mall they often enjoyed their ice mocha at; the same place they were properly introduced to each other. Aoko had checked the message for the sixth time, making sure she hadn't got the time or the place wrong. Yeap. She was right, but she would check the text again three minutes later if Kaito hadn't arrived yet-

"Hey."

Aoko spun around in her grey coat and knee-length floral dress and faced the man, knowing it by heart who it was just from hearing his voice. Under the Christmas Tree and its lights, everything suddenly seemed to dim when Kaito appeared in her sight. He was also donned in a similar but buttoned up brown coat and a long pants that were tucked at the end inside his boots. He then raised a bag he had been carrying in his hand and strung the string handles onto her gloved fingers.

"Kaito-?"

"This is your gift." He merely said.

She curiously peeked inside the bag and decided to find the answer to her inner questions the quicker way by taking out the gift. Her fingers crept inside the bag and she felt something soft before pulling the bundle of stuff out. She blinked, and blinked a couple of times again as she dropped the bag on the floor to spread out the long, blue and embroidered woollen scarf in her gloved hands. It was obvious from one look that it wasn't made out from a factory machine. It could've have been, when the zigs zags and messy patterns were all uniquely out of place. It couldn't have been, when there were so many mistakes and wrong holes the needles had went through. It couldn't have been sold anywhere in stores, unless it was from the defect pile. But it couldn't have been from the defect pile either, when the wool was of good quality and every thread of it was clean and new.

It couldn't have been anything; besides it being hand-made.

But still, despite all the answers shouting at her face, it took a long while for it to be registered into her mind. Aoko gasped after three seconds had passed.

"Y-You knitted this scarf?"

"Uh. Yeah." Kaito continued muttering under his breath and looked down at his boots intensively, as if the floor was made out of gold. "I don't know what you girls like other than receiving hand-made stuff."

"How did you...?" She began flipping the scarf around in amazement. "This must be so much work."

"Found some simple tutorials online." He managed a nonchalant shrug. "It was fine."

Aoko giggly wrapped the blue scarf around her neck. She had to curl it twice to fully cover her collar, though her coat had actually done the job for her. The scarf wasn't much of a use or fulfilling its functions and purpose, but with the presence of it, Aoko found it more than enough to keep her warm. Not physically but magically. Her chest and heart had grown warm enough by the thought and sincerity of it to make her immune to the cold.

Kaito was observing her with narrowed eyes, his brows were nearly merging. "Is it too thin for you?"

"It's fine!" She exclaimed quickly. "I like it this way so I can use it for next autumn too." It wasn't a lie.

He regarded her with heavy skepticism but decided to move on to his next question. "Your favourite colour is blue right?" He tentatively asked for confirmation.

Aoko beamed and nodded her head enthusiastically. For this moment, she had declared purple to be officially dead. Blue was what she needed in life. Even if the blue scarf didn't match the colour of her grey coat or the patterns of her floral dress, even if she would be claimed as a mini fashion disaster on the streets, she wouldn't care at all.

"Thank you for this. I really appreciate it." Aoko said with the sincerest tone she could ever muster in her whole life.

Kaito simply waved a hand distractingly. "With that done, I wish you an advance Merry Christmas." All the marks of worries and doubts were washed away from his features, a bright smile had taken back its rightful place again.

"Ah, and same to you!" Aoko took bag she bought for Kaito and shoved it nearly into his chest. She plopped it onto the palm of his hands when she knew he was ready to catch it if she dropped it. "Here's your present."

Kaito inspected the bag for a moment before rummaging through it and glanced at her after failing to find whatever he was looking for. His eyes twinkled under the light. "No greeting card?"

Aoko rolled her eyes. "No."

He dramatized a sad look and finally focused on the main content. His eyes widened by a fraction and it didn't miss Aoko's eyes. A surge of dread filled her lungs and she took in one large breath and managed a whisper. All sorts of worst-case scenarios flooded her mind with automation. "Are you allergic to cologne? Do you already have lots of colognes? Do you hate this-"

"No- No." Kaito answered quickly and his eyes grew distant all of the sudden. She wished she could see what he was reminiscing about, with how composed and peaceful he looked then. His attention finally landed back on her after a few seconds of silence. "It's just that this brand of cologne had once created some interesting memories for me."

"Oh." What could a bottle of perfume do to make him like that? Aoko was extremely interested, but she wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to think about how he had shared some wonderful moments with someone else other than her...

"Before you, there's another woman who'd specially taken the title of a drunk terminator." Kaito continued, a wry smile taken over his features. "So maybe you don't have to be disheartened that you're the only crazy one in this world."

The phrase one of a kind that Ran quoted from Kaito's words suddenly rung in her head. Her eyes casted down at the bag and she pondered over her silly, wistful thinking that she was the only drunk terminator in Kaito's life. Even if it was a negative term, she thought that title was only for her. He was the only mustard she ever had in her life after all.

"What's the story?" Aoko pressed her lips into a shape of a grin and forced herself to look straight into Kaito's eyes. "I want to know how crazy she was, compared to me."

Kaito rubbed his chin and seemed almost lost in thought again until he spoke. "It happened probably around two or nearly three years ago at a club. She was singing a bunch of sad songs and dancing on the floor." He paused for a moment before he cringed, possibly at the memory.

"Must be bad." Aoko followed his expression.

He snorted. "It was the wrong tune the entire time."

Aoko bit her lips and shook her head in pity. "Now I'm pretty sure I've got a rival."

"The story isn't even half done."

She nodded, prompting him to continue. It didn't even matter if they were standing almost in the middle of the streets and being part of the background of many people who were taking selfies or photos of the Christmas Tree. It seemed rude and inconsiderate, but she was too busy being intrigued in Kaito's animated face to care about anything else.

"Because of an unfortunate bump, she started clinging onto me like I was her life," Kaito heaved out a sigh. "She almost threw up on me, but I brought her to a restroom just in time before the horror happened."

"Not bad," Aoko chuckled. "You have fast reflex."

"Pity that I didn't have one when you stepped in to slap me all of the sudden and splash-"

"OK. Moving on with the story."

He showed his clean set of teeth until it faded away and his mouth formed a thin line. "She's heartbroken. I guess. I don't know what's wrong with her and she started ranting about my cologne." He lifted the bag slightly, his eyes softened. "The same brand as this. She said it was also worn by him. And that I wasn't allowed to wear his cologne, just because."

Why?

Why does this...

Why does this feel so familiar?

For some reasons that Aoko wished she could just ignore, her face was growing numb with fear. The past images of how she splashed the beer onto Kaito's face, weirdly, didn't appear in her vision. Something else did. Something even terrible.

Foggy. Foggy memories. But...

But there were blue eyes.

Aoko raised her head sharply and caught Kaito's gaze, the same(!)pair of blue eyes were staring back at her. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she urged all her nerves cells to creak her mouth open. "Just because," her throat had turned dry. "Just because your eyes weren't amber."

Kaito arched an eyebrow and it was that instant when Aoko witnessed the way his pupils dilated and her lips parted open, so slowly as though time had stood still.

"You..." He breathed out.

Aoko gulped. "Don't tell me the club happened to be at-"

"-Nakano district?" He raised a hand and covered one of his eyes, while the other was surveying her carefully and intensely that she would've blushed if she wasn't already red in the face. "The club was called-"

She groaned. "Heavy-"

"Sick-" Kaito continued.

-Zero." They finished the last word together, so beautifully they could have entered the Olympics for how synchronized they were.

"I can't believe this." Aoko snuggled her face into the warmth of the scarf before she timidly peeped at him, while inwardly praying for an angel to let her see some light out of this horrible truth. "This is not real."

Instead of an angel, Kaito's eyes lit up Aoko's hellhole for her. It was the sign of his signature chortles coming in three, two...

His strong, heartfelt laugh almost reached the other end of the plaza. A tickling feeling started unfurling in Aoko's chest as her eyes were glued instantaneously at his minimum attempts to cease his laughter. She would hit him in the shoulder with embarrassment, if she wasn't busy wondering what was so special about his melodic voice now.

"I'm sorry, or not so sorry actually." Kaito let out a huge breath but a snuffle came behind as well. "I can't believe this too. But like I've said before; when it's you, it seemed all quite believable too. It's really conflicting for me."

Aoko sent a withering look and crossed her arms. "You don't have to feel conflicted. You don't even have to feel. You jerk." She wanted to be angry, but then again, she really couldn't when the only one to blame was no one but herself. She uncrossed her arm to rubbed a hand over the back of her neck, completely chastened. "Well, it happened so long ago. Forgive and forget?"

"I've never once blame you," Kaito was on full alert his past cheerful demeanor was all gone within a blink. "Though about the forgetting part, I think it'll be hard."

"At least forget about how my voice sucks."

"But that's one of the best part."

"Stop. Stop teasing me." Aoko covered her ears and shivered, though not due to the cold. With her voice she was so-called famous for, she sang out with her lungs. "One, two, three four, five! Once I caught a fish alive!"

"You've sung that bloody song for a thousand times that I've grown immune to the word fish already." Kaito scorned.

There was no way Aoko was going to lose this battle. Since a long time ago, she had gained enough confidence to embrace the fact that she was a funny fool in public rather than being all meek about it. And especially if Kaito was her partner for that moment, she was much more unsusceptible to people's judging murmurs or look (His reaction mattered to her much more than anyone else).

And so, Aoko replied his meaningless remark with an even louder voice until everyone's heads were turned towards them. "Six, seven, eight, nine-!

"Alright, Ahouko!" Kaito tugged one of her hands down, forcing her to shut up as he glanced past his shoulders to look at all the curious onlookers staring their direction. "I promise I'm not going to tease you anymore."

Satisfied, she grinned and stuck out a tongue.

"Geez." Kaito shook his head, that special tiny smile that he always cautiously hid from her appeared for a brief moment. "How old are you again?"

She merely sniffed in response and wrapped her gift tighter around her neck. There would be no end to the pointless argument if she retorted something silly back. Instead, she focused on the main topic again. "I'd always thought it's just a dream and was hoping that it is too." Aoko sucked a breath through clenched teeth. Feeling apologetic towards Kaito for all these moments was like matching a plate of soy sauce with sushi, normal and routine. She finally settled for a grateful look, a change she thought Kaito might appreciate better. "But since it's a reality, thanks anyway. For what happened back then."

"Then I'll thank you for this," Kaito raised the bag and his smile faded, just a little bit. "That amber eyes guy. How's he?" He added, with a very slight hesitation in his voice.

"He's fine, I guess." Aoko pursed her lips. There was no way in hell she was going to tell him it was Hakuba who suggested the perfume buying idea. It would be hella awkward.

"You guess?"

"He's married and leads a happy life," she explained randomly and shrugged. "His wife is pretty and refine. Unlike me."

"Uh," Kaito scratched the side of his cheek. "You don't have to say that."

"That he's married?"

"That his wife is unlike you. Pretty and refine." He regarded her with an expression that looked similar to concern, though from all the previous encounters, Aoko knew his words and actions were often an opposite of it. But for once, this time, his softened features remained the same, as well as the tone he used to speak before. "You're one of a kind, too."

It certainly sounded and meant so much when she heard those exact words coming out from his lips rather than from someone else. She had been blushing so much this evening that she hoped she wasn't going to burst a blood vessel. And... How was she going to reply to that?!

"That's very comforting." She concluded to herself and decided to make it all out as a joke. "But I'm already over it. Over him. It's been so long."

Kaito flicked his gaze from the bag to her. "Does that means I'm allowed to wear his cologne now?"

Aoko was about to ask what the hell he was talking about when realization dawned upon her. Her eyes twitched in agony and she felt like she drinking the whole bottle of cologne to forget this memory. "Um, you are a-allowed t-to use his-" Defeated, she wiped a hand down her face because she couldn't continue this moment of shame, even if her life had been living like that the entire time. "I thought you said you're not going to tease me anymore."

He shook his head, his straight face still in place. "It's a serious question though."

"Well, it's not like he owned the brand." Aoko pursed her lips and reflected on her answer. Was her reply appropriate enough?

Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose and what came from out was a sigh. "How should I phrase this?"

Now Aoko was confused. Was there some kind of communication barrier here? Wasn't he just asking if he could wear the cologne? Of course he could! She bought it for him. Was it not clear enough?

Before she could say a word, he looked at her sharply and it turned her tongue upside down. Looking at the stern lines on his face, she wondered how she once thought of him as cheerful and comical.

"Being allowed to wear this cologne, it means I'll be attracting you and playing with your senses," Kaito glanced away and Aoko was probably the first lucky one to see the way one of his hands started to shake before he slid it into his pocket. "I will have the rights to break your heart too. Not that I will." He blabbered the last sentence as quick as he finished the first.

The only thing that Aoko knew what to do then was to breathe.

Nervous didn't fit Kaito at all, but he looked adorable with the way he was now. He swallowed hard and dared himself to speak again. "Am I entitled to all of that?"

"I-" Aoko neared choked. "Is this a confession?"

Kaito squinted his eyes and bared his teeth. "Must you really say it out?"

"I thought I needed to make sure!" She began flailing her arms around, a little lost. "Like the first time I've mistaken you for Shinichi and that scene happened. I don't want to create any more misunderstanding again."

"Now you know." He straightened his posture and looked like he was preparing for the worst… the worst of what? "So, what's the verdict? Drunk terminator."

"Well," Aoko nervously shuffled her feet on the ground and dared herself to look into his eyes. It was a huge struggle, but it was a better and much sensible choice than staring at his lips. "I've grown to have this habit of adding mustard to my hot dog bun."

He didn't bother to hide his confusion. "What is that supposed to mean? Wait, do you even like hot dog bun in the first place? Or is hot dog bun another term for some word or something?"

"Must you make things so obvious?" She squealed. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest that it could burst out any moment.

"How is this obvious?" Kaito slapped a hand on his face to control another laughing spree that was about to come. "Does that mean I'm right? I can't believe you actually compared your feelings with a hot dog bun."

"You did the same thing with the weird perfume analogy!"

"I give up." His fingers slowly crawled up her arm and moved up her spine, gently pulling her into his chest as she let herself fall straight into his embrace. "You win."

Her hands did its part and shuffled its way up his broad back. "You've experienced the worst of me, don't you feel repulsed by it?" Despite the closeness, she'd phrased her words rather ironically.

"If I've experienced the worst of you, what else do I have to fear?"

"You'll never know." She hummed into his shoulder and inwardly shuddered at the possibility of all the things that could happen. "I don't even know myself."

"It doesn't matter to me," Kaito hugged her tighter, in an alluring comfort Aoko never knew existed as he mumbled into her hair, but his words were the clearest thing she'd ever hear. "For everything that happened, it'll be an addition to the list of memories to share with our future grandchildren."

"Don't even try."

"We'll see about that."

If they continued to stay in their position any longer, she could've imprinted her smile onto the collar of his coat.

.end.

A/n: (To: guess, I hope this chapter answers your questions hehe)
Thank you all for your kind support! Hopefully the last instalment was worth the wait.
See u guys around, if calculus hadn't killed me first. And anyway... how does a college!Au sound? *crosses fingers*