The bustling noises of Tom Bradley Terminal reminded Shino of Tokyo and its busy districts like Shibuya. The shuffle of people getting on and off their flights shared no difference of the number of citizens getting on and off the trains back home. The whole group – Shino, Asuna, Kazuto, Suguha, and Ryotaro, were sitting at a table outside Pink's Hot Dogs. They were enjoying small talk, namely how they gazed in awe once they arrived in Los Angeles at around 3 P.M. Of course, there was a nearby McDonalds, but they had enough burgers back in the mainland.
Kazuto managed to finish off his chili dog, though it left a splash of meat sauce on his cheek. Asuna, quickly took a napkin and wiped off the stain off his face. They smiled at each other, already soaking up the romance between them. Shino figured maybe that whole scene was intentional, trying to be as cute as hell while they spend their vacation in Los Angeles.
Shino was helping herself to a batch of chili cheese fries when she asked them of their plans.
"So guys, did we ordered a ride yet?"
"Yep. I managed to order an Uber while we were having lunch," Suguha responded.
"Will it fit all five of us?"
"Yes. Apparently, this guy has a minivan for a taxi," Suguha interjected. "I hope our equipment didn't get damaged during our flight. It would suck if Shino and Kirito can't play in the tournament after all this time and money put into this trip."
"Same here, though I think they'll have spare AmuSpheres, just in case." Ryotaro said. He rubbed the back of his red-haired head and took a bite of his chili dog. "You know, I've heard stories about the American TSA. Supposedly, they open your suitcases and take whatever is in there, for the sake of national security."
Kazuto said. "You think they'll steal people's underwear while they're at it?" Kazuto laughed, but managed to defuse the growing disdain coming from the girls. Sometimes, they couldn't stand the Black Swordman's perverted sense of humor.
Once they were finished with their meals, the group then talked about what to do next. No doubt they were jet-lagged – it would be morning back in Tokyo – so they basically needed something to kill the time.
"Oh, remember what Agil said while we were planning for this trip? He said there was this Little Tokyo in the city? And it wasn't that far from our hotel, only a couple streets over?" Asuna observed what the others thought about her plan.
"Even so, I hope there would be enough time before all the shops close," Kazuto said. "It's already late afternoon, and I heard, during my research, that Los Angeles has some pretty bad traffic problems."
"Hey, we'll make the best of it." Ryotaro put on a modest smile. "I mean, we can't possible stay attached to Little Tokyo for so long. We're here to enjoy this town, after all."
"If you say so, but if that's the case then what's our plan B?"
They didn't even consider one idea before Suguha's phone vibrated. The Uber she ordered for everyone was arriving soon. They grabbed their luggage next to them and headed to the loading zones outside, pass the scrambling and waiting crowds within the terminal.
The Luxe City Center Hotel was a nice, clean establishment, just in the heart of downtown. Suguha managed to book two rooms – boys' and girls' rooms. While she was unpacking her luggage, Asuna opened the curtain of their room, and looked down on Figueroa Street, the road speckled with happy people socializing in bars and restaurants, those who walked their pets down the concrete sidewalks; those who hailed their taxis and Ubers and Lyfts to get where they needed to go; and those who aren't so lucky to have a clean home and clean shirts, and spent the rest of their daily lives looking for spare change and venting out their rage at the random bystanders that pass by.
Down Figueroa Street, huge banners advertising the 8th Bullet of Bullets competition were plastered outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, one of many glass structures in this American metropolis. One of the banners showed a picture of Sinon posing with her Hecate in a somewhat suggestive pose. Her avatar was looking over her shoulder, welding her sniper rifle, and her butt front and center of the poster. Asuna can barely see the picture, but it was enough to prompt the question.
"You think you might change up your avatar clothes, sooner or later? Many people may get the wrong idea and call you slutty" Asuna looked over her shoulder and watched Shino unpacked her clothes.
"Maybe, but I like feeling sexy and those clothes have grown on me. Hard to let go."
"That's a first I've heard from you."
"You don't have some sense of sexuality, Asuna?"
Asuna pouted. "I guess you got a point." She walked away from the window and grabbed one of the magazines on top on the computer desk. While she scrolled through the pages, checking what sights to discover in Los Angeles, Suguha came out of the boys' room, carrying their AmuSpheres in her arms.
"I hope the hotel won't be angry if we consume their Wi-Fi whole," Suguha stated.
"That's why we paid for the premium Wi-Fi, Suguha." Asuna felt on her back on the bed and continued to scroll through the magazine until she yelped. "Oh, what do you guys think of visiting Grand Central Market?"
"What's that," Shino asked.
"Apparently, it's one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. It's full of quality restaurants and a rich farmer's market. Lots of cuisines in a vibrant atmosphere."
"What time does it closes? I doubt we'll have time for that tonight?"
"Probably not. It closes around 10, though we can walk it from Little Tokyo. It's only a couple of blocks away."
"Ehh, we might as well spend the rest of this night on Little Tokyo. Besides, I'm dying for some taiyaki. I'm on a dessert mood."
Asuna sighed at the thought of making Little Tokyo their main attraction tonight, but it didn't bother her that much. The very least they could to do to pass the time is to use the AmuSpheres, not to mention buying as much treats as possible from the Japanese village.
As time passed, the girls continued to unload their clothes. Shino took the top drawer, Asuna and Suguha following downward. Shino placed her books on top of the computer desk. She picked up one of them and rubbed her thumb against the paperback cover of Angels Flight.
"How many does that make it, so far? You've been reading through those detective novels ever since that Death Gun incident five years ago." Asuna was peering over Shino's shoulder, a curious smile on her face.
"I don't know. I lost count." She dropped the paperback on the desk and turned to Asuna. She pointed back to the paperback. "Now that I remember, some of these books take place here in Los Angeles. I think that Grand Central Market you mentioned is right across one of the murder scenes in my book." She then picked up another book from the pile.
"Looking to read some?" Shino held a copy of Gone Baby Gone in front of Asuna.
"No thanks. I'm not much of a fan of mystery."
"Suit yourself." Shino put back the novel, as Kazuto came out of the door leading to the boys' room. He was freshened-up, wearing his black jacket and sporting a red t-shirt.
"You girls ready to go? Klein and I just finished with our luggage."
Asuna saw Kazuto at the corner of her eye. "Almost. Suguha is in the restroom, getting ready." She then stared back at Shino "Is that part of your studies, by the way?"
"A little. I just use it to keep me going. It's like watching mecha anime for inspiration to be a robotic engineer, don't you think?"
"No harm in that," Kazuto interjected. "That's how everyone choose their careers. Take that bit of inspiration that guides their future. If you're gonna be a police detective, then it doesn't hurt to read about some tough-guy detectives fighting the good fight."
Once Suguha got out of the restroom, everyone readied up and headed out of the hotel room. As they went down the hall to the elevator doors, Shino was about to press on the down button, but then the doors opened in front of her.
The man in front of Shino was a few years older than her – she was 21, and the stranger was probably 26. He was sporting a white business shirt under an opened-up black suit jacket. His black tie hanged loosely by the collar, and his eyes were sharp, yet tired as he swiped up his some of his black bangs away from his forehead. He was pulling on a large blue suitcase on his left and was hanging up a call from his Samsung smartphone.
"Oh, excuse me, miss." His voice also carried that air of husky tiredness, but still youthful.
"Sorry," Shino said in fluent English. For a second, Shino blushed under her cheeks as she let the man through. As the rest of the group fell into the elevator, Shino spent a split-second and looked at the weary person down the hall. From the look of it, it seemed that he had taken the room across from where she was staying. She then entered the now-cramped space and pressed on one, heading down to the lobby.
"You're blushing." Shino looked towards her left and saw Kazuto smirking at her.
"Oh, am I?"
"Well, I don't blame you," Suguha interrupted. "He's got that mysterious feel to him. Like some unsung, brooding hero. Almost like Kirito." She jabbed a mischievous look at her brother.
"Well, I don't want to say brooding, but still got that hero feel to it."
"Maybe." Shino looked at the reflection at the stainless-steel doors. "You didn't notice the thousand-yard stare in his eyes? He looked beaten-down."
"Or maybe he had a long day, or maybe he's suffering from jet lag. Or a break-up," Klein said from behind the group.
"Yeah," Shino said. Yet, as she continued looking at herself in the steel reflection, the same thought was running in her head. No doubt he seemed cute, but now as she contemplated the stranger's expression, she reasoned why that man had look. After all, the two of them shared that expression.
A broken face. A haunted face. A hardened face.
Author's note: Hello, reader. Let it be know that it's been a while since I actually done some decent writing for so long, so please bear with me if this story may seem off putting, or unrefined. Also, updates for this story are probably random, since it all depends on my mood - commitment isn't really my specialty. However, I will do my best to bring you my best detective story. Detective stories, in my opinion, are probably one of the best kinds of stories in literature, and I feel a bit down when I see barely any detective!AU fanfics, in general.
Anyway, please leave me some feedback and thank you for reading this little tale of mine.
P.S. - I'll take Sinon over Asuna any day.