Yako found Christian waiting for her right out front, leaning against his rental car. He politely helped her down into the passenger seat and then they sped down the main city highway.
Turning her head towards him, Yako piped up first. "So...where to first, Officer?"
Christian grinned at the shining windshield, amused. "I just hope you're hungry like the rumors say you are."
Yako appreciated the fact that he was paying much more attention to the traffic lined up ahead of them instead of her blushing face. "...I'm glad that part of me doesn't frighten you off."
"No way," he said. "Why should it? Honestly, I find your legendary appetite refreshing... After so many years of living in a country that practically drives women to refusing to eat anything in general, you're something new, but in a good way."
She chortled lightly. "I see."
"Anyways, there's a new restaurant that is hosting this all-night platter plan specialty. I thought we should check in on it."
Yako was hungry now, indeed. "Perfect."
Neuro frowned, irritable and lousy, his protruded claws drummed repeatedly upon Troy as he listened to Godai grumble into the mouth piece from the other end. "Monster, why are you calling me for current news? I'm busy o'er here! And how d'ya get this number? I got a new one on purpose, y'know."
"Yako is out," replied Neuro in a mirroring tone, "on a date."
Godai's anger lessened straightaway, making him sound more tame. "A real date, eh? Well, good for her. It's about time, if you asked me. Being cooped up in that office of yours could drive a person mad eventually. I even tried to set her up once with a guy I knew from...way before you showed up, but she ordered too much food that night and he pulled his knife on her because the bill turned out be more expensive than his rent—"
The demon hung up on him and merely dialed another number. "Typical." And when the prison's receptionist formally greeted his call, he added, "Yes, I'd like to set up a visiting appointment."
Christian eventually extended out his hand to touch her arm that was resting across the table already while they waited for their second round of food to finish sizzling. "A co-worker of mine at my new Headquarters told me dating in Japan is much more private than it is the States. So I want you to know that I wouldn't ever embarrass you in public if I can help it. Just tell me if I do something wrong, okay?"
"I told you before, Christian-san, don't even worry about that." Yako flashed him another tender smile in return. "I can adapt to things quickly. It doesn't really bother me, either way."
"I get the sense that you never let anything get you down, do you, Yako?"
She shrugged. "I try my best, I guess. I personally consider confrontation is unnecessary most of the time. What is the point of limiting compassion? Even though someone is not used to a certain custom, why run away from it? Isn't acceptance key in any circumstance...?" Their gazes connected over the tea candles as she asked this.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Was your assistant alright with taking time off tonight?"
"Not really. He lives for his work." Yako almost couldn't believe how patient he was with her own problems, her side to everything. It was actually, genuinely kind of sweet. It had been long while since she didn't have to listen to her demon nag about just sucking it up and to never look back. "...But even if he isn't okay with taking time off, it wouldn't matter. He helps to run my business— not my personal life."
"Is everything fine between the two of you, then?"
"Oh no, it's fine. Trust me, Christian-san, we have always been just fine."
(Although, this fact did not exactly mollify Yako's vexation still humming underneath.)
It was true that Neuro had been the one single person being there for her at a time when no one else really was. Yet it still happened: she grew up. Her high school days were behind her. And things had changed. She may have not taken that many grand strides up on the evolutionary scale...taking sure and slower ones instead, really...but, a transformation had shifted within her nevertheless, and it was a sort of change that was not reversible. She was on her way moving onto a newfound stage in her life.
Her date tonight made her grasp this now more than ever.
"You do realize, Mister Assistant," Miss Aya began smoothly, "that I am not here to be your private psychiatrist specialized in the field of Miss Detective, right?"
"Just the same," Neuro shook her rebuff off, "I know Yako tells you certain things she wouldn't usually tell me."
A mildly pleased smirk pulled at the corners of her lips as she laced her hands together. "Well, based on what you of told me today—you seem to be left with only two options by this point—either, and soon, you finally accept that even while Miss Detective's mind has improved over the years and she's become a brilliant partner for you to use, her mind is still designed differently than yours. It will never change into something else that's no longer humanly possible. That is just how it is, and you must leave her be if she says wants a special love to call her own. Every mortal woman dreams of having a love story that's unheard of before..."
Neuro scowled lightly, waiting for the second choice to be presented:
"Or—you allow yourself to set aside your ego and experience emotional concepts in the way they're meant to be experienced. Let her show you her world. Be a part of every moment of her life while you are able to before you might lose her for good. She doesn't have forever."
