The clock on the wall read 7:30…
She was late.
Naoto wasn't usually the impatient type… she didn't even realise that she had been pacing about for the last five minutes, stealing glances every so often out of her apartment window.
The winter stars were out, and the streets were so dark and thick with snow that it was hard to even see anything.
This only succeeded in making the detective more anxious.
She would have put it down to nerves… if she had a reason for it. Perhaps it was just the novelty of having someone visit her on Christmas Eve. It was common knowledge, that friends and families had big get-togethers at Christmas, but this was the first time she'd ever done something like this. In fact, it was the first time she'd ever bought someone a Christmas present.
Crossing the room, Naoto opened her desk drawer, as if checking that the present hadn't moved. She'd wrapped it inside a small box, after several hours of debating whether or not it seemed like "too much". She wasn't used to this. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, if the gift were for someone else…
Resisting the urge to open the box and have another peek inside, she closed the drawer and gave a shaky sigh.
What if… she didn't like it?
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of an awkward situation arising: Erin's face spelling confusion, or even disappointment. And a subsequent silence…
Maybe… she shouldn't have even bothered with this.
She opened the desk again, staring restlessly at that irritating little box.
No; she couldn't back out. This was the ideal opportunity…
She was often good with words, but hoped that this gift would better show how grateful she was to her…
That is, if she even turned up.
She knew Erin could be a little spacey, but she would never forget when she was supposed to be meeting someone. Maybe the heavy snow had caught her up?
Or something bad had happened?
Paranoid, she went to check her phone on the table. The screen showed no new calls or messages… no news was, technically, good news; she hadn't cancelled at least. But then again… she could have lost her phone – again - or something may have happened on her way over. Being a detective, she'd heard this kind of story many a time. Or maybe…?!
The murder culprit had somehow discovered their identities, and had taken her hostage for meddling with his plans? He'd already kidnapped her once before – it was probably obvious that his victims were the ones now venturing into the TV world… and with the streets so empty that night, and Erin's grandmother out of town, it would be an ideal time for a villain to strike…!
…No. What was she even thinking?
Her detective brain was getting too carried away. Surely everything was fine… when she thought about it, it sounded pretty stupid.
If she called Erin right now to ask where she was, she would probably just end up looking needlessly worried… or maybe just desperate?
She had been the one to invite her over, after all…
Shaking off a blush, she started pacing again. The clock said 7:34.
Maybe she should call Yu-sempai, just in case?
Maybe she—
Tap tap…
Naoto froze. There were footsteps out in the apartment corridor.
"W-Waah!"
After being accompanied by a high-pitched "Oof!" and crashing sound, she waited with anticipation for a few moments before going to open the door.
Erin was lying face down on the laminate floor, having tripped on the laces of her winter boots. Naoto sighed, not being able to help smiling; but only for a second.
Erin lifted her head, face bright red under matching fiery curls.
"U-Um…!" she picked herself up almost immediately, fraught with embarrassment, "H-Hi…"
…
"It's, um… really cold out tonight…"
"Y-Yeah…"
Naoto was glad that Erin had shown up when she did, lest she did something completely embarrassing. But now that they were alone together in her apartment, for some reason she was struggling to make conversation. She didn't usually get so worked up like this.
Erin was still fretting about having fallen over, for the third time counting that day. The doorbell out front hadn't been working, so thankfully the old landlady – coincidentally a friend of her grandma's – had let her in and directed her up to Naoto's floor.
Luck may not have been on her side that day… but Fortune seemed to be favouring her.
"I, um… I have something for you…"
Erin's face washed a rosy pink, "Y-You do!? I-I mean… actually, I have something… for you too."
That threw Naoto off a little. She'd been brooding so much over the gift she'd bought that she hadn't at all considered receiving one. Although sheepish, she attempted to stay composed, even with a blush.
"Well, um… shall I go first?"
For some reason they both reddened even more at that; Erin tried to giggle it off, but she hung her head so that her hair blocked any eye contact.
The fact that Naoto was acting surprisingly edgy was flustering her even more than usual…
"That… That didn't come out quite right." Naoto was gazing aimlessly off to the side, "Ahem, I, uh, meant to say…"
"I-I know… It's okay. I knew what you meant." Erin was still laughing awkwardly; she shuffled about a bit.
Naoto coughed, staring at her knees before taking up the box she'd been hiding under the table. Her hand was shaking, but she quickly stopped that.
"Here…"
Erin stared, blinking glassy-eyed at the box being offered to her. Naoto flinched for a moment, wondering if she would take it. The scenario she imagined earlier began flashing through her mind during that long moment.
"T-Thank you…"
Erin finally spoke softly, smiling gratefully as she took the box gently. Her fingers brushed against Naoto's for a second, causing her to pull back quickly.
"U-Um…" she giggled half-heartedly, keeping her head down as she untied the ribbon.
"I… hope you like it." Naoto murmured, the brim of her hat falling over her eyes. She watched carefully, apprehensive for her reaction.
The lid came off, and a glint of silver lit in Erin's eyes.
"Oh wow!"
"I, um, didn't make it myself…" Naoto quickly spoke, "But I did… make some modifications to it…"
Erin took the beautifully crafted watch from its box. She glanced up a moment later, wondering what the detective meant by "modifications". It looked pretty ordinary at a first glance: ordinary, but elegant. It had probably been expensive.
"I… didn't think the watch alone was sufficient." Naoto's voice had started to rise, "I wanted it to have a more, um… personal touch."
Erin blinked, still unsure.
Naoto was fidgeting… was she shy?
"You see…" she said, "I took it apart and made some adjustments, so… the watch can tell you… where I am."
Erin's face suddenly burned, as she found Naoto scooting around the table towards her. She took the watch, pressing a button and pointing to a flashing dot on the LCD screen.
'DISTANCE AWAY 1 m'
"You can see here… it homes in on the device I put in my own watch. That, um… that means… I-I can see where you are, too…"
She trailed off, and Erin could only hear the thumping of her own heart in her ears. Naoto lifted her head and for a split second, their eyes locked.
"Would you… that is, do you want me to…"
She shook her head, her face now perfectly pink. She seemed to be stumbling over her words. Erin caught on though, nodding timidly and holding up her wrist. Naoto seemed to smile gratefully, unlatching the watch and helping to fit it on her.
"I just thought… since they're quite d-difficult… to put on yourself…"
She stammered, but stopped a breath in her throat, bashfully noticing how close their faces were.
"T-Than…"
Erin tried to squeeze out a thank you, but it never really came. In a matter of moments their faces had drawn closer, and their lips were touching.
It was soft, sweet… and incredibly short.
The two almost immediately pulled away from each other, both red as beetroots. The girls didn't dare to look at one another in the eye, turning their heads and eyes around awkwardly.
That dreaded, unpleasant silence filled the air…
"I…I-I just don't know what came over me…" Naoto could no longer keep up that low voice of hers, with her speech rasping out in a sort of squeak. She only embarrassed herself further.
"I-It's okay…" Erin barely whispered, stealing skittish looks at the other from the corner of her eye.
The detective seemed to be regretting her action, suddenly very tense. Erin noticed this, and eventually let out a tiny chuckle.
"I…I guess that was just bad timing, huh?"
"Mmm…" Naoto droned, still too shy to look up; but she did, after feeling Erin slightly touch her arm.
"Um… I-If you ever wanted… we could um, uh…"
"…try it again?"
Erin flushed about ten shades darker when Naoto finished her sentence; an uproar of emotions suddenly flared inside of her chest. Even Naoto seemed shocked at herself.
"T-That is…! If you…"
Gingerly, Erin hesitated… then nodded, and the two finally gave small smiles to each other.
The Christmas cookies she had spent all afternoon making were thereafter forgotten.
…
'DISTANCE AWAY 0 m'
