"i don't know what you're talking about."
kougami turned and pretended to survey the scene, but ginoza saw it clearly. "right, and I don't have a dog therapist license. you can't hide behind your chimney of nicotine forever, you know."
"...you have a dog therapist license?" kougami murmured distractedly, feet already trekking towards the familiar bunch of people gathered around a paddy wagon. the stench of cigarette smoke wafted directly towards ginoza's nose, making him grimace in disgust.
"irrelevant. knock it off, kougami."
if kougami heard him, he didn't give any indication, as he was already half-marching towards the smallest person in the bunch. ginoza watched as kougami sneaked behind tsunemori, mouth curving into a grin when she yelped in surprise. as he approached, he could hear her fire a barrage of questions to kougami, which he deflected with vague answers and lazy grunts. the man only looked too happy to be here despite the mask of nonchalance on his face, and ginoza could see the growing mix of amusement and frustration on tsunemori's face.
someone needed to act like an adult here, and clearly it was up to ginoza to step up. "we're here on official business," he tells her as he raised his hand in greeting.
tsunemori opened her mouth, probably to direct the barrage of questions to him, but kougami beat her to it. "the SAD had eyes on your victim for a while now," kougami starts, and ginoza watched as the two gradually slipped into their old roles, their voices lowering into conspiratorial whispers, the space between them slowly closing as they unconsciously drifted towards each other.
kougami shinya and akane tsunemori in a crime scene together, and all is right in the world. despite himself, ginoza feels the edge of his mouth curve into a smile, too.
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