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I did. A cute little bird told me a secret today.

[She follows him, unaware of any strange reaction, and follows his cue to hop on. She's even dressed properly, pants and everything. See? She's super serious about this bike trip, okay.]

But if I tell you now, it'd be kinda boring, don't you think?

C'mon! Let's get going!

[Once the high of the reaction wears off, he shakes his head to get his brain back to functioning status, throwing on that half-smirk.]

Eh, when's a bird ever been right about anything?

[As soon as she's seated, he flops down right in front of her, making sure not to lean back too far as he taps his fingers on the interface, bringing up the map of the surrounding area of Heropa. It took some time, and a dozen visits to Riku's to really get a good feel of the city to plug things in, but he'd done it. The bike springs to life, a gentle hum as he pulls down the front handles.]

Alright, hold on!

Gotcha!

[She gives him a salute, because clearly that's the proper response-- before recalling she should probably be holding on and wrapping her arms around his middle.

This. This is totally gonna be fine and not scary in the slightest. Yes. She is 100% ready and not even a little bit suddenly nervous about this. Got this.]

[With a few more buttons pushed, and a rev on those handlebars, the bike jumps to life, green electricity sparking from the front wheel. And the moment her hands wrap around him, the bike takes off, first going down the road it was initially pointed in.

Behind them, the lights of his bike trail like little comet tails, the aftereffects of the light fading away as they got further and further. they come from the headlights too, weaving to the side and mixing with with the red and orange of the back.

It felt nice, hitting the road WITH someone again, as opposed to going by yourself. The last time he did this...at least LIKE this was with Ken, in August. Had it really been that long?

His life didn't really allow for it a lot now, the house didn't have the same eerie calm it had back then.

He leans back into her hold reflexively, trying to soak in that physical contact a little as he makes a turn.]

[Maya's been on trains and buses and ridden pedal bikes and the darn vespa, and she's even been on roller coasters once or twice, but it's not quite the same as when a bike revs up and takes off. She can't keep herself from startling, gripping him tighter for a second and burying her face in his shoulder. But once she's had a moment to adjust to the speed, she slowly opens her eyes and peers out like she totally wasn't scared. Nuh-uh.

She starts to ease up when she sees the lights from the headlights practically trailing beside them, and looks back to the lights behind them-- and then to the side to watch things flicker by. It's a lot less frightening after those first few moments-- just like a roller coaster, really, and she begins to smile. Yeah, no.

This is pretty much exactly as cool as she imagined.]

[Her reaction is one he's not unused to, all the girls in Neo Tokyo got that same feeling when they jumped on his bike for a ride through the streets. He can't help but look back to catch a glimpse of her face, noticing her taking a look at those lights as he comes up to a turn. It's a lean in, and she probably has to hold on, but they cruise down the highway, in between cars that just weren't moving fast enough.

Thankfully, it's night time, and the streets were pretty light to move through. Makes the right that much more enjoyable.

Because man was his heart the highest it'd been in the last 24 hours.

Not that it's tough competition to beat.]

[She holds onto him when she needs to, but the moment they're balanced again she can't stop herself from moving one hand just far enough away to feel the gusts of wind around them racing like snakes between her fingers, or like waves, hitting her skin like something tangible but escaping her grasp all the same. After a second of that she goes back to holding on, burying her face against his back for just a second to laugh to herself. Seriously, this is one of the coolest things she's been through, and despite what is clearly illegal driving, she can't be scared.

Kaneda's good at what he does, and that's as simple as it has to be for her to trust him here. She's gonna tell him how cool this is when they've stopped and she doesn't even care how much it's gonna stroke his ego. Maybe tonight he needs it, anyway.]

[The bike swerves again, this time down the main highway of Heropa and through the traffic. The way Kaneda handles the bike, it's like the bike's a part of him. Things that you'd have to remember to do consciously are automatic to him. Changing gears, body tilting to the side when he's turning, updating his map as he goes when there's a road he hasn't been down.

All of it's just natural.

But what's new is when she presses her face into his back, feeling a little bit of breath against his jacket. It's enough to widen his eyes, muscles tightening at her hold on him. There it was, a smile, he could feel it.

Something about that was healing on its own as he pulls up to the burger joint, skidding his bike to a stop...right between two parking spaces. Eh. Not that it'll stick around long.]

Made it!

[For a second or two, Maya doesn't move, not so sure she's got the best of balance just yet-- but once the moment has passed, she leans back with a wide grin and raises her arms to the sky with a burst of laughter.]

That! Was! So! Cool!

{and, putting her arms back down and on Kaneda's shoulders (not letting him get off just yet) she shifts up onto her tip-toes so she can get a good enough look at his face... over his shoulder. Wow, that action's hard to describe. Anyway, dark as it may be outside, it's impossible not to see how bright Maya's grin is.]

I should have bribed you aaaages ago.

[Kaneda's goggles pull off his head, slinging them around his arm as she sits there in silent awe and recollection. A part of him wonders if he broke her, the way she's just sort of mentally putting pieces together, getting her equilibrium. But when she moves, his face immediately lights up like the sun, giving a small laugh to match.]

See? Nothing beats wheels!

[Her movement catches him off guard, though, watching as she leans over around his shoulder, hands firmly on them as their eyes meet. Her mirth was as plain as day--or in this case, night. Dark eyes shone like black diamonds at the whole thing, and his own? Well...they're weighted down with everything that happened, but it'd be a lie to say that there wasn't a hint of a glitter in them, if you looked.]

Well you know, I'm always open for 'em~

[She grins even wider at that before putting her arms around his shoulders as to hug him from behind; a silly and friendly squeeze.]

Good thing you're a cheap bribe, then!

[But with that, she lets him go, leaning to the side behind him to lift herself up off the bike. Why not just wait for him to get off? Because she's impatient.

She hops a few times to get her balance back once she's on the pavement.]

C'mon!

[....

A hug. And not just looping an arm around his like she was able to show off with, like girls did back home. Even if it was pretty casual, it's nice, a soft smirk spreading across his lips.]

Cheap? You forgot my appetite already?

[He watches her slide off, though, getting to his feet soon after to snap his bike back into...the hammerspace it belongs in.]

But my pleasure~!

Yeah, buuuuut burgers are easy.

[She beckons to him, then, starting toward the building without hesitation.]

So hurry up! We'll have time for small-talk afterward.

{Which is totally not a secret warning for 'i'm going to ask you a thousand questions'. Nope.]

[And like a dog who just got called by its owner, he follows, hands in his pockets until one reaches out to hold the door open for her. She's buying his food, right? Best to be a gentleman.]

Alright, alright. Man, almost wonder if it's YOUR stomach that's in charge right now.

[There's a flirty little wink as he lets her walk in.]

Of course it is! Second in charge after me. Gotta play by my rules, Kaneda!

[She walks backward through the door as to be able to face him with a double-pistol-wink-- only to nearly slip on the entryway carpet. With a 'woops!' and a giggle, she quickly spins on her heel and catches herself, opening the next door for Kaneda in return.]

Rules? Don't know the meaning of the word!

[But he laughs at her little slip, reaching out to catch her if she needs it, but--nope she's got it.

He has to say, he's impressed.]

Nice save.

Shh! I planned that.

[She rolls her eyes and grabs him by the wrist to bring him over to the counter, swinging their arms stupidly as she goes to stand them both in front of the menu and counter.]

You know what you want, right?

[They don't have all night. Sort of. ]

[He lets himself be tugged, following her up to the counter to look at the menu.]

...Hmmmmm

[Two fingers rub his chin as he studies the board. Like its suddenly the most difficult decision of his life. Does he want burger? Or does he want....DOUBLE BURGER.]

Let's start with ten. We'll go from there.

[She looks at him over her shoulder for a moment, then gives a dramatic sigh, followed by a short laugh.]

This place is gonna haaaaaate us.

[Is she striding up ahead to order 20 fuckin burgers

yeah

yeah she fuckin is]

[His grin matches hers, one that could make the Cheshire Cat jealous.

Yes. 20 sounds like a good number. He'll just go to the other end of the counter to wait for that tray.]

[Joining him once the order is done, she keeps her voice low-- because of course these two shitheads who decided to have a large order at fucking night time aren't going to get any extra credit points for being loud-- and takes the wait time to have another little conversation.]

So, Ken told me you're not feeling your best.

[She mumbles in his direction in Japanese, blocking the sound from the other side with her hand.

She leaves it at that, watching for his reaction.]

[Kaneda bounces on his heels, letting his feet tap against the tile of the joint as he waits, hands stuffed in his pockets. He can hear the music playing idly in the background, watching as the workers start to pile on the burgers.]

...

[But then there's her soft whisper as they wait, Japanese music to his ears. But what she said cuts that instantly, eyes widening as he looks at her.]

Ken told you that?

[It's a little louder than her whisper, and the cashier notices, so he'll lower his voice for this next bit.]

He should talk.

[She eyes the cashier-- almost apologetically, but not quite-- before slipping her arm around Kaneda's and stepping on tip toe to whisper more effectively at him.]

Of course he should. You're taking care of him, aren't you?

[She eyes him expectantly, waiting for whatever protests or pouts or frustrations that may appear.]

[Kaneda leans his head down a little, lower lip jutting out when she says that. Because he couldn't--that's what happened. He'd failed to take care of him in the worst possible way. And while Kaneda had confidence in bounds, he can't lie either. He really failed on this, even Bull had more or less hinted at it, whether he knew it or not.]

Not right now.

He's with Minato.

[Maya shakes her head in response.]

That's not what I mean.

He looks up to you, you know? You take care of him.

[And, leaning against the drink counter and rolling her eyes-- not sarcastically, but as though she has some sort of secret.]

You two, together, look like brothers. That's what I mean.

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