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Shige gets back in the car where the temperature is nice and warm, and he starts to talk before Massu asks him how the situation is going.
“They should be here in forty minutes or so.”
“Could have been worse,” Massu comments.
“Sorry.”
“It's not your fault.”
Considering the car is in the ditch and Shige is the one sitting behind the wheel, he really can't see how this is not his fault. Maybe Massu is blaming the snow or the poor road maintenance during the season.
“I guess I should just be grateful that I didn't kill us.”
“I'm grateful too,” Massu indicates and Shige scoffs softly.
Then, there's a hushed silence in the car. Shige would like to put on some music again so they could sing along just as before, but he doesn't want Massu to believe he tries to cut the conversation short. He finds himself a bit awkward though, so he looks through the windshield. The night is incredibly dark and the headlights illuminate the whirling snowflakes, like in a movie or something.
“Looks like we're in a movie or something,” Massu points out.
Shige smiles and simply nods.
“Do you think we'll hear about some actively researched serial killer if I turn the radio on?” He asks.
“Why would you imagine things like that when Christmas is coming?” Massu protests with a smirk. “I was thinking more of a romantic comedy.”
“Starring the both of us?” Shige laughs to dissipate his embarrassment.
“Probably not.”
Massu's tone of voice is slightly harsh. Shige risks a look for the first time since his colleague got in his car at the beginning of the evening.
Massu doesn't seem to notice so Shige takes the time to look at him. His face is relaxed for once because there's no camera around, so it's a little scowling as well. Shige doesn't take it personally, quite the opposite : he feels pleased to know Massu behaves naturally when they're alone. The same cannot be said about Shige, who struggles not to stare at Massu too obviously. There's something mesmerizing about the silhouette of his nose and mouth, not to mention his Adam's apple. Seeing it too well, Shige is both glad and uneasy that Massu's not wearing a turtleneck at the moment.
He forces himself to look around and eventually finds something to say.
“The rom com doesn't fit. We have reception and the heating still works.”
It's Massu's turn to glance.
“What do you mean?”
“Well...” Shige tries to sound professional, like it's the writer speaking. “When such situations occur in fiction, the lack of reception is the perfect excuse to make two characters spend time together. And the lack of heating is for... you know. Physical contact.”
“Ah.”
Massu pauses and Shige hopes he'll change the subject. He doesn't.
“I suppose we could use some romantic tropes, because it's unlikely you'll tell me that you find me attractive otherwise.”
Massu's smile is cocky when Shige turns to him, blinking stupidly. Then Shige promptly turns off the heating.