[B]Prof. Namashiya Kotori[/b] - [i]Bad Intelligence, Bad![/i]

First, before anything else, Aria came bounding up to both Kotori and Sasaki alike, clearly implicating that the kidnapping was a ruse. Even Aria herself had stated that she would have been more able in defending herself. To which Kotori silently nodded, and reverted her gaze back to the one man she truly cherished in secret: Kirima Sasaki.

Naturally when he spoke, she inwardly clung on to almost every variable possible. It had been so long since she had actually heard his voice. It had been years since the last, and since then she had heard his voice only through garbled communications. It was never the same, but by the Gods, she loved to hear it. The pace, the baritone essence of it, though she would never remotely chance showing it, the Songbird was temporarily in a state of complete bliss.

Showing it as a whole might put Aria, or even worse, Sasaki in danger. Especially since the latter had no powers.

Even as he fumbled a word or two, the final he poised made her quickly come to terms with how incredible this chance was! He asked if she was busy! Wait, of course she was busy; always at work on new subatomic energy theories and equations. Though she wasn't certain, she had the feeling that she was on the cusp of a major breakthrough! Shaking her head, Kotori gave Sasaki her response as she did such. She had to take advantage of this chance.

She had to. Sometimes world-changing Science could wait for a young woman's dream. 

[B]"Well, now that this little disaster is figured out, I'm afraid that my afternoon is quite open."[/b] The Songbird quipped, with a hint of humor in her voice. [B]"So...I guess you could say I'm free."[/b] Hesitantly, she shifted just enough where she stood by his side, only to catch a glimpse of his hand.

Oh! How desperately she wished to hold it. Yet instead of just reaching out and seizing it, the telekinetic fell into an easy, graceful stride beside the Giant as they quickly left and headed in whichever direction he would lead them. As they walked however, as her hand swayed easily in a nonchalant cadence, her head bowed lightly.

Biting her lip for a split second, she decided that at long last, she was going to do something she had wished for a long, long time. Subtly as they walked, her hand gently caught up with his. Carefully, her slender pianist's fingertips intertwined betwixt his digits, and held snugly to boot. His hand was large, rough, and calloused. The hands of a man who worked and toiled endlessly, and the softness of her pale touch contrasted so starkly. 

Once she held fast, she was sure Iron Giant would look in her direction once again. This time however, he'd not see what the international community had come to expect. With her head head bowed, the rosy hue that now rested on her cheekbones. In all the news, in all the propaganda, she seemed strong, resilient, and aloof. But here, as she held tightly onto his hand, the first time since she had rescued those people from the stadium as a level four. 

[B]"Where are we headed?"[/b] she inquired lightly, curious as ever to see just how this day was destined to go.