audio;

[Apparently Shuichi was pretty busy on Candlenights as well, because it's nearly seven o'clock in the evening before he finally calls Kaede back. But since the pianist was in New New Aspen...it's entirely possible that she has at least some idea of why it took him so long to respond. Because he'd spent the afternoon and early evening with Kokichi, and it's entirely possible that Kaede saw them while they were eating dinner, shopping in a little bookstore, or carving ornaments at the tree.]

[Weirdly though, Shuichi doesn't mention this fact when he finally DOES call Kaede back.]

Ah, I'm sorry. I just got your message, Akamatsu-san... [Not a lie, technically. He hadn't checked his voicemail while he was out with Kokichi since that seemed like kind of a rude thing to do on a date?] But I'm free right now, if it's not too late.