Zenkichi’s grin twitched. Twitched—and then collapsed into a scowl so fast it could’ve given someone whiplash.

He glowered at her, dark and unblinking, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"Yeah?"
His voice dropped low, ragged around the edges.

"And whose damn fault d'you think that is, huh?"

His free hand flexed absently at his side—the one that still bore faint traces of the metal threading under the skin.