Zenkichi didn’t flinch at the pat on his arm, but the way his shoulders slumped ever so slightly—like someone let some of the air out of a tire—said more than any words could. His scowl faded just enough to register as “mildly annoyed” instead of “one foot in an early grave.”

He glanced down at her hand, then away again, muttering under his breath like someone embarrassed to admit that the comfort worked on him.

Why is he getting pacified like a grumpy toddler with a juice box?

With a dismissive snort, he answered her question without really answering it.

"She didn’t taunt me. Not like that. Just—doesn’t matter. Not something you need to be tangled up in." His brow twitched slightly. "Especially not with Maruki trying to play nice and hang around, acting like everything’s fine. They’re friends, y’know. Or... whatever passes for friends with people like that."

Zenkichi rolled his neck, let out a breath, then gestured vaguely at her plate.

“Anyway. No big deal. I stole all the sushi from her. They don't refill those plates, do they?"