"Bien, merci." I bow to him and take a seat, watching his face all the while. He looks exhausted, and distant. Something's on his mind. All for the better, as something's on my mind as well.

I lean over the little counter to touch my fingertips to the thank housing his Ebi-chan and Ika-chan. Takosawa's not allowed to meet me in the streets anymore, since it does blow my cover just a bit to have a sentient robotic octopus following me around everywhere.

I only miss him a little bit.

"And you?" I ask seriously. "You were gone for some time, I was beginning to worry."