[ Incredible to think that not but half an hour ago, he was ready to skip dinner and go straight to bed for the foreseeable future.

Maruki stands at once.

And it was strange advice, but– he glances at the remnants of his dinner. Thinks of how long he's been running on fumes. Thinks of how the two people he trusts most in Somnius are the two who know, and there's almost no reason to be so anxious that anyone else will find out.

So, sure. Second dinner during battle. Why not? As he speaks, he goes around the bar into the kitchen, pours what's left of the spaghetti in the pan into a bowl and grabs a new napkin, new chopsticks. ]

Akechi. I haven't been holding back on you, and I never would. I respect you more than that. Anything I'm about to show you, I learned tonight. Hours ago. Please keep that in mind.

[ And then, as he joins Akechi on the walk to the front door and out around the castle, he opens his mouth to start another thought before it abruptly snaps closed, his expression twisting into disgust.

He looks at Akechi sidelong. ]

I was about to say we shouldn't do this where anyone from the other castles could see, and suggest that we go to the woods, but.

[ A short, sharp shake of his head. ]

No.