"I never said I was young... But I ain't gonna say I'm old either. Except for when those damn kids are around. Then I feel a hundred."

"That's not so bad."

"We talking cut short or just a trim?"

"Uh... Start o' college?"

"I'd usually end up pulling it back into a ponytail. Aoe used to put product in it and slick it back too... I could never do it how she did it though."

"Seriously. 'The hell, Okumura?"

"Yeah... We met there but weren't a thing for a while. I was studying criminal justice, she was studying Language. It's kind of a miracle we ended up talking at all." He smiled to himself then glanced to Akane. "She was... a friend of my roommate's."

"Again. With. The smiling."

"I mean, we could try that."

"Ugh. 'Figures. Not that I have to worry about it anymore. Thanks again, Nijima. I at least owe you a cup of coffee."

"Your sister may have mentioned that about you. Those kids...really like coffee. It's almost weird how much they like it. That and curry. Well, we can talk about their obsessions at Leblanc. I'm buying."

He blinked as she walked past him, taking a brief moment to watch her go before smiling and moving to catch up, walking by her side. "Yeah. Let's."

"...Okumura? You seem...slightly more ominous than usual."

"Oh. Then by all means. Continue. Could never stand that guy when he was on TV."

"I... I know this probably doesn't mean much after what he did, but I'm sorry."