Shuo was roused by the annoying sound of an argument downstairs.
It wasn't that the noise kept him from sleeping, but that Lightspeed Thinking automatically fed information into his brain-two older women were arguing over drying quilts blocking the light. They had been at it for a full fifteen minutes, and their pitch, speaking speed, and even the next objections they would raise were all calculated with perfect clarity. It annoyed him enough to click his tongue.
He sat up and glanced over. The bed opposite was perfectly neat, and Sai was gone again. The paper bag on the table was still warm, giving off the aroma of rice balls. The room temperature was nineteen degrees, and the humidity was just right. He didn't need to think to know that guy had just bought them.
He dawdled through washing up. The dark circles in the mirror had faded a little, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly without his noticing. He pursed his lips and pretended he hadn't seen.
He had just finished wiping his face when the door opened. Sai walked in carrying another paper bag, still wearing that dark gray jacket, its cuffs spotless.
"Bought two again?" Shuo raised an eyebrow, his tone languid.
"I didn't know which one you wanted." Sai set the bag down.
The one on the table was a salmon rice ball, and the other was pickled plum. Shuo casually took the plum one. The first bite made him squint at its sourness, but he didn't complain, just chewed slowly. Sai sat opposite him eating the salmon one. Sunlight fell across the table, quiet and peaceful, without the slightest irritation.
After eating, they went downstairs. There were still no missions today, leaving them restless with idleness.
"What are we doing?" Sai asked.
"Don't