[ Nishikiyama's comment causes Mine a pang and his brows lower. ]
We work hard to eat good mealsβ [ Mine readily extends his own ethic, not breaking eye contact. ] Why compromise?
[ In the end he doesn't do so well to hide that Nishikiyama has hit a nerve, though. Something obstinate slips into his expression, quietly defensive. ]
... [ What'd he saidβ? ] That isn't what I meant.
[ Nishikiyama probes in a way that makes Mine feel anxious for no good reason, unanticipated in a moment he'd indulged in. He flounders in a way and tenses in his brow against his imbalance. The wine glass remains on the table, even though he surely wants to take a drink. ]
Maybe not, but there's still no way you can get yourself out of that corner you've talked yourself into.
[ Nishikiyama relaxes in a way that shows he'd been toying with Mine. With his eyes falling back to his food, a dish now unworthy of Mine's tastebuds by a only some amount of time, he helps himself to the remainder of the dish without worrying about how it comes off. He huffs and rolls his eyes. ]
Give me yours. I can't stand seeing it sit there like that.
[ The notion passes by in flight, that this might overshadow the rest of their lunch. Mine shakes the thought, but it takes him a moment from then on, visibly, to realize that Nishikiyama only plays around. His expression doesn't quite relax, well possibly he can't. ]
If it matters to you that muchβ
[ Mine cedes what he hadn't wanted in the first place, though, pushing the plate. ]
[ Nishikiyama accepts Mine's plate, pulling it enough of a way close to pick off of. It'll be a while before he gets to the other portion, but he's intent enough now to have it. ]
Looks like you'll just have to starve.
[ No, Mine won't. Both of them know he won't, but Nishikiyama teases him anyway. ]
[ Nishikiyama doesnβt seem half as passionate as he did a moment ago. Mineβs face is in arrears, but he gets it now, that the other man just teases him. ]
Iβll wait until our dinner.
[ It leaves him nowhere near wanting to retaliate either. ]
You're going to have a lot of fun fighting off the rest of them if you keep it civil. Don't be the one who grills the meat if you actually want to eat anyβ that's the trick.
[ As for Nishikiyama? Of course he won't be grilling any yakiniku tonight. ]
[ Kanda keeps promoting himself as his oath brother, while Mine has him down as a crude idiot. Part of him wants to say yes, have Nishikiyama tell Kanda off. It makes that scoff of a laugh reappear, even without enough alcohol to induce it. ]
Hmhβ
[ Now Mine's business dinners look more like a state banquet, but in the beginning he'd ended evenings plastered in the smell of grease and smoke too. There's just a nod. ]
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[ He feels as if he's speaking to Yuko when he says it, eyeballing the plate and then Mine once more. ]
It tastes just the same as it would warm. It's refreshing now.
[ He takes another bite of fish. ]
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We work hard to eat good mealsβ [ Mine readily extends his own ethic, not breaking eye contact. ] Why compromise?
[ In the end he doesn't do so well to hide that Nishikiyama has hit a nerve, though. Something obstinate slips into his expression, quietly defensive. ]
no subject
[ Nishikiyama tests Mine now, facial expression and intent unreadable. ]
no subject
[ Nishikiyama probes in a way that makes Mine feel anxious for no good reason, unanticipated in a moment he'd indulged in. He flounders in a way and tenses in his brow against his imbalance. The wine glass remains on the table, even though he surely wants to take a drink. ]
βIf you enjoy it, I'm glad.
no subject
[ Nishikiyama relaxes in a way that shows he'd been toying with Mine. With his eyes falling back to his food, a dish now unworthy of Mine's tastebuds by a only some amount of time, he helps himself to the remainder of the dish without worrying about how it comes off. He huffs and rolls his eyes. ]
Give me yours. I can't stand seeing it sit there like that.
no subject
If it matters to you that muchβ
[ Mine cedes what he hadn't wanted in the first place, though, pushing the plate. ]
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Looks like you'll just have to starve.
[ No, Mine won't. Both of them know he won't, but Nishikiyama teases him anyway. ]
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Iβll wait until our dinner.
[ It leaves him nowhere near wanting to retaliate either. ]
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[ As for Nishikiyama? Of course he won't be grilling any yakiniku tonight. ]
Want me to just tell Kanda to do it?
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Hmhβ
[ Now Mine's business dinners look more like a state banquet, but in the beginning he'd ended evenings plastered in the smell of grease and smoke too. There's just a nod. ]
I'll take the diplomatic route.