"Aha!" He stands back up holding a little plastic package of screw-in hooks and setting it on the bar. "This should do the trick. I'll get on that curry."

"Thanks, Boss."

"Yeah, seconded." 

Akira folds her hands together on the bar and taps her foot against the barstool's rest. "Say Boss, do you read at all? I used to read a lot of detective stories, but recently I'm thinking of trying something new. I picked up a biography of Oda Nobunaga at the second-hand store today since it was only seven hundred yen, we'll see if it's interesting at all."

"If you're getting into biographies," he replies while working on the curry, "I've got some biographies and histories back at the house. Could bring a few over, or text you what I have when I get home."

"If you wanted to pick a couple out for me I'd really appreciate it. You'd know better than me what's interesting."

"Glad to, kid. I'll bring some by in the morning."

"Thanks, Boss."

Akira goes back to her coffee for the moment. She doesn't feel much like talking right now: it's been a dense afternoon, and soon she'll be leading a strategy meeting. Best to rest.

Shiho laces her fingers through Akira's and sips her own coffee.

Soon enough a plate of curry is done. Sojiro sets it in front of the girls with a pair of forks.

Akira takes her fork and quietly eats. The curry's comforting. Familiar.

Shiho playfully bumps Akira's shoulder with her own, then picks up a fork and has a bite as well.

Then she looks down at the plate.

"Wow. That is some good curry, Boss."

She digs in and enjoys.

Sojiro smiles softly for a moment, then shakes his head. "Glad to hear it, Shiho-chan."

"Boss cares about his craft."

Akira smiles, and eats. Half a plate of curry seems to be just about perfect after all those gyoza. 

When the curry's done, she gets up off her bar stool. "Boss, I'm probably going to do a card game with Shiho until the others arrive. Do you want to join us?"

He shakes his head. "Nah. Have fun with your girlfriend, kid. I've got cleanup to do."

"Alright," Akira says. She nips upstairs and grabs the handfuda deck, and then takes a seat at one of the booths, shuffles, and deals. 

"Here we go again," she says to Shiho with a little smile.

Shiho smiles warmly at Akira and sits down across from her. An enjoyable few rounds of daifugo pass.

Some time later, the door opens, Ryuji holding it for Ann and Morgana. "Hey."

"Evening, you three."

Ann waves. "Hiya all." She comes over and joins Shiho on her side of tne booth with a warm smile. "Good to see you again."

Akira pats the seat next to her. "You can sit here, Ryuji." She looks over at Boss. "Looks like everyone's here. Probably for the best to lock up just in case."

Morgana bounds up and sits in Akira's lap.

Ryuji sits down next to Akira and kisses her cheek. "Good to see y'all."

Shiho hugs Ann close and kisses her cheek, nodding.

Sojiro gives a wry smile and shakes his head, then locks the door.

"Okay, kids. Anybody need anything before we start? Coffee for anyone, curry for the blondes?"

"I'm good, thank you."