"So if you two can't be seen together."

Iejei slapped Uuzhit's shoulder. He looked up from his laptop on the floor and she made a gesture to hold his utensils and eat. Heaving a sigh, he closed the laptop, set it aside and grabbed the small serving plate in front of him and the utensils laid over it.

"What do people think of you coming to his room like this?" Asakay looked between the two. He stared at Iejei, willing an answer from her. No matter that he leaned in to her personal space, she smiled back at him.

Inyoninko ignored them. Iejei glanced at her. "You're not curious?" Iejei giggled when Inyoninko barely looked at her before focusing on another bite. "You had all the questions before."

"You can't bother her when she's eating," Asakay muttered, stuffing his mouth. He dropped a piece of meat on the mat.

Inyoninko reached over, picked it up and ate it. "Don't waste good food."

Asakay laughed. "Muudaninko!"

Iejei frowned, then perked up, remembering, and looked to Inyoninko. "Your father! Right? That's your father."

Inyoninko nodded but never looked up.

"Once she starts. Silent all the way through." Asakay shook his head. "Dinner's like a funeral at their house."

Iejei giggled. "Is it just the two of you?"

Inyoninko scoffed but did not reply. Beside her, Asakay rubbed the back of his head. He was about to reply, Uuzhit beat him to it. "They're not houses." The two looked to Uuzhit. He glanced at his girlfriend. Looking to Inyoninko and Asakay, a silent look telling them to correct him if he was wrong though the former ignored it and the latter probably had no idea, he explained. "It's communal living. Every village in Hamuu Shsyryo has only one house where everyone stays. They're all assigned compartments, where they can eat and sleep but they're small. In general, everyone meets in the center of the house to eat and entertain each other."

Iejei looked between Inyoninko and Asakay, the former paying no attention to anything but her food, so Iejei focused on Asakay. "What about cities? You two are part of the Ghost Order, right?" Inyoninko stiffened. Asakay's mouth dropped open. Uuzhit turned to his side to hide a laugh, while Iejei deadpanned, looking at them unimpressed. "Are you this forgetful?"

"Gossip queen." Uuzhit coughed. Asakay nodded and Inyoninko had never stopped eating.

Looking to his girlfriend, sparing a glance at the two, Uuzhit answered for them. "There aren't actual cities in Hamuu Shsyryo. What they call a city is more akin to a village collective. Collectives can be as small as two or three villages, or as large as thirty." He looked to Asakay. "Am I right?"

Asakay snapped his fingers and pointed at Uuzhit. "My brother."

Inyoninko laid down her utensils and empty serving plate. The others all noticed. With her hands together, head bowed, Inyoninko whispered "For your generosity, Shsyryo."

A curious smile spread across Iejei's neon pink lips. "Why do you say that?" She looked between Inyoninko and Asakay. "When we started eating. You two both said something. You." She laid down her serving plate and utensils to replicate the gesture they had made, on their knees, hands together, heads bowed. Looking at the way they sat as well, she wondered "And the way you sit. That's Shsyryo culture?"

"Etiquette," Uuzhit corrected, "I believe."

"When you start a meal," Asakay stated, "You say. Offering of Shsyryo." He straightened his back, kneeling, hands together and bowed his head. "Then. When you finish eating, you say. For your generosity, Shsyryo."

Iejei's brows furrowed even as she smiled. "But. Why?" She looked between them.

"You never know when you'll be fed water or poison."

Asakay agreed.

"We call it offering of Shsyryo because each meal is a test of fate. If you finish, it means you were fed water. You are still among the accepted."

Iejei nodded, processing the explanation. "But why do you kneel as you eat?" She looked about. "Isn't it?"

"We kneel," Asakay stated, gesturing at his position, "Cause it's the easiest to attack from. Look." He raised one of his knees, pushing on the ball of his foot and launched himself forward, planting a hand on the mat, somersaulting over the food and landing between Uuzhit and Inyoninko, fists raised, leaning on one leg, the other out.

Uuzhit studied the stance. "Martial artist." He glanced at Inyoninko.

"Ring art."

Asakay straightened.

"Attack?" Iejei looked over Asakay, puzzled. "You attack each other while eating."

"It's the fighter's region." Uuzhit leaned over and rubbed Iejei's back. "From in and out of the village. Right?"

Inyoninko nodded. She looked to Asakay and scooted over for him to kneel beside her. Together, they did the fighter's bow to Iejei and Uuzhit. "We leave our welfare in your hands."

A look of recognition donned on Iejei's face. She grinned wide. As if characters in a book had come to life, she replied, "And your welfare has been secured."

Asakay snorted. Inyoninko just nodded to herself and straightened.