[Spice. Something subtle, almost imperceptible, flickers across Heigo's features as he shakes Kei's hand, because he knows someone that's probably a regular at his restaurant. Someone who likes his curry so hot that his lips used to sting against Heigo's if they kissed right after he'd eaten.

But they haven't kissed, or even spoken more than a few words to each other, in a very long time.]

Not as a rule, no, but every rule has its exception. I'll have to try your mapo tofu sometime. [The faint melancholy has even seeped into his voice, but it disappears again when Kei offers to buy his drinks, his lips even quirking into a small smile.] Thank you, Kei. As it happens, I swore a long time ago that I'd never get drunk on green alcohol again, so this good deed shouldn't go sour on you.

[He'll order himself a fresh beer, though, since he's been nursing the dregs of his current one for awhile.]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask about the employee that's amassed their own fanbase...