"So," Kira said, swinging their joined hands lightly between them. "Did you enjoy it?"
Now they were walking away from the noodles stall, hand in hand, moving down a quieter path where the market noise had softened behind them.
The bowls were enormous, the broth was deep and rich and slightly spicy, and Derek had eaten every last drop without once admitting that he was enjoying it.
He kept his eyes ahead. "It was... adequate. It was just there."
Kira turned to look at him with a knowing expression, squinting at him. "Just there."
"Yes."
"You ate everything."
"I was hungry."
"You asked him for extra broth, Derek."
"The bowl had too many noodles and not enough liquid. I was correcting the ratio."
Kira pressed her lips together to hold the smile back, which was a completely losing battle. "Right. So if I suggested we go back sometime, you would say?"
He was quiet for a moment and then shrugged. "I didn't say it was inedible."
"High praise from the King."
