Once he was done with his bowl, Maruki set it aside and rested his chin on the knuckles of his palm- staring at her all too carefully while he listened to her gushing about her memories. How sweet...and reminscent of his time in Shujin. He missed the students there who consulted with him about their problems despite everything he's ever done to prevent that pain from affecting them ever again.

As he goes for his glass one last time to finish the soda, what Hamuko starts gushing about next catches him off guard.

So much so he ends up choking on his drink, hacking up heavy noises as he puts the glass down to cover for his coughing which only seems to come down in successive waves-!

Sumi... Sumire Yoshizawa? That's who she's dating here?! And she's here, having lunch with him- what's her play here? Does she even know about the treatment?