Author's Note: Just for the record, this is what I did in math class today. Paying attention is both overrated and unnecessary.

Habit; 9

We sit at the table, and I watched as reflected flames dance between the black frames of his shiny black sunglasses.

"You know, Seishirou-san, it's considered impolite to wear sunglasses indoors."

He smiles at me over a glass of red wine; I don't know what he's thinking; and though half of me has no desire to find out, the other is irrepressibly curious.

I exhale and wish the restaurant allowed smoking, but it doesn't, so I take a sip of my own wine.

We eat and I breathe and we talk and he smiles and suddenly it's time to pay.