"...Iori-kun it is, then." She laughed a little at that, warmth seeping into her expression. Even if it was a front, even if his real name was something completely different, it had been a long, long time since anybody had called Ashiko their friend. 'Colleague' was common, sometimes 'superior', but by and large 'acquaintance' was the most frequently used label.

"You really don't have to," she insisted, leaning across the table to place a stilling hand upon his own. the weak light of the tavern glinted richly off of the enameled hair comb of the day, perhaps highlighting her next words. "I've told you before; Danna-sama takes excellent care of me."