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           You?"

           "Motherfucker!"

           "That’senough!"Asultryvoicecutshortourargument.Itwasn’tRita.

           Salvationhadcomefromanunexpectedquarter.Iturnedtoseeabronze-skinnedwomanstandingbesidethetable.Herapron-boundbreastsintrudedrudelyonagood60percentofmyfieldofview.Shestoodbetweenusholdingasteamingfriedshrimpwithapairoflongcookingchopsticks.ItwasRachelKisaragi.

           "Idon’twantanyfightinginhere.Thisisadiningroom,notaboxingring."

           "Justtryin’toteachthisrecruitsomemanners."

           "Well,school’sover."

           "Hey,youweretheonecomplainingabouthowmiserablehelookedeatingyourfood."

           "Evenso."

           Rachelglancedatme.Shehadn’tshowntheslightesthintofangerwhenI’dknockedoverhercartofpotatoes,soforthistohavegottentoher,Imust’vebeenmakingquitetheimpression.ApartofherprobablywantedtoembarrassanyoneassociatedwithJinYonabaru,widelyregardedasthemostannoyingpersononbase.NotthatIblamedher.I’dtrippedthespilledpotatoflag,andnowI’dtrippedthisone.Theaftermathwasmyresponsibility.

           Inabasedyedincoffee-stainsplotchesofdesertearthtones,awomanlikeRachelwasboundtoattractanadmirerortwo,butI’dneverrealizedjusthowpopularshewas.Thismanhadn’tpickedafightwithmeoversomecompanyrivalry.Hewasshowingoff.

           "It’sallright.Ishouldn’thavesaidanything."Rachelturnedtofacetheloominggiantandshooedmeawaywithagesturefrombehindherback."Here.Haveashrimp.