[ A little pride swells in Maruki's chest; such simple things can help jog his memory, too. They don't have to rehash everything to death. They can just– exist. Just be. It really will help Eren. He wasn't wrong.

He murmurs a quick thank you over the food before digging in, nodding through a spoonful of soup. ]

You did. You ran a whole business. I think you hated aspects of that, though.

[ No, he knows. Maruki shrugs, another warm, hearty spoonful, then sets it down. ]

I took over cooking while you were gone. I'll probably keep that up... But you don't have to go back to work. Everyone has it handled.