Ai's gaze narrowed at the lightness of Galina's words... and it only got worse from there.

As the Russian Spy continued to blithely tempt fate word after word, the Takahiro Matriarch appeared more and more ready to do fate's work for it. Her frown deepened, lips drawing into the tightest, thinnest of lines while her hands on-so-slowly slipped into the folds of each other's sleeves. Her entire body tensed, a last courtesy allowing the daring Galina to finish all she had to say, before Ai delivered her-... her...

Ai's form paused, head turning slowly to regard the form of Souma beside her. Sitting still and tall, one hand lightly grasping the cup he had been offered, he remained as he had been since Ai sat down. Calm, still, waiting to see what would come from this unforeseen meeting.

Except, for the wide, unrestrained grin. Except for the free arm clutched tightly around a tightened stomach, just below a chest straining with unreleased mirth. Except for the occasional burst of air from his nose, that he tried to hold back for her benefit, but only seemed to invite a greater rage that Galina had endeared.

"...[i]Brother[/i]..."

"Apologies, sister," Souma managed to speak the words without his mirth escaping, though the respect evident in his voice was marred somewhat, lighter than it should have been. Standing apart from them all, Daisuke kept his own features straight, impassive, but something glinted in his eye, something he kept very much to himself. "It's... ah, well..."

He averted his gaze in the end, free hand raising to cover his eyes as another fit of laughter threatened to escape. "...She's not lying."

Ai's response was a deep, heavy sigh, shaking her head as she took the rest of the eel for herself, pointedly ignoring Galina across from her. She lowered her chopsticks to lay them across the now-empty bowl when she was finished, looking towards no one present in the room... but a now-calmed Souma understood who the words she spoke were for.

[i]"You're fine with this, aren't you?"[/i]

Quiet words, but he caught them without trouble. His features calmed, though a smile remained, warm enough for both women seated at his table. 

[i]"I am."[/i] He took a small sip from the cup Galina had passed him, a subtle nod towards Daisuke sending the Fist away to fetch some tea. 

[i]"I see..."[/i] Ai stood, finally catching Galina in her gaze once more, offering her a slight, grudging bow, before repeating the gesture deeply towards her brother. "Thank you, for the meal, Brother. I will meet you, when you return, yes?"

"Of course." Still seated, Souma responded to her bow with a quiet nod, relaxed now that the tension had fully passed.

"Be safe." She left with those words, Daisuke somehow reappearing in time to open the door for her, to trade a quick, quiet word before she disappeared into the streets. He vanished as quickly as he had appeared, the quiet swishing sounds of a brush heard if one strained their ears.

"That... went well..." Souma shook his own head, lowering his cup and leaning forward to observe the remnants of his lunch. A slight frown crossed his lips at the sight, but he dispelled it with a shrug, retrieving a small bowl. His gaze met Galina's as he lowered the bowl before him, smile growing as he recalled what had just transpired.

"Risky words, Galina." He finally allowed himself the luxury of amusement, a quiet chuckle echoing behind the words. "Know more about yakuza, than I thought."