So, apparently, taking a break was a foreign concept in this place. Everyone else seemed to be able to do it, Shikamaru noticed with annoyed envy. Playing soccer, having conversations for sheer amusement value...not that he considered either of the two relaxing activities, but still, they were better than quizzing people like some kind of really bored interrogator. At least he'd gotten to watch clouds for a few minutes before company arrived, and Sora had been unobtrusive, if a little nosy. It could have been worse, but that didn't mean he was happy with the way things were going. And worse, all of this effort had yielded next to no useful information.

Lunch was some kind of battered fish, unappealing and greasy but not outright disgusting. Once again, he put the standard amount of food on his plate and headed off to an empty table, resigned to the fact that he'd only get a few minutes of peace before another patient or one of the pushy nurses decided that he needed friends.

[free]