"Ah?!" Akane jerked her head up out of her hands, embarrassment coloring her face. But she relaxed once she realized who was standing next to her. "Oh, Ira, hi there!" He'd been more than welcoming to her when they were asked to work together in the library, and he trusted her enough to have her there when he faced his Calamity self.

In short, there was no reason to fuss and fret in front of a friend.

"I'm sure you'd look fine with purple hair. It's an underrated color!" she grinned, reaching across the table to rescue the Jumpy doll, tucking it into the front pocket of her dress. Now he was safe from errant spilled salt shakers, or accidental upturned bowls of soup. "It's not so bad. I was just missing someone, that's all. What about you?"

Realizing she was making him stand, she gestured toward the newly vacant space with her menu. "You didn't have a choir of Moogles singing at you about your destined love?"