[Having Shinpachi is actually a big consolation, but he doesn't say it out loud. Maybe it doesn't make the hurt any better, but it does make Sano feel more cheerful, so it's very welcome as a distraction. It's a good surprise, Sano decides. A less good surprise is when Shinpachi admits how long he'd been in the country.]

Months?

[He can only stare, feeling more stung than he's comfortable admitting.]

Well, I suppose I should consider myself lucky, you told me.

[He kicks himself mentally, when he realizes how defensicve and bitter he had sounded just now, but he can't help feeling a little hurt, that his friend didn't apparently even think of dropping him a single line.

... He should probably stop drinking. Alcohol always makes him too emotional and he should be better than this. He's been better than this. He can get shitfaced in his room, when he passes out, he can pass out in his bed.

He turns over his glass and pushes it away, before turning back to Shinpachi, asking the first thing that comes to him, hoping he sounds light and easy enough. The last thing he needs is to offend hhis best friend in his inebriated, alcohol clouded state.]

Have you got my package? Sent you something, but I apparently don't have the right address anymore?