Being a teacher was a lot of planning and grading and it was busy work, but even so, there was still time for friends. Going to college again to get a teaching degree had left Shin busy, but he'd never really lost contact with Sam or the X-men... though some may have been less important than others. He'd stayed a team leader, even with the minimal powers he had, and he'd kept on as logistics and support. He'd involved himself in various things such as press conferences and rallies. He'd been there when Cafas gave his speech after Odessa. He'd been a good X-man and a good friend. And good friends still make time to take good friends out to lunch.

The place he'd chosen was a Japanese bar and grill. They had a grill in the center of the table and they made your food right in front of you, unless you ordered sushi or something that wasn't grilled. It was one of his favorite places. He took his wife there all the time. Golden Grill, it was called. Golden Bar and Grill.

He set it up so they met at five after work on a Friday, in front of the restaurant. Having just recently started at the mansion as a math teacher, he figured there would be lots to talk about.

When Sam showed up, he greeted him warmly, then they entered and were seated at a table. There was a couple on the other end, sharing the grill with them. It looked like the brown haired man and blonde woman were on a date. The man smiled knowingly at Shin, as they Asian turned to talk to his friend. Maybe the man thought something else? Shin took no note.

”Two beers and a shot of whiskey.” Sam said to the server who came by shortly after they got seated. Sam looked to Shin and asked, ”You want anything?” Sam smirked slightly as he looked around the place from the grill to the couple sitting next to them. Were they a couple? The man looked at Shin like they knew each other and then Sam looked back to the décor.

”So how’s your numbers?” Sam asked jokingly in regards to Shin’s subject more than his students. Sam didn’t have much room to joke about that, for the most part he had a pretty open schedule. His drinking made his class a less desirable one as of late.

”And you’re wife?” Sam hadn’t talked to Kealey in a little bit but he had for the most part kept in touch with her. Shin too. Just not as much as he used to, which was one of the reasons he was so happy with the drinking and possibly dinner.

How nice of Sam to order for his-- no, not his friend. Himself. Well okay. Initially, Shin hadn't been planning to drink, but since Sam had ordered, and Shin had felt happy considering having a drink with his patch-eyed pirate friend, he ordered something. "One Kirin beer, and some sake please." He ordered. Sam hadn't ordered the rum pirates are noted for drinking, but Shin was unopposed to ordering a Japanese beer and some sake. And maybe more, later. Or some fireball and hard cider when he got home. A drink after a long day was nice.

Sam asked him about his teaching, and his wife. The shard construct of a wedding ring glowed a tiny bit brighter at the thought of the woman, then dulled back down a moment later.

"My math students are doing well. Most are getting the topic. I've got a few stragglers I'm giving one on one help with in a few days, and I'm helping people organize study groups and find good math tutors. My Japanese class dearly wants to start an anime club, but they keep talking about all these shows I've never heard of, like panty and stocking, or one piece or one punch or Rosario + Vampire." He made a face. "I miss the days when I had time to keep up with that, but some of these shows sound pretty weird."

He smirked to himself, and noted wryly under his breath. "If I wanted panty and stocking or one piece bathing suits when I was their age, I sure didn't run to cartoons." He was pretty certain that wasn't what those shows were about. Titles were sometimes confusing. For instance, Ghost in the Shell had nothing spooky scary about it. And Sailor Moon had zero nautical expertise. But who was he to judge? Maybe that was exactly what they were about. Undergarments and bathing suits. From the pictures he'd seen when he'd googled the last show, at least one character was always wearing a bathing suit. But it certainly hadn't been a one-piece.

"Kealey is doing well." He added. "She's very successful with her fashion designs. Maybe your girlfriend is wearing some of the stuff she designed?" He ventured.

Shin had not met Sam's newest girlfriend, but he'd heard general chatter. That was as good as the fact that Sam had one, and that the woman was pretty (though knowing Sam, that last went without saying). "How is she, by the way. I haven't met her. You'll have to tell me about her. Maybe some time, Kealey and I could join you two on a double date?"