"There's neatly trimmed facial hair and then there's crazed hermit. If I don't shave today, it'll start to qualify as crazed hermit," Matt said teasingly in return. He normally was never clean-shaven, but there was a huge difference between having a small bit of manicured scruff and not shaving for a few days to just let the beard do its own thing. He wasn't someone who liked the latter, even if Kate didn't seem to mind or notice.

Matt was many things, several of them even nice and gracious things. However, he also had a decent ego on himself when it came to his looks and charm, so when Mrs. Sato initially cooed over seeing her handsome boy, there was a brief moment of confusion on Matt's face. He thought handsome, of course, was applied to him, yet he didn't know this woman. It took a moment for him to sheepishly realize she meant Lucky, then for the embarrassment to shift back into pleasure when the compliment circled back around to him again.

He held out his hand, waiting for the older woman to shake it, as he gave her a charming smile. "Matthew Murdock. I can already tell from your hospitality and the wonderful smells here that I should blame myself for not having visited your shop sooner. Please, I have Kate here to show me around, but if you've got anything new she wouldn't know, keep us in the loop." A bark, then Matt added, "See, Lucky agrees with me."

Was Matt playing up his charm a bit in response to having been humbled next to a dog? Maybe. Yes. It was harmless in his mind, and well, he couldn't blame Mrs. Sato. Lucky did have charms that even Matt couldn't reach. That didn't mean he wouldn't try his hardest though to win over someone who meant something to Kate. Who didn't want to be on good terms with their friend's shopkeepers? It was a totally normal inclination. He also tried to open his mouth to protest that they were actually dating when a delightful ball of bouncy freshness was shoved into it.

The expression on Matt's face showed pure pleasure and like perhaps Mrs. Sato was the real keeper. He raised his hand a little while Kate was insisting on the instant noodles and said with soft pleading, "A little freshness too for after? Where is that mochi and those fresh noodles kept? Perhaps some fruit and mushrooms, too. Do you have lychees?" What? Surely he'd get his senses back eventually and a delightful meal made with lovely ingredients would be a nice follow up to the sodium crash course they were now having.

He preened a little at Mrs. Sato's compliment, but loyally threw Kate a bone as he leaned his elbow out to bump her. "In Kate's defense, I did ask for her to show me spicy junk food today. To see what it was like. She's just being a good friend. I figured I should go to the expert on it. So I guess we have to go with the extra spicy. And some mochi to cool it down afterwards. How long have you had this shop, Mrs. Sato?"

"Oh, shitakes and strawberries would be amazing, thank you. Perhaps fresh ginger and some mizuna?" Matt coaxed and questioned until he'd gotten what Mrs. Sato was willing to share of her recipe for soba noodles with mushroom dashi and greens, and he looked extremely pleased and productive with himself. He sincerely held his hand out, clasping hers when she offered it again and told her, "It's a pleasure to have someone who cares so much about what they do help us. Seriously. We'll have to let you know how these noodles turn out." Once he felt better he was making them for Kate.

His face showed that he wanted to be in on the dumpling lesson if it ever happened. Oh, Matt had taught himself how to make dumplings, but getting tips and tricks from someone who grew up making them? That sounded delightful to him. "If she doesn't take you up on that, Mrs. Sato, I will. I love cooking, and Kate is great company, so it's a good match. For eating." He was swift to add that, but Mrs. Sato gave such a smirk at his faux pas. "We make good dinner companions. Plus she will eat healthy if someone else makes it for her."

"Next Saturday, got it." He could do Saturday, barring an emergency. They were easier than Sundays, when he sometimes had church activities keeping him busy even aside from mass. It truly meant a lot to Matt to get to know people in general, but especially those who shared his appreciation of Kate. His smile softened as Mrs. Sato kept adding honorifics when speaking about Kate. Her special girl. Clearly there was history there.

He reached out to carry some of the bags in one of his hands, the one that also held Lucky's leash. He listened to the dog excitedly and noisily chewing on the treats that he was given, licking Mrs. Sato's hand afterwards in thanks.

"I do my best, Mrs. Sato," he promised with pretend long suffering at ensuring Kate at well, a teasing smile on his face. "Thank you again. Before we go though, it sounds like there's a story here on how you two met. I'd love to hear it. Today, or next Saturday at that lesson."

"She just wants to shut me up from sharing more stories about her," Matt protested playfully, although honestly, mochi was an excellent way to get him to be quiet for periods of time. The texture was one of his favorites, and it came in multiple flavors from savory to sweet. He was excited about the assortment that Mrs. Sato had rung up for them. "Goodbye, Mrs. Sato. Until next Saturday."

As they left the store Matt was busy musing on how mochi was one thing he'd yet to try and make. It felt a little intimidating for some reason, but he really should make the effort since he loved it so much. Maybe he could ask Mrs. Sato for tips? Or make a trial batch and bring them so she could tell him what he'd done wrong or how he could improve them? Matt was lost in thought he nearly kept going until Kate's gentle tug on his arm stopped him.

He turned his head curiously in the direction of her voice. Once he realized what shew as doing, and the design of the glasses she'd put on his face, his expression was one of amused exasperation behind the heart shaped glasses. "Really, you think so? Nothing silly looking about this at all?"

"Glasses in novelty shapes would be on the silly list," Matt replied in a knowing tone, reaching up to feel them. He could tell they weren't in a normal glasses shape, though it made Kate happy, so he left them on his face. While he wouldn't have gone out of his way to look ridiculous, he didn't care about it every once in awhile. Like dressing up in ridiculous outfits to watch a show. It wasn't something he'd ever think to do, but it made her happy. Like going to listen to intimate jazz shows or to wine tastings made him happy. "I suppose it could be worse. You could have found some that had palm trees on the ends."

He let her move his hand to touch the stress balls inside, giving them a small squeeze. He didn't dare try and feel things on the table without her guidance, because without his powers, he'd easily just end up knocking items over. It was a little humbling to genuinely have to rely on someone else rather than pretending, but he felt that maybe it was good to be humbled every so often. To know this was life for some people every day, and that they had to find their own ways to feel empowered and independent.

"Do they have any dog toys? Or toys that could be used as them?" Matt asked, reaching for his wallet. He wanted to buy Lucky a toy, of course. "I'll buy one for you too if you want," he teased to Kate. "So you and your dog can match. Unless you want the steamer with the stress balls?" He could afford some trinket toys, and Kate had bought the food. He wanted to treat her and Lucky to something, too.

And he guessed that also went for the silly glasses.

Matt patted Lucky's head, stage whispering in the dog's direction just as sassily as Kate was talking, "This is what the United States' educational system produces these days, Lucky. Someone who can't even think critically about what the words novelty and shapes means and how they interact. It's a sad day for our country's future, isn't it?" If she was going to play dumb, he was more than willing to tease her about it. "Still, at least she's got a good heart to make up for it."

He huffed a small laugh as he pointed out, "I don't think any of these are my style, Kate." He was just humoring her at this moment, it wasn't like he'd ever wear any of these glasses again. "These are fine." The ones that he was wearing. They were the impulse ones that Kate had picked, so she probably was the most amused by him wearing them over the flame ones. It wasn't like he could see any of them either way, so it was all the same to him. He was just playing off her enjoyment, like he delighted in buying items that she and Lucky might enjoy themselves.

"Of course I don't have to, but I want to. Let Lucky live, Kate." Of course he was free to indulge the dog, since he didn't have to be the one to stop him from slobbering on everything. "Go ahead and pick out something you both would like. I promise, I can afford it." Their law firm might not be doing great in terms of finances, but he was still plenty comfortable to purchase a trinket or two.

Lucky might love Matt, but Kate was forever number one in his heart so of course when she started speaking to him his head turned to lick her fingers lovingly. He had no idea what either of them were saying but he'd take all the attention even if, in the end, he'd always play favorites. Matt couldn't help but let a soft laugh as he heard Lucky adore Kate. Lucky paused every so often to turn and lick at Matt to show that he was loved too, which Matt appreciated. "Columbia is still a great school! For the United States. We've always been shit compared to most of the rest of the world. Less academics for way more money, welcome to America. It's a business more than a learning institution." Matt barely stopped himself from launching into one of his socio-economic rants given they were out in public. It was utterly obscene though how students in their early twenties were already in enormous debt, yet grade-school teachers barely made a living. Corrupt, gross, unjust and...

He realized he was still muttering until Lucky placed his paws on Matt's chest to give him a hug. Matt hugged the dog back and smiled apologetically, stopping for real this time.

"I do have a great sense of humor," he agreed, getting back on topic. "You need humor with the world we're living in."

Matt nodded, requesting the two items that Kate said and gesturing to his glasses as the third item. He felt the bills in his wallet - each was folded up a different way so that he knew exactly which bills he'd be using as the man told him how much it all was. Matt was using cash more often these days when he could to keep less of a track on himself lest Fisk be watching his money flow. Not that a silly token stand meant anything, but then again, who knew if it might. "You know what, yeah I can see Lucky being a capybara man. Makes sense." He thanked the vender with a smile, letting him keep the change.

He was starting to feel tired again. Not ill or bad, just worn out as his body was still recovering. He'd be glad to get home and sit for awhile.

Get back to Kate's, that is.

Kate Bishop was rarely quiet, so when her response was just that, it made Matt notice. Something he'd said had sparked it, but he couldn't discern exactly what it was. He knew she'd gone to college and hadn't finished, but how she felt about it exactly wasn't something they'd talked about. Perhaps it was a topic to broach in the future, now that his curiosity had arisen. Or maybe she was just musing on the same injustice that he was, only her response to it was quiet introspection rather than his rather loud speeches.

Either way he reached out to lightly find her arm and gave it a squeeze, glad to then hear her laugh as the topic went to a lighter one. He didn't forget though, tucking it away for later.

"Why wouldn't I keep them?" he asked in a faux-innocent voice, straightening his new glasses as they started to talk back. "My partner whom I trust in all things told me that I should wear them. She'd never steer me wrong, would she? I must look great."

He gave her a slightly bemused smile as she said that he made everything look great. There was nothing to it, surely. Just a nice remark, a compliment. He wouldn't overthink it. "For once I'm not gonna take that as a challenge and wear ridiculous things to see if that holds true," he teased back.

As they walked he was clearly getting a little weary, but he did make them stop so that he could get that Vietnamese iced coffee for Walter. He also got some for himself and for Kate if she wanted. The caffeine and sugar helped perk him up a little on the trek back, and Walter seemed pleased by it which made Matt happy. They chatted for a few minutes with him before heading up the stairs.

"Woah, buddy." Lucky was clearly not tired yet as he was ready to bound down the hall. "I know air conditioning is exciting right now, we'll get there soon, I promise."