Jigen feels like a stray cat being fed by a child. The first week he comes, gets the food, grunts a thank you and vanishes into the crowd as fast as possible. He doesn't want to be seen wolfing it down, doesn't want the man's eyes on him, pitying him. (He can take pity from a distance, he's low enough for it, but don't do it to his face.)

But the second week is colder, and he lingers in the cafe so he has an excuse to be out of the wind. A few customers give him a sidelong look for stinking up the place but he just presses his hands to the coffee cup and lets the warmth seep into his fingertips.