Spirit or no spirit, Reigen was skilled in the art of playing keeper to a sad drunk. His spirit brethen seemed taken aback by his and Shigeo's easy-going approach, some even insisting that they let Biwa sleep it off out back so as not to inconvenience either of them, but he steadfastly reminded him of their mission: to soothe. Reigen felt a mote of pity for the spirits who had already forgotten they were exorcists on a mission, but that was far secondary to their essential purpose of simply serving humans. Reigen chose not to dwell on it--it wasn't for him to understand how spirits thought. Even the crass umbrella was relaxing in the corner of the room, all folded up comfortably.

As for the problem-child, Biwa seemed to respond well enough to firm boundaries. No begging for seconds of tea until everyone at the table had gotten theirs, no blowing his nose on the sentient cloth, no leaning on Shigeo's head. A little more time passed, the tea was almost gone and everyone was warmed up and dried when he made a request that surprised Reigen.

"Mister...can you play me?"

"Play...you?" Reigen gestured at Biwa's head.

"Yeah. You can play good music, right? I can tell from your fingers."

Reigen blushed slightly, but he hid it behind his hand and played it off like he was simply ponderous. It wasn't exactly the instrument he spent the most time with, but he had played it a few times in college out of sheer intrigue. Even if he wasn't blind, it was a romantic fantasy in imagining himself a biwa hoshi when things got too stressful to deal with. Those embarrassing thoughts flew through his head in an instant and he wondered if the tsukumogami could perceive them with some panic.

"I suppose...I do know at least one song..."