We can, but we don't need to. After seventeen years I think it pretty much got to be a habit for everyone, though...and eating together with people is always fun.

[He sounds a little strange for a moment, warm and embarrassed (there's a lot of memories there, Sorey shoving food at him to try, learning to make things Sorey liked to eat, the unspoken understanding in the village that no one wanted Sorey to feel isolated for having human needs.)

...he coughs and blatantly changes the subject.]

Hundreds, huh...wouldn't you need a lot of teachers for that many, too? That sounds like an entire cityful of students.