If Kubo hadn't known Dave for a while now, he might have mistaken Dave's response for anger, but he was starting to get a handle on how Dave covered up sadness. And how part of that handle involved lying alone in the dark on a couch.

Maybe Dave needed to lie alone in the dark for a bit, but he'd done that, and now it was time to eat and connect with people who cared about him.

"You're right," Kubo agreed, standing and putting his shamisen back over his shoulder. "This way is a lot quicker."

He didn't even have to bring up his mother and how worried she was about Dave to guilt him into going, and he was glad not to have to break out those big guns so early.