( Maruki himself doesn't take anything to eat, preferring instead to make himself comfortable and grab a clipboard and pen, quickly noting down the date and time of the session. )

Oh? Well, I hope I can live up to her words.

( mAN compliments are awkward, okay? but enough of that. he swiftly breezes through the usual formalities — how the sessions work, how confidentiality is handled, and so on — to get them started. )

I'm sorry to hear that Marianne's no longer with us. I take it you two were close?