Szayel was prepared to open his mouth and speak, and then Gladio added that to the end of his statement and he paused.

He had been mentally preparing a lecture about how it all rather depends on the nature of your studies. Szayel didn't smoke; he found the habit noxious, but he also understood why Hojo did. Szayel had the same tendency to skip meals as Hojo evidently did, as Even did, as, really every dedicated scientist did. Science sustained you, food was a distraction.

But this meaty lunkhead, attractive as he was, thought he knew something did he?

"A kitchen is hardly laboratory conditions," he sneered. "If you'd ever been in one, you'd know."