Is there no direct logical correlation between 'Oh yeah? San Barenakedino? How's he? Clarisse and Onardo both asked.' and 'After not having talked to San Barenakedino for awhile, Clarisse and Onardo wondered how he was doing.', indicating neutrality?
Oh yeah? San Barenakedino? How's he? Clarisse and Onardo both asked.###After not having talked to San Barenakedino for awhile, Clarisse and Onardo wondered how he was doing.