Lea sat down next to him, a warm presence in more ways than one. "It's no big deal," he said. "Like I said, we're friends. I know you'd do the same for me if the shoe was on the other foot."

He sipped his own tea, keeping an eye on Taiki. If it looked like he was about to doze off, he'd take the orange juice and set it aside for him so it wouldn't end up in his lap.