"Not a big deal." It would be tough, dealing with Akihiko's reaction to his being here, but that wasn't the only reason he thought that. He smirked that subtle, nearly imperceptible smirk of his. "Means we don't have to run off after him every time something catches his eye."

He did make that point, though, of saying 'we'. They were a team here, for better or worse, and he was still her friend. Recent decisions couldn't change that. She deserved to have a hell of a lot better at her back, but she was stuck with him, and he was going to make sure that didn't count for nothing.