Tsuchi looked at the USB drive, a little bewildered. He held back what was on the edge of his tongue for reasons of his own. For the limit of his generosity was high.

"Sure," he said, backing his chair out.

He span the drive once with his fingers, then began collecting his things. And they seemed to be packed in record time. Now leaving, he was anxious to say that ditching him was rude, but he felt angrier with Oubai for getting in the way - and that he could not do much about it.