"How about jazz?" Genma suggested, and quietly got up to put the music on. He grabbed a couple of tangerines and a bowl while he was at it, and brought them back to the table. Refilled his and Raidou's tea cups. Glanced over at his memorial tablets and the shrine with its own plate of tangerines for the kami.

The never talked much about their shared status as technical orphans. Were you really an orphan if you were able to fend for yourself, all grown up and tattooed with the ANBU spiral?

"I don't think they're expecting you to be a teacher," he said, lowering himself carefully to the floor once more. The annoying crackle in his lungs came back, and he had to turn away, coughing deeply for a few minutes. When he looked up at Raidou again, red-faced and bright eyed, he wasn't sure he could read his friend's expression.

"Seriously. They can't expect you to be a trained scholar or anything. Probably they assigned you because you're solid, and the kid sounds like he's desperately in need of leadership by example. I don't know anyone who's better at keeping a lid on his emotions than you are."