"I liked it, too," Otabek said, "but there can be no improvement without change." He appreciated the offer. He nodded, "Thank you." This was a sign of the friendship that he had offered when they first met. He wouldn't turn down any help when it was offered to him. He'd have to be foolish to turn it down.

After all, Otabek was working to improve. He was going to try -hard - to place. It would mean he'd have to work to beat Yuri. But honestly, he wouldn't want it any other way. He appreciated Yuri as a competitor.

"I mean it."