Of course, people were more willing to talk to him back at home, because of the fact that he was looked to as icon in Almaty. Still, his forwardness was off-putting for many.

So Yuri accepting his hand in friendship meant a lot to him. Probably more than the other would completely understand. It was why Otabek completely devoted himself to the friendship.

"Same," Otabek said. "They seem nice when I've seen them." Which wasn't much, to be honest.