[mandricardo continues to be a good lad while aki squints suspiciously in the background.......

Sakyou, in the meantime, just gives him a long and quiet look. But he eventually sighs, too; a soft little sound, as his eyes return to the metal as it steadily heats.]

Then I'll say it more clearly. I'm not the sort of person anyone should waste their concern or time with. [Certainly no one kind enough to help a veritable stranger, at least.]

I appreciate the help to this point, but I can't accept anything further.