That stung, but Aly snorted and followed him anyway. "You're really just being a jerk for the point of being a jerk, you know," she said. "So no, you're not a 'replacement', because at least when sensei's an asshole, he's being an asshole for a reason. And since nobody's ever a dick just to be a dick, you're probably being an asshole for a reason, too."

She blinked. "Is it related to your little hanger-on in there?"