The New Winds

As arranged, after cleaning up the tea room (because she does clean it, dammit), Sasaiko begins to set up for a cup with a certain Kaito...

Approaching the room, Haruki makes certain to wait by the Cyu-mon, treating it like he would a Torii gate. "Good afternoon Toritaka-san, have you had your rice today?"

"I have, thank you, Kaito-san, and I hope the same is true for you."

She bows.

He bows in return, having completed his ritual cleaning. "I have, thank you. I presume you have everything set up already?"

"Almost," she says, and finishes.

Then she conducts the ritual--successfully (Tea Ceremony 20, get you back a Void Point) at last.

"I trust you have been faring well in the current instruction."

"Indeed I have, I think I'll finally be able to pull ahead of the competition today. Such a shame Jiro-senpai had trouble with taking a few hits, though. Maybe he will fare better with the afternoon training. I see you have found a good connection with the void, this tea is great."

"I am glad you approve. And the Phoenix seem to be doing quite well in this training; Asako-san has impressed throughout."

Haruki lets a small smile show on his face after hearing about Sabaru's performance. "He is doing so well, in fact, that I doubt there is any chance of any of us matching his scores anytime soon. I only hope I will be ready to surpass him when we both compete in the Topaz Championship."

"I have no doubt you will be formidable competition. At the least, I shall hope to ensure neither of you becomes complacent."

She smiles a bit as she sips her tea.

"I've heard that you want to become a magistrate when you are older. I am certain that becoming a Topaz Champion will jumpstart that career right? Have you already studied what it takes to win the tournament?"

"Some. But I have heard that the challenges sometimes...change. And the will of the Heavens is as it is, not as we wish it to be."

She makes an appropriately pious gesture. Always a good idea with Phoenix, and always good as a shugenja.

"Even an accomplished non-victory will help, however."

"Indeed, but it doesn't hurt to reach for the top if you think you can make it. In fact, I would be insulted if I knew there were people competing who weren't at least trying to win."

"Oh, I shall do my best, certainly, not only because I wish to offer no insult. But events in training here have reminded me that humility is a proper attitude, and having multiple avenues of approach is a good idea."

A sip of tea punctuates the sentence.

"Hai, I believe that is why Sabaru-San is at the top of the class. When I told him about our placements on our second day, he didn't even know what marks meant. That level of zen is enviable, especially considering how hard I work to even have a chance to be in the same standings as him."

"He is a promising person. I have no doubt that he will be a credit to his Family and Clan."

Unlike that Mantis boy crosses her mind.

It is possible that there is a touch of a blush about her cheeks as she says the one and thinks the other.

"I heard that at the end of the Topaz championship, the bushi conduct an iaijutsu tournament and the shugenja conduct taryu-jiai. I haven't seen one in person, have you?"

"The former, no. The latter, yes. More common in Falcon lands than many places, though still not daily occurrences. Impressive, really.

"Though one would think that the Phoenix would have more of them yet."

"They might, but I reside in a more remote area. I live half way between Kyuden Isawa and the Cliffside Shrine, harder to have duels of any sort if you're a couple of days away from civilization. "

"Then we are in similar circumstances in that regard."

She nods.

"The Falcon lands are almost at an end of the Empire, and not the most scenic, though I love them."

"If you can get used to the heights, the view is amazing from my home. It is small, but it is on top of a mountain. I haven't been able to return home for a while though. The bridge wore out recently and the climb is too steep for someone as young as me."