The New Winds

For some, the breakfast the dojo provided would be meager no doubt. A bit of rice, some soup, and some quite plain tea. Indeed, the Iuchi dojo was somewhat simple, but more gregarious in its portions and variety, in a very Unicorn fashion. Still, to Otoko, this was more than enough. She would never use the word 'pleasant' to describe much of anything, but adequate would have been high praise indeed.

Though things were crowded with all the servants and students eating all around her, Otoko had, for now, remained by herself, her mind focused on the slow task of filling her belly.

Mai gets breakfast and sees the Scorpion getting breakfast and decides to join her. She bows, "Hello Yogo-san. It is a great morning to see you again. Mind if I join you?"

Otoko wasn't certain where minding things came into the picture. She gestured with a sleeve, thin hand barely protruding. "While I am uncertain as to its greatness, it is a morning, so that means a meal. You may join me, yes."

Mai gives the Scorpion girl a smile. "Of course, it is great. First day training at a special dojo. We'll be the envy our generations. I am glad to share this moment with you, Yogo-san."

Otoko gave a small shrug as the Mantis girl sat across from her. "...I have never had the wish for others to envy me. If anything... it has been about the furthest thing from my mind."

She took a sip of tea, head tilted just a bit as she looked to Mai.

Mai nods. "I see. You're a modest one. I respect that. Though they don't make many that way on the Islands of Silk and Spice. We are a Minor Clan. We don't even have a Family name. We are expected to always be bold. To want others to attain the heights we have means we are doing our duty." Mai takes a drink of her tea. "Shinsei says 'Fortune favors the mortal man.' In the Mantis Clan, we are expected to prove it."

That brought a small nod, and though only a slight frown, it was different from Otoko's usual indifference. ". . Understandable. The Yogo... do not have the... luxury ... of boldness. Strong emotions are deadly."

There was something about Yogos, but Mai didn't remember. But she did realized there was something there. "Well, I'm not saying I understand it, but I..." Mai tries to think of how to phrase her thoughts. "I won't try to push you or anything."

There were many that didn't know what it truly meant to be a Yogo, yet still knew that that there was something. Otoko was quite fine leaving things at that, nodding appreciatively. "I am not fragile Mai-san. I am... used to being pushed. I do not begrudge others their own... flair."

Mai takes another bite of her breakfast as the Yogo speaks. She is silent for a moment after the Yogo finishes. "I think I admire you, Yogo-san. You're always so cool and collected. You're mature when I think most of us are just hoping gempukku will magically turn us into adults. I mean, I know we'll be considered adults, but it's different than being an adult if that makes sense."

Otoko raised an eyebrow slightly at that. Rather than smile or flush, the Scorpion gave a soft sigh. "...I know your words are given well. I am no older than any student here though. If I seem... collected... it is because that is how I was raised to be. There are many others that would call it coldness rather than cool."

At this point, Mai would have been a little creeped out or scared had the girl smile or blushed. "But that's what I mean. You're no older than us. But you seem more ready than most I have met. Myself included." She takes a sip of her tea. "I don't consider you cold. You said it is not good for Yogo to have strong emotions. I don't think it's cold to..." Why do they have to avoid strong emotions? To protect themselves? To protect others? What was it? Well, she wasn't going to ask. "do what you need to do. Nah. Cold is this who embrace such things on their own."

"I did not... doubt your words," Otoko noted softly. "I am what I am, no more or less. It is certainly better for me to be seen in a positive light than a negative one, regardless of the reasons. Perhaps there is more to it than you yet see Mai-san, but who I am in truth will not change."

Mai nods. "Of course. I doubt anyone could know a person well after a few meetings, but I do look forward to getting to know you well, Yogo-san."

"...I am not certain there is much to know of any interest," she noted quietly. Taking a sip of tea, she pulled a rarity for her and promoted continued conversation. "...I am certain there are more things for you to tell than myself."

"Oh? I think a Scorpion training with Unicorn would have a lot of interesting things. You have a lot of experience with two Clans."

Taking a sip from her tea, Otoko gave a slight shrug. "...Perhaps. I do not think anything that has happened in my life to be of much interest, but I can see how one might think so. Regardless, I am hardly a storyteller. I would make even the most interesting sound dull."

There was no sheepishness to her tone. Perhaps some resignation however...

With Mai shrugged and took another bite. "I dunno. I haven't found you dull." It was the truth. She was a child of a Sparrow. She knows what truly boring stories are.

Quite surprisingly, a very faint smirk touched the impassive Yogo's thin lips for just a moment. "...And I have been trying so hard too..."

A joke! Mai gave a smile in return. "If that's what you wanted to do, you should have studied with the Sparrow. Dullness is an art form there."