D1 EA: what did I miss?

[Kaito Haruki]

After having a rather eventful arrival to Tsuma, Haruki took a quick detour to the temples (after dropping off his weapons with an official so they can be put away safely in Phoenix custody). Then he went to his future place of rest, according to the invitation it is called "The House of the Laughing Carp".

[Mirai]

The Inn seemed quite busy, as fit one of the Inn's hosting guests of the tournament. People were constantly coming and going, from all sorts of clans, both old and young. For MIrai, it was clearly a bit overwhelming. She was used to smaller towns and quaint inns, and this was (at least at the moment) hardly a small town, or a quaint inn.

Still, she found a place off to the side where she could relax a little with some tea. She noted a few that came and went, including the white haired Phoenix.

[Iuchi Prashant]

Coming down from the rooms and looking for a quiet place himself was a young man in relatively simple robes, clearly in Unicorn colours. A small satchel in his Obi might give him out as a Shugenja, thought its shape seems a bit odd for scrolls; at the same time, in some things he looks a bit more like a monk, and he carries an old copy of the Tao under one of his hands.

Looking around, he sees the Ronin in a quieter place and slowly walks to that side, a pleased smile on his lips. He bows a bit to her, but refrains from speaking for now so as to avoid disturbing her.

For now he doesn't seem to notice the Phoenix whom he knew from Hirosaka amid the movement close to the reception.

[Kaito Haruki]

Haruki politely waits to check in using the invitation, then goes to his room to check his things before coming downstairs to converse with other contestants.

[Mirai]

It took Mirai a moment more to realize that she knew the white haired man, remembering him from the hub village. She spoke up just a bit. "Isawa-sama, it is an honor to see you again," she said politely, although she left it to him if he wished to speak.

It was at that moment that she noticed that she'd been approached by a. Unicorn samurai to her side. Since she still wanted Haruki to have time, she gave the boy a bow. "Iuchi-sama."

[Iuchi Prashant]

When the Ronin speaks, the Iuchi bows to her as well, not as low as she did, but in a way that showed some respect to her no matter her position. "Wolf-san. It's a pleasure to meet you. I did not want to bother you with your tea, but if this one may ask - I suppose you are also here for the championship?" His voice sounds gentle and friendly, more as if he was genuinely interested or curious, and less like that of one focused on the competition.

[Mirai]

The girl paused a moment before giving a slight nod. "Hai, I have been given invitation to participate in the tournament, as I am guessing you will be as well."

[Kaito Haruki]

"How have you been Iuchi-San, it has been a while." Haruki takes a moment to look around and see if there are other contestants in the room. "How many people outside of those from Hirosaka are competing?"

[Iuchi Prashant]

The girl paused a moment before giving a slight nod. "Hai, I have been given invitation to participate in the tournament, as I am guessing you will be as well."

He smiles slightly at her - "hai, that's why I'm here as well. I expect you must have shown great promise, to have been invited to the Topaz Championship!", he says, good-natured.

"How have you been Iuchi-San, it has been a while." Haruki takes a moment to look around and see if there are other contestants in the room. "How many people outside of those from Hirosaka are competing?"

"Isawa-san", he then says, smiling at as he bows appropriately to him as well. "It has! It has been a while since our last letters as well*. I hope you have been well?"

He then looks around as well. "Well, I expect at least some more should be here.... This is usually a large event, ne?" - aa he says that, he seems to feel a bit... Weird. As if he didn't really expect to be here




*Prash will have written to most everyone he spent at least some time with in Hirosaka, although the player hasn't had the time to actually write them in pregame... So you can just assume stuff from the letters if you'd like

[Kaito Haruki]

"Indeed it has been a long time between letters, I was tasked with assisting an Emerald Magistrate with taking grain to Hirosaka during the fall. Sorry I didn't tell you about it in the last letter, the arrangement was rather last minute."

[Iuchi Prashant]

"Oh, no worries, Isawa-san! We couldn't hope to keep each other informed of everything even if we wished to, ne?", He says, friendly. "But... Isawa-san is to become an Emerald Yoriki, then? This sounds like a momentous opportunity! Congratulations, Isawa-san!"

[Kaito Haruki]

"Not necessarily, it was just for the one season. I was to meet with a matchmaker in Otosan Uchi for the winter and it was convenient for him to have a free set of hands to keep it all safe. You can never be too cautious when you are travelling over such long distance with a caravan of food."

[Iuchi Prashant]

"I see... Well, it still sounds like an interesting experience nonetheless", he says, smiling again. "And... Have the matchmakers reach fruitful conclusions yet?"

His usually easy expression seems a bit more tense when talking about that - it's clearly something he hasn't given much thought yet, and for some reason it makes him.... Maybe a bit uncomfortable.

[Kaito Haruki]

"Indeed, it was a rather fortuitous and quick match, Doji-sensei really pulled through to help me out. We already have arrangements in place."

[Iuchi Prashant]

"That sounds like a good riddance! So... Isawa-san is likely staying in Imperial lands longer after your gempukku, then?"

[Kaito Haruki]

"It all depends on the results here, can't have a Topaz Champion who stays in one place right? " He chortles a little, trying to make it seem less important to him than it actually is. "Either way however, she is marrying out of the imperial families and into the Phoenix. We were able to trade enough for that. "

[Iuchi Prashant]

"Oh!", Prashant exclaims. "That sounds like quite a match! I suppose your performance at the Ruby Dojo did not go unnoticed", he says, smiling. "May our runs for the Topaz Championship be equally blessed by the Fortunes", he says then - maybe downplaying the importance of the competitiveness of the event a bit in favour of each giving it their best.

It wouldn't be the first time he did that, or course.