D4 LA: Tea with a friend

[Kaito Haruki]

Haruki sets up in a corner of the Inn, feeling keenly aware of how this day's events went. He waits for someone, a certain future cousin.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Said cousin-to-be arrives and, with a bow, says "Kaito-san, I trust the day has treated you well so far."

She seats herself.

[Kaito Haruki]

"It could be better, but I won't complain about it. Kazuko-San was a fine competitor. I figured you understand since you also faced a Kakita today?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Asako-san had warned me, and I believed him, but it still did not suffice."

She shrugs.

"Still, as I said to Miya-sama earlier, being here is enough in itself. I do well enough to earn gempukku, and that will meet any expectation had of a Minor Clanner."

[Kaito Haruki]

"Considering what all is happening right now, I guess I could see why. Would you like some tea?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"That would be lovely, Kaito-san. Please."

[Kaito Haruki]

(WHYYY Trolokos)
The stress of the Topaz Championship is starting to get to him. He could make the tea, but it wasn't clean enough.

D4 LA: Tea Ceremony (Void Recovery)/Void TN 15: 5d10o10k4 13

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Oof. I've had that happen before enough times, thinks Sasaiko.

She accepts the tea and drinks stoically.

[Kaito Haruki]

Once the tea is drunk, Haruki pauses for a second before speaking. "Perhaps this tea is representative of what happened today, I did my best, but it was still not enough."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

She nods.

"It happens to us all, Kaito-san. I have erred in this so very, very many times."

[Kaito Haruki]

"What do you do when ,the one time you tell yourself you can't fail, you do?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"You go on. There is nothing else."

[Kaito Haruki]

"Thank you. These words are important, but I know we aren't finished in Tsuma yet. Enough of this dire talk though, anything interesting you want to share?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Oh, nothing much, really. I've not been taking in much of the local color, I admit, though I hear there has been quite a bit of hubbub about one Hitoshi."

[Kaito Haruki]

"It's inevitable when there's such a drastic change in points in one day. There wasn't anything in the rules explanation at the opening ceremony that someone could even lose that many points at once."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"It is curious, is it not?

"I have not interacted with him, but I do not understand why he is here if he is under such opprobrium."

[Kaito Haruki]

"He was given an invitation to the Topaz Champion. Those cannot be given away freely, and I doubt his lord was going to waste an opportunity like this."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"I do not question that. I am simply confused by the reasoning that would have led to it."

She shakes her head.

"I would seem still to have much to learn."

[Kaito Haruki]

"Well, it takes many lives to truly learn the Tao. I guess the better question would be where to start."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"The 'proper' answer would be 'here,' of course." Sasaiko grins. "Not that that's necessarily helpful.

"Perhaps, though, with what we know. As I note, I've not met with him; have you?"