[Day 3, Mid-Morning] Deja Vu All Over Again (Expecting)

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I'll be leaning more on technique than originality today- for Yu, fugu sashimi. Something for courage, but at the same time trying to be too clever with it runs unacceptable risks."

He grinned.

"Audience participation also has its charm though. And you?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Oh my," she replied, grinning. "Well, I'll have to see your skills at work. Another time if I turn out to get I'll or tired again." She sighed. She already loved her child deeply, but pregnancy had its frustrations.

"I'm planning on an illustration of how courage is a matter of overcoming fear, which I will apply blind."

[Bayushi Choudai]

He blinked.

It's perfect. Whatever she applies, she'llhave to wear for the balance of the display...

He sipped his tea, then spoke.

"No mistakes for either of us, neh?"

He smiled again.

"Can't wait to see it."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She couldn't help but giggle a little at his blink. Not a noise she'd make around most.

"Definitely... No guts, no glory, I suppose, ne?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Fortune favors the bold, Shosuro-san."

He waggled his eyebrows behind his mask.

"But until then..."

He picked up a rice cracker and gave it a nibble.

"... there's something to be said for being able to relax."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She chuckles, taking a sip of that wonderful, stomach settling tea. She had definitely picked the right place to invest in.

"True... Though if we're chosen, we'll have less of that."

She looked out into the garden briefly with a small smile.

"It would be nice if we were able to work together because of all this."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"It's certainly something to strive for."

I hardly dare let myself hope.

"And it would certainly represent a level of recognition to take the sting out of losing some free time."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She chuckled a little. "I hope so. I'll have much less free time even without this, the way things are."

[Bayushi Choudai]

He mouthed "sorry" silently before he spoke.

"Yes, but after all, family is a blessing. Grandmother was always muttering it under her breath while I was underfoot as a child, so it must be true!"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She actually laughed, both at the sorry and what he said about his grandmother. "I can only imagine what you must have been like as a child."

I wonder if our children will be anything like what either of us were?

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Third of five... what did mother call us? 'Pestilential imps,' I think, was her go-to. Especially when Ogoe and I dyed Shino's hair blue the night before Ogoe went off to the dojo..."

He sipped his tea and smiled.

"Still, the more she complained about us, the more time she seemed to have to hang around to do it. But five of us, separated by no more than eighteen months between each one? It was easy to get away with things."

He paused.

"I think that's why I got so close to Grandmother, though. With mother, I was lost in the shuffle a bit. But Grandmother... she just had more time."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Oh no," she laughed softly. Still, she listened with a small smile. "That does sound a bit rough. I only had my brother to contend with. Though we were separated by no time and all and... might have impersonated one another once or twice when we were quite young."

[Bayushi Choudai]

He half-smiled at that.

"I can see the appeal. Alas, for us, that would have been tricky. Just enough of a gap for the differences to be obvious... until we got too old for that sort of thing."

At home, anyway.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Ah, well," she replied with a smile. "I wouldn't have minded another sibling. From what I understand, our births were quite complicated for my mother, though, so that might be why."

She gave a soft frown as it occurred to her why she might have told her that.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai felt a stab of anxiety, then crushed it.

"You've inherited some formidable strength, then."

He grinned.

"Along with many other wonderful qualities."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

The cloud clung to her mind, but only as a reminder to make sure she kept her health up. She wouldn't suffer for her child.

"I'm proud to be her daughter, " she replied, then grinned at his addition. Finishing her tea, she sighed. "I suppose we should get going, hmm?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I fear so... there simply aren't enough hours in the day."

Even so, he felt almost reborn.

Love really is the most powerful intoxicant there is.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"That's certainly true," she agreed, though even as she rose and bowed, she didn't look any less happy than he felt. "However, I'm certain we will have plenty of business to discuss tomorrow, ne?"

I'm going to see you every single day of this competition, and no one better get in my way.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I believe that is a certainty, Shosuro-san."

He likewise rose, and as he gave a polite bow, mouthed "I love you."

"If nothing else, we have shared concerns that require attention."

Truer words had seldom been spoken.