"That Scorpion does sure love the artwork."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Carried a painting around all morning this morning."
"Oh."
"Y'know, say what you will about Kaiu-san, but he's the only competitor who has utilized completely different arts in each of his presentation."
"Well....that's not really the Kakita way, right? It's supposed to be one perfect strike, not ten merely good ones."
"Sure...but the Sapphire Ambassadors are supposed to be ambassadors of 'the arts' not 'a art', right?"
"I think you're being really nitpicky."
"Maybe, but it's the first competition of this kind right? It really sets the tone for future ones."
1 "Oh, speaking of Kaiu-san..."
2 "Yes?
1 "Did you see him out all night last night, running around town with Otomo-sama?"
2 "Wait, what?"
1 "Yeah! Two of them had their kimonos up over their heads, arms up in the air."
2 "I don't believe it."
1 "Saw it myself! Heard it, too."
3 "Oh,
that's who those two were?"
1 "Yeah. Why?"
3 "Busted into the room where that Asako'd been, ate all of them funny beans he had, ran off screaming."
1 "Was that the 'ti-pi' they were talking about? Thought they wanted that for a barrel."
3 "I dunno. Might've been."
2 "I can't take you two anywhere."
I will find her. I must.
"He served ox?"
"I think that's what he said."
"Did anyone eat it?"
"That one Crane girl. The farting one."
"Well, that explains it."
"You heard about the makeup artist?"
"Oh, yes."
"Serves that other one right!"
"So, the Jinbaori is haunted?"
"Might be."
"You sure it wasn't just Heiribeiri again?"
"Pretty sure."
"Or maybe that Otomo?"
"Definitely not."
"You said that? To a samurai?"
"Yeah."
"And you're not dead?"
"Don't think so."
"Please don't do that again."
"Not likely gonna, no."
"And I said 'What is a bunghole?' And he said 'You are a bunghole, and so am I.' And then the other one said 'There will be other bungholes after me!'"
"You gotta stop eatin' those mushrooms, man."
"No, man, I'm serious! He said 'You cannot run from your own bunghole!'"
"Y'know, I really like that Kitsune's artwork."
"Hers? It's it kind of......simple?"
"There's an innocence to it. I find it refreshing. Like pure rainwater when all you've had is sake."
"Huh...well, you know, I overheard that she's not arranged to wed yet."
"That so?
"So you gonna go run off into the woods with her? Forsake civilization and everything you've been taught?"
"Surely there has to be a common middle ground somewhere."
"Dang it, I had a bu on Hatsuki getting picked. yesterday."
"Hatsuki? Why her? Her 'artform' isn't exactly mainstream."
"She puts a lot of thought into her efforts! She's a pioneer! Probably that lumpy egg of a girl spoiled her chances."
"Sooooo.....you want to go double or nothing on Hatsuki then?"
No Crane picks yesterday huh?
Hey, Doji Asano's time to shine is coming, mark my words!
No Scorpion picks either.
After yesterday's performance...I don't think they're trying to be.