D8EE: Mentioning Makoto (Special)

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Nadeshiko-san, I hope the day finds you well. What can I do for you?"

"It does, Choudai-san. Would you perhaps make me a dish that reminds you of home? If you would be so kind."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"It does, Choudai-san. Would you perhaps make me a dish that reminds you of home? If you would be so kind."

Choudai pondered that for a second.

"I have just the thing."

He got to work- he tossed some into a small bowl of seasonings, then started chopping a few vegetables into the proper proportions. Threading the seasoned poultry and the vegetables onto bamboo skewers, he started them cooking over an open flame- taking a brief moment to roll up a rice ball to accompany the kebabs.

"This isn't actually one Obachan made for me- it's something I made back when I was right out of the dojo. Just the thing for a long foot patrol, or standing watch somewhere..."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"This isn't actually one Obachan made for me- it's something I made back when I was right out of the dojo. Just the thing for a long foot patrol, or standing watch somewhere..."

She covers her mouth with her sleeve, giggling. "So, perfect for walking around while looking at art, then?" Nadeshiko watches with interest, humming a little as she does. "How much do you take after your Obachan, Choudai-san?"

[Doji Yoshino]

Yoshino had joined the Bayushi cooking challenge queue not long after her song. She had a meal in mind and she wanted to talk a little bit. However, she politely waited not too close by as Nadeshiko and Choudai chatted. The pair appeared to her to get on well.

[Isawa Kojiro]

Yoshino had joined the Bayushi cooking challenge queue not long after her song. She had a meal in mind and she wanted to talk a little bit. However, she politely waited not too close by as Nadeshiko and Choudai chatted. The pair appeared to her to get on well.

"Hey curse-chan!" said an all-too familiar voice, carrying easily past Yoshino into the gallery. It was, of course, Kojiro, grinning at the sight of his new favorite subject.

[Bayushi Choudai]

She covers her mouth with her sleeve, giggling. "So, perfect for walking around while looking at art, then?" Nadeshiko watches with interest, humming a little as she does. "How much do you take after your Obachan, Choudai-san?"

"Just so."

He winked.

"As for Obachan... she was wise, politically astute, well-connected, and long-lived."

He paused.

"So aside from mutual affection and culinary pursuits, I can't say I'm much like her."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki entered the crowd, looking perfectly content with her display as it was.

Screw that. At least it's over.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai noted both Hatsuki's display (perfect, of course, even if he strongly suspected the judges wouldn't go for it at all, but to hell with them anyway) and...

Asano and the only monk I've found tolerable, well well well.

That meant, all told, that in the course of the event, his friends had all done well for themselves- he and Hatsuki had each been recognized once, as had Inori, Asano, and Yoshiaki.

And Nadeshiko and Yoshino were officially the only ones to have been selected twice.

[Doji Yoshino]

Snip

Yoshino ignores the rude yapping dog that someone had let in as she stepped forward to Choudai. Clearly no samurai would call out across a hall of artistic displays a rude and insulting name when they knew the samurai's actual name. That would be rude.

Snip

"Good evening Bayushi-san. Might I trouble you for miso soup please?"

The most basic yet essential of meals beside riceballs.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Good evening Bayushi-san. Might I trouble you for miso soup please?"

The most basic yet essential of meals beside riceballs.

"It is no trouble at all, Doji-san. And it seems congratulations are in order to your cousin."

He chuckled as he got work on the soup.

"If you see her later today, tell her Bayushi-sensei is proud to know her."

[Doji Yoshino]

Snip.

"I shall. She'll be delighted to hear it." Yoshino responds with a wide smile. The Bayushi-sensei bit raised questions, but they could wait. "I'm sure she'd be happier hearing it directly from you."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I shall. She'll be delighted to hear it." Yoshino responds with a wide smile. The Bayushi-sensei bit raised questions, but they could wait. "I'm sure she'd be happier hearing it directly from you."

"And if she crosses my path, she will."

He didn't comment on her new look, of course. Even his social ineptitude had its limits.

"And you! You seem well. I presume matters resolved?"

[Doji Yoshino]

"Yes, thanks to a certain Isawa, whose intervention I am most grateful for." Yoshino states simply. Whether Kojiro overheard or not was unimportant. It was about sincerity.

Now if only he'd show her some courtesy.

"Have you thought more about edible flowers? Or food made to look like flowers?"

[Isawa Kojiro]

"Yes, thanks to a certain Isawa, whose intervention I am most grateful for." Yoshino states simply. Whether Kojiro overheard or not was unimportant. It was about sincerity.

Now if only he'd show her some courtesy.

"Have you thought more about edible flowers? Or food made to look like flowers?"

"And here I thought you didn't care, Yoyo." Kojiro offered having closed the distance and seeing no reason not to speak when mentioned.

"Oooh, the Crane are having food cooked to order to enjoy while you enjoy the art? Classy! Is having a Scorpion cook it some sort of artistic statement?" he asked.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"And here I thought you didn't care, Yoyo." Kojiro offered having closed the distance and seeing no reason not to speak when mentioned.

"Oooh, the Crane are having food cooked to order to enjoy while you enjoy the art? Classy! Is having a Scorpion cook it some sort of artistic statement?" he asked.

Choudai's smile never faltered.

"Doji-san and I were just discussing the artistic and culinary merits of flowering plants. And you are?"

[Isawa Kojiro]

Choudai's smile never faltered.

"Doji-san and I were just discussing the artistic and culinary merits of flowering plants. And you are?"

Nor did Kojiro's grin.

"Isawa Kojiro, researcher at the Fukanou Institute, special guest of Doji Utemaro, and Hero and Personal Savior to Doji Yoshino." he offered with a flourish and a bow.

He studied Choudai for a moment.

"Oh, wait, actually, I think I know who you are!" he added. "You're....the Farted Upon Scorpion, right? Chodor? No no, Choudai, right?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Nadeshiko, who until now has been quietly eating, almost chokes. Her brow furrows as she pounds her chest, watering eyes open now, looking between the three gathered -- stopping on Yoshino and Choudai to see their reactions. If she must, she'll step forward.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki looked over asshe heard the ruckus, stepping up next to Nadeshiko.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Nor did Kojiro's grin.

"Isawa Kojiro, researcher at the Fukanou Institute, special guest of Doji Utemaro, and Hero and Personal Savior to Doji Yoshino." he offered with a flourish and a bow.

He studied Choudai for a moment.

"Oh, wait, actually, I think I know who you are!" he added. "You're....the Farted Upon Scorpion, right? Chodor? No no, Choudai, right?"

Choudai bowed his head in acknowledgment, and he spoke cheerfully.

"This one is indeed Bayushi Choudai, and I am honored that you have heard of me. I regret that I cannot say the same... oh, wait!"

He snapped his fingers.

"Isawa Kojiro, you're the one who- no, no, that was Isawa Yojiro, my apologies."

A pause.

"Perhaps you would care for some food? I would love to hear what it is the Fukanou Institute does, exactly, and I could prepare something in repayment for addressing my ignorance."

[Isawa Kojiro]

Nor did Kojiro's grin.

"Isawa Kojiro, researcher at the Fukanou Institute, special guest of Doji Utemaro, and Hero and Personal Savior to Doji Yoshino." he offered with a flourish and a bow.

He studied Choudai for a moment.

"Oh, wait, actually, I think I know who you are!" he added. "You're....the Farted Upon Scorpion, right? Chodor? No no, Choudai, right?"

Choudai bowed his head in acknowledgment, and he spoke cheerfully.

"This one is indeed Bayushi Choudai, and I am honored that you have heard of me. I regret that I cannot say the same... oh, wait!"

He snapped his fingers.

"Isawa Kojiro, you're the one who- no, no, that was Isawa Yojiro, my apologies."

A pause.

"Perhaps you would care for some food? I would love to hear what it is the Fukanou Institute does, exactly, and I could prepare something in repayment for addressing my ignorance."

Kojiro waved away the concerns.

"Oh no worries, no worries at all. Isawa Yojiro's quite famous after all and most people are so ungrateful they can't even be bothered to remember the names of their saviors properly." he said, sailing right past his tendency to call Yoshino 'curse-chan.'

He looked intrigued at the offer of food at least.

"Ah, sure food would be great. If you could whip up some Tensai Tenko's Terrific Teppanyaki that'd be great...oh volcano style please." he said rambling off his favorite dish found back in one specific Phoenix village.

"Oh, but as far as the institute goes, well, the short version is in the name: We Do the Impossible. The longer more boring less catchy explanation is we research rare magical phenomenon, study the less understood realms, and drive ritual innovation." he further explained.