Nakahama

Akiro smiled just a little, his eyes glinting. "Hmmm. That sounds rather like a challenge." He pressed his lips together, eyes narrowing as he considered.

"My instinct says Coin's Edge." He said. "I'm not certain that's right, but I feel that I should trust my instincts. If I'm wrong, so be it." He ...

Akiro blinked.

"Well... I suppose that tells me that I have a great deal of leeway in choosing a name. Well, let me see. What direction shall I go with it? The impossible dream ? Akiro's pride? Akiro's legs? The rusty... maiden?" He made a face. "Well, that's a few options, I suppose."

He looked ...

Taraka nodded.

"Indeed. Some people need some time to think about it, so it's not mandatory that you name it right away. But if you want, I can go over the names of the ones currently on the league leaderboard if it'd help inspire you." she said.

It might certainly be a welcome distraction from ...

(Sorry for the delay, I've had a TIME)

"Yes. Quite." Akiro said. There was a very long pause this time. "Although... as I understand... the recovery may not be total..."

He cleared his throat, managing a slight smile. "But regardless, still better, yes." He took a breath. "Thank you, Yasuki-san ...

Akiro listened to Taraka's pitch.

"Hmmm. I suspect you do know." His lips quirked, and he shook his head. "Perhaps a week ago, I might have gone for the Legend. I have money. I would want the best. I would expect that I would have the skills to handle it."

Looking at the first model, Akiro sighed ...

"Yes, well..." Akiro sighed. "She did gun down the killer, and I was rescued. It was probably just standard Mantis tough talk."

As Taraka reached down, Akiro leaned a little further, his eyebrows rising curiously. Enlightenment lit his handsome features as she withdrew the drones. "Ah! I see. How ...

"Ah, well." Akiro gave a sympathetic bob of his head. "I'm sure you'll do alright. If the Governor's plan works, the economic boom will surely be enough opportunity to make up for a missed opportunity. And if it doesn't, well, it's probably better to not be part of a failed project. At least, in my ...

Akiro's lips quirked. "That's true." He agreed.

One bit of Taraka's speech jumped out at Akiro, making him do a very mild double-take. "A private investigator office? Hmmm. Does Kitsuki-san imagine that we have so many mysteries here that such an office would be warranted?" He was silent a moment ...

"Mmm. Well, that's the trick, isn't it?" Akiro said. His brow furrowed a moment as he considered. "I suppose bringing in these foreign business will also bring in foreign samurai. Perhaps they'll find the black sand a delightful oddity rather than something inauspicious."

His fingers fiddled idly ...

"Hmmm." Akiro's lips quirked. "Most of the stereotypes I know about Dragon involve them meditating on roofs. Perhaps if they win a significant bid, we'll see a growth in architecture firms?"

Grunting, he managed to shift a little bit onto his side; not an easy thing with two set legs. "Oh? And what ...

Back to one eyebrow up. "Is she? Has she got a local all picked out, or is that something to be determined?"

Then he chuckled softly. "Ah, look at me. Cooped up in here for a few days, and I'm already eager to gossip about Scorpion. Well... I was trained by the Crane. Perhaps I should just lean ...

Akiro's eyebrows went up in pleased surprise. "Well! That was quite a surprise. I was already enjoying the race, but knowing one of the participants added a bit of a personal edge to it."

He shifted again as she sat, turning more to face her. "Mmm, that Scorpion was quite a speedy driver. I've ...

Akiro was much as Taraka had seen him last... well, fairly close, anyway. His gradually improving health was balanced against the gradual toll of an extended hospital stay. Overall to the good, but his hair wasn't quite up to its usual shampoo commercial standards anymore.

The flowers were ...

"Come in." As always, the tone of the speaker was even and cultured. Not as always, it was a bit more animated and interested than usual. It made sense; days of being in a hospital bed might make every knock more exciting.

"Hmmm." A very soft chuckle. "As much as forty Crane is hardly a boast, really. Forty Crane or four Hida. Still, I think I shall be more temperate in my boasts, and just say that next year..." He let out a breath of air. "I shall attend the Bon Festival. For now, that is sufficient."

Looking at the ...

Akiro gave a slow nod. "A very good choice, Yasuki-san." He said. "I am sure that Hida-sama will have need of strength in his coming recovery."

"Oh, right, Bon Festival." Akiro sighed. "In all the excitement, I'd forgotten. Or rather, it slipped my mind. Hmmm." His lips quirked. "I hope our ...

Akiro chuckled. "Oh, yes. I know the sort. They're usually harmless. Although I thought he was one of those sorts." Again, a little twitch in the muscle of his jaw.

"Hmmm." Akiro stretched his arms up over his head, a gesture that made him look very much like his younger brother. He settled them ...

Following Taraka's gaze, Akiro looked out the window as well. It really was a dramatically useful window.

"Indeed. I've thought along such lines myself." Akiro said, speaking softly. "How much have the Crab changed since the days where we had Twenty Goblin Winter?" He took a deep breath. "The man ...

That got a bit of a double take from Akiro. "Oh? You've met him? And he told you about that?" After a few moments, he snorted. "Perhaps the drone can be repaired. He visited this morning, in fact. Needled me a bit, tried to get a rise out of me." A smile touched his lips. "I declined to be baited ...

Akiro let out a breath. "That would be quite nice. Thank you. I don't have the skill now, but I shall have a great deal of time to practice." He chuckled softly. "Perhaps I can surprise my brother. He used to buzz me with a drone of his. At long last, I can have my revenge." From his tone, it ...