"Aw yeah? Are you sure you're watching the same romance flicks? How about ones that involve pretending to be a drone? Or one where a hotel is actually situated in meido?"

"What's up with this Utaku then? Why don't you think she likes you? Do you have a crush on her, is that why she's taking up some prime real estate in her mind?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

“Naaaah. Definitely not. Too by the book and cold for me. Great for my Matsu cousin or the Akodo kid we got, though.” Hide shot down any thoughts of getting stuck with someone like that. Let alone liking that situation. She sighed, shaking her head, “To be fair, she seemed a bit... Annoyed? And I was only suggesting danger oshidama...”

"Okay," she gave a nod as she crossed her legs once more as her eyes lit up. "You had my attention on danger. What was your idea?"

“Apparently the only beach nearby is ‘too dangerous’ because of wildlife.” Hide let out a long sigh, air quotes totally used. “I suggested we bring our big guns and travel in a group. But noooooo.”

"Oh, I'm sure it's dangerous but doesn't mean it's not worth some consideration. I've been out already to check out the memorial they had at the end of the beach. I mean, it's probably not pleasant enough to play on the beach, with all of the creepy crawlies around, oversized ones at that. The sand isn't that fine and there's a constant odour there. Doesn't mean I wouldn't consider it, especially if more people were going. Sounds pretty wild, if you ask me," she grinned as she leaned back with her hands behind her head.

“Oh gross, the smell is something I hadn’t considered. Maybe I should purposely get my face smashed in by the ball so I can no longer smell anything?” Hide was quite amused. Finally someone that didn’t shoot down her stupid ideas! “Actually no, that might throw off my game. I need to prove my Matsu dominance on the beach, y’know?”

"You need a stage before you can dominate it. Can't you just play the game at a gym or on some farm field? Or wheverever those birds graze?" she offered as a suggestion.

“Huh. I hadn’t thought of that. It wouldn’t quite be a beach... But those could work, they just wouldn’t be nearly as... Iconic. But a playing court is a playing court.” Hide took a sip of her drink, satisfied with the suggestion.

"Who made something like that ironic anyway?" she asked as she crossed her arms, "probably some Scorpion on the world of dreams who is desperately trying to push two-piece swim wear to be real trendy, I bet!"

“Also pilots wanting to show off their bodies. It was a two-part conspiracy.” Hide jested, but it sounded plausible. It was Yul that suggested beach oshidama in the first place.

"Hm, I never thought about it that much but now I suddenly see it," she nodded soundly, "Anywho, I should probably get going for the night, shouldn't I? I managed to get myself wrangled into a few meetings. One really, but it's mighty early in the morning."

“Ah, okay.” Hide leaned back in her seat, offering Eriko a nod. “Yeah, good luck with that early morning meeting. Don’t be a stranger, though. Comm me when you decide where you want to go out.”

Eriko stood from her seat and smirked at Hide, "I'm the one who's ready, you're the one who has to go shirt shopping, remember? Anyway, I'll catch you all later, minisama. It's been a swell time."

She bowed to excuse herself and made her way out.

/exit