"It's not a vulgar comparison." She assured the Crane, and figured at least Yul wouldnt mind being compared to a wild stallion.

Hyeon-ju nodded gravely. "The first time is always the hardest. No simulation and training can prepare you for exactly what it's like. I remember my first time... it felt chaotic, scary... if not for the squadron keeping some experienced flyers near the rookies, I feel like it probably could've gone worse. In the end, I think I missed a lot with the gunfire, but at least managed to keep a cool head for the flying."

"I hope his comrades stop playing games with him when the shooting starts, even my own squadron mates took flying with me serious." Ishiyo frowned, "I do not think his have been all that pleasant and for reasons I do not understand."

She nodded gravely in agreement. It seemed the Daidoji had gotten a good read on Koryn too.

"I don't appriciate how his kin seem to treat him. It's unseemly and unbecoming of samurai to be bullying like that. Did you know that he was tricked into coming to this miai? That he didn't know it was a miai until he was here, and myself, Ryuu-san, and Ichika-san told him as much."

Ishiyo frowned, "It had been something of a shock foh him to be sent so fresh from his gempuku. Perhaps we should do something nice foh the pooh boy?"

"Hence why I thought a pilot's night would be good for him. Get a chance to be with other pilots who won't treat him like trash," she said, sounding a little hopeful that Koryn at least would have some positive experiences from this miai.

"Maybe get him some nice souvenirs or mementos to take home?"

"Stipends should be arriving soon...so we could get pretty grandiose, though that might just embarrass him." Ishiyo chuckled, "...but I think he will leave with a betteh 'souvenir' then we could provide no?"

She looked a tad confused. "I'm not sure what you mean, Daidoji-sama...?"

Ishiyo's chuckle turns more nervous, "I mean...he will leave with a betrothed. Not many gifts compare to that."

"Ah, right... we should keep an eye out for a good match for him. Not that I know what he's personally looking for, but I think someone who is the same age as him and kind."

Doji Ichika.

No, no... she was Crane, and the Crab were fighting their allies. That would be terrible. "Maybe someone among the Phoenix? I think that could work..."

Ishiyo leaned forward a little, "Oh? Is Utaku-san playing the nakodo for Kuni-san?" Her voice was teasing and her smile mischievous. "I sadly can do little to help on recommending a Phoenix...I have only spoken to one and that was when I first arrived. He was the one doing the surveys." Her smile turned more nervous again...her's had been posted cutesy drawings and all.

"Maybe a little. That kid might need the help." She sighed, shaking her head. A part of her doubted the Crab would help him much.

"Perhaps he'll share some of what he's looking for with us and the other pilots."

"Oh...I see, I see," Ishiyo nodded slowly, "We lure the enemy out, isolate a suitable one, and drive them into Kuni-san's guns. I bit of an odd project foh a squadron of pilots from different clans."

"An odd one, but I like to think we have a friendly understanding between us noble warriors of the sky, neh?" Hyeon-ju gave Ishiyo one of her rare and sincere smiles.

Ishiyo smiled back, "Maybe it will give us some insight into ouh own troubles as well."

"Perhaps. We shall see."

She finished off her bubble tea. "Anyway, I should head back to the inn with these bao before they go completely cold. Are you heading back too?"

Ishiyo checked the time. "I should...that wrestling thing is soon and I should change before going." She looks at her clothes, "I should do an update of the wardrobe afteh my stipend come in. Maybe try a little more daring."

Shopping was a magic word.

"Well, we could take a shopping trip together. Dress up a little more and check what sort of fashions there Phoenix have."

Ishiyo laughed nervously, "Utaku-san is generous, and certainly fashionable. I do worry what fatheh would say if I returned in something like I have seen you weah. He is a bit on the...conservative side of fashion." She stood up, "But any planning foh such an excursion should probably be made on the way back to the inn no?"

Hyeon-ju lifted her chin. "I have plenty of traditional clothes as well, Daidoji-sama. Fashion should know no limits, be it traditional, contemporary, or avant-garde. Besides, even outfits like I wear now," she gestured to herself, "have their roots in the history of my clan."

There were a lot of things Hyeon-ju took seriously in life, but fashion was pretty high on the list.

"But yes, we can discuss such on the way."

Picking up her bags, she discarded the empty cup for the bubble tea in the trash where it belonged. "Shall we?"

"My apologies for any offense in that regard," Ishiyo laughed nervously, "And yes we shall, after you Utaku-san."