Nozomi shut her eyes in the last thought. She took a breath and looked back towards him. "But then who would watch your six? Or do pilots interchange between the two pretty often?"

"No trouble at all, Daigotsu-san, though I am sad to inform you that you missed Doji-san's homecooked breakfast." She gave him a thoughtful look. "Maybe she'll make you one tomorrow."

"But yes, the competition was quite intense, but thrilling. I wasn't at my best when I started the run, but I feel like I finished pretty well all things considered." Considering she'd been throwing up the night before and overcoming ikebana-poisoning. "Not enough to finish in the top, but not a bad score either."

Yul's smirk didn't waver, but he blinked. Damnit, he'd lost track of the innuendo. Were they flirting, or was this just an extended metaphor?

"Your wingmate covers you," Yul explained, "-so then you can lock in on your target's six. If you don't have one, you've gotta be good." He smirked again. "I'm pretty good."

"Oh! And then if you're on somebody's six, then that somebody's wingmate tries to stop you. Or something?" Nozomi took off her glasses and cleaned it off. She too seemed to be a little confused now. "I feel like a lot of the Unicorn that came here are really good pilots."

"I'm thinking, there's a lot about right now I'd like to never forget", he said and he rested a bit more on the counter, and even looked around a bit. "I wont be ablr to do this ever again", he noted.

Yul scratched his head. "Well... yeah. That's why you have to be better than the other guy." He sighed. "That's just the basics, of course. There's other things you can do. If you're both being tailed, you try to weave, and hit the guy on your friend's tail. It's complicated."

He smirked again, crossing his arms over his chest. "And yeah, we're good. I think I saw a fellow squadronmate of mine around her..." Narrowing his eyes, Yul looked around, but failed to spot Hyeon-ju in the crowd. "We're in the Seveth Skyrider Wing, Insect squadron."

It was probably odd to some that Hayato was more intrested in observign the various couples in the room rather then trying to participate in any conversation himself. Though if he was honest it was because it was intresting, and most people paired off in such a hurry it was honestly even a bit amusing.

There was the Spider he always saw around with the Daidoji he hadn't met: he shoudl likely remedy that. That was a pair that might work out, though in his opinion the spider was merely intrested in any pretty face, which is why the Crab Akemi got so much of his attention. So he really hoped the Crane grl foudn someone else.

Hyeon-ju had gotten accosted by another spider ammusingly enough, and that was a match that most certainly wouldn't work. Still he couldn't fault the Spider for approachign her, the Unicorn was intresting enough to want to chat with even if you weren't going to marry her.

Ichika was engaged as well, which was not suprising, she was a cheerful girl and quite attractive. In all likelihood she had at least a half dozen suitors. The spider might want to keep that in mind himself though, and pick a woman he would likely have a easier time marrying though.

The there was the Crab and the Phoenix he had met the day before. Taht could work, the Phoenix was attractive after all, and seemed easy goign enough to make a worthwhile match with most. Though he didn't know her well enough to actualyl be certain of that.

The fact that Nara had attracted the attention of another Crab was rather amusing. That well.... Yeah... Good luck to the pair.

That left Nozomi and a Unicorn he had never met... Well the Lion was nice enough for the Lion, and if he recaleld the Unicorn was a fine shot. So maybe it would work, Honestly he had no real opinion on that pairing. Finsishing his can of tea, he placed it in a recycling bin and started to make his way towards the exit. He already had his fun for the evenign after all.

Tsugiharu bowed a bit.

"Ah, my apologies, Doji-san, how careless of me to forget." he said.

He took out his communicator and forwarded her the picture.

"There you go."

"Perhaps. Though it is hard for me to get out of the habit of getting up early and trying to fill my day." He chuckled, though he did look wistfully away. He thought he had seen Ichika around the arcade, but it was crowded.

And his mind was still elsewhere, as well. "It was a challenging course. I was glad I was able to put up a good time, though not the fastest of the day." He shrugged, the line moving up. "Are you excited for the potential of tomorrow's event?"

"Hm, Peacemongering, I believe they called it? I admit I'm mostly really curious about what it will actually be more than anything else. Biathlon at least gave an impression of what it would be..."

Would they be acting through staged diplomatic events? Or would it be a tactical challenge, perhaps? She hoped more for the latter.

"I'm not much of a diplomat myself, so I hope it will be something not along those lines. I prefer to speak with my ship's cannons, or with my rifle or sword when the situation calls for that. But I imagine that might be different for a magistrate in training?"

"It sounds complicated." The Kitsu smiled anyways. "Maybe in another life I'll be a cool pilot."

Nozomi nodded along. "Why isn't she being your wingmate then for this dangerous battlefield of an arcade?"

Ishiyo did roll her eyes at that, "You have a certain charm, but not that charming. Daigotsu-sama." She sighed holding her new plushie in both arms. "How did you manage to win so many tickets anyway?"

"Charm? That's dangerous, I'll start to think the duel challenge isn't in the mail." He patted the plushie a little. "And you misunderstood, but that's alright." He gave her a bit if a sad, lopsided smile. "Maybe it won't matter in the end." He kept petting the plushie.

"I suspect the name events will begin to have more double meanings in their names. Likely to keep us guessing, and showcase our ability to adapt." Ryuu pondered the meaning of the trial title.

"As for me, the main purpose of diplomatic training is to navigate bureaucracy and seek out precedents. That may have some carry over tomorrow..." his eyes didn't blink as he spoke, keeping his attention on her.

"I have had a feweh query me for a demonstration of Lord Kakita's venerable art already...are you asking for one as well." Ishiyo narrowed her eyes and hugged the plushie now, a bit defensively. "Besides Daigotsu-sama, I am not sure I possess the rank foh such a challenge."

She loosened her grip on the bird a bit, "What do you mean?" Her eyes had softened a little.

"Well, if we get married that'd solve it, I think. I could tell you secret things, and you'd have the status to duel me. It'd be great."

Oh his grin was a thing of merciless teasing.

"Hmm... magistrate work does not sound very glamorous when you present it as navigating red tape and bureaucracy." She wasn't sure if she liked it herself, although Hyeon-ju very much acknowledged that it was a nescessary evil.

Because paperwork in the end was evil.

"... I'm a little worried for Doji-san with many of the trials ahead though. A martial nature does seem to be the trend."

"I would say you presume much," Ishiyo's face was red again, "Though given our relative positions you have the means to make it so."

She looked away for the moment, the little barb had hit her in an unexpected way. I mean it made sense if they were married, both were of wealth and status. And for all his faults he was someone she could probably grow to enjoy being around.

Her mind was briefly elsewhere and she squeezed the little otori harder.

"Not every day ends in swordfights in the rain. Sometimes it is just shuffling case files between offices." His voice was level, though there seemed to be a hint of humor there.

Then she mentioned Ichika. His mouth formed to a hard line. "Doji Ichika-san is a true and proper samurai, as we all are. Her talents will see her through, I am sure." It might have been the lighting in the arcade, but there was a slight hint of flush in his face.

"I firmly believe she will find a gold match here. And that spouse will be an extremely lucky and blessed individual."

There were two names that echoed in the beating of his heart, the kntake of his breath.

It was confusing.

It was thrilling.

The Obsidian Magistrate had not come to Asakaze expecting that.

"Thank you!" she said with a bright smile, hearing the notification that it was received. Bowing in her turn.