She nodded:

"Yeah, it's more wishful thinking than anything else. But at least we can strive to lead by example in such matters."

She stretched her arms upward, fingers locked, a habit of her.

"In less gloomy matters, how does the miai treat you so far? I find it to be quite an interesting experience personally I must say, and I'm glad for the possibility to meet all these people, even if for a short time."

"Well enough, Hida-san," he says of the miai. "Well enough. I came in with little expectation -- not no expectations or bad expectations, just little -- and you're right about meeting interesting people. My clanmates are among the most interesting, each in their own way." He smiles, genuine affection for the other Lions coming through. "Anyone particularly interesting that you've met? Or perhaps want to meet?"

"Hum, let me think...

Well, first of all, your Matsu Hide is certainly impressive. A powerhouse with better diplomatic skills that she let go, as she seems to have gathered a whole army to support her in her courtship of our Kuni Eriko.

I have also met a Scorpion magistrate that seems promised to a bright future, a few Crane that are rivals worthy of respect even if the current alliances make actual friendship close to impossible...

And our own delegation of course, with genius engineer Fundai Tetsu and masterful businessman Yasuki Nishida."

She took out her densai:

"I've also taken notes on a few others... Anyone in particular you want to know more about?

As for the future I should probably meet everyone I haven't met yet from the Lion, Scorpion and Unicorn delegations."

Listening to the report, Akihiko smiles with respect. "I continue to be most appreciative of Hida-san's thoughtfulness and detail. And I would encourage Hida-san and her clanmates to support the Eriko-Hide match. Greater alignment of our clans is a priority, in the current climate, wouldn't you agree?" Akihiko's friendly smile remains the same, although his tone may slightly evoke a stereotypical Crane power-broker.

Akemi joined her hands.

"Definitely.

So...

Are you considering marrying a Crab yourself?

And, more exactly, are you considering me as a potential spouse? We do appear to have a lot in common, and matching objectives. But I don't expect these complex matters to be solved in a single conversation."

Akihiko tries to keep up his on, but it isn't too hard to tell he dislikes this subject. After a brief time looking off to one side, he replies: "Hida Akemi-san seems worthy of further consideration, but I would not go so far just yet as to say you are being considered." To soften the statement, or perhaps because of something else, he quietly adds, "I'm afraid I already have much to consider." He still smiles, but it is a sadder version than before.

"Fine with me. And is there a way I can hope to climb up in your personal ranking? Or is this a doomed endeavor?

I can also present you some of the other Crab if you wish."

The Lion's face doesn't go white, but definitely hits taupe. "Um. My apologies, Hida-san, the question... I should have been more prepared for directness." He takes a moment to recover with his head bowed.

"I think we should talk more. Like, of course you're a soldier, but what does leave look like for the shock troops? I don't have a lot of non-professional pursuits, but I play Fantasy Fight, I cheer my squadron mates at oshidama, and I badly but enthusiastically sing karaoke."

"Fantasy Fight? What is that?"

She tilted her head, curious.

"As for myself, I'm kind of a party girl. I would even say that my dancing skills are above average. In all cases they've definitely left quite the impression on my partners.

Outside these moments of pure release that I manage to squeeze here and there, I honestly don't have much leisure. My 'free time' is already spoken for for more training and studying."

Akihiko chuckles and nods in agreement. "Yes, there is little time for personal matters, certainly. Being a soldier is much more than just a job."

"And Fantasy Fight is a virtual card game. Just a video game that some samurai enjoy. I've found it's a nice combination of testing one's mind with different strategies, without being as intense as military simulations or other training. Fun, but still an opportunity for self improvement."

Akemi looked a bit confused:

"Is this similar to Go and Shogi? My grandfather wanted me to learn these two as part of curriculum. Said that was good training too. But both proved to be a bit too abstract for me."

Akihiko, who was familiar with both go and shogi from his Lion Clan upbringing, squinted a bit as he thought about the comparison.

"It is broadly the same idea, where you play against another person, trying to outwit and outmaneuver them, somewhat like in a battle simulation. But you have different rules around objectives that you can achieve, giving you advantages that you can use to ultimately overcome your opponent. It uses cards instead of other game pieces, and is perhaps most easily thought of as shogi, with additional layers of what your pieces might do in a turn." The Lion hopes that his vague explanation makes sense. He's clearly become accustomed to an environment where even the people who don't play still know what Fantasy Fight is.

Akemi was utterly lost but tried her best to hide it:

"So, it's both a video game and a card game, with a focus on strategy and tactics?

Maybe we could show me?"

"Of course, Hida-san. I would be happy to show you. Being able to see something always helps in understanding it." He chuckles lightly. "Much like being here: I really could not understand what a miai is like just from what my sister had explained to me."

"Oh, your sister also got married as a miai? Which clan did she tie your family too?

I have a vast family myself, but none of my siblings or cousins have made a marriage worth talking about outside the Crab as of now."

The Lion smiles at Akemi's last comment. "The out of clan marriages are not always a family's great triumph, though of course that's the hope."

"One of my older sisters met her husband at a miai, about eight years ago now. A Crab miai, actually. Her now husband was at that time a Hiruma commercial shipping official, but he's moved to work in the Lion Clan since their wedding."

"Interesting. Is your sister also an officer? Do you know – and are you willing to share – what made her pick a Hiruma? The political circumstances were quite different back then if I remember correctly."

Akihiko does the polite combination of a cough and laugh that suggests this story isn't really funny, but maybe a little,from a certain point of view.

"I was young enough then that I didn't really understand -- or probably want to understand -- what led to my sister's invitation to a Crab miai. Probably an odd choice, as Atsuriko was more a singer than anything else, but p perhaps a strategy from my parents to put her in a setting where she could stand out. In the end, Atsuriko's top choices 1) chose someone else and 2) got chosen by someone else. She doesn't like to talk about them. But after lots of talking, I think both families, and Atsuriko and her husband, are pretty happy with how it's turned out."

Akemi nodded with a half-smile on her face:

"It's... A thing that happened I guess. I'm glad she could make the best out of an initially awkward situation.

Is she a professional artist nowadays? Would you happen to have records of her singing?"

"The spotlight was never really a goal in my family, Hida-san. My sister had a couple of songs out on the Widecast, just amateur style stuff. She's mostly a homemaker right now -- young kids -- but she might pursue it more in the future. Actually," he pulls out his densai, "maybe I do have a song downloaded."

He flips through files, then carefully turns the volume down before playing something in a public space. He sets the densai on the table so Akemi can hear, quietly but clearly, a song that doesn't exactly sound like a happy homemaker.