“Hmm...in that case, you-eh most embarrassing moment.” Ishiyo responded with a sly grin. “Though nothing compromising to one’s honoh of course.”

She rolled over to her back and chuckled, “Still want to have anotheh race?”

That brought a soft chuckle from the Mantis. "I'm game, need to keep things interesting right?"

Reaching the edge if the pool he offered the Daidoji a sly wink. "Plus the risk seems worth the reward."

Ishiyo reached the edge and pulled herself up from the pool. "I bet you-eh's will involve you-eh sister." She stretched then squatted down, ready to leap back into the water. "Ready when you are, Tsuruchi-san." Her voice had a teasing quality to it.

He snorted. "You think the rascals have the power to embarass their big brother?" Climbing out of the pool, he took his position as the edge

"Like you, Daidoji-san. They're a hundred years too early." He said playfully before starting the countdown.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

With that he set off, the pace nearly as fast as the one he had the first round. Though he couldn't hold the pace as long, and by the time he reached the end his breathing was heavy. Maybe it had been too long since he did this kind of swimming?

Swimming again. Athletics/ strength nothing special.: 4d10o10k2 30
Swimming again. Athletics/ stamina nothing special.: 4d10o10k2 10

40 >.> why you using all my explosions here orokos.

Ishiyo dove in after him. His greater speed put distance between them, but as he started to tire that legendary Daidoji stamina saw her inch ever closer. In the end he tapped the finish line just barely before she did.

The Crane pulled herself up, her breathing was steady and Ishiyo gave the disquieting impression she could have gone another lap. She looked at the Tsuruchi with a pout. "...you are like a fish instead of a Wasp." Ishiyo sighed, "Alright...let me think on this one."

-------------------
Athletics/STR for fluffy swimming. TN30 (HA HA HA): 4d10o10k2 13

Ath/STA to SWIM! Forgot my Stamina is 3 last time: 5d10o10k3 23

36! So close!

"And you seem like you can go on forever, where I need a break." Hayato offered with a playful smirk, as he pushed himself out of the water and took a seat on the edge of the pool.

A few scars would be visible now that he wasn't in the water, a burn likely from radiant arms fire peeked from under his trunks on his right thigh, and another to match it just above the hip on the same side. "Take time and think about it." He offered as he let his eyes drift tiwards the sky, taking slow deep breaths to rest.

Ishiyo pulled herself up beside the Tsuruchi, "Maybe that was my plan to work the wager up to something big and rely on you being to tired to win the last one." She leans back and pulls her hair back, wringing it out.

"Hmm...well when I got my first chance in a real cockpit." She leans back, "I was....17, before then it was all sims and traineh craft." Ishiyo blushes, "I was so excited after my first flight I hoped out of the cockpit. My flight suit caught on the hatch and I went tumbling out....with a nice big tear on my flight suit. Fortunately one of the mechanics was able to fetch a pair of technician coveralls that I could wear. But not before the whole flight deck and several of my fellow cadets got a view of my undergarments."

"Something big?" Hayato chuckled. "Now I'm curious what you have in mind."

"That sounds absolutely mortifying." He said a touch of amusement in his tond. "Hopefully you weren't wearing something overly cute or lacy." The Mangis added playfully. It would probably be harder to live down then just plain ones, right?

"I suppose it would be fair to give you a hint of mine. I was younger, and it was on a dare from a friend."

((Changed bet to dare as its more accurate.))

"Oh?" Ishiyo stretched, "A dare? I can only guess, but sounds like it had a public element to it." She flicked her feet in the water, "Dangerous? Or just silly."

"Mostly just silly?" His lips curled into a wry smile as he glanced her way. "Or so it seems now." Well, in for a zeni in for a bu.

"I was i don't know, fourteen? Still in school, and there was a girl I had a crush on, she was older then me getting close to graduating. My friends knew about it and teased me about it until I eventually agreed to ask her out." He smirked. "In the middle of the quad."

"Well, long story short after a good amount of cheering and heckling by what felt like half the school, she gently turned me down over tea."

"Oh and I thought you were going to tell me something about having to climb you-eh dojo in underwear. Still at least she did not embarrass you in front of everyone."

She blushed, "I went to a girls school before flight academy. Never had a boy ask me out. A few girls did, but I was too focused on my studies. By the Academy my goal had overridden other concerns."

"Yeah, I had that well underhand all on my own." Hayato replied with a soft chuckle. "It was nice of her to notice."

His hands moved up and he made a bang bang motion with them. "Used to shooting people down huh?" Hayato replied his tone teasing a bit. "Must be a bit new to you accepting. Giving yourself the chance to like someone." He added a moment later his tone more serious.

Ishiyo's cheeks reddened, "Yeah...I had neveh thought about it...I mean I was flattered when I was asked out in school but, I just had my own dreams and it did not include a loveh." She lays back, feet dangling in the water, "I thought it would be like that here but..."

"Sounds like you found someone, or at least think you have." He offered the Crane a smile and laid down beside her.

"I was kind of getting that feeling honestly, those melancholy moments the other night weren't for me." He sighed softly. "But falling in love isn't a bad thing you know."

Ishiyo turned enough to look at him, "I...do not know foh sure, I tend to think Benten rewards hard work but..." She lays back again, "It is much simplieh from a cockpit."

"What about you? Found anyone at this miai you wish to take home?"

"I'm likely to pick someone from whatever list is provided at the end of the miai." Hayato replied with a wry smile. "Can't exactly pick a lady who may be in love with another man, and I figure your cousin Doji Ichika is likely in the same boat."

"The Spider here aren't much interested in mirror matches and well, after that I'm about out of options."

Ishiyo smiled wistfully, "We have a duty...the one I may love is not one the Nakodo will approve." She says bitterly. "And of course there are those above me who might desire connections to my family."

That more or less limited the number to just a few, mostly spider. "Yes, there is always our duty." Hayato replied softly.

"That's also true, I won't lie to you about that." He paused a moment. "Do you have plans though, if you get to choose?

"I...no...I keep trying to concentrate on it but my mind keeps turning elsewhere." Ishiyo turned her head away, "And the time such a choice must be made grows ever nearer."

"What about you? You said you will choose from the list...but with the recklessness of the Mantis or the careful eye of the hunter?"

"And that time will be no shorter." Hayato replied with a small frown. "I'd suggest a drink, but I doubt it will help."

"Yes, if no other options show up, which seems likely." He smirked. "Not that i don't define you perfectly acceptable, but as I said..."

"As for how I'd pick, i am leaning towards the Crane." An apologetic smike was given to Ishiyo. "The soider have not done much to impress me here or endear me to their clan."