Tsugiharu had been taking the day to recharge. Four days of trying to make progress in the miai had been quite tiring, so some broadcast entertainment seemed like an excellent chance for him to chill out on the couch and watch. The premise was certainly interesting.

Bayushi Akagi had arrived after the first commercial break. Having missed the early exposition, he seemed a little lost on the plot.

"Wait, so is the artificial lifeform a fleshcraft clone of the scientist lady?" Akagi asked, sounding confused. "That is the same actress, isn't it?"

Tsugiharu shook his head.

"I mean, it's the same actress, but the artificial lifeform malfunctioned, so she disguised herself as the lifeform. It's kind of an interesting examination of what it means for someone to be "real"." he offered.

He looked over seeing black and red in a configuration he wasn't used to. Unless she was REALLY good at diguises.

A small seated bow.

"kuchiki Tsugiharu."

"Ohh, hmm," the Scorpion said thoughtfully. "So it's like a mask. We're all artificial life forms, in a sense, don't you think? None of us can reveal our true self to the world."

"I'm Bayushi Akagi," he added.

"An interesting point, Bayushi-san. I'm sure that the writer's intent was that it was love for the scientist's true self winning the heir over, even though he could not see through her disguise. One could argue that Benten, as a fortune, could see true selves. But one could also argue that he's merely infatuated with the first "person" he can stand to be around. He "loves" the false self, regardless of the truth beneath."

He looked curiously at the Scorpion.

"What do you think, Bayushi-san? Does he love her true self without him realizing it even exists, or does he simply love the false self, perhaps even if the true self were to be revealed?" he asked.

"He loves the false facade," Akagi said confidently. "She's completely changed her appearance, behavior and manner to fit the image they both have of an 'artificial life form' ... intelligent but obedient. He sees what he expects to see, nothing more."

"The true challenge will be when the deception is revealed," the Scorpion predicted. "Will he still love 'her'? Will he feel betrayed? In a romantic holo like this, I suspect the truth will come out in the Third Act, and both of them will go their separate ways to do some moping about until they realize their 'love' for each other."

"If it were real life, though..." Akagi shook his head. "Starting from such a large deception, I think it'd end up being a very poor match."

Tsugiharu chuckles.

"I'm sure 'Intelligent but Obedient' fits the profile of what at least a few people at this miai are looking for." he says. "But I agree with you about how it will probably be resolved on screen. Probably with with a big line about how he's allergic to other people, but never to her. Hmm, I wonder if that's another deception with the heir simply believing he's allergic due to having trouble with other people? Without such a self-deception, the pair likely would have never met in the first place."

"That is interesting, that the heir is not allergic to the disguised scientist," Akagi agreed. "It does seem to suggest he isn't allergic to people at all, and perhaps it's just a kind of social anxiety."


"Oh my... that's an interesting development," the Scorpion commented.

Tsugiharu nodded.

"Well the preview did mention corporate espionage. Hmmm, how do you think it will resolve, Bayushi-san? Given that she's a scientist I would rather expect her to try to juggle rescuing herself to the point of not being jabbed with that screwdriver, while still giving herself enough plausible deniability so she can be 'rescued' by the heir and his forces." he suggests.

The Scorpion was on the edge of his seat as the scene unfolded, finally letting out a gasp of relief as "A-Chan" was rescued.

During the commercial break, he changed his tune. "Totally predictable," Akagi complained in a jaded voice. "How does anyone watch this nonsense."

But despite his words, the Scorpion kept watching when the holovid came back on, seeming quite invested in the story.

Tsugiharu nodded.

"There is a certain comfort in the predictable though." he offered.



"Hmmm, blackmail, or something more?" he posed to the Scorpion.

“It’s a test!” the Scorpion said excitedly. “Will he reject her, now that the truth is revealed? Or will their ‘love’ prove to be true?” Akagi was at the edge of his seat, uncertain what would happen next.

Tsugiharu watched the dramatic reveal. What would 'A-chan' say?

"Ha! So predictable," the Scorpion complained, affecting a jaded tone. But despite attempting to feign indifference at the holo, Akagi grinned foolishly at seeing the two romantic leads matched up in the end.

Tsugiharu nodded.

"I suppose so. I wonder how many people at this miai think it will end for them like that though? A big romantic moment between them and their true love?" he asked.

"Real life doesn't work that way," Akagi said, sounding a little regretful. "I think most of us should count ourselves lucky if we can be matched with someone with decent manners and some shared interests. That would at least give us an opportunity to build something more."

"What do you think, Kuchiki-san? Do you hope for something more?"

Tsughiaru chuckled a bit.

"Hm, I should be careful how I say this in case Benten is listening ne? That line from that old holovid popped into my head,

'I ask for nothing.' 'And you shall receive it, in abundance!'" he quoted.

"As dutiful samurai, we shall marry whomever we are arranged to. As humans, of course we want more. Intelligence, charm, beauty, social position, wealth, ability to cook an omelette just the way we like it. We all have our list for the perfect partner in mind, with various items arranged in what we think is most important. But Benten's favor is the most elusive. Do we wish it? Most assuredly. Will we receive it? Probably not."

He shook his head.

"Of course, given the current state of Phoenix-Spider relations, and my inability to impress the matchmakers, I shall probably have to content myself not being sent home with a giant F on my forehead and no bride."

“That does sound...difficult,” Akagi said, sounding sympathetic. “But surely you must’ve expected a challenging path, given the political situation. Do you have some plan for getting out of disfavor?”

"Ehhh, we'll see. As it stand, if I keep my head down, I should manage to get married to someone. Of course, no one's ever gained much in the way of glory or position by keeping their head down, ne? But for now, I can be patient as see if an opportunity comes my way....if it never comes, then it wasn't meant to be." he admits.

He looked curiously at the Bayushi.

"How goes your own quest to impress the matchmakers with your finer qualities, Bayushi-san?"

"So far, so good," the Bayushi replied confidently. "I had some good fortune in the hunt today, I'm quite certain that made a favorable impression on the nakodo. So, I have high hopes for a decent match... assuming, of course, the politics can be worked out." He shrugged at that, as if to say, there's always politics.