Somewhere outside the limelight would likely fit the Hida well. They didn't pay as much mind to affairs on military bases as they did in other places, at least in his experience.

"Sounds like you have a plan at the very least." Hayato replied with a smile. "Even if it's not exactly one of fame at a miai on the edge of the galaxy."

"Someimes being left to your own devices is the best after all."

"Maybe it is indeed."

She looked at him, curious.

"Is this a destiny you would like for yourself? A long, quiet, uneventful life in obscurity?"

"i'm a marksman by trade, Hida-san." Hayato offered softly as he started to move through a few jujitsu forms. "Fame isn't exactly something that comes with a job that involves killing people from far away."

"My superiors know how many lives I've taken, but they aren't exactly going to give me pins for it like a fighter pilot, and you won't hear the results in the news like I was some famed duelist. Even if I live in obsurity it doesn't nessacarily mean it's uneventful."

He paused a moment. "Does that do much to answer your question?"

"Yes and no. You described the life you have right now. But you've said nothing of the life you aspire to. The one that the right marriage might open up for you...

Though I'll admit it's unlikely your new clan, if any, won't try to make use of your marksman skills and thus that your day-to-day job shouldn't change much in all cases."

"If I even end up in a new clan." Hayato replied playfully. "There are still a lot of things that are not written. So I'll start planning for the future once it's decided."

"For now I'll concentrate on today."

Akemi nodded:

"A good philosophy. What are your plans for the immediate future then if you're willing to share them? For me, it's more training."

She tapped her armor with the extremity of her weighted boken.

"Hida Bushi 101: If you're not able to work through your katas while wearing your armor, you won't be able to strike true on the actual battlefield."

That seemed like rather typical samurai behavior, but perhaps the Hida made it some sort of art form? Hard to say honestly.

"Probably lunch after here." His day wasn't particularly busy after all. Only one date later in the evening.

She made a few movements with her weapon, checking the weights were still in the right places, then gave him a curious look:

"Thinking of it why would a marksman train their ken and jiu? Personal pet peeve? Tradition? Simple muscular exercise? Or do you expect to use these techniques in an actual fight, if the enemy manages to go into contact?"

"It's always wise to stay in shape, Hida-san." He offered with a shrug. "But mostly it's a just in case, people can get in close. Radiant arms can run out of ammo. Sometimes what matters is the willingness and ability to get in close and do what must be done." Not that he would actually encourage it on a regular basis.

"A bushi need to be prepared don't they?" He nodded towards the weighted boken. "Do you swing that around because it';s the only weapon you weild?"

"I'm trained in many weapons but my own specialty is good old tetsubo. Does wonders as a spaceship boarding tool. No ricochet on enclosed space. Not destructive enough to accidentally damage the hull or a likewise critical component. Still powerful enough to break through human armors. Can be used to knock a door down in a pinch.

Of course it's kind of a specialized weapon for very specific missions nowadays. Wouldn't bring it to an open ground battle. But it has its uses."

She shook the boken.

"With enough weight, this is a good enough substitute for training."

"Sounds like you prefer things that are a bit more tested." That was probably just a kind word for old fashioned. "Is specialized missions like that your specialty as it were?"

"Or us it more something you aspire go?"

"That's my main line of duty at the moment yes. Well, was until I lost my arm on a mission, and will be again after the miai if I don't marry out.

Grandpa considers it a good stepping stone for an officer career, as it's easy to get noticed for your courage and your thinking on your feet there. I'm not a fan of this reasoning, but as long as my job does help the clan in the end, fine with me."

Her grandfather wasn't wrong, though the woman herself would need to stop having such open affairs if she wanted to rise high. "I've been told there is a bit more politics to rank then most would believe." Hayato replied after a moment.

"If it's what you're after though I am sure you'll achieve it." He smiled faintly. "Hopefully without losing any more limbs."

"As you said before, plans are kinda up in the air depending on upcoming wedding. Don't think the... Let's say Scorpion shock troops work in the same way as ours."

She switched her boken to the other hand and went through a few moves.

"Well, I'll adapt anyway.

And yes, I don't plan to lose any more limbs... But destiny rarely lets you choose."

Somehow he really doubted she intended to marry a Scorpion, but then he my have missed a few things. Still she'd likely find a good home there.

"On that I'll have to agree, the future seems to seldom keep our plans in mind when it moves to the present." There was a small pause and a smile. "So good luck."

"Thanks."

After a pause, she added.

"You too."

"I don't think I run across nearly as mant swords as you do fighting in the close confines of a ship." Hayato offered with a wry smile. "But thank you, I'll take all the luck I can get."