Akihiko can't help but smile and enjoy the story. By the end he's clearly impressed, though not sure how to react to a reckless Crane, which is assuredly not his expectation.

"Well told, Daidoji-san, and well fought." Akihiko smiles encouragingly. "It sounds like your commander was right: You're too good a pilot to lose to reckless choices."

"Ahh...well yes," Ishiyo looks down her cheeks red. She was two for four on the admonishment versus compliment count on that little maneuver.

"I was trained in the Kakita school, theih view of space combat and indeed aerial combat is rooted in iaijutsu." She rubbed her arm, "Assess, Focus, Strike. And it felt like one of those moments at the time. When everything slowed to just those seconds and the world fell away. I was aware of what going on around me but....it was stupid, I nearly rammed the enemy's fighteh."

Her smile did brighten a bit at the tail end, "Ah...thank you Akodo-sama. I strive to be the best. But it is a long road still."

He looks at her a little more intensely, his voice a little softer. "I think you're closer to being the best than you realize. So please stay alive until you realize it, ok?" His face shows a bit of a smile, but not that touch of humor. It's pure fondness.

Ishiyo blinks and presses her lips into a line, "Thank you Akodo-sama." Her blue eyes stare into his with a seriousness she had lacked before. Then the squawk of an otori ruins the moment. "...they are very cute but that sound is obnoxious." Her head turns to the fields. "We should meet sometime away from the clamor." A tinge of red still clung to her cheeks.

The Lion breathes deeply as they turn back to the fence. "Yes, a ranch is not the most favorable place to... share stories." His voice ever so gently suggests that's a euphemism. Then he looks back to Ishiyo, one hand resting on the fence and smiling fondly again. "Perhaps a meal, the day after tomorrow? Or anything indoors," he jokes. "I confess, I am slightly missing being in the confines of a Swiftclaw."

Ishiyo smiles and nods, "That sounds like a grand idea. Does Akodo-sama have a preference?" She leans against the fence and looks back toward the city. "Yes...this world is beautiful but I prefer to be suspended in the stahs, gazing out on the great void without the sky between us."

Yube seemed disappointed and scowled at Chiruha at her deception. "Sounds good to me! Arigatou for your time Asako-sama." He extended his hand towards Yube, hoping the monkey will return home. Reluctantly, Yube climbed back. "I shall try and keep the wildlife calm in the meanwhile."

Chiruha helped coax Yube to return to his owner's hand, gently placing him back by making a bridge for him to travel on her arm. She giggled and gave the monkeyling as wave good bye afterwards.

"Not a problem, Ujina-sama. I would appreciate that and I hope you enjoy your stay in our little colony," she said before presenting a bow.

"Yes, this world is beautiful," he says quietly. More audibly he continues, "Let's plan on [EA meal] at the Sun-Mon-Flower."

"I will look forward to it, Akodo-sama," Ishiyo's eyes sparkled again and her smile grew a tiny fraction.
Thank you."