Kyuden Shika

That's like a fish claiming to be bothered by drowning.

"Indeed? I confess, I attend every evening, but it's mostly for lack of any better ideas..."

A shrug.

"Which is itself a product of the same general unease about being here."

"But you seem to not enjoy the plays, neh? Why engage in entertainment that isn't entertaining?" To the Moshi's credit, she did relent from her once inexorable advance towards Raizo.

"Better to find other diversions, hmm? There's much to be said about the benefits of good sake, the company of women, and song." She said rather matter-of-factly, not missing a beat at all with so forward a sentiment.

"Yeah, well... sake can be overdone, I have a lousy singing voice, and as for women..."

He shrugged.

"Not a good look when I'm supposed to be looking for a spouse, hm?"

"Oh well I suppose that depends on who's looking." Shizuka responds airily. "In any case, that's what I like to do, rather than watch plays. Find your own happiness, Shiba-san!"

"Never known how, Moshi-san. It's discouraged in the army."

"Is it?" Shizuka asked with genuine curiosity in her voice. "But see, I had thought soldiers were...you know...of a type."

She narrowed her eyes with late-hitting realization.

"But like I could talk, right?" She intimated slyly.

"Finding your own happiness is a wonderful way to have a gunso scream himself into a bloodshot-eyed, vein-popped fury. Doesn't stop plenty from doing it, but..."

But it's just another factor in the wonderful evolution of my personality. So what's your excuse?

Wait. What the hell is she talking about now?

"But...?" Shizuka prompted for more information. Though, it must have been the teahouse triggering something in the Moshi: she was more willing to listen, more willing to let others just take the lead and talk.

"... but it's not an example I have ever seen fit to emulate. I pull enough lousy duty as it is."

Shizuka gets a thoughtful expression on her face. She suddenly becomes more interested in her tea, which she takes a sip of.

"I see." She replies simply.