(D13, EA) Noodle Shop (Expecting, but Open)

[Seppun Yuzu]

Yuzu is out again in search of the delicious and spicy noodles at the market.

[Usogawa Narumi]

Her paper umbrella out and over her shoulder for the first time in over a week, Narumi makes her way through the market. While she has a lunch date with Koi et co. in the near future, there's always time for tea and so she finds herself at the same stall as the Imperial.
She pauses before giving him a deep bow. "Seppun-sama, konnichiwa." Dressed in her finest kimono- a light blue affair with delicate embroidery and an obi so dark brown as to almost look black, tied behind her in an extravagant loop, with her hair braided just so and pinned back.

[Seppun Yuzu]

-snip-

The boy doesn't smile, but his eyes nearly do so. He provides a good bow, offering, "Good afternoon, Usogawa-san. A pleasant surprise to find her here. I hope I can share Inari-kami's blessings with her, if she has the time?"

[Usogawa Narumi]

"This one always has time for such a refined samurai as Seppun-sama," she says with a friendly, inviting tone. "How have you managed, as we find ourselves in our eleventh hour?"

[Seppun Yuzu]

"I appreciate the compliment. As simple as I try to be... I understand I have my quirks." He raises an eyebrow and replies, "I've been faring well. I had a wave of bad fortune, which I might have inflicted upon myself by not showing the proper respect to Musubi-kami. All solved now, fortunately. Even my performance is showing improvements day after day."

He seats and allows her to get comfortable, "How has Usogawa-san been doing?"

[Usogawa Narumi]

"Arigato," she sits as well, smoothing out the fabrics of her kimono. "Oh! Much the same. Experienced a fair amount of strife, but so much is not a surprise in this sort of mixing pot as it is. It... seems to have sorted out - though none of us can ever know what tomorrow will bring us, the coming 'morrow is one of infinite insecurity, and this one doesn't enjoy not knowing." She gives a polite smile and shrug.

[Seppun Yuzu]

He chuckles, "Although I understand Usogawa-san's, I dare say, frustration, I really just try not to even think about it. I know that if I do, my fingers wouldn't have nails."

[Usogawa Narumi]

"If I could simply not think about things, my life would be infinitely sweeter for it, Seppun-sama," here a true laugh. "But that is not in this one's nature."

[Seppun Yuzu]

He topples two cups at the counter and serves Narumi warm tea. As the servant waits for the requests, he mentions, "It is not on mine either, it requires a lot of training to restrain those worries to emerge and deviate my focus." He shrugs and says, "After all, there are important matters going on here that require my full attention. In the future, the Minor Clans should have a much better visibility –– I intend to push that forward with the Imperial Families."

--
Showing restraint and diligent work will further connect Imperial and Minor Clans. Blessed lineage. | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

+2 Side Goal

[Usogawa Narumi]

She nods again, a polite smile painted on her expression. She waives off an order besides tea, though.
"Then this one compliments Seppun-sama on his resolve. And hai, I don't pretend to speak for other clans, nor the Otter with any authority, but have my thanks."