(Expecting but public)

The hail certainly dampened any thoughts of doing outdoor activities like Masaru had wanted but after spending some time in the library for the event and the hard work of fixing up the temple relaxing in the common room of the inn seemed like a good move.

The boy sat with a cup of tea looking out the window watching the frozen rain pelt the town.

Stepping side to get out of the weather, the little dazed Crane found herself.... wait, where was she? Sakura took a moment to blink and look around, "Oh."
She chewed her lower lip while trying to collect her thoughts before recognizing the young Lion nearby as another competitor? Was that right? She thought so, and so she shuffled over and bowed on reaching where he sat.
"Um, o-ohayo? ...Kitsu-san?" her gaze dropped and she talked to his sandals. "Can this one sit with you? I'm called Asahina ...uh, Sakura," no, it didn't take her a moment to remember her own name, that's just silly.

Masaru looked from the window up to the Crane a smile on his lips as he did so "Oh yes of course Asahina-san, I would be honored if you would join me." He said offering her a seated bow.

"I don't believe we have been formally introduced, this one is Kitsu Masaru I am happy to meet you! Would you like some tea? It is a rather light brew but a lovely flavor." He said motioning to an open seat.

Their eyes met as Sakura settled into her seat and colour bloomed on her cheeks. "Oh thank you! Um! I would, actually, like some tea... I think, um, it would be good, uh..." Flustered, she drops her gaze again, locks of white hair falling forward to obscure her features.
"How... How are you finding Tsuma?" she asked the table.

Masaru held in a chuckle at the Crane's fluster and simply nodded with his smile softening a touch his amber eyes were not merely warm in color but also expression as he met hers. He motioned for a servant to bring another cup "Of course Asahina-san some warm tea is perfect when the Heavens cry crystal tears." He said with a friendly tone. The boy was calm and gracful in contrast to the Crane fluster and he possessed a disarming charm.

As the tea arrived Masaru filled her cup and gently slid it over to her "Tsuma is a wonderful city so far. So many people, so much going on it really is different from my home town that consists mostly of farmers and fields." He a took a sip of tea, his eyes closed and he sighed contentedly. He opened them after a moment "Is this your first time here as well Asahina-san? Or are you perhaps native to the city?" He asked as he set down the cup.

"I- I-" Sakura stuttered and blushed furiously at the poetry of the Lion's words before nodding and accepting the cup. "I'm so glad you like, um, Tsuma! You've got it right, um, this is my home- um, where I grew up- uh, mostly?" She gave a shy smile and looked down at her cup, "-I think, um, farming seems so peaceful? All that open land."

The soft smile stayed on Masaru's lips as the Crane stammered out her answer and he nodded a soft chuckle accompanying the motion "Yes I could certainly see why you might think that coming from such a busy city. It is certainly that, though the market can be rather lively with farmers trying to sell their excess produce that doesn't go to feed the Lion army. I guess it's not so different from the market district here except it's selling carrots and daikon rather than works of art or supplies."

His eyes studied her face for a moment slight movements of the pupils showing him looking at different areas. He paused as if in thought but simply shook his head with that same soft smile and took another drink of tea "Have you visited many other places beside Tsuma then? Since you said you were mostly from here."

"Oh! I imagine feeding the army comes first above most things?" she looked up from her cup to accidentally catch his gaze and blushed.

"I uh- I spent winters? growing up? with my aunt and uncle, um, in the mountains of the Phoenixlands, learning ...well my aunt, um, she's attuned to spirit activity as I am," she took a quick sip of her tea, enjoying the warmth after being out in the weather.

Masaru nodded "Yes there's a reason it's the largest of the Kitsu Holdings even though it is just farms, there is also a garrison there to defend it. We produce the most food of any other holding in Lion lands, very important but is regardless pretty boring when you yourself are not a farmer." He said with a small chuckle.

When she caught his eyes he would not shy away but meet the contact readily his soft smile growing a little before drinking his own tea his eyes still holding, or at least attempting to, hers over the edge of his cup "That sounds rather exciting, training in the mountains. Seems like something from a story living in the big city but travelling out to the mountains to train with an elder." He commented as he set his cup down.

He watched the hail come down outside for a moment before looking back to her "I am very familiar with the idea of speaking with the spirits, all of my family can hear their call and request their aid. I was the only one born without the gift." His voice didn't change as he spoke on this, if he had anger or sadness about the difference then he hid it well.

Sakura nodded while listening intently, and trying to focus on the present despite the trials of earlier that day.
"Hai," she said with a small smirk, "-but don't let my aunt hear you call her an elder!" she placed both hands around her cup, warming them.

"Oh... oh, well, um, you have talents in, other places? of note? Why else would you be chosen to be here, if not to showcase what's so special about you?" she fumbled awkwardly again, a jumbled and sharp contrast to his steadiness.

Masaru his his mouth behind a sleeve as he laughed a more full laugh than he had previously "Yes well I suppose not many enjoy being called an elder!" He said with the humor of the laugh carrying through as he let down his arm slowly.

He nodded "Yes I have my own talents certainly, though if I should be at such a prestigious competition is still to be seen. I'm afraid my performance so far has been....mediocre." it may have been odd to observe the way he chided himself but didn't seem to lose his good mood or light air.

"But I trained with the Ikoma bards as a Courtier and performer. I may not be the best that has picked up the koto but I can hold my own well enough."

"Oh! The koto! I'd love to hear you play, Kitsu-san... I'm sure it is wonderful," Sakura gave a shy smile, looking the Lion over studiously- hopefully without seeming too awkward? Her gaze ticked and fell back to her cup of tea instead.

"The competition is only just beginning, and the tests have been so, um, scattered? Testing varieties of skills that pull from all sorts of knowledge, I guess the judges are, um, well, I don't, really can't, um... it seems like there's certain groupings of certain skills, or not necessarily the skills but the methods used, that work together? Or are cut from the same cloth?" she rambled slightly and gave a modest shrug.

His smile grew a bit a perhaps a touch of color reached his own cheeks "Oh well yes I would love to play for you sometime Asahina-san. I will, send word so we can figure out when we will be free. There seems to be a lot of downtime so I'm sure it won't be too long." He didn't quite ramble but his answer lacked a grace he had up to this point.

Masaru cleared his throat and took a sip of tea "As for the competition, yes it seems they are testing a wide range of skills and each judge seems to have a preferred way of handling each task so not only completing the task matters but how you do it is also important." He said with his short bout of nerves calmed "I am excited to see what they come up with moving forward, this idea of a shared gempukku is quite an interesting one."

She smiled shyly at that and nodded, "I'd um, like that very much, um, Kitsu-san? I'm staying at the Kakita Dueling Academy? Oh but um. You already knew that..."
Sakura blushed just a little bit, watching him over her cup of tea as well.
"Isn't it interesting? It will be something that binds us all, um, for the rest of our lives..." she tapered off...

He smiled back to her "I presumed nothing Asahina-san, perhaps you can visit the Lions quarters, the balcony the Crane gave us actually has quite the stunning view. It would make a good backdrop for a performance I think."

Masaru tilted his head a little seemingly in thought "I suppose it will a bit won't it? I hadn't really thought about that but I suppose going through this transition together will make at least tenuous ties between the competitors."

She smiled a bit wider, "Then I will look forward anxiously for word from you when I can steal more of your time?"

Masaru chuckled "Hopefully not too anxiously Asahina-san nor will I make you wait too long." He gave her a smile and drank his tea "and please this time is enthusiastically given. We will be here for some time, making friends is a good use of the down time between trials."

"Mhm! And there seems to be plenty of downtime, this one hopes Kitsu-san and she will become fast friends?" another smile back over her cup before she caught herself and flicked her gaze to look out the window at the weather.

Masaru's smile over his own cup was soft "Well you are certainly lovely company Asahina-san." He said before taking a drink and setting his cup back down.

He joined her in viewing the hail for a moment before returning his attention to her "So living here you've likely witnessed multiple Topaz Tournamnets yes? Is this one so far business as usual from your experience?"

"I- I-" Sakura stuttering, blushing again and smiling shyly.
"You're um, lovely companion too!" She chirped and awkwardly tucked a lock of white hair behind an ear.
"Oh! Um! I've seen a few? And yes, nothing out of the ordinary... so far! My um, my mother was actually the Topaz Champion the year she competed, so that's uh. A lot of pressure?" Her nose wrinkled just a little. "But she told me all about her trials here when she came of age."