Various Mantis crewmembers are watching the competitors. Some making jokes about the lack of sea legs for this three time slot tour.

Kasumi, thrilled just to be aboard a kobune again, kept looking for work to turn her hand to.

Jiro similarly was looking for work as well. He was off to the side with some of the sailors, smiling at them as they ribbed him, apparently having invited some playful joking. He was not very good at the whole sailor thing, but he was neither afraid of or averse to work. He had his heavy duty gloves on as he was helping one sailor pull a rope taut while another tied it off.

[Quote/PM approach]

Watching his fellow upcoming samurai work like deckhands and haggle like fish merchants wasn't really something Yuji felt like observing. But it was a bit cold out to try swimming back to Tsuma. And so after completing his tasks moderately well, he set his sights out on the morning waters. It was quite peaceful if he tuned out the struggles of people trying to sail for the first time.

Standing by the wares and plunder the students had assessed is Sakura, white hair tied by tightly to minimize the winds' disruption, hands hidden in her sleeves against the cold, cheeks reddened. She seems distracted, seemingly listening to the winds themselves, not really focused on anything in particular.

(quote on approach!)

At some point, the crew struck up a song, and Kasumi joined in with a will.

As of now, Mantis were very much acing the Mantis event designed by a Mantis judge so the Mantis competitors could shine. What a surprise.

After such a display, the blatant favoritism of the following trials – because it wouldn't be a true Topaz if each judge wasn't rigging the rules in favor of their clan – would feel tame. So in a way this apparent chaos will contribute to the tournament's appearance of impartiality, while still fulfilling (some part of?) their obligation the Mantis. Nicely played Crane, nicely played.

The Rich Frog ronin was also very much in her element. No surprise there.

Everyone else was doing... In fact, it was hard to estimate because of the bone throwing of the bureaucratic check. A lot of samurai that were utterly disturbed by the rest of the test suddenly found themselves right back at what they knew best when faced with the Crane administration, ending on a bang with a speech oozing with a confidence they certainly didn't have a few minutes prior.

And a strong conclusion often did wonder to erase a weak middle part.

Those not well acquainted with Ichiro would likely see them as unphased by the poor ending to their attempt at the test. Those familiar with the young shugenja would recognize the cold focus that stress brought upon them.

But, in the end, this was not a test they had expected to triumph in and having only failed the most obvious, largest hurdle was somewhat reassuring.