Standing on the stage within the small theater Yuuko walks from one end to the either. Diligently taking note of all the minor details within this space. Though they had certainly traveled far the whispers from home reached out from this place. It wasn't home, but it was cozy in its likeness. Walking toward the center of the stage she'd approach toward the front and sit at the edge. Looking out from this place across the space for what small audience this place could attract.

Contemplative, she was still dressed in the travelers attire. Not yet feeling the need to present herself in official capacity she waited for later, when she plans to take out her hawk for a brief exercise.

Asako glanced around, seemingly uncaring of their surrounding. There were worse places, of course, but this part of her training had never appealed to her much. "An imitation at best," she said with a faint sigh. "So it shall always be."

Yuuko's eyes had drifted shut as she contemplated. Listening to her sister, giving some space between the sharing of thoughts. Opening her eyes again she'd look more directly to Asako, and say, "They put forward efforts to allowing us to feel at home here in this city that is not our own, it is a courtesy sister," drifting her attention elsewhere in the room.

"One that we should at least give some effort to honor, even in a small way."

"So you want to honor our ancestors so far from home? Fine, if you insist." Yuuko bowed her head in silent prayer, legitimately offering thanks to her bloodline. Much as she had worked hard to reach here, she knew that it hadn't been solely her effort. Privilege was privilege, after all. "Do you know if they're sending anybody else?"

"Their courtesy, sister," she corrects looking to Asako with a smile only in her eyes. Pausing the space of a breath as she shifts topics, "I do. When I asked, they have told me that there are two others meant to be in attendance, and are presently here. One Shosuro Kaoru, whom I am curious of. Sending so many of our family is more befitting the Crab, I would think. With such a blunt approach.." she glances away.

"But we will see what they have to say before we should cast judgement. Another is of Soshi, Soshi Satoru. Both, I hope, will be as interested to walk the rooms here as I have been and find us given time."

"Courtesy is so often just another mask people wear," Asako said with a soft sigh. "I'd rather they tell me how they feel." Then, a smirk. "Perhaps we should've been born Crab, hm?"

The more... passionate sister stretched out arms and let out a yawn. "Yes, yes, you always want to be patient despite first impressions often being correct."

Kaoru announced her arrival with an appropriately theatrical knock on the wooden wall, and walked the alley to join the sisters:

"Good morning esteemed cousins. This one is indeed Shosuro Kaoru. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Dressed modestly, paper and writing utensils visible in the shadow of her sleeve, Kaoru looked like any other low-rank Scorpion scholar:

"There must be a good reason as for why the higher-ups have sent up so many of us here, as there must be a good reason for which they didn't deem fit to explain it to us. Is finding that answer ourselves a test? Or is the test that we should trust the wisdom of our elders and accept that we don't need to know?"

As Kaoru enters, Yuuko gives her sister a look of acknowledgement. Often correct certainly being the key phrase that Yuuko might have used as well to point out the nature that it was not always so. Something she might have said outwardly if it weren't for her shift in attention to the approaching other. A slight shift in her sitting position she dips her head in greeting.

"We are Shosuro Yuuko," she indicates herself with a hand directed toward her chest, "and Shosuro Asako," she says, moving the same hand to then indicate her sister. "Sisters and actors from the Shosuro Butei Academy. It is a pleasure. We were just wondering on that prospect ourselves. Though, it may not ultimately be important."

"Would you speak more on yourself nonetheless? I admit I am hoping to entertain the curiosity a while longer."

"Certainly.

I have been classically trained to be able to offer assistance to any samurai I am assigned to in any way they would require, swiftly and without making a fuss. Handling the paperwork, conveying messages, scouting around, that kind of things.

If you're the lead actresses, I am more of a kuroko."

Much as she had to, Asako offered the general courtesy of an introductory bow after her sister had announced their names. Such gestures were of great importance but especially so with Scorpion. Who else but one of their number to know not to underestimate someone's humble beginnings.

And so, the humble declarations did little to impress her. "And yet, what would your assigned samurai think if you were to hold the Topaz Championship over them?"

"Was I to do especially well in the present tournament, I think I would simply be reassigned to a samurai of greater renown so the natural order of importance is kept. The Topaz may shine, but the Emerald shines brighter."

Notably, as they speak Yuuko's focus maintains on Kaoru and does not shift from speaker to speaker. Perhaps, one would think this a slight against her sister. However, the truth of it is simply the acknowledgement of their closeness. When it came to speaking with the twins it was as if speaking to one.

"The Topaz Champion is not one whom I imagine would merely become an assistant to another samurai," Yuuko adds, curious in tone. "Do you not believe that you have been sent here to rise to the ultimate challenge?"

"Save for the Emperor himself, we all serve another samurai in some capacity.

The Topaz Championship is but a stepping stone. A powerful one but no substitute for training and experience. Winning it does not change a person on the spot into, for example, an Imperial Advisor. But it does open up the opportunity to request to serve and learn directly under such prestigious characters, until we're one day ready to take up the mantle."

Yuuko regards Kaoru silently for a few seconds. Briefly turning toward her sister she seems to share some unspoken sentiment before returning her focus to Kaoru. Hands resting in her lap there was a calm nature to the young samurai, and this remained evident in her tone.

"You do not need to answer a question if it is uncomfortable to do so. Though, we would prefer it if you would simply state this rather than turn to lecture. We aren't mistaken on what it means to be samurai, or what the championship means. We are ourselves capable and well trained already."

"Please excuse me if I have sounded preachy. Such wasn't my attention.

I however still cannot offer an answer to your question in the current state of things. Whoever wins the Topaz Championship depend on the skills of everyone taking part in it, and, while I know of my own strengths and limitations, I lack sufficient data about the other candidates to make any useful projection at the moment."

Asako pressed her lips together when she met her sister's eyes. There were certainly opinions on her mind but she was, at least this time, willing to let her sister make them much more amicable.

"Yes, I suppose we will need to keep an eye on the others, won't we? Still, I doubt we're supposed to brazenly sabotage another contestant's efforts... We may face every challenge separately. In that case, it truly will be a test of skills. Truly the lackluster wouldn't be able to stand out in that case."

Yuuko measures the other woman with a gaze, but beyond that leaves her sisters statement standing. Rising from her seated position on the stage she then moves around the perimeter of it until she comes to a more natural place from which to step down. Eventually coming back around to her sister she meets eyes but doesn't say anything further for now. Giving herself time within the moment to properly consider what was on her mind.

"In the absence of specific orders regarding this event, attempting to achieve excellence on a personal basis seems the wisest path to follow.

In addition to this duty, anomalies like the extremely large Phoenix delegation or these ronin sponsored by the Imperial families might be worth looking into, as these might be symptoms of events relevant to the clan's interests."