Sakura woke up that morning, watched the news, watched the streams....and NO NARI-CHAN?! WHAT THE NANI?!

Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap, I hope I didn't do anything.

Now having an idea where she could find more about the mysterious corporate product known as Nari-chan, she figured she should take a look. Many were deprived of the charms of the Not-actually-a-kitsune, after all.

Sakura would find the public offices of Chikushudo House easily enough at the lower levels of the 'Kyuden'. She would go through a rather decorated hallway with all manners of banners and holographic screens projecting animation of their various v-personalities. There would be nearly a constant bombardment of their previous streams moments, music videos, and concerts. True to their name, Chikushudo House v-personalities seem to be often half-animal characters with some of them delving into other spirit realms, often cute and/or alluring interpretations. There would be the blaring 'nya-nya!' that could be occasionally heard from the speakers.

She would arrive at a nearly garishly decorated lobby with a large front desk where a maskless Scorpion sat. It seemed she was nearly as all smiles as the product they advertised here.

Oh wiw, she must be on something fierce.

"Goood morming." She greeted cheerfully. "I was just curious if a true Nari-chan fan can get an autograph, by any chance?"

"Good morning!" The woman would greet her back with enthusiasm. "Welcome to Chikushudo House, Hotaru-san. Of course. Nari-chan is more than happy to provide an autograph for her fans."

She gave a glance around the room for a moment, as if trying to look for something. If there was a button she pressed under the desk, there was no way Sakura would have known. She did reach under her desk and slide over a glossy print of a Nari-chan picture, autographed in gold writing. With a quick inspection, it was easy to tell that this was a copied print than a truly personal autograph. "I believe this is what you're looking for?"

"Ano...arigatou!" She was amazed at the slickness of the production, and did reach out towards the autograph. "And..." she hesitated. "I saw that Nari-chan's stream wasn't up this morning? I hope everything is okay?"

The woman seemed to get this question all the time and merely maintained her smile like a natural mask. "Oh, she's absolutely fine. She doesn't maintain a regular schedule. Just merely needs to take the occasional break, not being of this realm and all. Yes, I know she was supposed to be on this morning but it was cancelled last minute. Just as well, as we've been having some technical difficulties earlier. "

"...Perhaps I could introduce you to Nyoko-chan, instead? Perhaps you'd like to make friends with her?" She presented a hand to a screen that was currently showing a live stream of another kitsune v-personality, she certainly looked bolder and, admittedly, more endowed.

Sakura looked at NYoko-chan appreciatively, but decided to be adamant.

"Oh? Technical difficulties? Would some unpaid technical labor help with the issue?" She hoped "unpaid labor" were keywords here, and might net her a way inside.

The woman gave Sakura a blink and, for a second, there was a look of annoyance in her eyes before she quickly found her smiley mask once more. "Thank you for the generous offer, Hotaru-san! But as you see, there are no technical difficulties at Chikushudo House. We're back and running with Nyoko-chan and people love her. Between you and I, I wouldn't read her backstory while drinking something..."

She gave a gesture to another screen, showing a past music video of Nari-chan dancing and singing a cover of Susumu Yakumo. "However, if you want to see Nari-chan, she should be back tomorrow at her usual time."

Sakura noticed the annoyance. Damn. Unpaid labor! Who says no to that?!

"I see, I see....perhaps I could pay a visit to Nyoko-chan?"

She hesitated a second... no, not gonna pull anyone else into it.

"I'm a big, big fan!" She smiled slyly. "And I know a celebrity or two...perhaps they could join the streaming, if I put in a good word?"

"Visit Nyoko-chan?" She said curiously and looked at the screen playing the live stream at the moment. "A lot of her fans are visiting her right now, actually. I'm sure you can join in on the fun on your densai or communicator."

"You could try, Hotaru-san," she said, soundingly mildly unconvinced by the offer. "I could direct this idea to my superiors and they'll have to decide if it's a good idea. We've had celebrities stream alongside our v-personalities before. What sort of celebrities are we talking about here?"

"Now that would be telling, neh?" She smiled slyly at the receptionist. "Tell you what, let me in, and I maybe able to get you an autograph from someone. Seriously, we had a party the other night, and EVERYONe was there. you must have heard of it!"

The woman gave Sakura a few blinks at that, her smile fading at this. This was probably the 9th fan this week attempting something like this. "Excuse me? Go in, why do you need to be let in? The studio and offices are very busy right now. Unless you show me some official representation, I'm afraid I can't just let you waltz in there freely, Hotaru-san."

She found her smile mask once more and gave her a quick bow. "This is for your safety after all. It wouldn't be very good if you were to suddenly get lost and disappear."

Sakura let out a long sigh. "Well, I didn1t want to say this right here, in the public." She leaned in close...perhaps obnoxiously. "You know Kitsune Kiyoshi and the Detective? He's not in any production at the moment, but would like to spend some more time on hte planet for a while. He was hoping to get a spot with Nari-chan. Nari-chan, and not some bimbo knock-off. I'm his...local guide, so to say, and I promised on my samurai's honor to get him that. Can you help a gal out?"

She pulled out her communicator, and showed the selfie taken with the smiling Kiyoshi at the concert as proof.

OOC:
D9 LM Sincerity/Awa, tn?? | 5k4 ⇒ 21 (TN: ?)

Not sure if that picture gives any bonus

Day 9 - Late Morning: Etiquette/Awareness: 1 FR on Sakura, TN 21+FR for Selfie+6 Kiyoshi's Glory | 5k3+5 ⇒ 24 (TN: 32)



"I see..." She murmured as she relented. "I suppose I could speak to my superior about getting something arranged, a short spot probably. Could I get your contact information?"

"Well, certainly, but you know...don't want to delay too much." She winked at the woman. "He's free NOW, but that doesn't mean he'll be free later. Why not give me some time now, and we can discuss perhaps a quick guest apperance, see how the fans like it? Just run it by your superior, I'll wait."

"I don't know how the Minor Clans handle their media relations but it doesn't work like that here, Hotaru-san. Things just don't happen because I or even my superior wants it to. I'm sure the directors of Chikushudo House would like to arrange something in an exchange between our Clans before that happens." She said with a tinge of annoyance in her courteous voice.

"Let me see what can be done in the meantime..." She said as she picked up her communicator to call someone.

"Yes, good morning, Bayushi-sama. Sorry for bothering you, I have a representative of Kitsune Kiyoshi here. They're wondering if they can do a guest appearance with Nari-chan..." There was a pause as she listened. "...He was in that show with the monkey. Yes. No...It's a Minor Clan show...No. Yes, sorry about that. No, I'll handle it. It won't' be a bother. Sorry again, have a pleasant day."

The woman hangs up and stood from her seat, giving her a quick bow. "Sorry about that, Hotaru-san. How about I give you a quick tour of the studio? This one is Bayushi Kotone, pleased to meet you."

"Ano, no problem." Sakura waited patently, then nodded an affirmative at her guidance offer.

"Certainly. And my apologies for making things a bit difficult, but...you know celebrities." She shrugged. "Sometimes they think they can get everything they want instantly. I mean, have you heard the rumors about Yakumo?!"

She bowed deeply at the introduction. "Well met Bayushi-sama."

Bayushi Kotone

"No?" She said with uncertainty at first. "Which one are we talking about exactly? The one about the back problems? Talk about going overboard. I have a cousin who did a little work done but at least she has some restraint. Anyway..."

She reached down to take out a densai and held it in the same manner as someone would do a clipboard. A button would be pressed at her desk. "Shosuro-san, please take over for me. I've got a...guest."

Kotone would direct her bright smile at Sakura and gesture her to the dividing wall behind the desk. "Please follow me and I'll take you inside. Would you like a drink? Does anyone else know you're here at the moment?"

"That and her retinue of...friendly ronin." She rolled her eyes.

"Ie, I am fine, thank you. Have to keep a sharp mind, lest I forget something to let Kiyoshi-sama know." She coughed. "Thank you for reminding me! Kiyoshi-sama asked me to give him a report as soon as I get anything! and this is technically anything. Just one moment Bayushi-samaaa." She drew her communicator and started dialing Kiyoshi before the Scorpion could say anything. Better safe than sorry.

"Hello, Kiyoshi-sama! Arigatou for picking up so quickly. Just wanted to let you know everything is going fine here at Chikushuudo House, and Bayushi Kotone-sama has been very kind so far! I think things are going well, but I cannot promise anything! Say hello to the Detective for me!"

Bayushi Kotone

Kotone did her darndest to maintain her smile when she called up Kiyoshi. "...that's great that you've informed him of the meeting. He should absolutely know, of course. I was just hoping that you've made time in your busy schedule, just in case anyone thinks you've gone missing from having too much fun. They say time flies when you're at Chikushuudo House. That brings me to another thing before we enter. please surrender your communicator at the front door. We have a strict no-photo policy inside. That also means no holorecorders or cameras."