[D3 LM Tian Bubble Tea] Bubble Bobble!

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata was in casual getup and 'anonymous' . . . well anonymous in his opinion, not in anyone else's. He had his blue bunny eared hoodie on, blue shorts, stripy blue thigh highs and had a bunny backpack on in case he went shopping after. For now though he was discovering the world of bubble tea, World Of Dreams style.

"Oh vanilla please! Yes, milk tea version!"

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi enjoyed mornings as much as any samurai did. Which is to say that he greeted the sun with bows, song, prayers, and occasionally dance. The ritual greeting took less than 10 minutes this time due to other constraints upon the samurai's time. Like boba! So no dancing this time.

Koroshi was a bright sun in the somber landscape of the cityscape. Yellow stripes clashed in battle with lime green and purple squares dotting the outer kimono while a pair of raised paldrons with pink and red streamers stood like goblins of fashion upon his shoulders. His Otomo ring was on his index finger.

He strode confidently into the tea restaurant and yelled to the server behind the counter, "YOUR FINEST MILK TEA WITH TAPIOCA BALLS!"

And followed up by doing a pose with his arms outstretched to allow his streamers to dangle behind him imposingly.

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata hadn't noticed the Otomo enter but, by the kami, he knew when the Otomo had reached the counter. He flinched and nearly threw his boba across the counter in shock, but just about managed to keep hold of it.

He was also reminded of how much sake he'd drunk the night before by the volume of the order, and the flinch was finished with a wince. He turned to see who was so cheery at this time and the riot of colours had him almost cross eyed. He did notice the Otomo signet ring.

AWOOGA!!!!

How to deal with Imperials had been multiple lessons for Hinata, that his sensei had made absolutely sure had gotten into his thick skull and stayed in. His bow was immediate, balancing the boba skilfully.

"Good m-morning Otomo-samaaa!"

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi turned from the shell shocked cashier to the Asahina. Blue hair, blue everything. Another fine samurai who understood fashion.

"Samurai-san, the day greets you with grace and fortune!" The Otomo begins to do another pose, this one from a common children's show with his hands in the air. "The light of the heavens shines before us, setting the fate of our meeting with the brightness of honorable conduct. Our most perfect Empire has gathered the stars of our generation together in one place, praise the Emperor! Another thousand years of steel and glory awaits!"

He bowed, "I am Otomo Koroshi, contracted to the Imperial Embassy."

[Susumu Yuji]

There was time after his usual visitation of the Shrine of Passion for a late morning snack, with plenty of time after to fully savor it before he and Rei went to the Oshidama tournament.

The tall, gaunt looking Susumu seemed to slither in surreptitiously, especially considering the outburt from the Otomo he managed to catch the tail end of.

The man was dressed in his tailored kimono, the finest of black silks with silver trim, charcoal gray hakama paired with them. His red eyes, just behind his designer glasses, taking in the sight of the Otomo and... judging by the powder blue, Crane dignitary. His head tilted slightly, with a small smile, seeing the thigh high socks.

"Good morning, minnasan." He spoke up.

[Asahina Hinata]

OK Koroshi sounded like an Imperial all right.

"I'm Asahina Hinata, a . . pleasure to . . meet such an . . honourable member of the . . Imperial Families."

To all present it felt like he was reciting something learnt from many lessons. And then the Spider arrived to rescue him from being the sole focus of Koroshi.

"Oh hi, Susumu-samaa!"

He waved, bobbed a much more Hinata-like bow and stuck his boba straw in his mouth. Instantly back to normal Hinata now that the expected greetings had been issued to the Imperial.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Glorious greetings and good tidings, samurai-san!" Koroshi greeted the Spider with all the warmth in the stars that glittered on his shoulders from the red and pink streamers. "Your presence grants us a multitude of blessings, for now our time together shall be marked by a third name and number, the memory of which shall be treasured for all time!"

The Otomo was distracted for a moment from the meeting by the arrival of his drink which was accepted with absolutely no chill. He turned back to the pair with his thoughts interrupted.

"Ah, Asahina-san has already met Susumu-san! Then we can dispense with pleasantries forth with, and move to conquer a table! Come and join me fellow samurai." Koroshi grabbed a seat at a nearby high chaired table and plopped into it.

[Susumu Yuji]

"Not formally met, but given our Clan's dispositions, there have been primers." He bowed to both, a little deeper to the Otomo than to Hinata. Yuji's movements were smooth, graceful, and practiced. He ordered an ichigo milk tea with chocolate boba.

He didn't bother waiting for it. Given his status, they would bring it to him. The Susumu followed the lead of the Otomo to the table, and slipped into his own seat.

"Tell me, Otomo-san, Asahina-san, how are you both finding the World of Dreams?"

[Asahina Hinata]

When an Otomo asks you to sit at a table, you sit at the table. His sensei had taken a looooooooong time making sure that not offending Imperials was one of Hinata's Prime Directives.

Then came the issue of the high chair and smol Crane, but Hinata was used to this and put his boba on the table before scaling the chair like a climbing frame and sat, legs swinging a considerable distance from the floor. Now if only he'd brought sunglasses to deal with the colour spray the Otomo was wearing.

"It's great!! Everyone is soooooo friendly here!!!"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"The World of Dreams has been filled with manifestly great attractions, I have been to the mall, a few temples, a few sake bars, a night club, the garden park, and I have barely been to half the stuff to see in the city!" Koroshi listed enthusiastically. "It is readily apparent why his Imperial Majesty travels to this planet so often."

He started to drink his tea and mentally shrugged at the taste. Different.

"And Susumu-san is finding his travels here excellent as well? I have been meaning to find time to speak with some of the other diplomats but it has been very difficult. Internal business, and then also being a tourist have made the days short and time shorter!"

[Susumu Yuji]

Yuji took a breath, and before he said anything, one of the staff members brought him his Boba Tea with a deep bow. Taking it without even acknowledging the server, the serpent took a long drink from it, finding himself centered again.

"Not so much travels. My family and I have been assigned here for the past five years. My wife is a distant cousin of yours, Otomo Kimurahime. You may see her from time to time." He replied, the smile returning to his On. "If there is need for diplomacy with the Black House, I would be honored to act as a liason to you, Otomo-san."

While his station was likely above the Otomo, there was a hint of deference in his voice. After all, they were the Imperial families.

His smile broadened at Hinata, "I am glad you're being treated so well, Asahina-san. The World of Dreams is an excellent place to be able to forge new friendships and liasons."

[Asahina Hinata]

Yuji spoke to Hinata just as the little Crane was reaching peak suction on his straw and hunting boba in his tea.

"It's been great. No idea why Yuta-kun was so worried about me coming here!"

And then to the Otomo.

"The Zoo is a great place to go, Otomo-samaa! SO many animals and even some sparkly rainbow coloured piolins!!"

It had been two days, more than enough time to forget it was a pangolin.

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

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Koroshi nodded along to the Spider and Crane. He visibly brightened at learning they were very distantly related. "Indeed, Susumu-san! Will your children be taking the Otomo or Susumu name? And, if you could remind me whether the Scorpion and Spider are being friendly again that would be great."

He sipped at his tea some more trying to keep the sugar flowing to his brain. "I will immediately go the zoo! Did you see any flying animals? I love things with wings."

[Susumu Yuji]

Yuji spoke to Hinata just as the little Crane was reaching peak suction on his straw and hunting boba in his tea.

"It's been great. No idea why Yuta-kun was so worried about me coming here!"

And then to the Otomo.

"The Zoo is a great place to go, Otomo-samaa! SO many animals and even some sparkly rainbow coloured piolins!!"

It had been two days, more than enough time to forget it was a pangolin.

"Well, it's good to have friends that care deeply for your well being. If I can be of any aid or assistance to you, Asahina-san, please let me know." His disarming smile never disappeared, his tone soft and inviting one to lean in closer.

Koroshi nodded along to the Spider and Crane. He visibly brightened at learning they were very distantly related. "Indeed, Susumu-san! Will your children be taking the Otomo or Susumu name? And, if you could remind me whether the Scorpion and Spider are being friendly again that would be great."

He sipped at his tea some more trying to keep the sugar flowing to his brain. "I will immediately go the zoo! Did you see any flying animals? I love things with wings."

"Ichiko and Jiro both have the name Susumu. Technically, Kimurahime-sama," the adoration for his wife was clear in the way his voice lifted at saying her name, the way his features softened, "wears the Mon of the Spider and the Susumu, but we work closely with our Imperial cousin." And then the Otomo's other question...

"Situations are ever changing. I have made a few close friends with some of the Scorpion, so there is always hope to expand that, Otomo-san."

[Asahina Hinata]

"Oh they have loads of flying animals, Otomo-samaaaa!! And a breeding centre for those lil buzzy dragon thingies people have here."

He switched off at the talk of marriage and the like. Stuff he wasn't interested in.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"The glimmer...somethings. Glimmerwings?" Koroshi asked with furrowed brow as he thought about it. "But yes, I know what animal you are talking about Asahina-san. What is it that you said you do again?"

To the Spider he nodded and smiled. "Children are a great blessing, Susumu-san! Your line continues and your ancestors know they will be honored into the future."

[Asahina Hinata]

A little of the wariness of Imperials returned, but it was a good question.

"I'm a singer in the idol group Usagi Drop!, Otomo-samaaa. And I do the voice for Nousagi in Inu-Tai."

[Otomo Koroshi]

A little of the wariness of Imperials returned, but it was a good question.

"I'm a singer in the idol group Usagi Drop!, Otomo-samaaa. And I do the voice for Nousagi in Inu-Tai."

"Usagi Drop!, the Crane boyband? Asahina-san, this one is in awe of your talent! This one's singing is only passable but the dancing, the moves, the athleticism, these are all my favorite things!" Koroshi pushed himself off the chair for a moment to do one of the dance moves from an older Usagi Drop! single. He is obviously practiced at it, and once finished he puts himself back in the chair.

"I had not realized you were the Asahina Hinata! Truly an honor, it would please me if you would be willing to use Koroshi-san. No -sama from such an excellent dancer." The Otomo said with all the energy of a noon sun.

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata clapped, delighted to see one of the Drop! dances.

"So good, Otomo-samaa!"

He then listened to the Otomo request a more familiar name and all thoughts of being reserved and subdued around the Imperial fled.

"Of course, Koroshi-sannnn! You know our dance so well. We still perform "A Rifle's Shot of Honour" at concert's occasionally, but it's hard to fit all the songs in when Naz-kun keeps writing new ones."

[Susumu Yuji]

Yuji was content to listen to the two other men go on. Relaxing back into his chair, slowly sipping from his boba, the little explosions of strawberry against the richness of the chocolate.

That the Otomo knew the dance was intriguing, but not necessarily surprising. Among Spider networks, occasionally there would be footage from the Crane idol band, usually in contrast to the work of Kumohime.

"My daughter was a fan of Nousagi on Inu-tai, Asahina-san. She enjoyed your performance through the voice acting."