#ducking an ex is not in fact a good reason to ignore a suitable location

[quickdeaths]

At Peko's words, Shinobu's lips curled down into a small frown. "No, I won't need to depart at any point today." And if, for some reason, she did, she'd simply find a way to fulfill her obligations first, for Shinobu Yaguchi wasn't the sort of person to leave things for others for her own benefit. "I'm not so irresponsible or thoughtless as to ask you to handle things yourself. Surely your free time is as valuable as my own, Miss Pekoyama, so I wouldn't think to deprive you of it." Perhaps more so, if Peko Pekoyama spent it doing things she enjoyed, rather than things accepted merely out of obligation.

Of course, that was assuming she had much free time in the first place. Shinobu certainly wouldn't, if her father was more personally attentive regarding her development. As it stood, he was more interested in rubbing shoulders with politicians and cultural leaders, entirely uninterested in his child so long as they continued to win tournaments. How strange, the feeling of being quashed under their father's thumb, restricted in what they could wear, how they could speak, and what home tasks were delegated to them, but to then be ignored often enough to regularly spend weekends on dates. Regardless, perhaps Peko wasn't awarded quite the same amount of curious autonomy, and spent the bulk of her time at her dojo, honing her skills.

Perhaps it would be polite to ask her. The archer wasn't much for conversation merely for the sake of it, but if she was to work closely with Peko over the following weeks, it could be beneficial to have some manner of rapport with her, even if Shinobu was not the sort of person well-suited to any sort of companionship. A hand, marked with a few small bruises and cuts - from housework, rather than from archery - reached for another rice cracker, bringing it to her lips as she thought the idea over. Perhaps not. There really was no reason to force things, when proximity alone would likely facilitate some manner of familiarity, over time.

Her own thoughts were interrupted by the swordswoman's words, prompting a lifting of Shinobu's chin, eyes focusing on Peko's for only a moment before the other woman looked away. "Taishinkan Dojo, mm." The name certainly sounded familiar, though it took them a moment to place it, barely able to keep their expression from twisting into a grimace. Out of hand, she'd dismissed it from the preliminary judgment, owing to the fact that a certain young woman could occasionally be found there, sword in hand and attendants at her side. She was someone Shinobu had no desire to run into again, though, perhaps that concern was rather secondary in the face of the situation at hand.

"You're speaking of this place, aren't you," Shinobu asked, rising from her seat and sorting through another of her folders, before setting an information sheet in front of the other girl. "For personal reasons, I preferred to avoid it, but upon further inspection, and consideration of the alternatives..." Without realizing what she'd done, her teeth found her lip, biting softly with sharp teeth as she again considered things. It would be necessary to go personally, yes, but it would be unlikely to catch Miss Uesugi by coincidence. The event itself would likely draw her attention, but if Shinobu considered things logically, she would surely attend regardless of venue, given her personality, as well as the channels through which the event would be publicized.

Yes, that was the realistic way of looking at things. "If you had the thought to suggest it, even without an information sheet to bring it to mind, then you must have some degree of familiarity, as well as fondness, for it." And if that were the case, then denying its suitability for petty, personal reasons seemed even more out of sorts. To inconvenience or disregard her partner's suggestion, then, lacked basis. "And if that's the case, Miss Pekoyama, then I'd like to consider such a recommendation with the sense and clarity that you deserve."

It was often remarked upon to the archer the intense, piercing quality of her eyes. There were those who found the unyielding red alluring, or intimidating, or both alike. Not that Shinobu had much to do about it, given that it was simply how their face looked. Still, she could only hope that the swordswoman found them neither harsh nor judgmental. Coffee was brought back to her lips, with intent to break up the stare. "My knowledge of Taishinkan Dojo is largely secondhand, and surely some years out of date. Would you be able to speak at more length as to its qualities, Miss Pekoyama? I'd like to hear your opinion."

she   doesn't   fancy   herself   as   an   obtrusive   person.   not   in   the   slightest,   not   when   she   moves   breathlessly   as   a   backdrop   to   yakuza   phone   calls,   presence   never   tangible   beyond   that   of   the   physical   evidence   of   her   lithe   form.   her   greatest   attempt   is   in   mindlessly   blocking   out   any   of   the   words   shinobu   speaks   /   she   needn't   be   nosy,   and   such   is   a   mindset   she   has   harbored   since   the   day   she   met   eyes   with   the   young   master.   that   she   needs   to   know   only   what   is   explicitly   told   to   her.   the   blanking   out   of   her   mind   is   akin   to   the   unrelenting   thrum   of   pounding   rain   against   gray   -   toned   rooftops.   with   the   untrained   eye,   one   might   improperly   glean   that   she   had   forgotten   how   to   breathe,   how   to   speak,   how   to   dip   into   any   facets   of   personhood   beyond   that   of   her   somatic   being   seated.   and   yet,   immediately   upon   being   addressed,   a   streak   of   crimson   shifts   to   the   other   woman   in   acknowledgment.

 ❝  i   understand,   ❞   she   says   flatly   —   not   out   of   desire   to   externalize   coldness,   but   rather   distance   herself   from   any   stretch   of   humanity   in   the   circumstances   /   regret   comes   only   for   intruding   on   the   project   and   not   for   the   sake   of   peko's   own   time   and   purpose.   no   matter   how   long   this   excursion   took,   when   it   was   over,   she   would   wordlessly   skulk   back   to   fuyuhiko's   side,   returning   to   her   greater   purpose   as   a   tool   ;   though   the   foolish,   youthful   words   begging   for   impetus   would   never   leave   her   lips,   they   played   over,   and   over,   and   over   in   her   mind.   repeated   dissonance   in   the   disharmony   of   her   selfish   and   blackened   heart   wanting   something,   something   to   be   of   her   own   volition   and   seeking   out,   and   her   logical   mental   framework,   which   silently   comprehends   that   her   value   is   in   carrying   out   whatever   tasks   she   has   been   given.

❝   i   only   ask   you   alert   me   should   you   need   to   leave   abruptly   today.   ❞   she   could   ...   probably   handle   this   all   on   her   own,   all   things   considered,   even   with   any   amount   of   trial   and   tribulation   in   deigning   to   secure   adequate   choice   in   venue   and   whatever   else   was   bathed   in   glistening,   hopeful   light   beyond   that   :   but   she'd   really   prefer   only   to   ruminate   upon   such   a   fantasy   —   in   the   absolute   loosest   quotes   possible   —   if   of   utmost   necessity.   and,   as   it   stood   both   at   present   and   ere   long,   that   likely   wouldn't��  be   necessary.

it   wasn't   as   though   selection   of   venue   was   something   overly   difficult   in   accomplishing,   anyway   ;   one   of   hope's   peaks   own   gymnasiums   was   an   obvious   and   evident   choice,   and   yet   remains   one   peko   offers   little   consideration   to.   after   all,   garish   accoutrements   like   the   school   crest   painted   clumsily   onto   the   floor   was   an   embellishment   in   the   worst   possible   way   for   something   otherwise   intentioned   as   a   love   letter   to   tradition.   and,   to   adequately   showcase   not   just   their   talents,   but   everyone   else   honing   a   traditional   japanese   talent,   more   space   would   be   desired.   kendō   and   kyūdō   alone   were   greedy   in   their   demand   for   surface   area,   let   alone   factoring   in   general   martial   arts,   aikidō,   nihon   buyō,   and   whomever   else   darkened   the   halls   of   the   academy   with   a   distinct   demeanor.   and   those   so   it   just   wouldn't   do.

the   paper   housing   hope's   peak's   gymnasium   as   a   candidate   was   promptly   discarded   into   a   pile   peko   taciturnly   adjudged   to   be   those   removed   from   the   pool.   several   other   potential   venues   were   discarded   in   similar   fashion   /   in   truth,   she   had   a   particular   location   in   mind,   and   had   no   qualms   about   going   through   each   locality   again   if   what   she   had   in   mind   wasn't   amidst   the   paperwork.

[   the   place   in   question   was   none   other   than   a   local   dōjō   to   the   academy,   one   peko   herself   had   sporadically   practiced   at,   of   course   at   the   behest   of   the   kuzuryū   clan.   the   setup   of   the   dōjō   nevertheless   surprised   her   —   perhaps   for   her   typical   bearing   in   mind   that   most   dōjō   served   as   specialized   in   a   particular   martial   art   —   that   it   was   more   generalized   in   its   purpose.   perhaps   that   was   owing   to   its   proximity   to   hope's   peak,   that   it   could   receive   an   outpouring   of   support   and   funding   so   long   as   it   could   provide   a   sacred   place   for   more   than   kendōka,   aikidōka,   and   kyūdōka   /   that   even   dipping   into   purposes   of   meditation   and   programming   would   be   well   worth   it.   and   well   worth   it   it   was,   as   the   dōjō   itself   was   nothing   short   of   gorgeous.   to   peko,   at   least,   though   she   likely   wouldn't   offer   a   negative   opinion   about   anything   if   given   the   opportunity.   the   unending   funding   meant   that   no   sacrifices   were   to   be   made   for   the   sake   of   users   clawing   for   modernity   :   and   such   is   exactly   why   it   was   peko's   first   choice   in   venue.   ]

 ❝   excuse   me,   yaguchi,   ❞  she   says,   eyes   flitting   up   briefly   from   the   stack   of   papers   before   her,   shifting   unsteadily   betwixt   the   two   sections   once   her   gaze   lowers   once   more.   ❝   was   taishinkan   dōjō   among   your   potential   candidates   ?   ❞   a   beat   of   silence   in   her   speech,   allowing   for   the   abrupt   swallowing   in   her   throat   before   continuing   on.   ❝   i   am   not   sure   if   i   failed   to   see   it   in   this   pile.   but   —   i   believe   it   to   be   suitable   not   only   in   proximity   to   the   school,   but   in   traditionality   and   scale   as   well.   ❞