Nakahama

Kazushi shows up fashionably late, taking a seat at the kiosk next to Senshuken. Katsumi sits beside him, laptop at the ready to record any arrangements made during the meeting, while Kurumi sits a bit further away, where she can watch anyone who might come near the place.

"Apologies for the delay ...

Kazushi shakes his head.

"I didn't like having to give Kisha-san that news, but that's not...you know what? It's not important. Let's just enjoy a last night out!"

With a shrug, Kazushi downs his drink and heads out to meet the ladies on the dance floor.

"I...wasn't sure how welcome I'd be," he says over the loud club music.

Kazushi and the twins decide to have one last night out, as well. Katsumi and Kurumi head to the dance floor, while Kazushi seeks the bar. Taking a seat and turning to look out at the dancers, he notices Taraka...and his expression grows guarded. He gives a friendly nod, though.

"They covered their tracks well," says Kazushi. "The escaped conspirators are probably out of the province by now. I doubt there's any more to find here."

Kazushi kneels down next to Hinata again.

"Let me know if anything comes up," he says. "Despite certain troubles..."

He very pointedly does not look in the direction that the magistrate was directing Honoka and her yojimbo.

"...you did a damned fine job here today. These guys have had their ...

"My bodyguard was responding to an apparent threat," Kazushi says, "but largely that is correct. I am prepared to put aside the unpleasant way in which I have been treated, so long as the threat to myself and my employee has been removed."

As Honoka lay in Hiroto's arms, his hand goes to his sidearm. Ready to defend himself, and his charge, with his life if need be. Unlike Honoka he was trained for this type of stress, and was ready.

"Tell her to lay her hand off her weapon immediately," Hiroto would say grievously. "Remember where ...

Kurumi's hand is on her sidearm again as she interposes herself between the fainting Crab and her employer.

"See that she doesn't forget this," Kazushi says to Hiroto. "She has answered my colleague's courage and my offer of assistance with hostility. Were she not in such a state, and were my ...

"That is...a choice," Kazushi says, his tone flat, "although given the information uncovered in independent investigations, I do not believe it to be a wise one. The offer is rescinded, then - you can be assured that our information will be made available to the public, in its entirety and without ...

Kazushi raises an eyebrow, then shakes his head.

"Where information is concerned," he says with a sigh, "every lost moment is costly in the extreme. What can be uncovered, must be, and with agents of the opposition still in action, control of the narrative must be established. After all, we want ...

As Sorato was given Honoka's appraisal, she would step to the side and further allow him entry. Offering her the opportunity to step up to Kazushi, whom she met eye to eye. Interposing herself between the Scorpion and the scene, "Bayushi Kazushi-san," she says, an affect of politeness. "Are you in ...

"They took a lot away overnight," Kazushi agrees with a yawn, "but none of it actually useful, as far as I can tell. The motivations of the Temple's leadership, aside from a desire to overthrow the province's governor, remain a mystery. At least, to me."

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Kurumi steps away from her employer and toward Sumie and Hinata.

"Bayushi-sama doesn't seem to want to go with you, Kuni-sama," she says, her hand resting on the sidearm in its holster. "It might be best to respect his wishes."

"It's certainly a wonderful vacation spot... There's lots of fond memories around here eh? You think the clan will have you stay long term to establish the Departmen'ts new branch here?" He says in between bites of his takoyaki.

"I know I don't get much say in this. But I'm certainly not that ...

Yasuki Umiko wrote: Sat Dec 06, 2025 1:40 pm *snip*

Kazushi stubbornly refuses to go away, although he does step aside to let the healer have a look at Haruto.

"Maybe later then." He smiles his way. Then turns with a brighter smile to the two attendants.

"Katsumi-san! Kurumi-san!" He says with a curt bow to each woman. "Glad to see you're enjoying the festivities, oh! Don't mind if I do, I love takoyaki!" He cheerfully takes the fried seafood ball and ...

That gets a smile. A bit of one.

"Maybe later, I think," Kazushi says. "These sorts of festivals get me into a weird mood, so who knows?"

That's the point that Katsumi and Kurumi choose to return, with bundles in hand.

"I caught a fish!" says Katsumi happily. "We also brought back some takoyaki ...

Kazushi's cold eyes lock onto Umiko, and he's nods.

"My colleague is correct, Yasuki-san. I believe we have much to discuss."

"I was up all night," Kazushi confesses, "helping the local law enforcement sift through what was left behind."

He sighs.

"It wasn't much. Aside from what we already figured out, I couldn't learn anything more. I'm sure there's something, though."