pishirogane | prismatica

She does just that, sinking into the water at a reasonable distance from Naoto - close enough for conversation at a normal volume, but not so close as to crowd her.

"This has certainly been an eventful week."

"Indeed. How did it go raising your dragon?"

Assuming Hifumi had raised one or helped raise one.

"Well enough, all things considered. I don't think any of us were truly prepared for how exhausting it turned out to be, but I managed all right." She's still not sure how anyone who took on an egg alone got through the incubation period.

"I doubt anyone had the appropriate Chroma preparation for how much those baby dragons required." And since so many of them had likely been holding back since they arrived in Lunatia, the shortage and almost complete drainage of Chroma in a number of people had come up instead.

She wondered if she could go to the doctors even and see if anyone had been completely drained...

"And here I thought I'd been doing rather well on that front." It's an admission Hifumi doesn't mean to let slip - she's fairly open, it's true, but that doesn't mean she feels a need to discuss the details - and she covers for it by changing the subject.

"Ren's personality and my hobbies make for a frightening combination. I'm almost sorry for unleashing it on these unsuspecting people, but they asked us to step in with the eggs."

(And Ren's her best friend, and his attitude has clearly been rubbing off on her while they've been here... so she's only a little sorry.)

That's an interesting comment that definitely receives a raised brow. Hifumi just didn't seem like the type that would disclose such information. However, as quickly as it's disclosed, the topic has already shifted.

"I'm sure they'll handle it. Kanji-kun and I might have likely done similar with both our hatchlings..."

"Oh, you know Kanji-kun?" She'd been wondering if he was from their little world-cluster, but theirs is not the only Japan represented here, so she hadn't wanted to assume.

"I can definitely picture a reptilian textile menace on his part, though."

To say nothing of Naoto's formidable intellect.

"Yes. We're from the same point in our world... though, he's back in Inaba while I had to temporarily move elsewhere for work." And while she could say more, she manages not to, unsure what to say next out of everything. Fortunately, they can talk about the dragons.

"Yes. One of them may begin taking yarn..."

"He seems like a good friend to have. And far smarter than he gives himself credit for." Not that she can't see the problem there - he's a visual learner, and Japan's school system is heavily biased in favor of readers.

Hifumi can't restrain a giggle at that mental image. "I suppose there are worse things to hoard, all told."

"He is, and I wish he would give himself more credit both in his intelligence and skill." Though, she understands his defensive responses. It's easier to be told down when the person already doing that is himself.

Naoto can't help but chuckle too. "Indeed. I imagine she'll be very comfortable. What about yours?"

"At least part of the problem is clear enough - our school system isn't well equipped to handle people who don't learn by reading. Instead of trying to meet someone halfway, they just say 'try harder.' He retains things perfectly well after a visual demonstration."

She sighs. "She insisted on a shogi game before climbing the mountain, and didn't bother mentioning she was just kidding until after I'd approximated a to-scale playing space."

They really shouldn't have expected anything less.

"That's been an on-going issue." There were plenty of other problems with current education systems, but they weren't dealing with that here really. At least, Naoto hasn't been attending classes... perhaps she could drop in on a college course and see what it was like here.

Naoto cringes. "I see. You've truly unleashed a trickster."

A to-scale shogi game... dear.

"Ren would most likely take that as a compliment."

"So, Amamiya-san takes being a trickster to a new level, you would say?"

"He certainly aspires to, and I'd say he's been successful in that endeavor." Hacking the entire country's broadcasts, faking his death to expose a corrupt politician, and then saving the world on top of that? Pretty successful run, she'd say.

"I've been wondering for a while how close you are to our point in time. I don't think the biggest news item I have to work with would help, but... has Akechi Goro crossed your path yet? It seems likely you'd have heard of the media-dubbed successor to your title before most people."

And that way, if Naoto hasn't encountered him yet, she'll have some idea of why Hifumi's asking.

"How so?" It's only natural that Naoto's curious about what Ren's getting up to. He's been an oddity while still giving off that strange air her own Senpai did.

"Hm... No, he hasn't. Then again, the more I remain distant from the media right now, the better. I don't need them distracting me at the moment back home."

Currently, she had other things going on that one person being her 'successor' was not her business. It wasn't the important succession to be inherited anyway.

"Most of it's his story to tell, if he so chooses. But I can say he successfully interfered with my mother's attempts to push me into idolhood, and got her to stop."

Kujikawa-san seems to enjoy that kind of work, at least since her hiatus. Hifumi would have hated it.

"That puts Ren and I at least a year ahead of you, then - possibly as much as two. I think you'd remember hearing about him, even if you hadn't met. He always struck me as... saying whatever he thought would make people like him the most."

"Mmm, yes. Being an idol isn't for everyone. Rise-san calls to complain about it often enough, but since her gradual move towards acting, they've become less frequent."

It's just not for everyone. The fact Rise got where she was took its own dedication sure enough.

"I see... I suppose that's one way to work into everyone's good graces, but then who is he truly?"

"She seems happy in her work, at least - she has since her hiatus, anyway. I'd vastly prefer the attention to be on shogi itself rather than the person playing it."

Hifumi nods. "An excellent question, and one I've never been able to answer for myself. He rather abruptly stopped doing any TV appearances just before I arrived here - granted, the media was also rather busy with the snap election, but even so."

She doesn't know what happened with Akechi, and she doesn't have any reason to think Ren would know, so she hasn't asked.

"Yes. You could say there was a breakthrough during that time."

Naoto... made a face at the mention of TV appearances. "I see... His TV appearances were regular?"

Not something she recommended for a detective to do. He should know better...

"I'm glad she was able to have it, then." And that's for Rise's own sake, rather than anything her fanbase or managers might want from her. Better that she's happy in what she does.

"Regular enough that the sudden, unexplained lack of them was notable. He'd taken time away from media appearances before, but had at least explained why."

Naoto nods, remembering their time in Inaba, and says no more on it.

"Hm... I don't really condone going on television. It tends to bring too much spotlight towards work. However, if there's an ulterior motive, then an exception can be made. I suspect similar case with him given the frequency if he's apparently the next acclaimed Detective Prince. There should be no other reason to appear otherwise."

Hifumi shrugs. "I don't know him personally, so I have no idea what strategy he might be trying to employ."

Her mother could probably speculate, but that's just all the more reason not to ask her.

prismatica | Overflow

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