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Post by Asahina Momiko on Feb 12, 2018 23:25:29 GMT -5
"Nozoru-sama IS a kind man, yes. And the Mistress is very interested in Momiko-sama's education, it's true. But Momiko-sama has been declared not to be a true heir, a bastard child, as it were. So the Mistress does not want to put more into Momiko-sama than is strictly necessary to take over as the CFO of the company and properly serve Takano-sama."
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Feb 12, 2018 23:42:20 GMT -5
"Hrm...," Yoshi mutters, pondering the new information. "She feels all sorts of pressure and expectations upon her... but you'd think not being the primary heir would lessen the burden of all that. I guess... CFO is still an important, stressful position." He sighs.
"I understand what it's like to not live up to what your parents wanted and be ignored by them because of it," Yoshi says. He feels guilty for finding something else that he and Momiko had in common, because it was a shared pain that he wouldn't wish upon an enemy, let alone a girl like her who meant so much to him.
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Post by Asahina Momiko on Feb 13, 2018 4:35:38 GMT -5
"You misunderstand; Momiko-sama has more than lived up to her parents' expectations, if such a thing is even possible. Apart from her expectation in her duty to the family business, they have very few expectations for her in that sense. Nozoru-sama has tried his best to get around that status quo, but ultimately Momiko-sama is not his child and he has less say in such things. And to the Mistress, Momiko-sama is little more than a tool; And one does not have expectations for a tool beyond doing its job, no?"
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Feb 13, 2018 6:53:54 GMT -5
"I... think I can still sympathize pretty well... even if the circumstances are somewhat different," Yoshi says, recalling his own inability to earn parental love. As they drew ever closer, the house was looming even larger now, if that was possible. "Did... um... my answer meet with your approval, by the way? And... what did you mean by "chance for freedom"? I thought initially that you were just talking about how she's getting to go to school now and meet new people, but... after what you've told me about her parents, specifically her mother... is there more to it?" Yoshi didn't have a lot of experience with life or intercommunication, but he had a good amount of deductive reasoning, thanks to his Kitsuki training.
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Post by Asahina Momiko on Feb 13, 2018 7:08:46 GMT -5
"Well enough; And no, your instincts were mostly right. This year is just a chance for the young miss to live life for herself; Before now she was mostly stuck in the manor, only running out on approved excursions. And after she graduates things will once again become much more controlled as she starts moving into her position of duty. But for this brief window, there are no bodyguards or cameras or locks. No expectations beyond passing grades. I simply was wary of you because I did not wish that time to be used by someone who would use her. You do not seem the sort though. Even if that has its own bittersweet tragedy to it. No more questions though; We are almost inside, and the Mistress has ears like a hunting owl's"
As they reached the top of stairs a maid bowed to Yoshi and Jio before opening the tall door. Inside was a wide hall with a butler... and Momiko sitting quite stiffly in a chair, wearing a blue and red yukata, hands on her knees.
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Feb 13, 2018 7:18:51 GMT -5
Yoshi nods to Jio, but he's somewhat saddened by the prospect of losing Momiko back into her personal abyss of responsibilties after only one short year. His own future was a murky fog before him, but he was staring to see two Crane-shaped silhouettes on separate paths toward an assumed horizon.
"Momiko-san," Yoshi greets her with a bow and a soft smile, trying to put her at greater ease than she appeared to have. His own heart was pounding with worry, but he was determined to put on a brave face for her. He spares a few glances away from the seated girl to take in the sight of the lavish foyer, but she is where most of his attention is focused.
"I would greet you with the customary words about rice, but... we had lunch together," Yoshi says, playing it as cool as his awkward and poor attempts at humor would allow.
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Post by Asahina Momiko on Feb 13, 2018 7:25:23 GMT -5
"Of course. Do remember to take off your shoes, Tamori-san."
She lifts a hand to indicate a skinny old maid standing to his right.
"I hope your trip here was pleasant enough?"
This... was a very formal sounding Momiko. Her language and cadence and gestures were like an old courtier.
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Feb 13, 2018 7:35:15 GMT -5
"Yes, the... taxi ride was smooth, and the cabbie was very nice," Yoshi says brightly, not wanting anyone to have the slightest thought that he would've preferred their limo. He removes his shoes and hands them hesitantly to the maid, sort of weaving them vaguely through the air as well while trying to both ignore the woman and interact with her simultaneously.
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Post by Asahina Momiko on Feb 13, 2018 7:44:27 GMT -5
As the old woman takes the shoes and waddles away, Momiko stands with a smile, "So; Dinner is in twenty minutes; What would you like to do in the meanwhile? See the gardens while it's still light? Take a tour? Something else?"
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Feb 13, 2018 7:54:25 GMT -5
"Oh... I don't want to miss the gardens," Yoshi says with enthusiasm, though he realizes a moment later that he had just given away his shoes. Still, he continues on, "We could do a tour after dinner maybe... if... there's time." He looks around the foyer again and wonders if there'd be time enough to see all of just it, let alone the rest of the house.
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