Charles Patricius

[Bloodedge]

"It means... these cards are brand-spanking-new! They added support for like... every deck out there! Literally, no matter what type of deck we're all playing, we could each get something really useful out of this box!" Kazu explained in one of the most excited ways he'd ever managed about... well, mostly anything. All the while, he was rapidly tapping his phone screen to send another text after receiving Sakura's reply. "This is awesome! We haven't opened them yet. Let's all make an event of it when you get back!" he responded.

Two conversations were happening via text. Hiruko took a few moments to read two messages, including a full paragraph full of emojis from Iino Miko. He chuckled lightly, yet audibly, upon reading those messages and hearing their senders' voices in his head. "Since you're busy, I'll bug you late tomorrow and see what the better time is between then and the next day. I'd always rather hang out, but I'm out at the beach and liable to be busy myself. Send updates if you're free/bored."

Once Hiruko sent that message, he could actually offer his undivided attention to Sakura, whether temporarily or otherwise. She claimed Shota didn't know her very well. How interesting it was that even she said as much, despite having a key to his new house. 'Not making this easy,' Hiruko thought while turning on the couch, making himself comfortable while... apparently becoming stunned for a moment. He'd finally seen Sakura fully, and nothing made sense. Damned be the fact that she didn't know what stripper poles were for; it didn't make sense that she was here at all. "Huh. Well... nice bikini. I'm not sure what you're doing anywhere but a shrine. You don't belong here ─ that's for sure," he said first and foremost. There were multiple reasons for that statement, but he wouldn't be getting into those. "They're stripper poles. You know, erotic dances and stuff. I guess Shocchi's really into those."

[Apollymi]

Everything from the set was new. So, Sakura set them up with what they'd need to improve all their decks and gave it to them as presents since they'd be stuck inside. "She really went out of her way for that... It's so much, why isn't she here!" Angelica said looking particularly pouty. At the same time Miko and Kaguya were receiving text messages from Hiruko which were being read, both of them. They held smiles on their faces as they read his reply and began replying both seeing his face in their heads. Hai hai, Hiru-nii♪!~ I'll be on the lookout later. O_O Hope you have fun! ^_^ Miko sent the message and happily set her phone down. A different one would come from Kaguya, who smirked upon hearing the reply, Hiru-niisama, don't wreck me so bad next time or do ;3 We'll update you when we're good to go! Don't go ruining any lives worse than mine, okay?~ was all that Kaguya sent seemingly pleased by her flirty message. All the while Ai looked at the pair with a raised brow. She'd be investigating that a bit later. It was unusual for that pair to be texting during group activities.

At the same time, Sakura was receiving a message which made her brows furrow gently initially but then a smile broke out across her face. Though she'd gotten their present with the intention of them having fun with it, she was very pleased that Kazuhiko wanted to include her. She supposed then she wouldn't be opening her own box either. "I'm glad you're happy with your gifts. And really happy to be included so I'll wait to open mine too. If Angie or the other girls end up going to the shop, before I get back, Reiji-san said he'd offer a discount to the girls to help get them started and into the game. Have fun teaching Angie I can't wait to see what she chooses. Keep me posted!" Sakura sent that text and was exceedingly pleased. Her day would only be made better with compliments coming from Hiruko of a variety she found herself enjoying. "Hm, that's a nice one, Arigatou gouzaimasu♥~" she thanked him for the compliment and offered him a bright and honest smile. Ah, but it wasn't just compliments he had to offer either, he had information. Exotic dances were what the poles were for, "Sou ka, it's a prop... that explains a lot," she said her brows furrowing. Someone like Kakihara had no reason to expect that sort of extra effort, not in the grand scheme of things. Now that her eyes were on Hiruko though, she could see something very interesting about him, not just those eyes but the way energy moved around him was intriguing. He spoke with confidence and she found herself running mental comparisons in which, as related individuals that pair didn't make sense. "You are very interesting to look at..." she observed. "Not just physically attractive either... there's a lot going on in your head, that's great. He said his cousin was coming and I extrapolated dozens of potential deficits. You are exceptional as an individual though, top one percent. So, it's him then..." she concluded her thought processes in probably the oddest way possible. But she decided in this very moment that the superior specimen was Hiruko.

[Bloodedge]

"Because you're crippled; shut up and play card games!" Kazuhiko said to the blonde, his excitement overflowing by now. He had just enough divergence left to message Sakura once more. "I'll pass it on. Teaching six people AoE now. I'll update!" he said. Shortly afterwards though, he realized something else was probably relevant. Another message would follow. "Oh, and we're +3 now. Annie's friends went through Alaya and are here now. Just FYI."

In the meantime, Hiruko spared a quick glance to both messages sent his way. That chat seemed final enough that he saw no need to respond, merely reacting with hearts to each text with a simple click. Well... there was one other reaction: a winking emoji with extended tongue attached to Kaguya's text. With that, this new specimen had his undivided attention. Sakura would be under the man's scrutiny for some time to come, and apparently that went both ways. She was... observing him like some sort of science experiment, while he was looking into her potential as something beyond a normal citizen. One compliment was exchanged for another; Sakura's toward Hiruko was beyond unusual though. "I get that a lot. Not like that, though. What makes you think there's a lot going on in my head?" he wondered, wearing that usual unfaltering grin. "And more importantly, why is there so much going on in your head? You're analyzing me against Shocchi like the difference between us means something. That's new... almost."

[Apollymi]

"I'm crippled because of you, shut up and teach card games!" Angelica snapped back. All the other girls in the room giggled and casually looked away with both Miko and Kaguya looking at the acknowledgement of their most recent texts. They'd deal with Hiruko again a bit later and both would be pleased with any potential experiences whenever they popped up again. At the same time, the card binder was being perused by the group and Kazuhiko was sending a couple of text messages to Sakura.

Updates would be incoming and Kazuhiko was teaching six people to play. Nice. Sakura had begun a reply and in the middle another quick message flashed, where he mentioned an increase to their group numbers. Iino Miko had three friends now... surely that number didn't coincide with the rest of the Myouou for no reason. Good, the gorup was complete then. And though that message had interrupted her construction she didn't mind. "Hai hai, that's a lot of new people. I look forward to meeting them. Have fun everyone♥!~" she sent that text and then could fully devote her attention to the man in front of her. Sakura had already given him a bit of an appraisal, but now it seemed both would be speaking directly to each other. Why did Sakura think there was a lot going on in Hiruko's head? "I like watching people and many people have their faces shift when they think. Only a few people don't have that happen all the time. And I've noticed that those people either have nothing in their heads worth talking about, or they have a lot of things going on in their heads and they don't want anyone to know about it. Your responses make it seem like you are the latter... I could be wrong but talking to you will clarify it," Sakura stated earnestly. Now Hiruko seemed to be wondering why so much was going on in her head, and why she seemed to be comparing him to Kakihara. "Sou ka, well, I am made to think so I spend most of my time processing information and amassing questions I want answered. And then finding the means to answer them..." she said earnestly. "As for why the comparison it is nothing negative against you, in fact you are a pleasant surprise. I just believe there is something wrong with Kakihara-san and I haven't figured out what it is yet. Observing close relatives would explain if it was a problem of proximity or a hereditary defect but to be honest I am still confused. He seems oblivious in a way that could be considered dangerous and confident and demanding without the soul to back it up. It's really strange." Sakura was likely being quite alien but throughout her adventures she'd found people generally accepted her with all her oddities.

[Bloodedge]

According to Sakura, she was just a bit of an observer. Her joy came from watching others and seeing their reactions to various thought processes. This was far from the first time Hiruko heard such a thing. In fact, he behaved similarly more often than most. That didn't mean he'd simply brush off Sakura's assertion. She was a potential threat to anyone she wanted to threaten with observational prowess good enough to see through him. "That's a lot to admit. You're a dangerous girl, you know?" he said in a way that sounded slightly flirty. Of course, that was merely the manner of speech Hiruko leaned toward.

Sakura had some interesting phrasing choices. She was made to think, apparently. With that information, she proceeded to break down the major issue Hiruko himself had with Shota. She thought to learn what was wrong with him by observing a close relative. Sadly, Hiruko was no such thing. He could agree, however, that something was wrong with Shota. "There's a lot wrong with him... though there's a lot wrong with everyone. You could ask his whole family what the problem is, and they'll all give you different answers. It all boils down to one thing in the end; it always does." While Hiruko spoke, he repeatedly tossed his phone just slightly into the air, letting it flip before catching it each time. It seemed to be a thing just to pass the time, or perhaps... to keep count of the seconds. "But that leaves one major question. You're not from here, and you took Shocchi's invitation. He even gave you a key. What did he say, three days or so? Why take the offer? What's your angle?"

[Apollymi]

Sakura was quite the talented observer. She'd spent most of her life so far observing the actions of others and implementing what she learned to appear to be a more balanced individual. Now she was speaking to someone she assumed to have a similar talent for watching and figuring out others. He seemed suspicious of her, but that wasn't a bad thing. In fact, it only served to make him more interesting as he instantly became one of the people who didn't immediately fall all over themselves trying to get into her pants. "It isn't a lot for me to admit to and I can be dangerous. I just find no reason to be most of the time..." she continued to be honest regardless of how it was taken. She was dangerous in certain situations but those were very specific. 'Flirty but not flirting. Interesting, I didn't think I'd meet someone else like that...' she thought almost absently.

As they moved on, it seemed they were fated to discuss Kakihara a bit more. It seemed that there was a lot wrong with him according to Hiruko and that added someone else to the list that found that to be the case. Reiji in the shop also seemed to take some issues with the lad as well. By logic and numbers, three unrelated people have the same opinion of him, making him the defective one. "Well yes, most a lot of what is wrong with everyone else is easier to figure out..." Sakura confirmed her own thoughts. But the more she talked to Hiruko the more she realized he was quite smooth to talk to, and his words were firmer. "Sou ka, you realize the potential danger of his actions too. I thought maybe I wasn't familiar enough with local customs to understand his lack of self-preservation..." Sakura said as a point of observation. "It is supposed to be for a maximum for a few days. My reason for accepting is simple, I needed to temporarily relocate and separate myself from the people closest to me as precaution while they settle in after traveling to this town. Since this invitation already stood, and that situation was a bit of an emergency it was easy to accept. Besides, I wanted to see the beach. I hadn't seen one before," Sakura said easily. "I also think it's odd he gave me a key. I don't have a key to the place I am actually staying presently and that isn't a potential safety hazard."

[Bloodedge]

Not many would admit to being dangerous, Hiruko thought. On the other hand, many who fit into that list would always claim they weren't dangerous in the moment. Hiruko gave this girl a once-over, a twice-over, even a thrice-over after hearing such a thing from her mouth. "Not a threat? Maybe. Not a danger? No... you're dangerous every time you inhale," he said. Actually, if he thought about it another few seconds, that wasn't even an exaggeration with those huge jugs on this girl's chest. No matter.

Beyond any and all physical attributes, this girl was a great danger mentally. Her mind was sharp, quick and constantly questioning by Hiruko's observation. She didn't seem like a killer, but... some of the most dangerous individuals he knew had never even taken lives themselves. For the time being, it seemed she was content to focus on discovering Shota's faults in detail. There were no outstanding reasons Hiruko could think such a thing was necessary unless the local family had a contract on him for something stupid. If that were the case, though, Hiruko wondered why Shota would even be alive presently. "Some people just don't have the right energy for what they do. On the other hand, some people fabricate having the wrong energy," Hiruko said plainly, seemingly without much purpose or care. His interest currently was elsewhere. Sakura wasn't the only one wondering something. Sakura was here for up to a few days, isolated from those she knew ─ apparently for her own reasons. What a strange story. "First time I'm hearing that one... but I believe you. The question is: if you're getting away because you need to, seeing things you've never seen, staying in this fancy house with a key and all... what's he getting out of the deal?" he asked in a leading manner.

[Apollymi]

Hiruko made the observation that Sakura may not have been a threat but she was a danger with every breath she took. That was an interesting way to think about it, she supposed that most of the 'normal' people she'd encountered were not the kind of clever to question beyond the surface level. This of course, included Kakihara himself. "I suppose that is one way to look at it," she agreed. She was literally one of the most attractive people on the planet without question, given this it was obvious to her what he meant, but still a good use of his skill. The more he talked the more she realized how he operated, his mind was interesting, she decided by virtue of how he took their conversation. He was definitely leading it the direction he wanted it to go. Kakihara had done something similar when they'd first met, but it was less refined to direct to hide from someone who could process.

And lo, there would be a more direct answer to Sakura's curiosity. Some people don't have the right energy for the things they do, she'd seen that play out a few times, she understood it. And some, faked the wrong energy instead. "Sou ka, it's one of the lies. And it's... you?" she said, as pure understanding fired through her brain. Even as Hiruko went on to exemplify the exact sort of behavior she'd seen and taken as off-putting before she heard and understood now. Kakihara was trying to copy something so much bigger than himself and he was failing and being crushed by its weight. Or perhaps it was a simple matter of not really understanding? That did happen a mental interpretation without full context could lead one's experimentation awry. If giving credit for a lack of malicious intent, she'd said Kakihara didn't consider all the variables before choosing the thing he wanted to emulate. Or rather he couldn't know the difference in truth. "I don't currently have the vocabulary to make it more palatable. Our situation is a bit complicated right now and not everyone is aware of the kinds of complications we face. I am glad you believe me," Sakura added for context and her present understanding. As for his other question she gave it consideration. "Ah, a leading question that it doesn't feel annoying to answer. A pry for information that doesn't seem to imply a desire for a specific answer but a genuine curiosity. I like that better. Kakihara-san is definitely copying you. Badly, I might add..." she expressed that line of thought before answering his question. "The only thing I can say he's gotten out of meeting me is sex. But I wasn't dishonest in telling him that such a thing was done only because I was trying to learn something. His claim in those early times was that we could be sex friends and he could teach me some things. But, we only have sex, bar our first meeting. Such things were informative but they stopped being so last night. After getting here I had what I needed from our exchanges. And after today's explorations in the area I am certain I can amuse myself while I wait on the call to return to my group. He didn't seem very interested in the details of such things though. So, I can't say for certain what he thinks is going to happen." she answered honestly.

[Bloodedge]

Sakura deduced that her host of the next few days was a liar, specifically emulating Hiruko. It was an astute observation, if nothing else, but that upward inflection would not lead to an affirmative answer. "That's not for me to say. You're quick-witted, though," he said while finally stopping all that phone-tossing in favor of a few idle spins.

The answer Hiruko sought was incoming, though not without some additional observations from Sakura. She first mentioned the complexity of her situation, and continued by addressing the leading nature of Hiruko's question. Sentence by sentence, the purple-haired girl was making her mental acuity clear... but also making clear a certain distaste for the young man she was currently staying with. Either way, she was showing her hand in an unusually earnest way for one with so much danger potential. She thought his curiosity was genuine in nature, however... so perhaps he could lower the perceived threat level a bit. Ah, indeed there were some faults in execution if Sakura was to be considered a direct danger. She'd walked right into a situation without grasping the full gravity of it. Hiruko foresaw a clusterfuck of revelations if things played out naturally, assuming Sakura withheld no vital information in her recent answer. "You had sex, then waltzed right into the new house of a guy who gave you the key. That's a little naïve of you, don't you think?" Hiruko asked. He could tell what Shota's plan was, and he could see the naiveté on both sides. "If you ask me, it's pretty obvious he thinks you can be coerced into staying here. Based on your words, that doesn't sound like it was ever a possibility, but... you still leave yourself open to a lot of abuse. Shocchi doesn't have the gumption to go through with any of the serious stuff, but everyone has their breaking point... and beyond that, he knows how to call the people who can actually execute."

[Apollymi]

Quick-witted. What an interesting description. He didn't answer Sakura's curiosity but there was an implication that he knew what she was getting at. She wondered if he let Kakihara exist as he did purposefully. She did think it odd that he had no meaningful skills or talents and enough free time to spend at a card shop with teens with no regular mentions of schooling or work. "Sou ka," she murmured. What an interesting man this was, she understood the extra implications of people like Kaguya and Miko enjoying his company. He had nice energy and an interesting set of talents.

Beyond that point, Hiruko pointed out the naivety of Sakura. Of having sex with a person an waltzing into the house they were given a key to, perhaps it was. "It would only be naïve if I thought him dangerous. He isn't dangerous to me in the traditional sense, and I think I'd even be forgiven for maiming or killing him in self-defense, though... in that case I would have to wait for the attempt. Maybe I should have asked what counted as dangerous in this context. I suppose that would be poor planning on my part but all experiments have their dangers and these are well within my ability to control. Well, except for the addition of you but this is hypothetically not including you so I'd be fine and I'd take responsibility for it afterwards." she concluded rather easily. She very casually mentioned her ability to maim or kill someone in front of someone who seemed more capable of maiming or killing than others she'd come across lately. Still, Hiruko had more to say, Kakihara thought himself capable of coercing her into staying and though it was obvious to Hiruko after talking to her that it wasn't possible the lad could open her up to abuse or potentially call people who could do more dangerous things. "Calling more people to do things he isn't capable of is that the privilege of a pet? Hm, I suppose it might be, such a thing would get a bit out of hand but I suppose that is where the resting distaste comes from. Whatever his breaking point is, isn't something that should be related to me... the parameters of our agreement were set at our first meeting. He is naïve for thinking there is something he could offer or threaten me with. He doesn't know me at all nor does he have any idea what I am capable of. He is miscalculating or not doing so at all. Though that does happen, horny tends to make people stop thinking most of the time." Sakura concluded. Still she didn't think this was a problem for her at all.

[Bloodedge]

Sakura didn't find Shota dangerous to her. While that was true by any normal means, Hiruko had it on good authority that she'd personally handed over a danger, placing it right into Shota's hands... or on his phone. Interestingly enough, she was open about her ability and willingness to maim, or even kill. How strange. She didn't seem like she'd ever taken a life directly or purposefully, but he believed her willingness to do so. "You're thinking of the wrong dangers. It's unlikely someone like Shocchi will go straight to violence, but you handed him everything he needs to ruin your reputation. One piece of incriminating evidence goes live, and you're in the gutter. Now, a lot of people hear that and say they're not worried about stuff like that... but it wouldn't just affect you. That kind of thing would affect everyone you associate with for the rest of your life," Hiruko explained.

Greater understanding was on its way, with Sakura interestingly thinking of Shota as a pet. Well... she wasn't too far from the truth, but it wasn't Hiruko's place to say. She mentioned their agreement, and Hiruko believed there were missing understandings on both sides. Obviously the agreement wasn't everything. "You're talking about an agreement, but what's in an agreement anyway? Let's say... I have something we both want, but you want it more. At the same time, you have something we both want... but I want it a little more. What should we do? If we agree to the value being close enough, we could just trade, right? But here's the thing ─ I still want what I have, and you still want what you have. Now we're stuck each trying to get what the other has without losing too much of our own thing. If you're still following along, consider that being one-sided instead. We agree to share something, but I'm the one with everything to gain. What's going to stop me from trying to get it all?" Near the end of his speech, Hiruko rose from the couch and sauntered over to the bar. A glass of cognac would do him well, so he popped one of the bottles from higher up, two glasses at the ready. "Gambler's folly. It's happening here on both sides, in different ways. Drink?"

[Apollymi]

Apparently Sakura wasn't considering the different kinds of dangers human possessed. She wasn't in physical danger, instead it was her reputation which was at stake, with things she'd already handed over. She'd done thing she would have considered incriminating but she wasn't completely obtuse either. Context clues said something in Kakihara's phone could be used against her and the only thing he had of her were lewd to semi-lewd pornographic images and a few blunt text messages. While the way she was, did simply amount to her own activities, it was news to her that such could be considered disruptive to the lives of others. But she'd been hearing bits and pieces about such things the entire time, they just didn't have context. "Sou ka, this is one of those local common sense things, that aren't based in what I consider to be normal logic. And it explains the odd interactions I've been noticing the extra habits and shock," she said sounding odd. But Kaguya and Miko did seem very protective of each other and often spoke about the way things were perceived. That came from their human natures so in this time they were better suited to be helpful... she'd have to make a note to question mannerisms she'd been engaging in without thought later. "Well, me knowing that just puts him in danger. There are few things I will act over but anything that could harm the others isn't something I'll allow," she concluded. Now she had a tertiary thought process and might actually have to get someone to help her fix what she'd done in ignorance, there was always one parent who could help her in such situations, but she'd wait to call upon him, not wanting to waste any unnecessary energy, if she could solve this problem on her own.

While she thought over those options she was being given more context for the human psyche, the darker parts not present in her own limited interactions. A few statements were made which seemed to point to the darker nature of humans, rather their more destructive tendencies leading them to not act in harmony with each other. "Sou ka, I didn't have that sort of context, I don't know people who behave at those sorts of extreme. People tend to do what they desire, one's desires should lead their actions and curb them, but I suppose by virtue of the discussion there is an implication that simple desires are being plagued by greed..." she said in the odd way she tended to talk about things. All the while she took note of the physical specimen that was Hiruko. He was quite lean and very tall, definitely made the top percentage of that she'd seen for the immediate area, discounting her own father. He was even better behaved than Kakihara, offering her drinks and being in general a much more reasonable being. "Hm, I've never had that before, I'd like to try it, but what is it?" she asked as she always would. Clarification would be something she sought as she continued to mull over her own situation and learn about the dark nature of humans. Of the ones she'd met so far, who had such images of her, Kakihara was the only one she could determine as being untrustworthy with what he had. The rest seemed to understand what they were getting themselves into... sins and human technology were terrible mixes.

[Bloodedge]

Sakura may have unknowingly walked headlong into danger, but Hiruko didn't treat the situation like a real issue. In fact, he knew it wasn't a problem in actuality. He was going to be here for the entire duration of Sakura's stay, if not longer. Shota simply wasn't allowed to make such terrible decisions at the cost of an innocent life while Hiruko could say or do anything about it. He didn't really think her problem was a local or cultural one, but that didn't matter. It seemed Sakura wasn't going to tolerate the tomfoolery anyway, claiming Shota was the one in danger if such an event came about. Hiruko chuckled. "Easy there. He's not guilty of anything right now. We're still dealing in hypotheticals here," he said while pulling down that cognac bottle. "Looks like I'll be here for the same amount of time you will ─ maybe a little more. Unless you're a problem yourself, you've got nothing to worry about while I'm here."

As he poured the first glass, Hiruko heard Sakura's perspectives once more. She had her expectations, but also no real experience with the darker side of humanity that didn't involve physical things. "Most things don't go in such a positive direction. Sometimes, you even have to find the positives inside the negatives. Objectively, it's all subjective. Anyway..." Hiruko paused there, holding the bottle over a second glass to await Sakura's answer. The answer he received was one of curiosity, but interest. He'd pour that glass regardless, but he wouldn't leave her ignorant either. "Cognac. It's a strong alcohol, wine base, usually a woody undertone unless you get the good stuff like this. No pressure. If you don't drink it, I will," he said while lifting the first glass. "Shocchi's out to buy groceries, so I thought it'd be fine to pass the time with a few drinks."

[Apollymi]

Sakura was a fairly direct individual according to Hiruko she had to calm down, Kakihara hadn't done anything wrong. They were speaking in hypotheticals, and given that Sakura gave herself a moment to do a quick calculation. She knew how the man played card games, and now what motivated him and his thoughts a bit better. She also understood exactly the nature of the things he had on her, and the ways they could apparently be used against her. All factors considered, there was a simple metric to explain. "There is a roughly 87 percent probability of Kakihara-san acting on his innate hostilities when he realizes he is not the one in control of any situation around me. That goes up as he approaches the 'breaking point' as you called it, which he will realize when he finds out I don't intend to bend to him sexually anymore. I'd almost call it inevitable, but impossibilities happen from time to time," Sakura stated. "Strangely, I feel like I'd be told to leave him the chance, so I will... for now," she clarified. What was more, HIruko clarified that he'd be at this same place for a few days, and nothing bad would happen under his watch for the duration of his stay. "Sou ka, that's interesting. That doesn't sound like an altruistic offer of any sort. Still it doesn't register in a way that is upsetting," Sakura concluded. Her own way of leading was to simply let her understanding slip and see what kind of responses she received. Either he'd figured that out already or he was only feeding her information. Regardless it worked to help her figure out how much his brain was working behind the softness of his smile.

Hiruko's next words were rather interesting about positivity and negativity and how they interacted. She'd heard something like that before, from one of her favorite people, interesting that it applied to social dynamics as well, though given the one thought exercise she supposed it'd simply been obvious that it was socially based to start with. "Sou ka, I've heard something like that before... I didn't initially connect it to a social context. I'll keep it in mind," Sakura mentioned seemingly pleased with the new information. The offered drink was also explained at base, there were things she liked, and things that might be interesting and oddly enough, according to Hiruko no pressure to drink. "Sou ka, you really mean no pressure. No manipulative intent in this case, but I do like trying new things... arigatou," Sakura said, she'd take the glass and have a sip, it was surprisingly strong. Unlike ingesting the grail wine, this had an implied burning but it didn't taste bad at all. "Sou, that's good. Burns a bit but not in a bad way... can he cook? I've never seen him undertake an activity that wasn't card games, sex or driving..." she said listing the three 'skills' she knew the lad to possess.

[Bloodedge]

Sakura's mind worked efficiently enough that she produced a percentage for the likelihood of Shota's behavior. Hiruko wasn't a fan of dealing in percentages for situations like this; that would be made clear shortly. "Any chance is a chance. Odds can be turned in any direction. In this case, one wild card is all it would take to turn 87 into 13," he argued casually. Whatever the case, he'd offer his assistance to ensure the girl's safety, so long as she proved innocent of any wrongdoings. Of course, no offer came free. Sakura seemed privy to this information when reacting, and there was even more to read into. "I don't deal in altruism. Everything's a gamble, and everything's an exchange. If I have your back, I expect you to have mine. How? Well, that part isn't for me to determine."

Moving on, Hiruko raised his glass, and Sakura took the other. A bit of drinking was a good way to have a conversation with anyone, he thought. A bit of opening up, a bit of mood lifting ─ such things did wonders for any initial meeting. There was even an official conversation topic to break the ice, such as Sakura's new experience with a drink and... whether Shota could cook or not. "The burn lets you know it's working, or so the old folks say. Good you like it," he said, taking a sip of his own. Hiruko would ignore the observation that he wasn't manipulating the girl, choosing to let things shift toward different topics. Could Shota cook? To Hiruko, the answer was easy... but he wouldn't be giving the direct answer. "Let me put it this way... If he asks what you want, pick anything that's already made in the package. I'll probably be the one cooking whenever there's a chance. Same goes for driving, and pretty much anything else."