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It is the hot season. You are in a bar in HIMAWARI, another all-but-empty town in a countryside left derelict by a bloody civil war.

You throw back your fifteenth cup. It’s got the acrid taste of whatever countryside swill they dug from their cellar, but it’s good enough for you. Your face is hot with drunken vigor and your stomach is full of egg and rice and beef and noodles and whatever else they dug out from the back of the cellar to serve you.

“What the hell is the hold-up?!” You scowl, glaring the older waitress down–a frown is tugging at the corner of her lips as she hefts up a tray loaded high with all manner of fried fare. “Do we have a problem?”
“A-ah.. yes. Of course. My apologies, miss..” The waitress sighs as she approaches. You note the occasional glance of hers down to your hip.

“Oh, this? What? You scared of my sword?” You sneer, raising the scarlet blade and handling it with the grace of a half-blind toddler. “Relax, relax. I only use it to cut down bad guys, so you’ll be fine.. as long as you hurry it up. Heh.”
That seems to hurry her along.

“And, if you’re gonna refer to me, you say miss *Tomoe,* got it? Because that’s my name.” You remind her. “Show a little gratitude to the wandering ronin that saved your village, huh?”

>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.
>Ask why she’s taking so long now. You should be the only customer she has in this godforsaken town.
>Toss sake at her as punishment for taking so long.
>Write-In.

>>5310893
>>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.

>>5310893
>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.
Holy shit it's back.

>>5310893
>Ask why she’s taking so long now. You should be the only customer she has in this godforsaken town.

>>5310893
>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.
Hedge :)

>>5310893
>>Ask why she’s taking so long now. You should be the only customer she has in this godforsaken town.

>>5310893
>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.
Then
>Toss sake at her as punishment for taking so long.
Opps, spilled all over you top. Here, let me clean that up for you… *rip*

Great, now I want to fuck an asian, eat sushi and shoot guns. That's going to cost me at least $130, thanks a lot. I'll send you the bill, OP.

>>5310893
>>Toss sake at her as punishment for taking so long.

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>>5310911
>>5310913
>>5310917
>>5310925
>>5310933
>>5310948
>>5310953

>Reminiscence with her about how you saved Himawari. Remind her why she ought to be grateful.

“Ah.. how long has it been now?” You ease into dreamy “reminiscence,” your sandals on the restaurant tabletop. “Y’know, since I swooped in and saved this backwater dump.”
“Just about four years now..” The waitress murmurs.
“Yeah–four years. That was it.” You snap your fingers. “Just another town in the sticks gettin’ squeezed by some no-good gang of bandits, and with all your boys sent back home in a box after the war, you didn't stand a chance. So, generous as I was, I had to step in and help out. I chopped up those fat, drunken thieves, loosed the warlord’s head from his shoulders, and freed you up to serve all the shitty drinks you like!”

You heft up your katana with pride. The waitress raises a brow.
“Uhm.. your sword, Lady Tomoe?” She frowns. “Don’t you mean your war fan? You used one back then to fend off the thieves. A tessen.”

“A-ah. Right. My war fan. Slipped my mind.” You sputter out, catching yourself. “It’s just been.. so long now, after all. Four years.”
A sudden crash from the front of the restaurant catches your attention. You narrow your eyes.
“Who is that? Are you actually serving some other poor hick dumb enough to eat here?” You glare at the waitress.
She bows her head low. “Ah, yes, that was.. he’s just a regular. Nothing to worry about. Please, forgive the noise–he’s just a bit tipsy..”

>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.
>Step out to confront the guy yourself.
>Ask who her regular is. Maybe flashing your sword will coax some info out of her.
>Write-In.

>>5310963
>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.
>Ask who her regular is. Maybe flashing your sword will coax some info out of her.

>>5310963
>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.

>>5310963
>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.

>>5310963
>Step out to confront the guy yourself.

>>5310963
>Step out to confront the guy yourself.
>Ask who her regular is. Maybe flashing your sword will coax some info out of her.

>>5310963
>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.

>>5310963
>>Step out to confront the guy yourself.

WE'RE BACK

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>>5311026
>>5311024
>>5311015
>>5311004
>>5310977
>>5310970
>>5310966

>Demand she kick the guy out. You’re the hero here, after all.
>Ask who her regular is. Maybe flashing your sword will coax some info out of her.

“..Ha? A regular? And what, is he more important than me?” You (needlessly) flash your katana to incite the waitress-she blanches at it. “If some yokel drinks himself red and makes a ruckus in your restaurant, you tend to throw him out, right? What is the issue here?”
“Oh, he’s no harm at all, my lady. No need to stir up a fight. You see–well, he was once a samurai, a war veteran..” The waitress attempts to ease your suspicions, a nervous smile on her face as she grasps for the right words. “His name is Juzou. He’s no more than an old man–really, he’ll be out once he’s had his fill.”

Her words are cut short as another loud crash from the restaurant’s front nearly shocks you out of the rather comfortable position you’ve dug yourself into. This is growing rather annoying.

>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.
>Insist that she kick him out herself. You’re marinating in drink and fried food here.
>Write-In.

>>5311045
>>Insist that she kick him out herself. You’re marinating in drink and fried food here.

>>5311045
>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.

>>5311045
>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.

>>5311045
>>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.

>>5311045
>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.

>>5311045
Why is she fat now

>>5311045
>
>Insist that she kick him out herself. You’re marinating in drink and fried food here.

>>5311064
Food and sake

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>>5311050
>>5311051
>>5311052
>>5311053
>>5311061
>>5311067

>Step out to confront the guy yourself. Maybe a glimpse of the great Tomoe will scare him off.

“Bah. You’re useless. I’ll just take care of it myself.” You scowl, standing from your (very comfortable) seat and knocking over a few ceramics.
“Please, my lady, really–” The waitress moves to stop you, but takes a step back as you flash your sword. You strut past her, out to the front–some town drunkard should prove no trouble at all to scare off with your impressive repute.

You find yourself face-to-face with the old drunk; he’s half-dancing, half-strutting along the length of an empty table. The drunkard’s face is a deep, plum red, his steps unsure as he totters about over empty sake bottles. Your nose crinkles at the tart scent of drink–so strong you feel your own face grow more hot.

“I won’t run from no red wind..” Juzou attempts what one might consider a godforsaken off-tune song. “Swim through voluntist blood, thick and thin..”
You clear your throat, your arms crossed.

The man glares back at you, his eyes tight, angry slats. “What is it? Got a problem?” He grunts, his voice still slurry and low. “And tuck your damn tits in. They’ll pop out with a strong breeze. Y’might poke someone’s eye out.”

>Threaten the man.
>Demand the man leave.
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.
>Write-In.

>>5311070
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311070
>Pop tits out
>"Are you afraid of THIS?"

>>5311070
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311070
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311070
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311075
Supporting

>>5311070
>write in
>don’t make those loud noises again

>>5311075
+1

>>5311075
Support
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311070
>>5311075
+1 but also
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

>>5311070
>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

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>>5311073
>>5311075
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>>5311144
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>>5311456

>Ask the man if he’s aware of your awesome folkhero status.

You aren’t the sort to pop your tits out for just any random countryside drunkard–at least, not without proper compensation first (50-60 yun to see, 100 yun to touch). You instead decide to boast of “your” impressive renown to scare the old bastard off.
“You’re being noisy.” You glare him down, a hand on the hilt of your blade. “You know who I am, old man?”
“Eh.. should I?” Juzou picks his nose.

“I’m the savior of this town, and plenty other countryside boondocks just like it. The Hero of the Battle of Tonbo, Shinkawa, and Kojima, Shiho’s Chosen, Champion of the Divine Moralists..” You puff out with pride. “Tomoe, the itinerant ronin, war hero, hedge warrior–”
“Tomoe? Tomoe, Tomoe.. ah! I guess it is you, huh...” The old drunk leans in with bemusement, a hand on his chin as he looks you up and down. “Been a while, huh? Heard the Moralcomp got you–guess not even the Abyss can keep you!”
“Uh-.. what?” You falter.

“Sorry I didn’t recognize ya. You’re lookin’ a little more.. plump, these days. But I can’t say I blame you. With these famines.. I ought to fatten myself up too.” He squints. “You got somethin’ you wanna say?”
You have no idea what he’s talking about, but it seems like Juzou actually knows Tomoe. This could be troublesome for you.

>Knock him out while he’s drunk.
>Order him to leave. You’re trying to relax.
>Ask the waitress to shove him out herself.
>Write-In.

>>5311471
>>Ask the waitress to shove him out herself.

>>5311471
>Ask the waitress to shove him out herself.

>>5311471
>Tell him his drunk and disorderly behavior is harshing our mellow.

>>5311471
>Order him to leave. You’re trying to relax.

Another shitty basedjourner quest focused on titty drawings.
This dude has quit literally every quest he has run since his first oekaki quest. What a fag!

>>5311592
>Oh no, the guy providing me free entertainment stops doing so every now and then!
The way readers regard QMs always fascinates me

>>5311471
>Ask the waitress to shove him out herself.
>>5311592
This QM isn't Sojourner, he's the hikkikomori QM. He's finished the majority of his quests, the only one I remember not being finished is that one apocalypse fighter quest with the eggplant.

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>>5311621
>>5311583
>>5311520
>>5311509
>>5311504

>Ask the waitress to shove him out herself.

“Oy. You.” You point out the hag. “Get this drunk out of here, would you? He’s being noisy.”

“Ha–.. what’d you call me? A drunk? Now who the hell do you think you’re calling–gahoh, woah there..” He attempts (and fails) to pull up his yukata as he shouts you down. He wears peach-pattern boxers. “What? Y’get a big head just ‘cause you’re a little popular? Y’think you’re too important for little old–damn it–”

“Now–hey! Hey..! What the hell happened to samurai solidarity? I didn’t fight a war to–..” You watch with smug satisfaction as she drags the plastered veteran out from the restaurant, yukata loose around his legs and his face red hot out of frustration, embarrassment, and booze. He curses you out the entire time.

“Your” name sure has some clout around here. You spend the rest of your day clearing out the restaurant’s pantry from the comfort of the back, fresh booze and food ready for you at a word.

[...]

It is sunset. The bar is awash in the warm light of the country’s red sun. You sit content in the restaurant’s back, stomach full of food and wallet full of coin. You’ll have to clear out of town soon–you had thought to stick around and get fat on the food for a little while, but that old drunk might cause problems. You’re sure there're plenty other backwood towns out there that owe a ronin’s debt.

“Uhm.. Lady Tomoe–about your payment..” The waitress approaches you, tray a great deal more light than early. “I know that we offered the food free of charge, but–you see, we’ve not got much money left to restock, and we’ve barely the yun to put food on our own table..”

>Let her know your debt is paid. You won’t give her a coin.
>Toss her a yun or two. She can use it to buy some chopsticks.
>Get up and leave. Spill some sake as you do. How dare they question a hero like yourself?
>Write-In.

>>5311669
>Tell her she should be happy she has a business instead of a smoldering pile of cinders if we hadn't saved the town. Besides there are always ways to earn money if you put your pride aside.

>>5311684
+1

>>5311684
Based
+1

>>5311669
>Toss her a yun or two. She can use it to buy some chopsticks.

>>5311669
>>5311684
+1 Amazing.

>>5311669
>Toss her a yun or two. She can use it to buy some chopsticks.

>>5311684
+1 lel

>>5311684
Supporting

>>5311592
This ain't soj. He's still too salty to run a quest here again.

>>5311684
+1

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>>5311684
>>5311692
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>>5311775
>>5311793
>>5311800
>>5311850
>>5311856

>Tell her she should be happy she has a business instead of a smoldering pile of cinders if we hadn't saved the town. Besides there are always ways to earn money if you put your pride aside.

“You ought to be grateful you have a business instead of a heap of rubble. In fact–I’d say you owe me more for all that disgusting slop you just gave me.” You sneer, waving the speechless waitress off as you make for the door. “Besides, there’s always ways to earn some coin when you put your pride aside.”
You step out onto the tight streets of the town district, your gut still hot with drink. You can sleep off the hooch in town and make for another dump come sunrise before that drunkard samurai rouses any more trouble. Shit–this is so annoying. You just got here! You stew in that frustration as you make your way down the path’s stairs–at least, before a familiar man stands from a barrel off the stairs’ side.

“Oy, you. ‘Tomoe.’ I want to have a word with you.” You can still make out the sharp jut of the old man’s chin beneath a new straw hat.
“Go drink yourself dead.” You attempt to pass him with a dismissive wave, but he steps before you to cut your path off.
“I’m sober now, girlie.” Juzou snaps back. “Just had to go for walk–get a decent whiff of that summer air. And, clear in the head as I was, I began to think there was somethin’ a little off.”
“..Mmm? About what?” You don’t feed into his provocations.

“About you.” He points at you. “The Tomoe I knew was a decent young lady, a *samurai*. She weren’t some gluttonous, alcoholic idiot that’d flash her sword and tits so easy and treat decent people so cruel.”

>Feign ignorance. He’s just some crazy old drunk.
>Attempt to flee.
>Draw your sword. That should scare off the old man.
>Write-In.

>>5311874
>>Attempt to flee.

>>5311874
>Attempt to flee.

>>5311874
>Attempt to flee.

>>5311874
>>Attempt to flee.

>>5311874
>Feign ignorance. He’s just some crazy old drunk.
I don’t know old fart, you think GETTING THROWN INTO THE ABYSS changes a woman?

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>>5311902
>>5311892
>>5311882
>>5311879
>>5311877

>Attempt to flee.

You decide to do what you best. You move to turn on your sandals and flee from the scene, but a day spent in a marinade of hot food and drink makes for poor accompaniment. You are just an iota too slow, and in a breath the old samurai has the sword out from his bellyband and at your throat.
“Gah–!..” Your lips tighten at the feel of the sword’s tip against your neck.
“Not so fast.” The old man keeps the blade’s point light. “I think you can spare an ear for a poor old drunk’s story. I’ll try to keep it short.”

You glance down to the sword at your hip. You might’ve had a chance before, but with a blade at your throat, you’re far too slow to try for it now–at least, if you want to keep your head..

“Yeah, so–after gettin’ tossed out of my favorite izakaya, I got this.. itch. I thought all this seemed funny, so I called around. And I found out that for the last six months, a certain wanderin’ hedge warrior had been poppin’ into towns all over the countryside, eatin’ and drinkin’ people out of house and home as a show of “gratitude” for what she’d done back when she was clearin’ the countryside of war bandits.” He glowers. “There were a whole lot of poor, honest people emptyin’ their coffers for their hero.”
“..It was tough work.” You try to defend yourself, your face still pale with steel at your jugular.
“Oh–you’re still blabberin’ about that? Then I ought to finish my story.” Juzou continues. “So, kept callin’ ‘round. And I hear this.. story on the phone from YUKAKU, a town up north, a little more urban than us provincials. A real funny story from a friend who works a brothel there.”
Your face pales. He knows you know he knows.
“Right, so, my friend tells me–get this–about six months ago, some popular oiran made a big mess of things. She declared to the whole district that she was gonna make a name for herself, become a bigshot samurai hero. She made off with some samurai client’s sword and his coin. And she disappeared right after. Pretty funny story, right?” He levies a glare at you from beneath the straw hat. “So, what I’m asking is, Tomoe--what’s your real name?”

>What is your real name?

>>5311975
>what is your real name
>Karasu

>>5311975
>Tomoko
That explains the lack of a mole

>>5311975
>Nunya....NUN OF YA BUSINESS

>>5311975
>What is your real name?
>Ai

>>5311975
>Tomoko Keisei

>>5311975
>Uzume Ame

>>5311975
>Tomoe
>It was a fortunate coincidence

>>5311975
>Tomoko

>>5311975
>Betty

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>>5312160
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>>5311999
>>5311992
>>5311990

>Tomoko

“..Tomoko.” You mutter.

“Mmm.. pretty name. Is that real, or just a stage name?” Juzou adjusts his straw hat. “Well.. that don’t matter. You’re no wanderin’ blade with no master to answer to. You’re just some vagrant whore. You aren’t Tomoe.”
“Are you done with your lecture?” You narrow your eyes as he eases the blade from your throat. “Because, I’d better go, right? Get out of your hair. Leave you to your drinks.”
“Ah, ah, ah, Tomoko.” Juzou clicks his tongue. “I think you ought to pay these people back for what you’ve taken from them, don’t you?”
“What?” You pale. “You can’t be serious.”
“You’ve made a whole lot of trouble for this town and a whole lot others like it–people, might I add, still lickin’ their wounds and buryin’ their sons.” He glares. “I’m not about to let you get off scot-free.”

>Anything but actually facing these people and owning up to it.
>Offer to pay him off to keep quiet about your recent activities.
>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.
>Write-In.

>>5312274
>Offer to pay him off to keep quiet about your recent activities.

He can tag along as our sidekick

>>5312274
>SWING THE SWEET SWEET SAKE AT HIS HEAD

>>5312274
>Anything but actually facing these people and owning up to it.
I knew there was something off, like where our robot friend is.

>>5312274
>>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.

>>5312274
>Anything but actually facing these people and owning up to it.
>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.

>>5310892
I recognize your art style, cent.

>>5312274
Throw the bottle at his head. Run way.

>>5312274
>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.
Our days of debasing ourselves is over.

>>5312274
>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.
Death before dishonor!
>Throw the bottle at his head. Run way.

>>5312274
>Anything but actually facing these people and owning up to it.

>>5312274
>>Offer to pay him off to keep quiet about your recent activities.

>>5312274
>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.

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>>5312702
>>5312669
>>5312642
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>>5312598
>>5312588
>>5312382
>>5312378
>>5312350
>>5312307
>>5312296

>You won’t do it. You can’t just embarrass yourself like that.

“No.” Your voice is firm in spite of your fear. “You think I can just turn up on their doorstep, get on my knees, and say sorry? They would kill me.”

“You’re real gutsy, you know that?--turnin’ me down even with a knife at your throat. You’ve got grit, that’s good.” The drunk raises a brow. “But I’m not askin’. You turn me down and I’ll have to come forward about your little scam–some fraud ronin turnin’ up around towns, takin’ advantage of their favor. And I’m sure a whole lot of people would be far less charitable about your punishment than what I have in mind. No, they’d chop your head off.”
“So what, then?” You glare.
“I won’t be cuttin’ a finger off or nothin’. If I put every young thief I met to the sword, there’d be no future for the Thousand Lotus Isle. So I’ll put you to work.” He tilts his head right–between the alleys and cracks of the bars in the district, you see a grassy countryside that stretches out far beyond. “Now, far out east–maybe a few days out from Himawari–there’s a town called Jujiro.”
“So?” You try to inch your neck from his sword, but he keeps firm.

“Jujiro was a decent town. Had a yearly sword fighting tourney, a good bathhouse.. they were in good straits.” He clicks his tongue. “But nowadays, the countryside is in want of decent young swordsmen and a local bandit clan has taken control of it–the Tsujigiri Gang.”
You feel a nervous pit well up in your gut.

“Now, the Tsujigiri Gang were small-scale–flash a sword at ‘em and most’ll flee like a beaten dog. But they’ve got a new leader, some bastard warlord, and they’ve gotten real dangerous in turn.” He grimaces. “They’ve been sendin’ bandit scouts out all over–probin’ nearby towns, slinkin’ around our alleys. They want to expand their territory. And most’ve been seen near–”
“Himawari, right?” You cut him off.
“You’re quick to the chase–clever. That’s great.” He grins. “I got a simple arrangement for you, Tomoko–or, should I say Tomoe? Tomoe beat back the original Tsujigiri Gang a couple years back. So.. how about she pays them another visit? Scare ‘em a little. Tell ‘em Himawari is under Tomoe’s watch. Just flash your sword and it’ll send ‘em far west, out of our hair. Put that scam of yours to good use.”

>Ask what’s in it for you. It’ll be a long and dangerous trip.
>Inform him that you have no clue how to swing a sword. You’ll just get gutted by them.
>Ask what happens if you just leave.
>Agree to his request.
>Write-In.

>>5312935
>Tell him we'll do it if he teaches us swordsmanship. What was said before wasn't spur of the moment ranting, we are trying to become a sword saint.

>>5312935
>Inform him that you have no clue how to swing a sword. You’ll just get gutted by them.

>>5312935
>Inform him that you have no clue how to swing a sword. You’ll just get gutted by them.

>>5312935
>Ask what happens if you just leave.

>>5312935
>Inform him that you have no clue how to swing a sword. You’ll just get gutted by them.
>Tell him we'll do it if he teaches us swordsmanship. What was said before wasn't spur of the moment ranting, we are trying to become a sword saint.

>>5313057
+1

>>5313057
+1

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>>5313092
>>5313057
>>5312972
>>5312964
>>5312961
>>5312952
>>5313159

>Inform him that you have no clue how to swing a sword. You’ll just get gutted by them.
>Tell him we'll do it if he teaches us swordsmanship. What was said before wasn't spur of the moment ranting, we are trying to become a sword saint.

“And what, exactly, do you want me to do if they fight back? You expect me to cut them all down? I don’t know how to use a sword.” You demand in frustration, the red blade hot against your hip. “..How about you teach me some swordsmanship to defend myself with? You know–..help me become a real sword saint..?”
“You? Some fat, no-good conwoman bully? I don’t trust you with that jug, much less a sword.” Juzou snorts. “No. But you underestimate how much weight that face and name of yours carry ‘round here. You show your face and flash your sword at one, they’ll turn tail at the ronin who beat ‘em once before with all the rest of ‘em. You won’t even have to get too close.”
“And they’ll really think I’m real? If they find out, they’ll gut me.” You warn him.
“Bah!--she had a mole on her tit, but ‘sides that you’re her spittin’ image.” He waves off your concern. “And you managed to convince plenty a’ towns that you’re the real deal, didn’t you? Well, bandits are a skittish, cowardly lot, and a whole lot more stupid than the peasants you took advantage of. You’ll be fine.”

Juzou rummages through his yukata and pulls out a thick burlap flour sack. He tosses it by your feet. “Here. I won’t leave you out in the cold. Got you some food and supplies for the trip. Some beddin’, some food.. should last you the trip there and back. I got some business to attend to in town, so I can’t babysit you–but I’ll keep an eye on you over the phone, place a few calls and see if a certain ronin was seen in towns on the way. You just walk the skeleton footpath out east for a couple days, flash your sword and gnash your teeth, and you can keep your head on your shoulders. I’ll leave you be.”

>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.
>You don’t need his supplies. You’ll make it on your own.
>Write-In.

>>5313232
>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.

he said here >>5311874
that the real Tomoe didn't flash her breasts so easy, but apparently she flashed them enough for him to know about that mole. senile old man

>>5313232
>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.
>Eat all the supplies on the first night

>>5313232
>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.
>Ask how he knows about her tit mole
We'll need some ink for the full effect it seems

>>5313232
>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.

>>5313232
>>5313477
+1

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>>5313405
>>5313419
>>5313477
>>5313518
>>5313520

>Fine. Begrudgingly begin your journey east with his aid.
>Ask how he knows about her tit mole

“Fine. I’ll take care of your stupid bandit problem. You’d better keep your word.” You mutter, your head low in frustration. “..How do you know about her tit mole?”
“That’s between me, her, and some bathhouse staff.” He flusters, his face more red now than his ruddy drunken revelry from before. “Ah–one last thing..”

The old man sweeps the katana up from your neck and toward your head. The blade traces a graceful rivulet in the air, its point flowing over your fringe and making you flinch. You stumble back as a stray lock falls from your bangs.

“There. Got a good look at your face. You got some mean eyes, y’know–nothin’ but greed and gluttony. You ought to keep ‘em covered. Now, come along. I’ll see you off.” The drunkard adjusts his hat and begins to make for the town’s border. “You’re a proper hedge warrior now. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

You follow, your shoulders slumped and spirit destroyed. You hate this.

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It is the hot season. You are on a journey along the skeleton footpath from HIMAWARI out to JUJIRO to take care of some stupid bandits. You still hate this.

The sun is hot, sweltering, your feet aching in your sandals. Your robe is plastered to your back with sweat, soaked through beneath the sunset’s death throes. You take another angry swig from your jug and wipe your face clean with your sleeve. You can’t believe that old drunk got the best of you.

You are no ronin. Your childish dream of making it as a samurai and becoming some heroic warrior never did pan out. You were slow and unwieldy and clumsy. You weren’t suited for a life like that and ended up at the same brothel you grew up in. On a whim one night, you stole a blade and some coin from some samurai and fled to the countryside. But a sword in your hands didn’t take you as far as you’d thought it’d would.

You didn’t want to starve, and you happened to find out you looked remarkably similar to some ronin who helped beat back bandit years back–a fortunate accident became a habit for you.

But you’re not about to throw yourself to some bandit dogs for some nowhere town–maybe you’ll just run back to the brothel, tail between your legs. They’d probably take you back. You were one of the most popular girls there, after all..
A sudden rustle in the field around you draws your attention from your daydream. You glance back over your shoulder. You don’t see anything, but..

>Investigate.
>Keep walking.
>Call out to see if anyone’s there.
>Write-In.

>>5313541
>Investigate.

>>5313541
>Call out to see if anyone’s there.

>>5313541
>Call out to see if anyone’s there.
>Ready [SORD FLASH]

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>>5313545
>>5313547
>>5313557

>Call out to see if anyone’s there.
>Ready [SORD FLASH]

You glance back to the waist-high tall grass that surrounds the skeleton foot trails–these country roads are uncharted, unguarded regions where beasts and yokai are wont to lurk. You’ve heard gruesome tales–stories of lone migrants, whose innards end strewn out across trees by the wild spirits that hunt here, or who disappear into the tall grass and never appear again. It would be pathetic to get torn apart by some wild beast when the town is in sight.

You draw your sword, hand shaky on the hilt as you scan the grass. You can just make out a little patch of movement unique from the wind that cuts these fields. You fumble your sword from its sheath and flash the steel for anyone around to see it. “Hello? Is anyone there?” You call out, your voice firm.

“..N-no.” A reedy girl’s voice responds from the patch.

>Keep walking.
>Investigate.
>Throw something at patch.
>Write-In.

>>5313638
>>Throw something at patch.

>>5313638
>Throw something at patch.
Kick a rock at the voice

>>5313638
>Throw something at patch.

>>5313638
>Throw something at patch.

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>>5313682
>>5313665
>>5313645
>>5313639

>Throw something at patch.

You narrow your eyes at the voice, who falls silent in turn–so you pull your sandal back and kick a rock at it. Your aim holds true, and the pebble hurdles head on into the tallgrass.“Oh–!” The voice yelps in surprise at the ballistae and flinches out of the pasture.

You get your first glimpse of your hanger-on. It’s.. a brat. A short teenage girl, to be precise, in an orange yukata and a flowery rucksack hung down by her waist. “Ach–geez.” She smiles weakly as she rubs her head. “Your aim sure is something, Lady Tomoe. You sniffed me out just like that and even landed a hit on me...”

>Ask why this brat is following you. .
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.
>Keep walking. Pretend this did not just happen.
>Write-In.

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit

>>5313699
>Ask why this brat is following you.

>>5313699
>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

>>5313699
>>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.

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>>5313960
>>5313920
>>5313908
>>5313871
>>5313851
>>5313850
>>5313840
>>5313757
>>5313747
>>5313743
>>5313734
>>5313712
>>5313709
>>5313702
>>5313700

>Tell her to go away. You’re busy and don’t want to babysit.
>Ask why this brat is following you.

“Go away.” You wave the brat off. “I’m busy. Not in the mood to babysit.”
“Oh, do you think I’ll get in your way Lady Tomoe? Well, don’t worry. I’ll keep my distance from you and stay quiet. You won’t even notice I’m here!” The loud, garishly orange girl shouts, drawing the notice of everyone in a half meter radius. “And I brought my own food, too, so–”
“Why are you following me?” You cut into her rant. “Do you know where I’m going?”
“You’re gonna cut down those bandits in JUJIRO, aren’t you? I mean, this foot trail leads out east to ‘em, and everyone in HIMAWARI knows those bandits are comin’ after us next.” She tilts her head as if that were obvious. “And I want to see you lop those guys’ heads off, obviously. My big brother Kamekichi was a soldier at Tonbo, you know. He used to tell me all these super cool stories about you.”
“Well, I don’t want to get you hurt, so..” You attempt to ward her off again.
“I can handle myself. My brother even taught me how to use a sword.” The brat attempts to flex. She looks like a curtain draped over a twig. “The way you fought back then was super cool, Lady Tomoe. I can’t wait to see you in action again! And what happened to your straw hat, by the way? And your war fan? And your bandana? Oh, and, my name is–..”

>What is the annoying girl’s name?

>>5314045
>Natsumi
Can't wait to break her heart once she finds out we're a fake

>>5314045
Mitsuki

>>5314045
Suzumi

>>5314045
Sakiko

>>5314045
>Bob

>>5314045
>Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr.

>>5314045
Mei Waku

>>5314045
Sally

>>5314045
>Natsumi

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>>5314182
>>5314169
>>5314166
>>5314141
>>5314138
>>5314132
>>5314129
>>5314073
>>5314062

>Natsumi

“Natsumi!” She clumsily curtsies before you. “It’s nice to meet you, Lady Tomoe!”

You wordlessly turn from the kid and continue your walk down the foot trail. She follows after in turn, wading through the grass and continuing her one-man show.

“You’re even cooler than what my brother told me about. You saw right through my tactical espionage action.” The brat continues. “Hey, Lady Tomoe. Did you know that the Gashadokuro make these foot trails ‘cause they’re following the paths they walked when they first pulled the country together? And the ropes they used to pull it sank into the ground and turned into rivers? And they don’t actually eat people! But they will step on you if you get in the way of them, so..”

[...]

You’ve been walking for–give or take–about an hour and a half now. Your drinks have caught up with you and each step hammers a nail deeper yet into your head. You’re not often one to travel when the sun is still up, but it’s not like you’ve not much choice here, either. And the brat has clung close to your back, mouthing off about nonsense the entire tip.

“--Is that an actual Chiburi Katana? Did you know that those swords aren’t actually made from demon blood? They use this red meteor material. They say they’re fragments that fell from Shiho.” Her voice has become a high whine in your ears, indiscriminate white noise. “Oh, hey..! That’s the River Sanguine.”

You draw your eyes up from the ground and ahead of you–as said, the tallgrass slips off into a steep slope, down to a low river that cuts between you and the path ahead. It stretches far into the horizon on both your left and right.

“Mmmmm.. no bridge around here, though. We’ll probably have to go looking for it..” Natsumi observes, using “we” for some reason. “The sun is getting pretty low. How about we set up camp here for the night, Lady Tomoe? We can rest on the banks and go find the bridge when the sun rises tomorrow.”

>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.
>No need. You’ll just ford it.
>Write-In.

>>5314294
>>No need. You’ll just ford it.

>>5314294
>No need. You’ll just ford it.
we're a big chonker, we won't get swept away. Natsumi on the other hand....

>>5314294
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.
Ford a river after walking for hours? In this economy? No thanks.

>>5314294
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.

>>5314294
>No need. You’ll just ford it.
FOOOOOOOOORD

>>5314294
>No need. You’ll just ford it.
We can't be felled by a simple RIVER

>>5314294
> Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.
I've played Oregon Trail, I know how this ends.

>>5314294
>No need. You’ll just ford it.

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>>5314450
>>5314436
>>5314430
>>5314425
>>5314407
>>5314309
>>5314300
>>5314624

>No need. You’ll just ford it.

“No need. The next town over is close, isn’t it? I’m not about to wake up covered in ticks.” You shrug off her concern. You ease your way down the bank and examine the river’s water, whereupon you breathe a sigh of relief–the water is like black glass, cool and dark beneath a still juvenile night sky, but the stream’s flow seems gentle enough to cross by foot. “I’ll ford it. Watch.”
You raise your geta, take a step forward, and your world goes black and cold. You see a maelstrom of millions of bubbles that swirl up and about your head like a sky full of stars, the riverbed jagged with knife-like rocks and muck that you just narrowly scrape over, the black tendrils of streambed growth that tangle up and grope your arms and legs, all gone by in an instant as you feel yourself flung a million meters downstream–

“Woah! L-lady Tomoe..! Are you alright?!” Your world grows material again as the brat narrowly tugs you up from the water by your yukata. You gasp liquid as you fall onto your back against the bank.

[...]

You allow the girl to towel your hair and back dry for the next half hour as you hack up what water, mucus, and muck you can from your lungs, your face still red from the shock. Your jug emptied out in the river and your sake joined the water’s journey south, so you can’t even ease your pain with some drink. “What the hell was that..?” You choke out, your throat still weak after the rinse cycle.
“I dunno. It looked like you took a step in and just got.. pulled under.” Natsumi frowns, running the towel through your hair. “If I had to guess, I’d say the river spirits are angry? That happens sometimes, and they won’t let anyone cross through the water when they’re mad. Maybe we could try to sleep it off? They should be nicer in the morning.”

>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.
>You’ll go looking for a bridge somewhere along the way.
>Write-In.

>>5314631
>You’ll go looking for a bridge somewhere along the way.

>>5314631
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.

We are defeated

>>5314631
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.
A miracle our yukata wasn't washed away as well

>>5314631
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.

>>5314631
>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.

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>>5314727
>>5314692
>>5314680
>>5314674
>>5314780

>Fine. You’ll rest here for the night. As long as she sleeps a meter or two away from you.

“..Ugh. Fine. Whatever.” You concede defeat as you spit what water remains in your lungs. “We’ll set camp here.”

You set about fiddling with the bedding for another half hour, exhaustively setting up the blankets and futon you were given along the slope of the bank where you might rest (hopefully) safe for the night from the horrible evil monster river.

You find the futon itchy, hot, and pungent with the scent of some foul sake. You feel blades of grass and edges of rocks run through the cloth and bite at your back beneath you. You listen for the hum of bugs that lie in wait for you to fall asleep so they can devour you. Just yesterday night, you slept in the lap of luxury–in a warm countryside house next to towering plates of food and drink and perusing through stacks of manga to enjoy at your leisure. You feel like you’re about to cry.

“Good night, Lady Tomoe!” The girl calls out from a few meters down the river bank, flanked by a royal guard of stuffed animals and beneath a thick blanket. You turn away from her and roll onto your back, hands on your stomach–is this some kind of divine punishment for your crimes? Because this is way too much.

As you slip into a haze of dreams, your head groggy and eyes wet with tears, you find your eyes drawn to the red star above.

(PERK GAINED: SHIHO’S MESSAGE)
- The Red Star has sent you her word. She is angered by your false claims to glory and warns of a journey fraught with misfortune.

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It is the cold season. You are in a brothel in YUKAKU, a popular red light district in the southern MORALIST PROVINCE–this apparent incongruence is held together by bribes and corruption among the samurai that partake in the fruits of their “ignorance.”

You lie on your back, blowing smoke rings through the air and enjoying the hot bite of your kiseru, a welcome relief from the snow outside. You’ve grown at home with the deep crimson light and the smell of rose oil and smoke that pervades the room. You glance to the mountain of a man who sits up on the futon next to you, panting for breath and catching what little breath he has left–a civil war vet samurai and part-time champion sumo-wrestler, his face is red with drink and relief.

“Ah.. that was great as always, Tomoko.” Yoji Yokozuna takes a thick swig from the hollow gourd seed next to him–more like a pumpkin, really, and the size of your head. “Seriously. You’re the best of the best.”
“..Yeah.” You take another puff off your kiseru. You open a manga you left bookmarked by the futon. “Are you gonna leave soon?”

“Listen. Tomoko.” Yokozuna looks back to you, his eyes dead serious. “I love you.”

>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.
>”Okay.”
>Laugh.
>Write-In.

>>5314787
>>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.

>>5314787
>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.
>Laugh.
He probably won't realize we're laughing *at* him.

>>5311592
least homosexual /qst/ poster

>>5314787
>>Laugh.

>>5314804
+1

>>5314450
I've lost my wagons too many times... Too many times...

>>5314787
>Laugh
>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.

>>5314787
>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.

>>5314787
>Laugh.
>"What you love is pussy, you don't even know anything about me other than what i feel like."

>>5314787
>”Okay.”
>Pause
>Laugh.

>>5314787
>Laugh.
big lmao

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>>5314787
>Laugh.
Lmao

>>5314787
>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.

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>>5315100
>>5315073
>>5314895
>>5314871
>>5314869
>>5314852
>>5314851
>>5314829
>>5314824
>>5314804
>>5314796

>”I love you too.” Maybe he’ll tip more than usual.
>Laugh.

“Yeah?” You don’t bother stifling your snickering. He can’t be serious. “I love you too.”
“I’m not kidding, Tomoko.” Yokozuna insists, taking another swig off his gourd. “Now, the other girls here are pretty, sure but they suck up to me like leeches–they see a ride outta here. But you? You’re different from the rest of these girls. I don’t know what it is, but I’m serious about you.”
You roll your eyes. You can think of two reasons why he’s in love with you. “You’re drunk.” You wave off his slurring rambling with a shrug. “You’ll regret this come sunrise.”
“This ain’t just a confession, and not some spur of the moment thing. This is an [/i]offer.[/i]” The sumo champion folds his arms. “Now, keep quiet about this.. but I’m leaving the Thousand Lotus Isle. I got a fisherman ready to ferry me out to a western merchant freighter around midnight tomorrow–it’s all set up real professionally, and real pricy, but I’m kissing Thousand Lotus goodbye. And I want you to come with me as my wife. Leave this behind and come with me.”

That catches your attention.

>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?
>Warn him that what he’s talking about is a pretty serious crime. He could get jailed for it.
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.
>Write-In.

>>5315168
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.

>>5315168
>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?

>>5315168
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.
>What do you plan to do once you get to there? Do you even have an idea where your going to end up? Or what your even gonna do for work?

>>5315168
>>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?
>>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.

>>5315168
>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?

>>5315168
>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.

>>5315168
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.

>>5315206
+1

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>>5315273
>>5315244
>>5315240
>>5315209
>>5315206
>>5315170
>>5315169
>>5315349

>Why’s he leaving? Why should you? You’re both of decently high class here. Why uproot all that?
>Ask him to name one thing he likes about you besides your body.

“You want to marry me?” You echo, agape. “..Can you even name one thing you like about me? Besides the obvious.”
“Your mouth. Ah–wait–no–not like that.” He flusters at your expression. “I mean how you can talk back to people, Tomoko. You don’t care about status or wealth. You’ll call a bigshot samurai an ugly bastard if he’s an ugly bastard. You know, the girls here, they’ll talk you up, pretend to listen to your stories, and that’s nice to hear, but it’s all empty calories. But you? I can trust you to tell me how you really feel.”
“If you trust me to tell you how I really feel, you should know I think this is an awful idea.” You scoff. “Why should I leave? Why should you leave? You’ve got your status and money. I’ve got my status and your money. We’re both fine off here.”
“..There’s no future for the samurai. Not here.” His expression grows solemn. “You can’t go half-and-half on ‘open borders’. So long as the Amoralists down south keep their ports open, western influences will shape this country. You see it here already–western law and medicine have already begun to shape our practices. And those gats of steel and black powder that smugglers sneak over.. they’re fun little trinkets now, but someday soon they’ll change the course of war forever.”
“And you want to go west to escape the west?” You raise a brow.
“I don’t want to escape the western influence. I want to embrace it.” Yokozuna places a fist on his palm. “Why languish here and die a slow death in a country without need for us? I want to make a big change–go somewhere far, live as someone else. I’ve had enough of war. I thought I’d be cutting down swathes of invading barbarians from ships overseas. Not hacking apart my countrymen’s kids. Don’t you have a dream, Tomoko?”

>What’s your dream?

>>5315355
>To have the power to shape my own fate, regardless of who would try to control me.

>>5315355
>To be drunk enough to forget who and where I am, at all times.

>>5315355
>To love as I have been loved

>>5315355
>To be hella rich and live in luxury

>>5315377
Seconding this

>>5315355
>To find what or who I truly love

>>5315355
Stifle the childhood dreams of becoming a wandering blade or samurai, and instead:
>>5315377
This.

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>>5315486
>>5315474
>>5315449
>>5315416
>>5315401
>>5315393
>>5315377

>To have the power to shape my own fate, regardless of who would try to control me.

You suppress the urge to blurt out your childhood dreams of warriorhood and consider your actual wants. You are an orphan of war, just one of many born of the feudal clans’ skirmishes, and were left at this brothel by soldiers for the girls here to raise. You had to put away your childish dreams and grow up to support yourself–such is your fate, one who would bend their knee to the whims of powers beyond their control to survive. You would grow up here, work here, and die here.
“I guess.. I’d want power over my own fate.” You mutter, a bit self-conscious as the words spill from your mouth. “True freedom to go where I want and become who I want to be, no matter who or what tries to control me.”
“Oh? Well, the west is free from the strings of divine morality. You don’t need to worry about fate there.” He reassures you. “You take a ship out, you’ll have the freedom to choose who you want to be–a fresh slate, for both you and for me. I’m serious. I want to get you out of here. How about it?”

A low rumble cuts through your conversation. The samurai sighs as he pulls himself up with a heave. “Ah, shit. I gotta go to the bathroom.” Yokozuna glances back to you. “Think about it, Tomoko.”

As the samurai leaves, you sit up on the futon, your chest heavy. You take a shaky drag off your kiseru and let the smoke escape your lips. What do you do..? You almost do want to follow him out west–hitch a ride on a boat and carve a new life out for yourself somewhere else–but a deep kind of apprehension gnaws at your chest and chains your ankles in place. You feel an indescribable anxiety in your belly at the thought of it. Your eyes wander over the room.
Your eyes eventually fall to the samurai’s sword–a long, heavy red blade that lies by the futon, steel near the length of your torso. You wrap your hands around the hilt.

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It is the hot season. You lie against the slope of a river bank in the countryside. It is early in the morning, the sun still pale and low in the sky.
You shake off the dream as you wake, a sour recollection of times before all this. And although your head pounds like a drum, the hangover now caught up with you, you’re alive. Your throat wasn’t slit in the middle of the night by bandits. You look the bank once over; its all the same, your rucksack still in place, the placid blue of the river still calm and the brat.. now next to you.
Natsumi lays splayed out across her mat, snoring loudly and drooling all over the ground–it seems she dragged her bed right next to yours overnight. Though, she seems pretty deep asleep. You might have a chance to lose her now.. as you begin to collect your bag and roll your bed up, a small chitter from behind draws your attention.

You swing back to see a kappa in wait. A small, green turtle-like yokai, with a shaggy tonsure about an open pool in its head. A flowery blue teapot sits atop it for some reason. The creature stares at you, its eyes wide like a calf.

>Continue quietly packing your things.
>Attempt to quietly shoo it away.
>Get close to examine it.
>Write-In.

>>5315559
Let's not anger the yokai.
>Continue quietly packing your things.

>>5315559
>Continue quietly packing your things.

Don't need to get fisted and have our soul pearl plucked from deep inside us today, no sir siree mr kappa

>>5315559
>Continue quietly packing your things.

>>5315559
>>Attempt to quietly shoo it away.
Fuck off frog

>>5315559
>Continue quietly packing your things.

>>5315559
>Write-In
do we have a pickle, let's give him a pickle, maybe like that I won't almost drown again.

>>5315559
>Make a deep bow to the Kappa

>>5315559
>Be polite and pour it some tea

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>>5315563
>>5315572
>>5315574
>>5315577
>>5315592
>>5315601
>>5315614
>>5315619

>Continue quietly packing the things.

You slowly turn your attention back to your rucksack. You’re not altogether familiar with yokai–spirits tend toward the wilderness and countryside more than the provinces–but you know well enough that they can be dangerous. You figure it best to keep your head low, tend to your things, and leave before it gets curious.
You grow antsy beneath the kappa’s gaze–wet and dull, stuck like a statue on the bank behind you–as you pack your bed, but manage to avoid any trouble. You sling your rucksack back over your shoulder, knot up your sake jug around your fist, and reach to hang your sword–.. your sword. Where is your sword? You pat the ground around you. You just saw it..

You swing back around to see the kappa, still sat on the bank, the crimson sword hung limp in its claws. “H-hey! That’s mine!” You uselessly shout at the spirit. In response, it turns and begins to waddle up the bank.

>Follow after the kappa.
>Try to wrestle the sword out of its claws.
>Throw something at it.
>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do.
>Write-In.

>>5315643
>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do

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I don't know if this is allowed or not lol https://files.catbox.moe/54tw1h.png

>>5315643
>Bow, and while its distracted, punch it in the dick

>>5315643
>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do.
>>5315677
I’ve never seen anyone get smacked for links, and /qst/ is on the lax side of things. Also, nice.

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>>5315677
You love to see it folks.

>>5315643
>Throw something at it.

>>5315643
>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do.
>>5315677
AWOOOGA

>>5315643
>Try to wrestle the sword out of its claws.

>>5315643
>>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do.

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>>5315787
>>5315778
>>5315744
>>5315709
>>5315692
>>5315646
>>5315872

>Wake Natsumi. Maybe she’ll know what to do

“A-ah.. shit.” You hiss, watching the kappa waddle north up stream with the crimson blade held high like a trophy. You begin shaking your tagalong’s shoulder. “Natsumi. Natsumi..!”
“Huh? Whuzzat?” Natsumi jolts, still drooling. “..Lady Tomoe? What’s wrong?”

“There’s a kappa here. It took my sword.” You stare daggers at the turtle-duck asshole. “You know how to deal with yokai right? What do I do?”
“Uh-ahh..” The girl tries to process your words, her eyelids heavy and dark. “..Umm, a kappa? Do you have a cucumber? Or, ah.. are you feeling gassy?”

“W-.. what? No.” You glare. “What are you talking about?”
“Mmm.. well, bowing doesn’t really work. That’s just a myth.” Her words are slow. “I guess you could try to wrestle it, but he could bring you into the water, and then you’d drown.. Or you could just see where he goes..”

>Follow the kappa.
>Try to wrestle with the kappa.
>Throw something at it.
>Write-In.

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>>5315883
>Throw something at it.
>Throw Natsumi
>Gif related

>>5315883
>Try to wrestle the kappa
>Smother it with our Humongous Bazonga dongas

>>5315883
>>Follow the kappa.

>>5315883
>Throw something at it.
too traumatized from the river to wrassle

>>5315883
>Throw something at it.
Half tempted to go for the Natsumi toss

>>5315883
>Throw something at it.

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>>5315952
>>5315946
>>5315943
>>5315918
>>5315903
>>5315886

>Throw something at it.

You decide to wage a more impersonal form of warfare. You briefly consider flinging the kid at the kappa, but you’re not yet so cruel as to throw a child at a monster–instead, you push her aside, grabbing one of her stuffed animals. You wheel back, take aim, and fling the plush hippopotamus at the yokai.

“Ah–Mr. Stuffins..!” Natsumi cries out. Your aim holds true, and the poor hippo arcs like a ragdoll into the teapot atop the kappa’s head. You watch both careen off into the dirt, as the teapot shatters against the ground and the hippo grows damp with hot tea. That stops the kappa in his tracks, who drops the sword to gawk at the puddle. The kid looks like she’s about to cry.

As you sweep in to snatch the sword up from the yokai’s feet, a sudden yelp pulls your gaze up.

“Gaha–..! Just what have you done?!” A nasal voice gasps. You look up to see.. a bookish stranger, in a brown yukata of fine make and with a set of tailor-made specs stood at the bank’s side nearby. You look him up and down, from the draconic black pipe spewing smoke in his hand to the glossy khadrewood sandals stamping the grass in frustration. And.. he is flanked by an array of colorful yokai.

“Do you know what you’ve done? I’ve been brewing that for hours! Those were Mehlwaa Maheyeltra leaves from the Southern Yhats! Imported from thousands of miles overseas!” He looks aghast. “I certainly hope you have the money to pay for this, though I know that you don’t.”

>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.
>Ask him who the hell he thinks he is.
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin.
>Give Natsumi back her stuffed animal.
>Write-In.

>>5315981
>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.

If he wanted his tea brewed to completion he shouldn't have left it in the hands of a thief.

>>5315981
>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.
>Give Natsumi back her stuffed animal.

>>5315981
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin

>>5315981
>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.

>>5315981
>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.

>>5315981
>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.
>Give Natsumi back her stuffed animal.

>>5315981
>>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.
>>Warn him that you’re an important ronin.

>>5316016
>these

>>5316016
+1

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>>5316479
>>5316199
>>5316135
>>5316080
>>5316078
>>5316069
>>5316059
>>5316016
>>5316011

>Tell him his pet yokai stole your sword. It was a valuable trade.
>Give Natsumi back her stuffed animal.

“Uh.. sorry.” You pick up the stitched hippo from up off the ground and give it a few pats dry–he remains soaked through with tea, river water, and muck. You hand him off to the girl. “Here.”
“Uuooh.. Mr. Stuffins..” Natsumi snivels.

“And you.” You turn your attention back to glasses. “You ought to keep a better eye on your pet kappa. It got it’s grubby paws all over my sword–a chibarri katana, you know–very valuable. I’d say the damage done to it is worth a pot of hot leaf juice, wouldn’t you?

“That’s chiburi, not chibari–are you quite sure you’re the one who knows the value of that sword? And, if anything, my companion here’s hands are far more sanitary than yours. You reek of cheap alcohol and dirt.” The man waves dismissively at your getup. Your eyes can’t help but wander to the bodiless head by his feet, who has begun to lick up the ceramic shards of teapot and chew on them. “That ‘hot leaf juice’ you just spilt costs thousands of yun. Can you even wrap your head around that?”

“H-hey! That’s Lady Tomoe, you’re talking to!” Natsumi speaks up for you, biting back her tears over her fallen companion. “She was once a samurai! Show some respect!”

“A samurai? Hmph. Then, excuse me–I was mistaken. Because if that’s the case, you must have the money to pay me back for my tea.” He takes a huff off of his dragon pipe. “That would be four thousand and five hundred yun made out to Doctor Dhyutidhara Rakujochigusa, associate professor of Yokai Research at the Katsuobushi University in Morikogoro and exotic tea enthusiast. Or.. if you truly were a samurai, I’ll cut that payment down a quarter and you can simply work the debt off. I could use the aid in a troublesome matter here. It’s a short job, so you can get back to.. sleeping in dirt and throwing toys, I suppose.”

>Fine. You can do a little work.
>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin too, in the service of the government. You probably outrank him.
>Write-In.

>>5316616
>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.
Time to abuse our feminine wiles, flash our tits at him

>>5316616
>You don't own him shit, it's his fault for not watching his kappa
>Try to leave

>>5316616
>Fine. You can do a little work But you will have to give me a better deal first, your kappa tried to steal which is illegal and you shouldn't do something as stupid as using a kappa's head like a table. four eyes!

>>5316616
>>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.
Titty work over real work

>>5316616
>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.

>>5316633
support.

>>5316616
>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.

>>5316616
>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.

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>>5316796
>>5316692
>>5316665
>>5316664
>>5316656
>>5316633
>>5316627
>>5316620

>Attempt to charm him into overlooking your little debt.

You’ve had enough with glasses. You’re already stuck under that pisshead samurai, and now some bigshot city professor wants to jerk you around? You loosen your yukata. “Oh, but.. this really is troublesome. I don’t have any money on me at the moment.” You smile at the beanpole,a sleeve now down by your elbow. “But I’m sure we could work out another form of payment..? ”

An uneasy silence falls about the riverbank. You grow hot in the face.

“No.” Doctor Dhyutidhara stares at you, eyes narrow. “Give me back my tea.”
“Um–.. what are you doing, Lady Tomoe?” Natsumi smiles weakly. “That was kind of weird..”

“Whatever!” You pull your sleeve back up with a huff.

>Fine. You can do a little work.
>Attempt to flee.
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin too, in the service of the government. You probably outrank him.
>Write-In.

>>5316947
>Point out something behind him
>Attempt to flee.

>>5316947
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin too, in the service of the government. You probably outrank him.

oof, I guess we coasted on our body

>>5316947
>>Warn him that you’re an important ronin too, in the service of the government. You probably outrank him.

>>5316947
>Fine. You can do a little work.

>>5316947
>>Warn him that you’re an important ronin too, in the service of the government. You probably outrank him.

>>5316947
>Fine. You can do a little work.

Oh, hey, Haremvania QM!

>>5316947
>Fine. You can do a little work.

>>5316947
>Ask why he would put a pot of expensive tea on the head of a kappa, sounds like he wanted it to be destroyed.

>>5317467
seconding this vital question

>>5317467
Thirded.

>>5317467
+1

>>5317467
Maybe his kappa shouldn't be stealing swords with a fragile teapot on top of his head.

>>5317467
This

>>5317467
Supporting.

>>5317467
Support

>>5317467
+++

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>>5317825
>>5317815
>>5317724
>>5317722
>>5317694
>>5317674
>>5317637
>>5317636
>>5317467
>>5317270
>>5317128
>>5317033
>>5317008
>>5317003
>>5317001
>>5316957

>Ask why he would put a pot of expensive tea on the head of a kappa, sounds like he wanted it to be destroyed.

“Can I at least ask why you would leave a pot of expensive tea on your pet kappa’s head?” You ask, now exasperated. “Because it sounds to me like you wanted it destroyed.”

“Feh. Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know. Observe.” Rakujochigusa snorts, kneeling down by the head yokai. He holds its nose a moment, and as the creature’s face grows red for air, it pries open its lips for a breath to reveal a fully repaired teapot atop its tongue. Rakujochigusa gently removes the fine china from its maw and places it back atop the kappa’s head. It looks good as new.

“That was.. kind of gross..” You murmur, an eye still on the teapot.
“Eugh.” Natsumi doesn’t hide her revulsion.

“My research concerns the application of yokai for use in everyday life. As you can see, tsurube otoshi can be used to make fragments whole again–broken ceramics, steel, glass or clay. And kappa, if you must know, can raise their natural bodily temperature so high as to brew tea to perfection. I sell my own blend back home. Of course, it’s not just to our benefit–tsurube otoshi enjoy the challenge of chewing up broken things and putting them back together, and the warmth of a boiling pot of tea is soothing to kappas. We can coexist with yokai, who, in turn, can play a valuable part in our everyday lives.” He takes another whiff of his pipe. “Unfortunately, tsurube otoshi can’t lick tea up from the ground and rebrew it or else we wouldn’t have the problem we have now. I’ll assume, for your benefit, that you didn’t want to sleep on a dirty river bank–you attempted to cross but were nearly drowned, no? You can help me solve that issue for the benefit of both of us.”

>Fine. You can do a little work.
>Attempt to flee.
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin. You’ll help him if he cuts down the debt.
>Write-In.

>>5317875
>Fine. You can do a little work.

>>5317875
>Fine. You can do a little work.

>>5317875
>Warn him that you’re an important ronin. You’ll help him if he cuts down the debt.

>>5317875
>Point out that there is no way for us to know how expensive that tea truly was, it could have easily just been some common tea. Even if he really were some academic VIP, that doesn't mean he wouldn't try to exploit someone's ignorance to pull a fast one.
>Do the favor if he can at least prove he is who he says he is, but after that the debt is cleared.
Smells like someone is trying to con the conwoman.

>>5317875
>Point out that there is no way for us to know how expensive that tea truly was, it could have easily just been some common tea. Even if he really were some academic VIP, that doesn't mean he wouldn't try to exploit someone's ignorance to pull a fast one.
>Do the favor if he can at least prove he is who he says he is, but after that the debt is cleared.

>>5317875
>>5317953
+1

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Is this quest based on Tsukikage Ran?

>>5317875
>>Fine. You can do a little work.

>>5317875
>Fine. You can do a little work.
but uh we're sick right now
and recovering from an injury
so no fighting