002 Laps || Video Post || Day 17, Morning ((Slightly backdated, sorry))

[youthfulpassion]

[The video clicks on as the fansuwoth is set down, seemingly by accident, showing Gai standing in front of a full-length mirror in his room--in a fundoshi and nothing else, skin glistening with water droplets rolling down him, showing off every plane and angle of his muscular build. He's drying his hair vigorously still, apparently fresh from the

Comments

[video]

[rockinurzen]

You're certainly enthusiastic.

[Not reminded of his cute disciple, a little. Nope. Not at all. Man, Gai is loud. There's a twang--Zanki is tuning a shamisen.]

But are we all certain that going along with their wants is wise?

Re: [video]

[youthfulpassion]

Of course! A man should be confident in his own capabilities, shouldn't he? And in his own personal appeal!

[Gai beams and flashes Zanki a thumbs up; his optimism never wavers. He'd learned that lesson a long time ago, after all--you have to believe in yourself. You have to be confident. You have to like yourself. Nobody else can or will do it for you. Even if nobody else likes you, even if the whole village thinks you're (--strange, peculiar, weird, different, a loser, a nobody, a freak, a moron, stupid, insane, touched in the head, slow, a fool, a disgrace, a poor excuse for a shinobi, what the hell is even wrong with you--) odd, what counts most is you. As long as you can acknowledge yourself, as long as you can be happy, as long as you can believe..... that's what really matters. Nobody else can take that away from you. You'll have everything you need, right there in your own heart.]I suppose it's difficult to be sure entirely, isn't it? After all, we're relying on them for our employment and livelihood! It would be quite

[video]

[rockinurzen]

Aa, that's exactly the outlook a man should have.

[Zanki decides he quite likes Gai. ...though he does wish the man was a little quieter. Mentioning all the kids here sours his amused expression.]

The young ones are suffering the most. I can endure; I will endure until I find a way to get them back to their homes, but them... They shouldn't be put through this or forced into these situations.

Re: [video]

[youthfulpassion]

Yes, precisely! We can easily manage in Ukiyo, can't we? And because of that, it's our duty to help relieve them as much of their burden as possible until an alternative can be found!

[video]

[rockinurzen]

[Well Zanki wouldn't necessarily say easily but...]

Aa, if we don't protect the younger ones, what good are we?