Hikaru approaches the entrance, awaiting his host. He carries a small bag with him, keeping it unobtrusively by his side.

"I have a scheduled appointment with Ikoma Honoka." He begins, offering a bow. "May I see her?"

Hikaru was shown through to a side room. There he'd find Honoka, who was reading a book. She peeked up and there was a small smile as she rose and bowed.

"Doji-san good evening. I hope you are well? Please come in."

"It would be my pleasure Ikoma-san." Hikaru bows and enters. He waits until the screen shuts before smiling back. "It is good to share a drink with a fellow thespian. Even one not quite as well received" the words are playful but Honoka can tell he's studying her reaction

"Is Doji-san saying I'm not a good host?" Honoka replied, the smile still being just about there but there was slightly narrowed eyes "and here I was ensuring the room was nice, with cushions and all."

Hikaru takes the mention of the cushions to curl up on one. Perhaps just a touch closer than would be propriety. He offers a theatrical gasp. "I would never cast such as aspersion upon such a lovely host regarding her hospitality."

She kept her eye on him for a few moments longer before grinning.

"Good, I'm a delight and you should remember that. Especially as I remembered this" she reached down from her other side beside the table and lifted a small bottle of sake out

"How gracious. If only your acting was as impeccable as your hosting" Hikaru ribs, the smile expanding to a grin. "That was my one! From here on out it's two friends enjoying Court. Though I still might smell of tea..."

"Unfortunately I was too busy being personally summoned by the Empress to lead a voyage to find and bring the son of an Emperor and then upon my return having to prepare to face a clan champion for the honour of the Lion to focus entirely on acting" Honoka replied, looking away before adding "however....you did indeed win. So congratulations. Hopefully Doji-san has more than one robe, otherwise court may be an interesting experience from here on out."

"I do, though if I were to looking for a permanent fragrance, well I might be onto something" Hikaru playfully wags as he accepts the bottle and begins to pour. "Consider yourself flattered then that I place our matches of equal importance."

He wait a beats before handing a cup to Honoka, his on slipping.

"I am not dismissing your accomplishments. They are truly of note. I planned to attempt the trial of the monk...and another opportunity arose. I made a choice. As we've both seen, Court has its own challenges" His eyes go to where he'd seen her get cut, gaze lingering.

Hikaru sips his drink. "I'm here to share a drink with a worthy counterpart. I won't get into court politics unless you ask it if me."

Honoka went silent for a short while, looking away. Eventually there was a small sigh.

"Forgive me, I've been a poor host. My mind has been distracted most of the day" she turned back and gave him a bow "I'll do my best to be better. Thank you for your kindness also" she smiled softly "winter court is pretty chaotic, ne?"

"You've had a great deal on your mind Honoka-san." Hikaru replies gently. "And yes: in a matter of days we learned of a Hantei conceived out of marriage, had our Clans end a generation long fued just in time for the Empress to pass and had a duel with a Clan Champion." Hikaru offers a nudge.

"You have a lot for your story." His eyes widen "I didn't get your wound did I?"

"If you manage to get your elbow to neck height while we're sitting I'll let you know Hikaru-san" Honoka replied with a small chuckle "hai there has been so much happening, and there is far more still to come. By the time the court has finished one may wish for peaceful days and smaller courts."

There was a small pause as she picked up her cup, and before taking a sip she said "may I ask a personal opinion of something as a friend?"

Hikaru pauses and bites off the witty banter he was planning. He take s very long sip of his sake. His demeanor changes, position becoming more...focused, if not more formal.

"If it's for my friend? Yes, I will answer as best I am able"

"Did you see what he did?" Honoka looked back at Hikari, then motioned to the cut on her neck "how he...how the kharmic strike happened."

"Honoka-san" Hikaru immediately feels the sense that he is about to enter into something deeply personal. To remark on what he saw in a duel that has passed, that had been entered into the record. He takes a much larger gulp of the drink and then a second. He refills them and offers one to Honoka.

"Yes Honoka, I saw."

He sips his drink, slower now. "I suspect that your kharmic strike has been...well, not celebrated, but appreciated by those who heard secondhand, neh?"

Honoka accepted the new cup but looked into it.

"I understand it's maybe not appropriate to ask such things, but it's been on my mind the entire day and as one with similar training I just...wanted to ask..." she trailed off, taking a moment to think before adding "how would you have felt if someone were to do that to you in the midst of a duel that important? If you prefer to not answer than please accept my apology and we can find a different subject."

"Honoka" Hikaru actually chuckles "It's dueling, of course I want to talk about it. And, without ego, I think I am one of four people who understand what happened. One of you, one is the person who did it and the final is the Emerald Champion. So when I say I believe I understand how you feel better than anyone I don't think it's high praise for myself"

Hikaru sips his drink, feeling himself loosen. "I would hate it. To have refined my skills, to face someone I might know to be superior but to be pitied? Even if I can tell myself that it was logically a better outcome I'd feel..." He thinks on it "Slighted. And a bit terrified seeing how out of my league that was."

He looks back over. "But Honoka, I don't think a single person who was there, how do I say it: I don't think the Dragon Champion purposefully causes a kharmic strike rather than winning, does so in front of the greatest duelist in the Empire, unless they see a talent they don't want to snuff out. "

Honoka looked down in her cup, thinking of that.

"When I realised what he did, I was...fuming. It took everything not to say something there and then. I felt...I still feel..." she gripped the cup tighter "if I lose then I lose, it would have hurt. But instead he doesn't even draw a blade, he...toys with me."

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Forgive me, I'm being rude now."

Hikaru starts to reach out, pauses, and then tilts her chin up slightly. "Is where Ikoma Honoka gives up? Because if so, I greatly overestimated my rival"

He offers her a small smile. "Because the Honoka I've heard of, that I've seen would take the wall we've seen as something to be conquered. And if that is selfish, then you can be selfish with me"

Honoka's eyes hardened at that.

"Give up? I would never give up. My story has barely started and already is shining. Even one tiny setback is but a small step towards my future greatness Hikaru-san. Trust me on that."

Then she paused, and frowned.

"This is just different. That's all. I understand that I am stepping into the biggest arena in Rokugan for the first time but I never expected such a...such things from someone in a prestigious position like his. I prepared mentally for many things, but that was not something I could prepare for."