Just as Yasuki Ryoichi began to approach the floor, the most curious incident began to play out.

Kaiu Masahiko opened his fan.

Otomo Tooru caught sight of it, and maneuvered his own fan to bat the air behind him twice.

Heichi Batsuda noticed.

Fortunately, so did Otomo Hotaru, who promptly turned around and began to speak in a loud voice to Otomo Keihime. Normally, this would not be a huge impediment to Lady Keihime, but...Hotaru had chewed through an entire head of garlic just before court.

Otomo Keihime was forced to extricate herself from the conversation by pretending to need to retrieve a document from her quarters. She /exited the chamber.

And Kaiu Masahiko could have jumped for joy!