If there's one thing that Himawari would hate the most, that is doing embroidery. It's the most boring activity for a women to do for her. Why would she just sit down and so sew some flowery patterns in a cloth when it can't be that useful for their everyday life. It's just like you're sewing a design on your cloth and show it off to the people who doesn't even give a d*mn on your art. What's the purpose of doing this anyway?
Himawari's brows were clenched, as she move her hands to and fro, trying her best to form a flower. But all she could do was a random unidentified pattern and a several sting on her finger. She hissed in pain when she got another sting from the needle. Later on, her aunty who serves as the teacher in their class saw her struggles and went towards her. "Are you having a difficulty with embroidery?" she asked her niece. Himawari stopped from what she's doing and looked at Anzu who's giving her a faint yet kind smile which made her remember her mother. She smiled when nodded her head and presented her work to Anzu. "How do I do this again?" she asked. Anzu knelt down with Himawari and took the girl's tools in her hand. She showed Himawari how her hands should work for doing the art and the girl listened attentively.
Later on, she took the tools when she think she understood her aunty enough. She started her work again and started sewing. Anzu watched her and soon left her, going back to her seat to watch all her students doing their activity. After a long minutes, everyone seemed to be done with their exercise. Each ladies showed their patterns with unique and elegant design which is a candy to the girls' eyes. Anzu was delighted to see how her students learn fast and how they had put their effort for this. Everyone was delighted with their teacher's praise, they also showed each other their art and praise each other's work. The only girl here who haven't join the crowd is Himawari, who's still doing an embroidery with her attention focused on her activity. Anzu watched her quietly and when she saw her niece was done, Himawari curved her usual bright smile on her lips and lifted the cloth where she put her embroidery art. She soon stood up on her feet and rushed towards Anzu. "Sensei[1]! Sensei! Look what I've embroidered, I put my effort too much on that!" she presented her embroidery to her teacher. Anzu cocked her head with her smile but soo changed into confusion when she saw the pattern wasn't a flower like what her classmates do. "Himawari-chan what is this?" she asked with her kind tone.
(Information: Sensei[1] is what they call to their teacher with the literal meaning in english)
Himawari, "It's a flute. My favourite shakuhachi that I left back to my home," she seemed proud while presenting the embroider to her. Anzu hesitantly nodded her head, "is that so?" she looked back at the embroider, only to see a thick slanted line with one color and doesn't even have any highlights. Is this what she's too focused on?
Not wanting to hurt Himawari, she smiled to her niece and said, "good job. Continue to practice and your embroider will become much better." Himawari nodded her head and took the cloth from the teacher's table.
The classes soon was done after the whole hours of lesson. Students from both sides went out of their hall and head back towards their central dorm—while the others decided to roam around Iku for a moment. Himawari joined her group of friends, walking back to the Lotus Dorm. The tallest of them, Shingen, was the one leading the topic of what they're chitchatting. The girls were listening to Shingen's news, which was about the grand feast down in the small city of Takeda. There will be a small show for the Takeda's known actors and actresses of their Noh[2] theater in the inside the Theatre hall. The girls suddenly became excited because of the rumoured show and its people who would do for the theatre.
(Information: Noh[2] is a Japanese theatre with the actors wearing thick make up with beasts faces. Each faces represents a character and role either mythical, or other else.)
Himawari just listened quietly, looking at Shingen who's talking until she saw a lonesome man on a bridge, walking towards the other side where the Recesses' meditating mountain was. Himawari the urge of wanting to bother this lad again and see his face in anger. But something came into her mind that she decided to delay and continue to listen to Shingen's chitchats until they arrive to the Lotus Dorm.
Meanwhile, Nobu heard Himawari's voice from a distance. He also expected to hear her voice calling his name but instead, the girl seemed to fail to acknowledge his presence. It's understandable since his away from her from a distance. Nobu felt a little bit disappointed for he thought this would happen everyday. But instead he insisted himself to be thankful for having a peaceful day without that girl's bother.
Nobu walked straight to the otherside of the land and went ahead to the rock stairs where on the peak of it, was a falls and a meditating place. It didn't went that long and difficult for he reached the peak quickly, only to see the clan master of Kikue Sect. He bowed down for a greeting, and the middle-aged man seemed to felt his presence.
A smile curved on the Clan Master's lips, and he spoke, "Nobu-chan. It's you." Nobu from behind, rose up and spoke a greeting to the Clan Master. His stoic face greeted the Clan Master's back. The middle-aged man soon turned with a faint smile and greeted Nobu with a bow. "It's been awhile since I saw you visiting the Meditating peak," he said to Nobu.
Nobu, "some following troubles happened unexpected. I will visit the meditation peak once again daily starting tomorrow."
Clan Master, "was it because of Himawari-chan?"
Nobu remained silent although he didn't know who this Himawari is, but the Clan Master already knew his silence. "Himawari-chan is my cousin's dear daughter. She's the girl whom I heard who keeps bothering you for no valuable reason," The Clan Master explained. Now that he got the hint who this girl was, he suddenly remembered the young girl's voice who never stopped bothering him. The Clan Master seemed to read his mind and chuckled when he saw a small reaction from the lad's face. "Was she that bothersome to you?" the clan master asked.
Nobu, "she said she wanted to be friend with me. But I think it'll be a waste of effort to ignore her and her noise all day."
Hearing this, the Clan Master chuckled once again. "That's the main reason why her father sent her here," he said. He looked at Nobu who's face remained calm and composed. The directions of the lad's eyes were directed to him, but he knew he couldn't see him. The Clan Master suddenly felt pity but he just closed his eyes. "Just ignore Himawari-chan's trouble whenever you meet her," the clan master started to walk towards Nobu's direction, "but don't yell at her or thinking of her as your enemy. When she wanted to be friend with you, just stay quiet—or you could nod if you want," he continued and chuckled when he paused. He walked past the lad but stopped to turn his eyes to Nobu. Nobu remained quiet like he used to be, and didn't utter a single word nor show a small change of facial expression. "We don't know she could be a big help to you," the clan master added. He heaved a sigh once he ended his sentence and turned his attention to his way down to the Recesses. "I'll be going back to the grand hall now. Take good care of yourself and come to me once you have a problem quickly," said the clan master. Nobu turned towards the clan leader's direction and bowed for a farewell. The Clan Master did the same and soon rose, spreading his fan and started to walk down on the stairs.
Nobu was left alone, with only his senses aside from his eyes, functioning as radar in order for him to move without anyone's help. He turned towards the waterfall's sight, and remained there standing, recalling all the clan master's advice. With this he thought to himself, 'do I have to suffer from her troubles?'
But after he recalled the clan master's last phrase, he suddenly asked himself what kind of big help will that good for nothing lady could do.