Uchiha Itachi takes the Council's Mission award for the fourth year in a row. Neither the sound of his spoken name nor the absence of Izumi's stirs her mind.
He wins it fair.
She does not allow the disappointment to pool, yet a dangerous level of sadness she cannot fathom plunges her deep in its trance.
Then, Itachi's voice pulls her from its depth, a painful blend that erupts with the deafening sounds of applause.
"Izumi, I apologise."
He takes his seat beside her.
"What for?" She states disbelievingly, "you won it fair and square."
At her comment, Itachi turns and faces her squarely.
"Izumi, I believe you would be an invaluable comrade to have on the Council's Mission."
He raises his hand in what appears to be a tentative handshake.
Baffled, Izumi stares intently at him, unaware of the sudden whistling sounds and teasing laughter that swirls around them.
"Is it not supposed to be for one? You would end up with only half the amount-"
"The completion of a mission for the sake and safety of the village is pivotal," he interrupts, "Money comes second, and the mission would not be completed satisfactorily without a comrade," he hesitates momentarily, as if reluctant to speak the final sentence, "I can vouch for that, having been on it three times."
Izumi lets the comment sink, perhaps as a frantic attempt to search for an underlying motive.
A small part of her is uncertain of his intentions, yet a significant portion is focused on Itachi's assessment of her as an invaluable comrade.
Inundated with embarrassment, she unsuccessfully suppresses a series of red streaks and mumbles a few incomprehensible words.
On Itachi's end, he seems not to notice.
"You don't have to make a decision now," he says evenly.
It may be the comment with its underlying meaning, but Izumi knows with certainty that winning the Council's Mission is not the end goal.
Deep down, and without the inclination to acknowledge it, the goal is, and will always be, Itachi's approval.
x
Not until Izumi, Nanami and Yuki have changed into their yukatas do they reunite with Itachi and Shisui by the village markets.
Nanami, who is having a tentative conversation with Shisui, is also fruitlessly fending off a forceful Yuki. Only when she slips and falls against his arm does Yuki decide to stop with the accidental 'pushing.'
Meanwhile, Itachi is occupied with the festival's agenda, given enthusiastically by Shisui and assigned the task of locating group entertainment. But by the time he makes his mind, Yuki suggests dinner.
Alone by a long table of their chosen restaurant is Honoka, who is staring vacantly into the distance as if her current presence is by accident.
Shisui, very much to Yuki's dismay, is already approaching and waving cheerfully at her.
"Shisui, how do you do?" She says monotonously.
"Good! Can we join you?" He answers eagerly.
And it may be his mirthfulness, but Nanami is looking unusually sullen.
Shisui gestures for the rest of them before seating himself beside Honoka. Izumi and Itachi take their seats opposite, with Yuki whispering for Nanami to sit on Shisui's other side whilst she takes her place beside her.
The atmosphere may be suffused with a tense level of animosity and awkwardness, but the group does not reinforce such negativity. Shisui also seems to be the only one oblivious to the cynical air.
"Say, we need to go back after dinner for the ceremony celebration," Yuki says suddenly.
And instantly, Izumi gets where Yuki is directing.
Yuki it's only been ten minutes and you're already making plans to rid of Honoka?
Nanami stares at her food with more interest than usual whilst Itachi and Shisui watch inquisitively in Yuki's direction.
Honoka, however, is on a separate book altogether.
"Shisui, would you like to play a game of chess?" She asks blankly.
Her discomforting stare begins at Shisui, briefly hangs to Itachi and Izumi, glides past Yuki and Nanami, then ends back at Shisui.
"Huh?"
The word comes out as an incredulous grunt from Yuki's end.
Surprisingly, and very much to the vexation of Yuki, Honoka turns to her with almost a patronising vibe, albeit her expression is remarkably impassive.
"You did not ask Shisui directly, therefore, I would assume he is free," she says.
"I said we should go back after dinner for the ceremony celebration," Yuki snaps.
"You did not define who 'we' is. Your suggestion was generalised, and therefore I have decided to offer a suggestion to Shisui, who I have clarified clearly."
The bitter silence stretches on, until Honoka decides to speak again.
"Shisui, would you like to play a game of chess with me-"
"No, he does not!" Yuki interjects irately.
"I need an answer from Shisui himself-"
"You're really starting to piss me off-"
"Hey, hey!" Shisui interrupts, "Let's not argue okay?"
He raises his hands as a signal for quietude.
"Shisui, was that considered an argument?" Honoka asks interestedly.
"Yes, so please let's not argue here," he answers quickly.
"I think you must be mistaken. An argument is a quarrel resulting from diverging opinions, usually accompanied by anger."
She speaks slowly, and explains as if she is standing in a classroom lecturing clueless students.
"That was a quarrel, stupid!" Yuki says loudly.
"A quarrel is when two parties are emotionally angry. Judging by the look on your face," she pauses, and with disbelieving silence, Honoka rummages through her bag and pulls out a small book with numerous colourful tabs, "I believe it resembles displeasure and annoyance. I see your pupils have dilated and your eyebrows have furrowed. However, I cannot feel any displeasure or annoyance, therefore I am not angry. If I am not angry, then we cannot be in a quarrel or argument."
Izumi expects a furious outburst on Yuki's end, however, she leans back against the chair and lets out a string of hysterical laughter.
"She's even more loopy than I thought," Yuki shouts gleefully as Shisui sends her a disapproving frown.
"Let's talk about this later, okay?" Shisui says to Honoka.
And for the next twenty minutes, conversation is barely audible, with the exception of small talk between Shisui and Nanami.
Only when Nanami suddenly stands does the discomforting atmosphere break.
"I need to go for a walk. Shisui, are you able to accompany me?" She asks politely.
Shisui, kind as he is, does not appear to understand the insinuating motive behind Nanami's question.
"Sure," he replies.
When he stands to follow, Honoka attempts the same, except Yuki is too quick for her.
"Not so fast, you weren't invited. Stay out of it," she says gratingly, and her hand viciously grips the back of Honoka's dress.
Confused, Honoka stares after Shisui and Nanami, then over at Yuki before realising that further attempts may not be ideal.
For the first time ever, Izumi notices a line of despondency across Honoka's features. It may be brief, but she is unsure of its meaning and where it may have originated.
Regardless, she is relieved the situation did not escalate under the fuming temper that is Yuki.
Again, there is a flutter of sympathy for Honoka, that her social ineptness is perhaps putting her in an endless cycle of compromising situations. Yet Izumi's relationship with Honoka is too trivial for any level of deep understanding. If anything, she wishes to remain neutral for the sake of Nanami's happiness.