"Well, what sort of art does that require?" she asked genuinely curious, "Surely you have some examples of that ready."

"Painting." She responds naturally. "I promise I will show you some in a few days. How does that sound?"

"Well, alright," she shrugs somewhat confused why none of the mountain of works in the room are fit for viewing, "You need to be more confident about your work Koharu-san. What I saw looked more than worthy of showing to a friend."

The Doji squired and blushed. "B-Be that as it may, it's... you will get to see some." Koharu pouts gently. "You've not shared any new poetry Otsuka-san."

Oh, well if I am the one to start so be it.

"Ah, here is one from last winter:

"Cold winds blow fiercely,
Down the mountains into the valley,
Frost clings to the walls.

Steel rings out and awakens Fire.
Smoke rises and embers wane."

Koharu was suitably impressed! She gently claps her hands together, one over the other, and dips her head to her friend. "That was splendid!"

"Why thank you," she dips her head, "I am glad you enjoyed it. I was worried it might be too melancholy for the moment. Still, it is my favourite poem of the late."

Chuckling for reasons her own Koharu waved a hand vertically in front of herself. "It's fine, it's fine. Thank you for sharing it... ja, I guess I could, eto... I could show you one." Her fellow Crane might have (rightly) sensed it was a matter of trust. Sure, they wrote letters to one another, but they'd not met in years.

"That would be delightful. Thank you," she offered a bow since the artisan had made this so involved it felt like an honour.

"Hai."

Having one last sip of tea and then patting herself down she got up, waltzing over to the closest covered painting. "Remember I told you that I helped Doji Ayano? This one is one of hers. It'll be going into a display at some point. I'm... taking care of it for the moment." Koharu explains, fidgeting a little. "S-sometimes I assist a little... j-just some of the detail or background. Or, ano, we talk through ideas."

Initially somewhat disappointed as Koharu went on Otsuka became quite intrigued. "So you helped out with it?" she asked very thrilled, "It is a lovely painting, as is to be expected by Ayano-sensei, but it must be wonderful to be a part of it! What parts are yours?"

This time Koharu helped Otsuka see the entirety by stripping away the sheet fully and turning the large canvas, with some effort, to face the Kakita. She is blushing. "I-It's nice, hai. Ano..." She didn't answer right away, instead letting Otsuka see the full imagine... it was very pretty. It showed two birds practically dancing together in flight close up beside falling cherry blossom petals, the background a bay at sunset with ships on the horizon. How it depicted the water was particularly impressive; not only did it shine with light, but upon closer inspection both it and the beach were textured.

"Ho-ho~! Doji Ayano sure is something," she said after a long moment just taking it in like she had learned in school. She leaned in, "That sunset is perfect. Look at the subtle distortions in the reflection. Sugoi!"

"Ne?" Koharu agrees, stepping back and moving beside Otsuka to admire the painting herself. "I think she wanted to really capture the magnificence of a sunset in general. Eto... with the birds and the ships and the sakura, yet it being sunset... how do you interpret it?"

"Hmmmm, sakura can still fall at sunset. It does seem almost too perfect a moment now that you mention it. Hmmm," she continued to closely scrutinize it, "It seems like four excellent sunsets put together..."

Chuckling and nodding it seemed Koharu agreed. "Ano, what about any themes or messages?"

"Everything is a fleeting sort of beauty. Lots of motion captured as if in motion..." she tapped her chin with her fan, "Mating dances, blossoms falling, sunsets, boats leaving harbour... all transitions from one thing to another?"

Koharu smiles brightly and nods. "I think that was a key element, hai. How about your wonderful poem? The juxtaposition of cold and fire was marvellous."

"I was rather pleased with that," she nodded, "It was written at the coldest part of court."

"When aching for spring's warm caress?" Koharu teases, grinning just a little as she knows she is being cheeky.