Even though she is the one that wanted to participate in this holiday, she feels incredibly nervous when presenting her gifts. As she pushes the gifts forward, she can only stumble over her own words.
“ U-Um … This is what I prepared. ”
She’s presented three gifts for him: a tea set, an embroidered fabric and a wooden charm laid on top of a small bag.
She makes a gesture to the tea set first. Even after putting in a lot of effort to make it, Uta has to admit it is nothing close to looking as smooth as she had hoped. In fact, there’s a few imperfections she can already see, even the scenery she painted on outside surface has a bit of a clumsiness to it. “ I … made it from scratch, so please forgive it for any imperfections. I thought it needed something more, so I tried to paint the scenery from the top of Sawayama on the kettle and cups. And … I was also thinking that it would also be nice if I could make you tea every once in a while. If you will allow it. ”
The nerves get to her, so she ends her words concerning the first gift right then and there and quickly moves on.
“ I noticed that you have something tied around your scabbard, so I made something similar. ” It looks almost similar, even down to the colour, except there’s some subtle needlework pattern woven into shape of a moon peeking past a couple clouds in the fabric. So subtle, one wouldn’t be able to notice it. “ I believed if I made it too different or too elaborate, you would not like it. ”
In truth, the last gift is the most important one to her. There is physically nothing that extravagant about the charm aside from the engravings depicting a rainstorm.
“ Actually, I got this after chichi-ue told me we would be getting married. ” She holds it out for him. “ I know you do not believe in prayers, but since we got married, I have been praying for your well-being with it. I know it might seem silly but just consider the time and feelings that I have put into it as a sign of devotion and take it with you, please. And it would … make me feel better knowing that you have it. ”
Uta doesn’t have much else to say after that.
“ So … that is all I have. ”
Happy Valentine’s Day, Mitsunari ! || @kougetsuin
Mitsunari directed his attention towards each of the gifts as Uta introduced them. The ribbon and charm were fairly mundane items ——– not useful in battle. Had Uta not given them to Mitsunari, he wouldn’t have gotten them for himself. The ribbon currently tied around his sword was fraying after going through so many battles, though. It couldn’t hurt to replace it.
However, Mitsunari found his gaze kept lingering on the tea set. It shouldn’t have been anything special. It was as common as the other items —– tea sets could be bought anywhere. ( If anything, given the quality alone, it was worth less than a regular tea set. ) But something bothered him ——– why had she gone so far to sculpt and then paint an entire tea set ? Wouldn’t that have required a great amount of time and effort on her part ? It would have been far easier for her to buy a tea set, and yet she hadn’t. Therefore, this tea set must have had some sort of significance to her, but what ? Because she had made it with her own hands ? Was it a sense of accomplishment, then ?
❛❛ …I will accept these gifts of yours. I will also allow you to prepare tea for me using this set as you wish. ❜❜ He untied the old ribbon, letting it drop to the ground, and tied the new one around his sword. Mitsunari then took the charm, staring at it for several moments. This was obviously important to Uta, but where was he supposed to put it ? He glanced back at the tea set, and placed the charm next to it. He’d figure out what to do with the charm later.
❛❛ I also prepared a gift for you. You no doubt noticed these camellias when you entered today. These are for you. ❜❜ Mitsunari walked over to the window to grab the bouquet. These had been Sakon’s suggestion —– apparently women liked them. Mitsunari, though, couldn’t understand how they were worth anything as a gift. What was the point in buying Uta something that would die by the end of the week ? Still, he had gone along with the young man’s suggestion. Picking out gifts for Uta had been one of the most difficult things he’d had to do as of late. Mitsunari had no idea what women liked, or what was appropriate for a foreign holiday. So he’d spent the past couple weeks quizzing everyone he knew about gifts. Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Hanbei, Gyobu…even Sakon and a few foot soldiers.
❛❛ I have a couple other gifts for you, as well. ❜❜ Mitsunari walked over to a nearby drawer. He opened it, pulling out a sheathed dagger and a small yellow charm.
❛❛ This dagger is yours. Use if to defend yourself. Your trident is useful on the battlefield, but it won’t help you in close quarters. Should you be attacked in a confined space, you would do better to use this dagger. ❜❜ The dagger had been Mitsunari’s idea. It was a weapon, it could last for years to come, and it was useful. But why had everyone objected to his idea at first ? Gyobu, Sakon —– even Lord Hanbei ! After several discussions, they had finally allowed him to gift the dagger ——– under one condition. It needed to be painted so that it was ‘less threatening’. Mitsunari had grumbled about it at the time —– it was a dagger; it was supposed to be threatening ! But eventually he gave in to their demands. So he had bought a white one with small cherry blossoms painted on the handle and hilt.
❛❛ As for this charm ——– it’s supposed to protect you and bring you good fortune. If such superstitions are to be believed, that is… ❜❜ Mitsunari grimaced as he dangled it in front of Uta. This gift had actually been Lord Hideyoshi’s suggestion. When his lord brought it up, a strange look had crossed his face. Something like…tiredness ? Sadness ? But at the strange time, strangely contemplative. It had disturbed Mitsunari —– he’d never seen Lord Hideyoshi show that kind of emotion before. Mitsunari hoped he’d never see his lord like that again.