"Ah," The infamous paper crane. He had been hoping to wow her with his authentic Japanese--or was it Chinese?--skills in origamiship, but the crane and he were star-crossed rivals, destined to end their struggles in tears time and time. In fact, if it hadn't been for a fellow classmate helping him out, Kotetsu would have failed that day's exercise.

But there were other ways to wow someone and Kairi's latest question gave him just the excuse he was looking for. A self-satisfied grin and a dramatic laugh began his tale. "D'oh ho ho hooo! I am glad you asked! I come from a land of black oceans and shimmering stars!" He added jazz hands to the mix to really emphasize those stars. "All who know my name quake with fear when they sail my waters for I am Kobayashi: Keeper of the Nightingale Seas! Conjurer of Storms!" Yes, this was going swimmingly if he did say so himself! Ah man, if only he could have used that pun publicly. What a waste of improvisation!

If he hadn't been worried that his nurse would put an end to him if he grew any louder or stood on the table, well, Kotetsu would have certainly done so! Instead, he compromised for a flashy pose where he sat, pointing just beyond Kairi. "The waters whistle and sing at my beck and call as I strike down the evil and unjust where they join my eternal chorus!"

No matter what, all that time he wasted today coming up with that story was so worth it now.