I decided that the souvenirs for Shigenobu-san would be a pair of yunomi teacups crafted by Nebula and a selection of Japanese tea. For the tea leaves, I’d managed to get a portion of the batch Raz-san had been cultivating.
On the day of our visit, Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, and I returned to the remote frontier of the Hydra Kingdom—the same region where we had participated in the Flying Board Tournament.
Unlike the last time we were here, the crowds on the main thoroughfares were sparse, and a leisurely, quiet atmosphere pervaded the town.
"The vibe is completely different from the tournament," Hina-chan remarked.
"It was probably only this lively because of the event. I think this is its natural state. It’s peaceful; I like it."
As I answered her, I looked around. The landscape was lush with greenery and sprawling fields, creating a wonderful pastoral scene. Since rice was a major crop in these parts, the scenery perfectly matched the idyllic image of the countryside we held as Japanese people.
Following the notes Shigenobu-san had given me, we made our way through the agricultural zone. Houses were scattered here and there among the fields until, finally, a building resembling a traditional Japanese residence came into view.
"Ah, is that it?"
"It has to be," Aoi-chan replied. "It’s a Japanese-style house, just like he said. Shigenobu-san mentioned we couldn't miss it, and he was right."
A traditional Japanese house in another world was certainly a standout landmark. With its tiled roof and obvious attention to detail, the building felt like a labor of love. It was a single-story home with the unmistakable aura of a rural cottage... Seeing it made me think a house like that wouldn't be a bad place to live at all.
"By the way, Kaito-senpai, I’m sorry we ended up leaving the souvenir choice entirely to you," Aoi-chan said.
"Don't worry about it. I just received them from Nebula and Raz-san myself."
"You said she made Arita-ware style teacups, right? Nebula-chan is truly multi-talented."
The yunomi Nebula had made were as beautiful as the night sky. Their external appearance was magnificent, but the interior was even more striking; peering into the cups felt like looking at a miniature galaxy. Their beauty was hypnotic, as if you were being pulled into the porcelain. As expected of Nebula—I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.
As we approached the house, I spotted a familiar man standing out front. It was Shigenobu-san, likely waiting for us because I’d sent him a Hummingbird message beforehand.
Noticing us, he raised a hand in a casual greeting.
"Hello, Shigenobu-san. Thank you for inviting us today."
"Glad you could make it. Sorry for making you trek all the way out to the boonies. You didn't get lost, did you?"
"No, it was a smooth trip."
"Good to hear. Well, no point in standing around outside. Come on in."
With a welcoming smile, Shigenobu-san ushered us inside. We slipped off our shoes at the entrance in the familiar Japanese fashion, a ritual that felt pleasantly nostalgic.
He guided us into the living room. Unlike the rooms built from Blossom-san’s garbled knowledge of Japanese culture, this place was the real deal—a proper tatami-matted room. It reminded me of my mother’s family home back in Okayama, which gave me a bittersweet pang of homesickness.
"Welcome! Please, make yourselves comfortable."
I turned toward the voice to see a kind-looking woman appearing with a tray of tea. She looked to be in her forties, her dark brown hair tied simply behind her neck. She was a refined, lovely woman—likely Shigenobu-san’s wife.
"Let me introduce you. This is my wife, Hanna."
"It’s a pleasure to meet you."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kaito Miyama."
"Aoi Kusunoki."
"Hina Yuzuki."
After the introductions, we settled onto the floor cushions placed around a large, low dining table. Hanna-san served us what appeared to be barley tea.
"Oh, that’s right. We brought these as a gift for you..."
"Hmm? You brought a souvenir? I’m sorry for making you go to the trouble, but thank you... Oh, this is a sturdy-looking box."
"A spirit girl living at my house made the cups, and the Japanese tea was grown by a friend."
"Is that so? I really appreciate it... Now let’s see, what kind of yunomi—wait, what?"
Accepting the gift with a wry chuckle, Shigenobu-san opened the wooden box and pulled out a cup. His eyes immediately went wide with shock.
I blinked. What was with that reaction? I noticed Aoi-chan was also staring at the cup, her jaw practically on the floor. Since Nebula had made them, I didn't think they were some sort of rare artifact or anything.
"Hey, wait a minute... is this Yohen Tenmoku?"
"N-no, it can't be... it’s not a full-sized bowl... but look, when the light hits the glaze, it produces an iridescent shimmer. Since it was made in this world, I suppose you can't technically call it Yohen Tenmoku, but... this coloring is unbelievable."
"...Aoi-senpai, what exactly is Yohen Tenmoku?" Hina-chan asked.
"It’s a style usually found in tea bowls—the absolute pinnacle of Tenmoku pottery. To put it simply, there are incredibly rare conditions required to create that effect. There are only three known examples in all of Japan, and every single one is a National Treasure. This... this is a perfect recreation of an impossible masterpiece."
"Whaaaat?!"
This conversation was heading in a very unexpected direction. I knew for a fact they weren't Japanese National Treasures, since Nebula had just finished making them. She had mentioned, quite casually, that she had "perfectly calculated the light reflections to achieve the desired look," but seeing the sheer level of terror and awe on Shigenobu-san and Aoi-chan’s faces made me realize just how terrifying her skills actually were.
Serious-senpai: "Now that you mention it, I think she said she made a lot of them... She probably made tea bowls, too. Mass-producing National Treasure-level goods like it’s nothing—as expected of the Absolute One."