As part of the promotion for my new black tea brand, I planned to bring samples to Ein-san and Jutia-san. My first stop was Ein-san.
I had sent a message via Hummingbird ahead of time—keeping the details vague—to ask if she was free. Her reply came back with terrifying speed. "No problem," it read. Given that it was Ein-san, she might have already deduced exactly what I wanted to talk about.
"Welcome, Kaito-sama. I have been expecting you."
"H-Hello..."
Ein-san appeared before me the moment I arrived at Kuro's Castle, wearing a beaming smile that confirmed she knew exactly why I was here. The usually cool and composed maid was practically radiating joy. She hadn't visited my home since Kuro hauled her away during her last intrusion—likely after being given a stern lecture—but that clearly had not dampened her spirits.
She had managed to gather information on the new tea leaves in a ridiculously short window, so she probably knew about the sugar cubes as well. She really had been waiting for this with all her heart.
"Now then, Kaito-sama. Let's not spend too much time standing around. Please, let me show you to my room."
"Sure. You certainly seem to be in high spirits."
"It is somewhat embarrassing to admit, but I am aware that I may be acting with some haste. While I have no absolute certainty that your business is what I hope for, I believe the probability is high, and so..."
"Don't worry about that. I brought exactly what I think you are looking for, Ein-san."
"Is that so? My heart truly leaps at the news!"
I gave her a wry smile, finding her uncharacteristic innocence charming, and followed her to her quarters. It was a simple, sparse room as always, though the furniture looked a bit different than it had during my last visit.
"Oh? These tables and chairs look different from the ones I saw before."
"Yes. I rarely used my private quarters in the past, so I only kept the bare minimum on hand. However, I decided to provide new furniture in the event that you might visit, Kaito-sama."
"I see. Well, there's no point in being coy about it. These are the new black tea leaves and the sugar cubes. I also have Nebula's notes regarding the blend."
"Th-This is... Hmmm. I see. By minimizing the flavor fluctuations caused by extraction time and quantity, even those without refined technique can brew a delicious cup. But that isn't all. By combining these with the previous leaves, the flavor profile becomes incredibly versatile. I see! Because these new leaves possess such high stability, they can be harmonized with other elements without ruining the taste. Truly wonderful! I am always humbled by Nebula-sama's ingenuity. The scalability is immense; the flavor can be transformed in any number of ways depending on the brewer's skill."
Ein-san practically snatched the leaves and the memo from me, muttering to herself as she scanned the text with intense focus. After a few moments, her face lit up with a sparkling, radiant expression.
"Kaito-sama, please make yourself comfortable. I shall brew a pot with these leaves immediately."
"Sure. I'll leave it to you."
She looked so genuinely happy that it was heartwarming to watch. Ein-san was defined by her obsession with all things maid-related, and since she believed black tea was an essential part of that culture, finding new possibilities in it was a source of pure joy for her.
The tea she served a short while later was exquisite. The flavor was so refined that it was hard to believe it was the same brand I had brewed for myself.
"This sugar is also wonderful. I have never seen such high quality before."
"I'm glad you like it. So, regarding the new brand—I've named it 'Nifty'—I was hoping you could help me spread the word."
"Of course, please leave it to me. Every maid should know about these leaves and this sugar. I shall ensure the word is spread. However... um... I realize this may be a greedy request, but I was wondering if I might be able to purchase them on a regular basis, just as I did before..."
"Oh, about that. I figured you'd definitely want a steady supply, Ein-san, so I got permission from Nebula and Anima to bring these."
When I pulled the items out of my Magic Box, Ein-san's eyes widened.
"C-Could it be...?"
"Yes, these are the raw materials—tea tree and sugarcane seedlings. Unlike the previous variety, these leaves are supposedly easy to grow. I figured that if you had these, you could ask Raz-san to cultivate as much as you need. As I mentioned, Nebula and Anima have given their consent. As long as you don't sell them, there is no problem at all using them for your personal supply."
"Kaito-sama... My apologies, but would you mind standing up for a moment?"
"Eh? Oh, okay."
Ein-san looked overwhelmed with emotion at my offer to gift her the seedlings, and for some reason, she urged me to stand. I stood up, tilting my head in confusion, when she closed the distance like a surprise attack and pulled me into a tight embrace.
"E-Ein-san!?"
"Your thoughtfulness makes me so happy, Kaito-sama. Forgive me, but I could think of no better way to express my joy. With my stature, this is more of a clinging embrace than a proper hug, which is a drawback... but if it does not displease you, I would like to stay like this for just a little while."
"Oh, um, I’m not displeased at all. In fact, it's actually quite comfortable... um..."
"I see. In that case, please stay until you are satisfied, Kaito-sama..."
Her excitement clearly had not abated; as she spoke, she tightened her grip and pressed even closer to me. My mind had not quite caught up with the situation, but she was soft, she smelled wonderful, and as I had just admitted, it was definitely pleasant.
There was only one problem. Ein-san had left the decision to end the embrace entirely up to me, which meant I had no idea when I was supposed to let go.
Serious-senpai: "Eh? I thought it was going to be a gag-like development, but then suddenly... What is this, this sensation as if suddenly being struck by sugarcane..."
???: "No, what kind of sensation is that...?"