At first glance, the tea Illness-san had brewed appeared ordinary, yet a subtle fragrance of roses wafted from it, lending the drink an air of elegance reminiscent of a true rose tea.
Since I wasn't the only one drinking this time, Illness-san had prepared a portion for herself as well and was now seated across from me.
"Well then, I'll help myself."
"Please do. I hope it suits your palate."
As I brought the cup to my lips, a soft floral scent billowed upward, followed by the rich, delicious flavor of the tea spreading across my tongue. It was slightly sweet and rather robust—exactly the profile I preferred.
"This is delicious. I’ve always been partial to sweeter flavors, and the way the rose fragrance lingers is truly pleasant."
"Kuhihi, I am glad it pleases you. I was a little anxious this time, so I feel quite fortunate that it was to your liking."
"Anxious? Ah, sorry, that might be a bit rude of me to say, but that's quite unexpected coming from you."
Illness-san always carried herself with the poise and serenity of a mature woman. Combined with her profound skills and wealth of knowledge, she exuded an aura of composed sophistication, so hearing her admit to feeling uneasy was a genuine surprise.
Of course, it was only natural for someone like her to experience doubt, but still...
"This particular tea is a bit unique. I attempted a blend that balanced your preferences, Kaito-sama, with a fragrance I personally adore. I wanted to see if I could bring the two into harmony. While the combination itself turned out well, I had no way of knowing if it would truly satisfy your tastes... so, I found myself feeling a bit restless."
"I see... Well, it’s honestly fantastic. Like you said, the flavor is exactly what I like, and the rose scent is wonderful. It makes for a very relaxing drink."
"Then I am relieved."
Though I found her vulnerability surprising, it was also quite refreshing.
"...Kuhihi, but this is quite nice in its own way, isn't it?"
"Eh?"
"Brewing tea tailored to your tastes is a delight, Kaito-sama, but being able to share something I personally love like this... it brings me a different kind of happiness. I am truly glad that you liked something so dear to me."
The expression that crossed Illness-san’s face as she spoke was... different from her usual look. It’s difficult to describe, but it was an enchanting smile that sent a strange throb through my chest, leaving me momentarily captivated as I stared at her.
Her confession that sharing her favorites brought her joy sounded—perhaps it was just my own conceit—as if she were telling me I was someone special. The thought felt a bit ticklish, but more than anything, it made me happy.
Serious-senpai: "...Hie... a bad atmosphere is starting to develop..."