The magazine article I’d stumbled across was entertaining enough, but it also sparked a sudden thought. I was in the mood for a tea break, and the timing felt perfect.
Deciding to act on it, I approached the gate-type magic tool—well, the Godly Gear—in my room and gave it a light touch. A list of registered destinations materialized in the air; I selected the Sanctuary and stepped through the shimmering portal.
"Hmm? What connection is there between the ranking and me?"
"Oh, no, that's not it. I came to your place, Shiro-san, because I wanted to drink the black tea I received at my birthday party... Remember? We promised to drink it together."
"I see."
Shiro-san had tilted her head in confusion when she first greeted me, but she understood immediately. She manifested a table and chairs, and I pulled the Tea Tree I’d received for my birthday out of my Magic Box.
I gathered some of the mysterious tea, which automatically dried into leaves the moment it was picked.
"By the way, are there any special instructions for brewing this? I’m not exactly confident in my skills behind the teapot..."
"In that case, I shall brew it myself. Since this was my gift to you, I want to ensure you enjoy it in its finest possible state."
"Thank you, I appreciate the help."
Restrictions on entering the Sanctuary were incredibly strict. Even if Shiro-san didn't personally care, the other Gods were obsessively protective of her privacy. This meant I couldn't exactly call Illness-san over to brew tea for me. Canalis-san might have been a possibility, given her status was treated as roughly equal to Shiro-san's, but with Shiro-san offering to do it herself, there wasn't a problem in the world.
I could have had it brewed beforehand and kept it in a Pot inside my Magic Box, but since I’d come to the Sanctuary on a total whim, I hadn't made any preparations. Shiro-san’s proposal was a godsend.
With a graceful flick of her finger, the tea leaves floated up from my hand. A teapot and other utensils materialized, and the tea was ready in the blink of an eye.
"Here, please enjoy."
"Thank you. Down the hatch."
At a glance, the color didn't look any different from standard black tea. As for the aroma... it was crisp. It wasn't quite a herb tea, but it had a distinct sense of coolness to it.
Curious, I took a sip.
"Wow, this is incredible. The flavor is so crisp and vibrant. It’s strange—even though the tea is hot, it has a refreshing aftertaste like an iced tea. I think I’ve found a new favorite."
I wasn't sure exactly how to describe it, but the mouthfeel was exceptionally refreshing. It wasn't a sharp, stinging sensation like menthol or mint, but it was incredibly clean and pleasant on the palate.
The taste was superb. I could see myself drinking this endlessly. It would be the perfect cup to wake up to in the morning or to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal.
"I am glad you like it, Kaito-san. I created it with the goal of producing a flavor found in no other tea. I received various bits of advice from Nebula as well, so this was not entirely my own achievement..."
"But knowing Nebula’s personality, I’m sure she didn't give you the answers; she probably stuck to just giving hints. You’re the one who took those and did the work to create this, Shiro-san. That alone makes me really happy."
"Fufu. It was worth the effort just to hear you say that."
Nebula might have offered advice, but Shiro-san was the one who had put in the thought regarding my personal tastes. According to what I’d heard from Kuro, Shiro-san had been experimenting and going through trial and error for quite a long time. Knowing she had worked that hard for my sake made me truly happy.
When I expressed those feelings honestly, Shiro-san let out a soft smile. Immediately afterward, a gentle breeze brushed against my cheek, carrying with it a faint, whispered sound: "Doyaaa." I see... I had to hand it to her; a new Doyaaa Pattern that transmitted via sound instead of a Doyaaa Window was quite impressive.
Well, it was certainly very Shiro-san-like. Smiling at the thought, I enjoyed a pleasant tea time with her.
"...Oh, that reminds me. Drinking tea together was my main reason for coming, but while I'm here, I have a small favor to ask. Actually..."
"...I do not mind. All of it?"
"Oh, no, just this area for now. It’s quite vast, after all."
Serious-senpai: "A Doyaaa Window... Well, putting that aside, what kind of favor is he asking Shiro for?"