Chitanda Eru thought for a moment. "Wouldn't it be too much trouble for Shinomiya-san? How about everyone comes to my place instead?"
As a young lady herself, Chitanda Eru felt that she could also host a few friends.
Shinomiya Kaguya thought for a moment. "Staying over at a classmate's house? I've never experienced that kind of thing."
Fujiwara Chika: "Hehehe, in any case, my house isn't really suitable for a gathering. Besides my parents, my older and younger sisters are also at home."
Hayasaka Ai: "Me too..."
After all, Hayasaka Ai lived at the Shinomiya residence. Although her cover was that she rented an apartment outside, and there was indeed an apartment to prevent exposure, there was nothing there.
Uchiha Ryo: "I have a suggestion. Young ladies, you're all used to places like mansions and villas, which feel more like banquets than gatherings. How about trying out the feeling of a small household in a high-end apartment?"
A high-end apartment? Yukinoshita thought for a moment. "In that case, if everyone is willing, you can come to my place."
Fujiwara Chika looked at Yukinoshita. "Eh? You don't live at home, Yukino-san?"
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded. "For some reason, I moved out of my family's home, so I'm renting an apartment by myself."
Chitanda Eru: "Then we can go to Yukino's place too."
Hayasaka Ai: "No objection!"
Yukinoshita's place? Hayasaka Ai remembered that Uchiha Ryo's apartment was right below Yukinoshita Yukino's.
Shinomiya Kaguya: "Well... going to an ordinary apartment is also fine."
Seeing that no one had a problem, Yukinoshita suddenly said, "But my place only has one master bedroom and one guest room. With five people, it'll be a bit of a squeeze."
Five people? Uchiha Ryo cleared his throat. "Did you forget someone?"
Yukinoshita shot Uchiha Ryo a glare. "You can just go downstairs and stay in your own place!"
.....
The long-unseen apartment building. Speaking of which, it had been two weeks since he'd last come. After all, he had been staying at home ever since he went to Toyogasaki as an exchange student.
Yukinoshita: "Make yourselves at home. I'll go make some tea."
Uchiha Ryo: "Do you have any juice?"
"It's in the fridge."
Uchiha Ryo nodded, then skillfully walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out a can of juice.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't usually drink juice, preferring her own brewed tea. But the refrigerator at home was often stocked with juice and beer, prepared for a certain sister who often came over uninvited.
Speaking of which, Yukinoshita Yukino had been feeling helpless about her sister's frequent visits lately. And every time she came over, she had to wander around the house, as if she suspected she was hiding something.
Just as Uchiha Ryo sat on the sofa with his juice, four pairs of eyes stared intently at him.
Hayasaka Ai: "Why are you so familiar with this place!"
Fujiwara Chika: "Ryo-kun... it's almost like it's your own home."
Chitanda Eru: "This is Yukino's house, right? You don't feel like a stranger at all."
Shinomiya Kaguya: "You guy! Don't tell me you come up here often?!"
Unfortunately, although Uchiha Ryo also wanted to visit often, this was only his second time coming to Yukino's house.
But the last time, he had stayed here for a night to take care of the sick Yukino, so of course he would be familiar with the kitchen layout.
"Uh.... this is indeed my second time here. Remembering where the fridge is shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
Hayasaka Ai pouted. "It's not good to just go and get a drink on your second visit to a classmate's house."
Yukinoshita, who was bringing out the tea set, naturally heard the questions from the other girls.
But last time, Uchiha Ryo had just coincidentally run into her when she was sick. She didn't plan on telling them about it.
→
Yukinoshita: "It's fine. The juice and other drinks were prepared for guests anyway."
Shinomiya Kaguya stepped forward. "Yukinoshita-san, do you need my help making tea? I'm quite confident in my tea ceremony skills."
Chitanda Eru raised her hand. "If we're talking about the tea ceremony, I'm very confident too~"
Yukinoshita shook her head. "You are all guests. I should be the one to handle things like making tea."
Shinomiya Kaguya smiled. "We're not just guests. We're friends who have spent the whole day playing together, aren't we? Please, let me."
She! Shinomiya Kaguya, was going to try and conquer a certain someone with the taste of her high-quality black tea, so she wouldn't let any opportunity slip by.
Chitanda Eru sat back down. "Then the two of you should be enough."
Fujiwara Chika looked left and right.
"Why are you fighting over making tea? You can just make two pots separately. That way, I can taste two kinds of tea."
Yukinoshita: "In that case... please come, Shinomiya-san."
Chitanda: "Oh, oh! If that's the case, then I'll make tea too."
The three young ladies planned to show off their tea skills. Uchiha Ryo looked at Fujiwara Chika and Hayasaka Ai.
"What about you two?"
Hayasaka Ai: "My tea ceremony skills are not as good as Shinomiya-san's, so there's no need."
Fujiwara Chika: "My tea-tasting skills are better than my tea-making skills, so I'll just be the taster~"
Tea-tasting? Uchiha Ryo, in both his past life and this one, didn't know much about tea culture, or rather, he didn't taste tea at all.
Compared to the soul-nurturing tea ceremony that the big shots liked, he still preferred the juice in his hand.
But seeing the three of them in the kitchen looking so enthusiastic, he might as well give it a try.
The young ladies' tea ceremony, at this very moment, was about to blossom in all its glory.
Before long, the living room table was completely occupied by tea sets. Three cups of freshly brewed black tea were placed in front of Uchiha Ryo, Hayasaka Ai, and Fujiwara Chika.
"Please, have a taste!" x3
Even among the best of friends, there would be times of mutual comparison. Shinomiya Kaguya was very confident in her tea ceremony. How could the other two back down?
The refreshing aroma of black tea was already wafting from the teacups. Although the three of them had used the same tea leaves, had three different kinds of black tea been created due to their different brewing methods?
Fujiwara Chika's expression was serious, just like a judge on some competition show.
After tasting each of the three cups of tea, she slowly closed her eyes.
I have the advantage in this round! Shinomiya Kaguya was extremely confident. Although Fujiwara Chika and the other two seemed to have a good relationship, in terms of both relationship and tea-making skills, the victory should be hers.
And Hayasaka Ai was her person. Of the three judges present, besides Uchiha Ryo, she could win two votes!
Shinomiya Kaguya didn't even look at Hayasaka Ai, who was drinking her tea, but focused all her attention on Uchiha Ryo.
How is it! Are you already captivated by my tea skills? You should know, not many people in this world get to drink tea personally brewed by the young lady of the Shinomiya family.
Fujiwara Chika suddenly opened her eyes.
"Mmm... they're all delicious! You're all so amazing."
A pity. Judge Fujiwara's vote was a tie. Then what about Hayasaka!
Hayasaka Ai put down her teacup. "Sorry, I can't give an evaluation either."
If she were to judge seriously, Hayasaka Ai felt that she was already tired of drinking Lady Kaguya's tea. The other two cups had a novel feeling.
But she was her young lady, after all. It was better to just call it a draw.
And so, the three young ladies of the tea ceremony turned their gazes to the last judge.
Uchiha Ryo: ....