Sanctuary, God Realm. The God of the World, Shallow Vernal, and Underworld King Kuromueina were sitting facing each other, drinking tea.
The two often hold tea parties together, but there was something a little different this time, and seeing it, Kuromueina curiously tilted her head and asked.
[……Shiro, what are those growing around here?]
[They’re black tea trees.]
[……Not tea trees, but black tea trees?][Yes. It’s a tree that produces tea leaves for black tea. It produces them properly dried already.]
[H- Hmmm. I’ve got a lot of tsukkomis to respond to that, but that aside…… Why black tea trees?]
When Kuromueina inquired about the mysterious plants growing in the Sanctuary, it turned out that they were trees bearing dried black tea leaves. That in itself makes them quite the unusual plant, but when it comes to Shallow Vernal, creating such extraordinary plants is possible, and Shallow Vernal taking unconventional actions is also just the usual.
It’s just, as to why she created such a tree…… by Kuromueina’s estimates, it definitely has something to do with Kaito. Or rather, when Shallow Vernal does something beyond people’s expectations, the primary reason would basically be Kaito. And this time, she had no reason not to suspect Kaito’s connection with this matter, as Kaito had just launched his new tea brand.
[Those are just attempts. I’m making all sorts of adjustments for when I’m going to give Kaito-san some black tea trees as a present.]
[Ahh~~ I see, they’re gonna be like Glorious Tea huh…… Kaito-kun has created a new tea brand and you want to be involved in it. Well, it’s good that you aren’t doing something all of a sudden and are instead practicing properly. Are you experimenting with different flavors and such?]
[Yes. Since you’re here, I’d like Kuro to give your opinion about them. Can you give them a little taste?][Unnn. Fine by me~~ I’m also curious about what kind of black tea Shiro has made.]
It’s a fact that Shallow Vernal has had a significant impact on her surroundings through her outrageous actions multiple times in the past…… but the fact that nothing has happened at this stage, and the fact that Kuromueina’s opinion is being sought at this moment, means that if Kuromueina guides her well, it’s possible for the situation to be settled safely.
As Kuromueina graciously accepted the tasting with such thoughts in mind, the tea was soon presented before Kuromueina.
[Here you go.]
[No, isn’t this blue!? Why is this blue!? Moreover, it’s not just a light blue, it’s completely a deep blue…… Just looking at it makes me feel it’s gross, you know!?]
The black tea that Shallow Vernal presented had an intense shade of blue, looking as if someone had just poured blue paint directly into the cup. Upon closer inspection, what she was presented with was indeed a liquid, but the overly intense color makes one think it would be cream or something similar.
[I thought it had to have a distinctive characteristic.]
[Why, of all things, did you seek color as its distinctive characteristic…… From drinking it, it tastes like normal black tea, but its appearance is just too much. Listen here, Shiro, okay? It’s not enough just to make something novel. If you don’t think about the right balance of things, you’ll just end up with something that’s just bizarre and weird.]
[……………….]
[……Errr, Shiro? What’s with that doubtful look on your face…… I mean, the expression on your face is clearly showing your emotion more than usual……]
As Kuromueina admonished her, Shallow Vernal gazed at Kuromueina with an indescribably doubtful expression on her face. Uncharacteristically for Shallow Vernal, whose expressions rarely change, the atmosphere around her seemed like she wanted to reproach Kuromueina.
[……No, I think what you said is a sound argument, and it was indeed as you said. By the way, Kuro, what do you think about this?]
[……Ahh, no…… About…… that……]
What Shallow Vernal held out to her was a baby castella. A wasabi-filled baby castella that Kuromueina had given to Shallow Vernal as a half-hearted attempt to harass her.
Seeing the item presented to her, Kuromueina understood the meaning of Shallow Vernal’s reproachful eyes, and a somewhat awkward expression appeared on Kuromueina’s face.
[By the way, have you heard about this, Kuro? There’s apparently a being out there who’s creating these bizarre things, claiming they’re for the pursuit of the possibilities of baby castellas?]
[……Urk.]
Yes, Shallow Vernal’s reproachful look held the meaning “It was a sound argument, but you don’t get to say that”, and perhaps thinking up too many instances related to this matter, Kuromueina starts breaking out in a cold sweat.
[……U- Unnn! I think trying out various challenges and experimenting with different ideas is really great. However, umm, if it’s going to be a present for Kaito-kun, I think going for the orthodox approach is better…… I- I’ll also help you out, so let’s think a lot about this!]
[You’re right. Let’s not be as bizarre as a certain someone and go for the orthodox approach.]
[Fuguu……]
The tea party that day was overwhelmingly dominated by Shallow Vernal the whole time, which was unusual considering what it had been like so far.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [I mean, I guess she had some awareness that she had created something bizarre……?]
? ? ? : [Perhaps, at those times, she just gets excited and goes out of control, but Kuro-san has a decent sense of taste, so she probably just ends up regretting having made them later on.]
