Chashu jumped down from the rock and padded over to Asuma's feet, rubbing its head against his leg.
"It seems like he knows you're unhappy."
Asuma scratched Chashu under the chin. "He just wants dried fish."
"Are you going to give him some?"
"No. I've already paid enough in snack management fees."
"That's a legal charge established under the security regulations."
"Every single one of your security regulations is made up on the spot."
"Made up on the spot is still a regulation." Shin-chan spoke with complete confidence. "That's the legislative authority of the Head of Security."
Asuma had no intention of continuing that argument.
"What else is on today's schedule?"
Shin-chan opened his little notebook.
"Next, we accompany Ai to her tea ceremony lesson."
"Can I skip that?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the tea in tea ceremony class is too bitter. If one person drinks it, their face twists up from the bitterness. If two people drink it, they can look at each other's twisted faces, and then it doesn't feel quite as bitter."
Inside the study, Ai had already changed into her tea ceremony kimono.
The pale blue-green fabric was embroidered with tiny white plum blossoms. Her obi was a soft apricot color, and her hair was pinned up with a bamboo hairpin.
When she saw Shin-chan enter with Asuma, she paused slightly.
"Is Sarutobi-kun attending tea ceremony class as well?"
"He's here to watch our faces deform," Shin-chan answered for him.
"Faces deform?"
"You'll understand in a minute."
The tea ceremony instructor sat formally on one side of the tea setting, with a complete set of utensils arranged before her.
"Your Highness, today we will be learning how to prepare usucha, thin tea."
By now, she had learned how to remain calm even with Nohara Shinnosuke present.
"First, wipe the tea bowl with the chakin. Wipe it three times in a clockwise direction."
Ai picked up the cloth and elegantly cleaned the bowl.
"Next, pour in two ladles of hot water. Warm the bowl, then discard the water."
The instructor's voice was calm and dignified.
Shin-chan sat cross-legged diagonally behind Ai, with Asuma beside him.
"What is she doing?" Asuma whispered.
"Warming the bowl. The bowl has to adjust to the temperature first, otherwise the tea will get cold."
"When did you learn tea ceremony?"
"I've listened to a lot of lessons." Shin-chan lowered his voice. "Theory expert. Zero practical experience."
The instructor's gaze swept toward them.
Both boys immediately fell silent.
"Next comes whisking the tea. Add hot water and whisk quickly with the chasen."
Soon, a soft rustling sound filled the room as a fine layer of foam formed over the vivid green tea.
"Very good." The tea instructor gave a rare smile. "Your Highness's wrist control has improved again since the previous lesson."
Shin-chan stared at the bowl, his expression becoming subtle.
"It's time to drink."
"What?"
"You'll see."
The tea instructor nodded.
"Your Highness, please rotate the bowl three times, then present the front facing outward to the next guest."
Ai followed the proper movements and handed the bowl to Shin-chan.
"Please."
Shin-chan lowered his head and stared at the bright green liquid.
He took a deep breath and gulped down a large mouthful.
Then his entire face visibly crumpled.
His eyebrows squeezed together, his eyes narrowed into slits, and even his nostrils flared.
Asuma saw the expression and burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Shin-chan handed him the bowl. "Your turn."
Asuma accepted it.
Looking at the tea remaining inside, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
He raised the bowl and took a sip.
His face immediately crumpled as well.
The tea instructor stared expressionlessly at the two boys making increasingly distorted faces in front of her, desperately clinging to the last shred of dignity she possessed as a tea master.
Ai covered the corner of her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"See?" Shin-chan put down the bowl. "If two people drink it together, they can look at each other's messed-up faces."
"I've never tasted anything this bitter in my life." Asuma set the bowl on the tatami.
"This is the most famous matcha in the capital." Shin-chan put down his own bowl. "The last time the Daimyo served it to me, he said everyone describes it as 'a lingering returning sweetness' and 'an elegant fragrance.'"
"Then those people must not have taste buds."
"That's what I thought too."
The tea instructor's mouth twitched.
"But after swallowing, there really is a tiny bit of sweetness." Shin-chan smacked his lips. "Somewhere around the throat."
Asuma smacked his lips too.
"There... actually is a little."
"See? Told you."
The tea instructor took a deep breath.
"Lord Nohara, Lord Sarutobi, experiencing the flavor of matcha is part of tea ceremony training. The fact that both of you can perceive the returning sweetness means you have begun to understand the essence of tea."
"Does that mean I passed?"
"Passed what?"
"Tea ceremony class. I tasted the returning sweetness, so I passed, right?"
The instructor was silent for a moment.
"Lord Nohara, tea ceremony has no concept of passing or failing. Tea is a lifelong discipline."
"Then forget it." Shin-chan immediately gave up. "A lifetime of bitterness is too scary."
Ai finally couldn't hold back and laughed aloud.
The tea instructor watched the princess laugh so hard that her shoulders shook and sighed inwardly.
Ever since Lord Nohara arrived, Her Highness's tea lessons had never been serious again.
But she had to admit—
Her Highness certainly laughed far more often than before.
"That concludes today's lesson." The instructor stood. "Your Highness, please review the second method of preparing thin tea before our next lesson."
"Thank you for your instruction." Ai bowed slightly.
As the tea instructor left the study, she encountered the steward at the doorway.
"How was today's lesson?" he asked.
The instructor was silent for a moment.
"Her Highness's wrist control has improved."
"And?"
"And... Lord Nohara managed to perceive the returning sweetness of matcha."
The steward nodded.
"That is certainly worthy of celebration."
The instructor said nothing.
She simply quickened her pace.
Inside the study, Shin-chan was accepting something from Ai.
"What's this?"
"Orange candy." Ai took a small cloth pouch from her sleeve. "They say it helps reduce the bitterness of matcha."
Shin-chan immediately unwrapped one and popped it into his mouth.
"Ai, next time, can you suggest to the tea instructor that she replace the matcha with chocolate milk?"
"There is no chocolate milk in tea ceremony," Ai said. "And the teacher would probably faint from anger."
Asuma watched from beside them.
He suddenly felt as though he were watching a story that belonged exclusively to the two of them, while he himself was somewhat unnecessary.
Ai seemed to notice his awkwardness and held out the pouch.
"Sarutobi-kun, would you like one too?"
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Asuma accepted an orange candy and unwrapped it.
The sweet-and-sour flavor melted across his tongue.
Definitely a hundred times better than matcha.
Sunlight filtered through the paper doors, casting diamond-shaped patches across the tatami.
Outside the study, Chashu's meowing could be heard.
He was probably once again conducting some kind of one-sided negotiation with the koi in the pond.