Chapter 1756: Original Blend ⑤

In Kaito’s house…… more specifically, in a kitchenette, Illness was contemplating while arranging tea leaves.

Nebula, who happened to be passing by, approached her and called out.

[Illness-san, what are you doing?]

[While we’re at iiiiiit, I was thinking of preparing an original tea blend to serve Kaito-sama tooooooo, and I’m now thinking about iiiiiiiit.]

[I see, Milord had just created his original tea blend, so this timing would indeed be just right. If it’s to Milord’s liking……]

After nodding in apparent agreement with Illness’ words, Nebula also reached out towards the tins containing the line-up of tea leaves, but stopped midway and withdrew her hand.

[……No, that would be boorish of me.]

[What iiiiiiiis?]

[The optimal choice isn’t necessarily the best. If I were to provide you an answer or advice at this moment, it could potentially deprive Illness-san of the trials and errors you would have with Milord in mind. Doing such an act would be a bit boorish.]

[I seeeee, the time I spend pondering ceeeeertainly is a time of happiness, so it would be a waste if I were to arrive at the answer too sooooooon.]

[Yes. Besides, I believe Illness-san will surely arrive at a good answer even without me saying anything unnecessary.]

With Nebula’s skills, she can give the answer that will lead to the best blend that best suits Kaito’s tastes. However, Nebula knows that having all answers laid out before one’s eyes isn’t best, so she decided not to give any advice.

Pondering and devising various ideas, with the person one loves in mind. Ensuring not to steal away such a moment from her, Nebula lightly smiled and was about to leave the kitchenette…… but she suddenly stopped near the door.

[……Ah, but let me give you one meddlesome piece of advice. Rather than seeking a blend specifically to serve Milord, it would be better if Illness-san seeks “the blend that would be enjoyable when shared with Milord”.]

[A tea blend I would drink together with Kaito-samaaaaaa?]

[Yes. Taste isn’t entirely determined by what you eat or drink. One’s mental state while consuming food or drink, the surrounding environment, and the person one is accompanied with…… Taste also changes based on those factors. While someone with a certain level of knowledge can create a tea blend that Milord finds delicious, the best blend for when Illness-san and Milord drinks together is something only Illness-san can create.

[……..Yeeeeees. Thank you for your adviiiiiiice. Nebula really is quite reliableeeeee.]

[I’m the Absolute after all!]

[Kuhihi, as expected of Nebula.]

After confidently declaring this in response to Illness’ thanks, Nebula lightly waved her hand and departed. After seeing her off, Illness-san turned her attention to the tea leaves once again.

When she started thinking not about tea blends to serve to Kaito, but of tea blends that she would drink together with him, several tea blends unlike the ones before came to her mind.

[……Together with Kaito-samaaaaa…… Indeeeeeed. Drinking tea with Kaito-sama and having a casual chaaaaaat would be irresistibly blissful, wouldn’t iiiiiiiit? Since I would be considering both Kaito-sama and my taaaaaastes, instead of just creating a blend that aligns with Kaito-sama’s taaaaaaaste, it would be better to incorporate a bit of my own preferences toooooooo.]

In Illness’ mind, there’s an image of her enjoying tea with Kaito while they savored the original tea blend she prepared. As she immersed in the warmth in the depths of her heart just from imagining such a scenario…… Illness proceeded to create her tea blend.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [As expected of Absolute, her sweetness-related advice is also perfect…… D- D*mn it…… There’s definitely going to be that after this……]