I was so at a loss that I accidentally blurted out, "Why am I even here?"
"Relax, Ayase Saki. This is my treat."
"No, that's not what I'm worried about... Thank you, though," I said, looking at the three-tiered stand set with plates set in front of me.
They were loaded with everything from salad to cake.
"Isn't it a splendid sight? This menu is everything in one."
"I don't think that's something you say about an afternoon tea set, but I agree with your sentiment."
On the top plate of the three-tier stand, there were salads, salmon sandwiches, and egg sandwiches—appetizers, it seemed. The middle plate had three freshly baked scones: plain, chocolate chip, and one other. Probably the main dish. The bottom plate held desserts—pudding, tart, mousse, and Mont Blanc, each a type of cake.
This was more than just a snack; it was a meal in itself.
And the price was certainly fitting for the sight before us. Not something a high school student could afford on their allowance, that's for sure.
The place we were sitting in was also suitable for such a luxurious tea set—a pricey hotel lounge just a little over five minutes from Shibuya Station. The large windows, sectioned off with lattice work facing the garden, let in bright sunlight that filled the entire cafe. The elegant supports of the three-tier stand gleamed silver in the light.
"Go ahead, eat without restraint. Ah, you can choose your tea from thirty varieties, so you'll surely find a flavor you like," she said, but didn't show me the menu.
The woman in front of me—no, I knew her name—Professor Kudou was reading off the names of teas, mixing in her own knowledge. She probably didn't give me the menu to spare me from seeing the prices and feeling intimidated.
I chose an Assam tea with milk, while Professor Kudou ordered a Chinese tea. Fenghuang Dancong. I think?
The tea was brought over to us. My red colored tea was served in a Wedgwood cup. It was summer, so there was no steam, but a fragrant aroma wafted up. Each teapot was covered with a different colored cozy, and it looked like there was enough for two cups each. The milk had been warmed up too.
"So, why am I here?"
"I invited you for tea."
"Why did you invite me?"
I was surprised when she called out to me; I'd almost mistaken her for someone else because she wasn't in her usual white lab coat but was instead wearing a tight blue suit that suited her slender body, giving her a handsome yet still womanly look.
"Why I invited you? That's obvious, isn't it? Because it seemed interesting."
"Oh, right. My bad for asking."
That's right. She might be a university professor, but this is the kind of person she is.
"So, Saki-chan, how are things going?"
"What do you mean?"
"The forbidden love with your brother, how's it progressing?"
I almost spat out my tea. I quietly glanced around at the other tables. Professor Kudou's voice was a clear alto, easy to hear, but that also meant others could hear her too.
"You forgot to add the 'step' before it..."
"Oh! So you're worried about that now. Well, having a blood relation would have made it more interes—I mean more eccentric—but of course, I'm a person of common sense. I don't have such wild expectations."
You almost just said it'd make it more interesting, didn't you?
"Nothing special… We get along normally. As brother… and sister."
"That's good. Well, as long as you're careful and using birth control. You're still high school students, after all. Take care of your bodies."
"Cough! Cough!"
Coughing and tearing up, I glared at Professor Kudou with an upward glance.
What a thing to say. Ethics are running away barefoot.
"Hmm. Still nothing. Boring. Isn't there anything else? You live together, so you must at least kiss good morning and good night."
"No we don't…!"
"How about hugging? I'd bet you've done it twenty times, right? No, every day, so a hundred times!"
"We haven't."
"Really? What a terrible boyfriend, not even hugging you once."
"That's not...!"
She grinned, realizing I'd slipped up.
I ended up talking about a bunch of stuff after that, and even received some good advice on my study troubles as an apology. How frustrating.
So I snatched the menu and ordered the most expensive tea for a refill.