Chapter 26: 26

I feel like I’ve received some kind of earth-shattering blessing, but I found no particular change in my body and before I knew it, we returned to drinking our tea .

[Well, it’s not like it’s going to improve your physical abilities or anything like that . ]

Shiro-san, who had returned to having a blank expression on her face again, had also taken the seat across me .

If I remember correctly, Lilia-san said that a blessing is like some kind of defensive magic .

However, even if I were to ask her what kind of blessing she had given me, Shiro-san would probably just say “I dunno?”……

[Will this stop me from getting local diseases or something like that?]

[Yes . ]

Fumu, I see…… I think I’m starting to understand how to talk to Shiro-san a little better .

[……Shiro-san . ]

[What is it?]

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[You’re still meekly eating those baby castellas, but it doesn’t taste good, right?]

[Yes, it tastes so bad that I feel like this could be considered as one of the worst things that had happened to me . ]

[Then, why don’t you take out something else to eat? For instance, something that Shiro-san thinks is delicious……]

[I see . ]

[Ah, even though I say that to the teacakes served with the black tea, that’s not the case with the black tea, okay?]

[……!]

How should I say this, it’s like I’ve personally felt that humans really are creatures that adapt to their surroundings .

Rather than that, I think that after that blessing earlier, I’m starting to gain a little more mental composure regarding what I want to say myself .

Unlike the last time when I just met her, Shiro-san was looking at me properly, and thanks to that, I understood that she had emotions and the heaviness that I felt that was draining my spirit just by talking to her were gone .

After that, I have to look really closely at her to understand it but…… I can even see a slight change in her facial expression .

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The corner of her mouth is now slightly rising and falling by a few millimeters, and the fact that she just briefly blinked twice is probably a sign of surprise because she was caught off guard .

[That’s right . ]

There’s still that lack of inflection in her voice though, but I’ve gotten used to it and it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, as I’ve come to realize that it’s also a part of Shiro-san’s personality .

While affirming my opinion, Shiro-san makes a new set of cookies appear on the table .

At first glance, they look like ordinary cookies, but they are also sublimely delicious . There’s something about the appearance of this cookie that makes it seem sublime for some reason .

[Speaking of which, are Shiro-san and Kuro close? You just said that you did it because she asked you to . ]

[Yes, we drink tea together a lot . ]

[I can somehow imagine that Kuro would probably be talking a lot . ]

[Before I could even say a word, Kuro would have finished saying three . ]

[Ahaha . ]

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Hmmm . The combination of Kuro and Shiro-san…… It’s quite a strange combination since they differ in physique and personality, but Kuro who would keep pushing the conversation along and she who doesn’t care about small details might be a good match with the natural airhead Shiro-san who don’t initiate conversations at all, but answer conversations when they’re swung at her .

At least, it seems like Shiro-san thinks well of Kuro, as I could see the corners of her mouth rising by a few millimeters even now .

Unnn . Somehow, I’m starting to understand the changes in Shiro-san’s emotions and I’m getting the hang of our conversation .

For better or worse, Shiro-san accepts my words as I say them and responds straightforwardly and honestly —– and they may be extremely difficult to understand, her expressions also changes .

When it comes down to it, the conversations I had with Shiro-san became more enjoyable, and we’re chatting so naturally, that time had passed before I even knew it .

[It seems like your companions finally finished receiving their blessings . ]

[Arehh? Is it that time already?]

[Yes . 93 minutes have passed since you arrived here . ]

[Time sure flies by fast . ]

When I heard Shiro-san suddenly said that, it seems like an hour and a half passed before I knew it .

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At the same time, a door appears next to Shiro-san . That’s probably the door that would get me back to my room .

The conversation with Shiro-san was fun, and even if I’m reluctant, I decided to stand up from my seat .

[……You’re quite an unusual person, aren’t you? No one would normally describe a conversation with me as enjoyable . ]

[Is that so?]

In response to Shiro-san who said that while the corner of her mouth slightly rose, I just tilted my head .

I indeed felt like I couldn’t continue our conversation at the beginning, but as we talked, I didn’t have that feeling anymore .

[You could say that adaptability of yours could even be your talent . ]

[Ahaha, it might just be that I’m easy to push around . ]

[That might be so . ]

[As I thought, you’re not going to deny it huh!?]

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Well, Shiro-san is this kind of person . That’s also the reason why I feel a different sense of enjoyment from talking with her compared when I’m talking with Kuro……

[If it’s alright with you, can I invite you to have tea with me again?]

[Yes, by all means . It might be a good idea to bring Kuro along next time . ]

[That sounds like it will be fun . ]

[Ah, but can you please not suddenly teleport nearby? It’s bad for my heart . Please excuse me from anything like that . ]

[…………………I’ll think about it . ]

[I’d like it if you could make a prompt decision regarding that if you could though . ]

[I’ll think about it . ]

[I’m not talking about that “pause” before your answer, you know!?]

Well, in that case, Kuro will probably be the one in control of the conversation, but that sounds like it will be fun .

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I was thinking that a tea party would be something noble-like, elegant and stylish, and that it wouldn’t suit me but…… When I tried it, I found that chatting with others while savoring a good cup of tea was fun, and I think I understand a little bit how those riajuus feel while they’re conversing in a cafe or something like that .

As I was thinking about this, Shiro-san turns her palm towards me and makes an object that resembles a small jar appear on it .

[You can have this . ]

[Would it be alright?]

[Yes . ]

Taking the jar held out to me, there were some dried tea leaves inside it…… Ah, could this be that absurdly tasty black tea? This honestly makes me happy .

[Thank you very much . ]

[No, I’ve also enjoyed our time myself . ]

Saying that in her voice that doesn’t have any inflection just as usual, while the corners of her mouth slightly lifted, Shiro-san swung her finger . With that motion alone, my clothes went back to what they were before I changed into my vestments .

And then, thanking Shiro-san once again, I opened the door .

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Dear Mom, Dad—— I was at a loss for some things that happened, but Shiro-san—- was an interesting person .

After seeing off Kaito as he walked through the door and the door disappeared, Shallow Vernal calmly stood in the hanging garden .

[So that’s why she likes him huh . He certainly kind of resembles you in some way, Kuro . Not in terms of personality, but in the glimmer of his soul……]

Muttering to no one, the corners of her lips slightly rose .

[I guess it’s fun to turn my gaze to one life once in a while . ]

As she muttered those words, the wind blew and the flowers in the hanging garden swayed as if they’re dancing . The cloudless sky is crystal clear, and the vast land remained calm as time peacefully pass .

It’s as if her heart is reflected in the sky—– That she truly had fun—–