As night gradually fell and the city lights began to flicker on, the Stardust Garden was bathed in a gentle, amber glow.
Inside the spacious and warmly lit living room, everyone gathered together, enjoying a rare moment of leisure after a hearty dinner.
Laughter and gentle chatter filled the air. With stomachs satisfied and hearts at ease, the members of Astraea Familia lounged comfortably on the sofas, basking in the warmth of family-like companionship.
In the center of the coffee table sat a beautifully arranged tea set, glistening under the soft lamplight.
Steam curled from the cups, and a refreshing aroma wafted through the room—the tea was a new blend, a gift from one of Astraea's divine friends.
Wearing a serene smile, Astraea personally poured the steaming tea into everyone's cups, her graceful hands moving with the elegance befitting a goddess.
Kaguya picked up her porcelain cup with practiced poise, bringing it to her lips as she took a delicate sip.
The moment the tea touched her tongue, a fragrant sweetness exploded across her palate, soft and mellow with just the faintest hint of bitterness.
"Mmm..."
Her eyes fluttered shut as she savored the taste, her expression momentarily melting into bliss. When she finally opened her eyes again, a charming smile curved her lips.
"This tea is wonderfully sweet, Astraea-sama. The bitterness is almost imperceptible. A rare delicacy indeed."
Alise, seated beside her, blinked with a skeptical look.
Her thoughts swirled, 'Is it really that good?'
With some doubt, she raised her cup, took a cautious sip, and held the tea in her mouth for a moment before slowly swallowing. Her eyebrows knit together, as though trying to detect the subtle nuances of flavor.
"Well... I guess it's a little sweeter than usual. But it doesn't feel all that different to me... hmm."
Akira, seated to Alise's left, silently passed a freshly poured cup to Ryuu, who sat a little farther away.
Then, he picked up his own, took a sip, and let the tea linger on his tongue. His expression remained calm and thoughtful before he offered his verdict.
"Yeah... I don't think there's much of a difference."
Kaguya immediately pulled a face of disdain. She narrowed her eyes, scoffing dramatically. "Hah! You two clearly don't know how to appreciate tea. What a waste of such fine leaves... useless Elf, you give it a try. Surely your elven blood gives you better taste buds."
She raised her chin provocatively, directing her challenge at both Akira and Alise.
"Useless Elf?!" Ryuu frowned slightly, her eyes widening in disapproval.
But with a soft sigh, she reached for the cup and took a sip. A faint shimmer lit her eyes.
She said, "This is definitely different than before, Astraea-sama. It's more... vibrant."
"Hahaha!" Kaguya covered her mouth with her flowing sleeves and chuckled smugly.
"Even Ryuu can tell, and you two couldn't? My, my, aren't you both even worse than a useless elf?"
Akira and Alise exchanged a glance, each silently pointing at the other and shaking their heads with amused smiles.
Astraea, ever composed, maintained her gentle smile and lightly chided, "Now, now, Kaguya. Don't be so harsh. Everyone has their own senses. Perhaps Alise and Akira simply missed the subtlety this time."
"Heh! Of course! As the perfect captain, there's no way I'd fail to notice!" Alise took the opportunity and squeezed against Kaguya with a grin.
"Get off, you clueless captain! That was clearly Astraea-sama being polite to you!" Kaguya retorted, fighting back as she pushed Alise to the edge of the sofa.
Their playful shoving caused Akira, caught between the two, to sway helplessly from side to side. Eventually, he found himself pushed all the way over until he was pressed tightly against Ryuu.
Feeling Akira's warmth so suddenly and unexpectedly, Ryuu's cheeks flushed a brilliant crimson. She looked down bashfully, trying to wriggle away from the contact in the least noticeable way possible.
"Alise, Kaguya—enough already!" Ryuu shouted, her voice slightly trembling with embarrassment.
The room erupted in laughter.
Celty, lounging on a nearby chair with a thick book in her lap, looked up at the commotion. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched the group's antics unfold.
Not far from her, Iska was sorting through a collection of vibrant, fashion-forward outfits, fretting over what matched best. But now, her attention was stolen by the lighthearted chaos, and she burst out laughing, momentarily forgetting her fashion dilemma.
Akira, having been unceremoniously shoved to one end of the sofa, now had his eyes locked on Alise. She stood there, smug and full of herself, completely oblivious to the retribution heading her way.
A sly grin crept across Akira's lips. Without warning, he reached out and skillfully poked at her most ticklish spot.
"Ahahaha—!" Alise squealed in shock, totally unprepared for the sneak attack.
She doubled over laughing, eyes tearing up. "Akira! You traitor! How dare you betray me! Alright then, prepare to face your punishment!"
With fire in her eyes, she lunged at him, arms swinging.
Akira yelped and scrambled to retreat, diving toward Ryuu for safety. But just as he started to crawl away, a firm grip seized his ankle.
Oh no—! Akira panicked internally.
Before he could regain balance, he toppled forward and landed face-first right onto Ryuu's soft thighs.
"Akira?! Are you alright?" Ryuu's panicked voice echoed in his ears.
She quickly reached out to help him up, but Akira didn't respond. Because in that moment, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
Alise was already on the move. He instinctively wrapped his arms around Ryuu's waist, trying to pull himself up. But it was already too late.
Plop!
Alise plopped herself right onto his back, pinning him down. Her nimble fingers wasted no time.
"Hahaha—!"
Akira burst out laughing uncontrollably, his body twisting as he tried to escape the relentless tickling. But Alise was merciless, pressing down harder and moving even faster.
With no way out, Akira ended up burying his face into Ryuu's abdomen.
Warm breath caressed her skin, and Ryuu froze. Her face turned even redder, and her body tensed as if electrified. Her legs went stiff, and she trembled slightly, completely at a loss.
'W-W-What is happening?!' Ryuu screamed inwardly, too flustered to react.
Though she had always been known for her strong sense of personal boundaries—especially when it came to physical contact—her time with Akira had slowly been chipping away at those walls.
Now, even as he clung to her so intimately, Ryuu found no reason to resist.
Has something... changed within me?
She wondered, her heart thudding in confusion.
Eventually, Akira—his voice breaking from laughter and breathlessness—cried out, "I give up! Hahaha... Alright, you win! Mercy! Please!"
Satisfied, Alise finally released him and stood triumphantly atop the sofa, grinning like a victorious general.