The day crawled by slower than Yuxin liked, lessons bleeding into one another until the sky dimmed into the warm hues of late afternoon. She hadn't forgotten—unfortunately—that she had agreed to Mika's invitation. By the time she found herself holding the crumpled scrap of paper Mika had scribbled on, serving as some so-called "map," she already regretted every decision that led her here.
The paper was ridiculous—lines bent like a child's doodle, arrows pointing in circles, little hearts drawn where the corridors met. Still, somehow, it got her to the door of the Tea Club.
She stood there, staring at the polished wood. Her hand hovered over the knob, hesitation gnawing at her gut. Maybe she should just turn back. Maybe she should tell Mika she got lost, or forgot, or fell asleep. But… no. She was already here.
Yuxin exhaled sharply, shoved the door open, and stepped inside.
The scent of steeping leaves filled the air, warm and floral, mixing with the faint sound of porcelain cups clinking. The interior was softer than she expected—low tables, cushioned chairs, sunlight spilling through tall windows like liquid gold.
At one table sat Rei, ever-poised with her calm smile, and Mika, who waved with that theatrical delight that made Yuxin's stomach twist with suspicion. But they weren't alone.
Two familiar faces lounged comfortably with cups in hand—Yuki and Fuuka.
Yuki's relaxed grin widened when she spotted Yuxin at the door.
"Yo. Fancy seeing you here. Didn't think tea time was your thing."
Yuxin's brows immediately knotted, her jaw tensing as irritation rushed back into her veins.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me. They're the guests?"
Fuuka looked up from her cup, her gaze steady yet softer than usual, though the weight in her voice didn't make it any less frustrating.
"What? We just coincidentally are here. Nothing more."
But even as she said it, the words rang hollow, like she herself didn't buy it. Yuki chuckled under her breath, swirling the tea in her cup.
"Yeah, just a coincidence. Totally not planned. Promise."
Yuxin's teeth clenched. The idea of sitting here, in this room, across from them of all people, made her want to slam the door shut and storm off.
But before she could move, Mika appeared at her side, her hand slipping around Yuxin's wrist with surprising firmness.
"Come on, Yuxin, it's time for us to enjoy tea together."
She tugged, dragging Yuxin across the soft rug with a smile too pleased with itself. Yuxin scowled but found herself deposited neatly beside Rei, Mika sliding in comfortably on her other side as if to pin her in place.
Yuxin crossed her arms, glaring at the table, at the cups, at Yuki's smirk and Fuuka's unreadable calm.
This was going to be hell.
Mika, with all the flourish of someone who thought herself a natural host, clasped her hands together and leaned just slightly forward over the table. The porcelain cups clinked faintly as she set her own down, her eyes darting between Yuxin and the two seniors as though she were orchestrating the very air in the room.
"Well then," she began, her voice dripping with polite melody, "since we're all gathered here, perhaps we should do this properly. Yuxin, why don't I introduce you to our seniors?"
Yuxin's head snapped toward her with an incredulous glare.
"Introduce me? Mika, I already—"
But Mika didn't give her room to protest. She gestured grandly toward the two across the table.
"This is Senior Izanami Yuki, always a delight, always so… full of stories."
Yuki, lounging back in his chair like the room belonged to him, raised her teacup in a mock toast. His grin curled with deliberate sarcasm.
"Charmed, I'm sure. Though I suppose we should pretend this is the first time we've met, right? Let's keep it professional."
His tone dripped with playful mockery, every word twisting the knife.
And then Fuuka, calm as still water, lowered her cup with slow deliberation. Her eyes met Yuxin's with unnerving steadiness before she added, in a voice that sounded neutral but pressed harder than it should have:
"Indeed. First time we've spoken, isn't it?"
Yuxin's brow twitched, the muscles in her jaw tightening. Her sharp gaze lingered on Fuuka's expression—so smooth, so carefully flat—yet she caught the faintest shadow in her tone, the one that made it impossible to take seriously.
"You've got to be kidding me…" she muttered under her breath.
But Mika was already clapping her hands lightly, her smile bright enough to cut through the tension.
"Now, now! Formalities matter, Yuxin. In social settings, introductions must be made, even if you already know one another. It's not for your sake—it's for everyone else present. Think of it as a witness, a little stage play that says, yes, we acknowledge each other."
Yuxin whipped her head toward her, frown deepening.
"That's ridiculous. We literally already know each other. Why waste—"
Mika cut her off with a flutter of her hand, voice lilting like a teacher who enjoyed scolding.
"Etiquette, darling. Etiquette."
Across the table, Yuki leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, eyes gleaming with amusement as if this entire spectacle existed solely for her entertainment.
"Oh, I'd love to hear it. Go on, Yuxin. Introduce yourself. Pretend I've never seen you in my life."
The mockery laced in her tone made her blood boil. Yuxin's fists clenched against her knees under the table, her whole body screaming to bolt from the room, but Mika's expectant gaze pressed down like a trap with no exit.
Grinding her teeth, she spat the words out like stones.
"…Zhen Yuxin. That's it."
Fuuka's sigh followed immediately, long and disappointed, her hand lifting to press against her temple as if the bluntness itself gave her a headache.
"No smile? Really? In the social world, that sort of delivery reads like a declaration of hostility. People will think you bear grudges."
Yuxin's head whipped toward her, eyes blazing.
"I don't care what they think."
Mika leaned in before she could bite harder, wagging her finger with theatrical reproach.
"Ah-ah! None of that. Try again—with a smile. A proper smile."
Yuxin nearly exploded then and there. Her face flushed with heat, her glare cutting toward Mika like she might very well strangle her if pushed an inch further. But Rei's calm presence at her side, silent but steady, anchored her just enough to keep her from storming out.
So Yuxin forced it.
Her lips stretched, twitching into something that technically qualified as a smile, though it carried no warmth—only the razor-sharp edge of suppressed fury. Her teeth showed, her eyes narrowed, and the whole thing radiated an energy closer to I'll kill you where you sit than anything resembling politeness.
"…Zhen Yuxin. Pleased to meet you."
Yuki burst into laughter, nearly spilling her tea, while Fuuka merely raised a brow, unimpressed but faintly entertained. Mika clapped her hands as though this performance was exactly what she had wanted, her grin utterly unbothered by the murderous intent woven into Yuxin's forced expression.
"Perfect! See? That wasn't so hard."
Yuxin's smile twitched one last time before snapping into a scowl, her patience worn down to the bone. She leaned back hard in her chair, arms crossing, muttering curses under her breath that, thankfully, the delicate clinking of tea cups barely drowned out.
The game had only just begun, and Yuxin already wanted to flip the table.
Rei, ever the gentle presence at Yuxin's side, leaned toward her with that quiet warmth she carried like a soft lantern in the dark. Her lips curved into a kind smile, her voice delicate as the porcelain cups resting on the table.
"You did well, Yuxin. Truly. That introduction was… strong."
It was meant as encouragement, meant to soothe the tension curling like barbed wire inside Yuxin's chest. But the words didn't land the way Rei hoped. The praise slid off her like water on stone. How could she feel calm, when across the table sat Yuki with her lazy smirk and Fuuka with her sharp, unreadable gaze? The air between them wasn't warm—it was suffocating, mocking, suffused with an old bitterness that gnawed at her nerves.
Yuxin shifted in her chair, her nails digging lightly into her sleeves.
Why am I even here? Why am I forced to play this stupid game? Tea, etiquette, smiles—what does it matter? It's not like my status means anything.