Chapter 40
About twenty minutes later, the car finally entered the vast grounds of Totsuki Academy. The Nakiri residence was located at the very back of the academy, resembling a grand villa perched on a mountainside.
As they pulled up to the villa, Mineo saw Alice already standing by the door. Upon seeing him step out of the car, the second young lady of the Nakiri family ran toward him, her face alight with excitement and anticipation.
"Mineo-kun! Welcome to my home!"
"Eh? Why are you carrying things? Is that a present for me?"
Seeing Alice eyeing the bags in Mineo's hands with such intensity, Erina stepped out of the car and spoke in a sharp tone.
"Alice, what are you thinking!"
"Those are specialty products Mineo-kun prepared specifically for Grandfather!" Erina huffed. "There is nothing for you there!"
"Erina, don't be like that," Mineo interjected. "I also made sure to bring some fruit for you and Alice to taste. They are all very fresh..."
As Mineo spoke, Alice had already lunged forward, shamelessly grabbing his arm and clinging to him.
"Oh, forget about that for now!" Alice chirped. "Grandfather is already waiting for you inside!"
"He even cleared his entire schedule today just to welcome you, Mineo-kun!"
Alice was dressed beautifully today. Since school was out, she wasn't in her uniform. Instead, she wore a tight black bodycon dress that sat off the shoulders, highlighting her radiant, fair skin. The Second Young Lady's proportional figure was truly eye-catching. Her long, elegant legs ended in crystal high-heeled sandals with thin straps.
Tsk, tsk, Mineo thought. Is she planning to walk a runway at Fashion Week?
Seeing Alice acting so intimately with Mineo, a faint spark of jealousy flickered in Erina's eyes. She gritted her teeth slightly, letting out a soft, frustrated huff. Unfortunately, both Mineo and Alice were too preoccupied to notice the Young Mistress's sudden change in mood.
After they entered the main entrance, Alice took the initiative to lean down and set out a pair of indoor slippers for Mineo.
Once he had changed his footwear, Mineo headed toward the living room. There, he saw Senzaemon sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed. Sensing their presence, the old man slowly opened them.
"So, you have arrived? Mineo-kun, please, have a seat."
"For the past two days, I have heard nothing but praise for you from my two dear granddaughters. Seeing you today, you certainly are a spirited young man."
Mineo offered a polite smile at the Director's words.
"It is a great honor to receive such praise from you, Director Nakiri."
"Since this is my first visit, I wasn't quite sure what to prepare. This is a top-grade West Lake Longjing tea I brought from China, along with some fruit. Please, enjoy them later."
"You are very thoughtful."
Seeing the gifts Mineo had brought, Senzaemon's opinion of the young man rose instantly.
"Then I shall accept them with gratitude."
"Mineo-kun, you are the same age as Erina and Alice, and a good friend to them besides. While you are visiting my home, there is no need for such formality."
"If you don't mind, you may simply call me Grandpa Senzaemon."
"You can save 'Director' for when we are at the academy..."
With that, Senzaemon stood up. He gestured for Mineo to follow him.
"Come with me to the tea room. I've had someone prepare a superior blend... We can talk more comfortably in there."
Mineo followed Senzaemon's lead as the host. Once they entered the tranquil tea room, they sat cross-legged across from each other at the tea table. A servant poured tea for them both before quietly withdrawing.
"Do you understand the Way of Tea, Mineo-kun?"
"I know a little," Mineo replied with a modest smile.
"The so-called Way of Tea can be understood as the art of life through brewing and drinking tea. It is an etiquette of living with tea as the medium—a lifestyle of self-improvement."
"The Way of Tea is generally divided into four steps: brewing the tea, appreciating the tea, inhaling the aroma, and finally, drinking it."
"The ultimate goal is to strengthen the bond of friendship between those sharing the tea, to purify the heart, refine one's morals, learn proper manners, and immerse oneself in the charm of traditional culture."
"Of course, nowadays, most of us drink tea more to sharpen our feelings, improve ourselves, and clear away distracting thoughts."
Hearing Mineo's explanation, Senzaemon let out a faint smile. He nodded slowly in approval.
"With only a few sentences, you have perfectly captured the essence and charm of the Way of Tea."
"Mineo-kun, you are indeed as well-informed as my granddaughters claimed."
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