Chapter 92

......I don't want to go.

Of course, I don't want to have anything to do with the Tachibana family, but I'm sure the topic of fasting will definitely come up. Being announced in front of everyone that I went fasting... no way.

The tea party is ostensibly to encourage interaction with children of the same generation as my son, and I hear a few others have been invited as well, so it would have been more relaxed than a one-on-one meeting if it weren't for the fasting.

I've been invited to events like this a few times before, and I've always avoided them by pretending to be shy. But now that I'm this age, as a daughter of the Kichijoin family, I guess I should start socializing properly. Ah, what a drag.

I ended up being dragged to the tea party by my mother, who was excited about visiting the Tachibana family, and by the dog-obsessed boy who forced me to look at his homemade photo album titled "Love♡Beatrice!" The day of the tea party arrived while I was being dragged around to choose clothes, get my hair done, and go to a spa.

Since it was supposed to be a casual tea party, I brought flowers and chocolate as gifts. But this chocolate isn't just any chocolate. It's from a new, up-and-coming chocolatier from France that just opened in Japan. I thought the sweet-toothed Tachibana might be interested.

I arrived at the Tachibana residence for the first time, nervous but greeted with a smile by Mrs. Tachibana, and was led to a spacious room overlooking the garden, where several guests were already present. Most of them were from Suiran, and some were even Pivoine members, so I felt relieved. Of course, Tachibana and Enjo were there as well.

"Rika, there are some people you haven't met yet, right? Please let me introduce you."

Mrs. Tachibana introduced me to everyone and then went to welcome new guests.

I decided to go over to someone I knew. It was Rensei Sanjo, a classmate and Pivoine member.

Sanjo is a Pivoine member but usually reads books quietly by herself, and her serene and noble demeanor commands respect. She doesn't participate in trivial conversations and seems to have her own world, so I always feel a bit intimidated and wonder if she thinks I'm vulgar. We're not particularly close.

But I admire her calm demeanor, which is something I lack.

It was surprising to see Sanjo at the Tachibana family's tea party. She didn't seem particularly close to the Tachibana family at the Pivoine salon, and she didn't seem interested in the Tachibana-Enjo duo.

Maybe she was forced to come by her parents, just like me?

"Sanjo, good afternoon. I didn't know you were coming today. I'm surprised!"

"Good afternoon. I'm surprised to see you here, Rika."

"Yes, this is my first time visiting the Tachibana family. How about you?"

"I come here occasionally to see the Tachibana family's collection of rare books. The Tachibana chairman is a collector of rare books."

"Really?!"

I didn't know that the wonderful Tachibana father was a book lover! I wish I had read more books! I know nothing about rare books!

But what a sophisticated hobby! The Tachibana father reading a leather-bound book in a grand study. It suits him perfectly!

What's the hobby of our raccoon dog? Collecting reading glasses?!

"The Tachibana chairman travels all over Europe to find rare books whenever he has the time. That's why he has such an amazing collection!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes! Especially the rare book by Joris-Karl Huysmans made me tremble with emotion!"

"..."

I've never seen the usually calm and composed Sanjo so passionate. She's always reading books, but I didn't know she had such a deep interest. It's like when someone proudly shows off their paw pad piercings...

Sanjo seems to particularly like French literature. I tried to recall my limited knowledge and managed to mention Cocteau and Wilde, which made Sanjo's eyes light up as she listed titles and spoke enthusiastically about their contents.

Yeah, Sanjo, please stop leaning in while you talk.

Then Mrs. Tachibana returned with a girl with loosely curled hair. The curl is too loose.

"This is Ema Maihama, who attends Yurikosho. Everyone, please be nice to her. Well, now that everyone is here, let's start!"

And so, the tea party hosted by Mrs. Tachibana began.

Tachibana, perhaps because he was in front of his mother, was even more taciturn than usual. He barely responded to Ema, who was trying hard to talk to him. I guess attending a tea party with your mother in high school is quite a punishment. And today, Yurie-sama isn't here.

Yurie-sama and Aira-sama are on a homestay in England for the summer.

Tachibana must have wanted to go on the homestay with Yurie-sama.

Tachibana picked up a piece of chocolate from the table and put it in his mouth. He looked a bit surprised. Yes!

The chocolate Tachibana just ate is actually the one I brought. How is it, delicious, right!

Mrs. Tachibana, who noticed her son's reaction, said, "Rika brought this."

"Hmm... Where is this from?"

I told him the name of the store. He muttered, "They opened in Japan..." He's quite knowledgeable.

"Do you like chocolate, Tachibana-sama?"

"I don't dislike chocolate."

Ah, chocolate. I see, sorry for calling it something so common.

"Rika, you stayed at a Tachibana Group hotel with your mother the other day, didn't you? How was it?"

"Yes, the original amenities were so nice that I almost didn't want to use them. And the garden was lit up at night, which was very dreamy."

"Oh, thank you! I'm glad you liked it."

"Kichijoin, you stayed at a Tachibana Group hotel?"

Enjo joined the conversation.

"Yes, well..."

"She fasted for a diet."

Tachibana—!!!!

So you knew! And you had to reveal it here!

How insensitive! How lacking in tact!

You don't understand a girl's heart at all!

"Fasted?"

"One of our hotel's plans."

"Wow, Kichijoin fasted..."

Enjo tried to suppress a laugh. Everyone was interested in fasting. It feels like I'm admitting to being fat, which is embarrassing!

"But fasting isn't just for dieting. It's also for detoxifying and resting your organs. Rika is already slim, so she doesn't need to diet."

Mrs. Tachibana tried to cover for me. But I'm sure no one believes her.

"Rika came with her mother. She and her parents are very close. I hear that the Kichijoin chairman receives homemade Valentine's Day chocolates from Rika every year."

Raccoon dog! You're saying too much again!

"Girls are so great. Boys are just so unappealing."

Tachibana looked exasperated at his mother's comment.

"I heard that Masaya-sama doesn't accept homemade chocolates, but I'm attending a pastry school now, so I really want him to try one!"

Ema interjected. Is she seeing me as a rival?

"I don't want to. I prefer professionally made, perfect store-bought chocolates to half-baked homemade ones."

Ema, you've been rejected.

Tachibana should learn to soften his words.

After that, I answered people who asked about my fasting experience and even mentioned that I tried zazen recently, which led a Pivoine senior to ask, "Wait, Rika, are you into that kind of thing?"

Enjo turned his back and laughed silently. I'll give him a good scolding later.

Some people said they wanted to try fasting after hearing my story, and Mrs. Tachibana thanked me, saying, "Thanks to Rika, the party was lively. Please come again!"

I felt like I had to strip myself bare... Ema turned away with a huff. How interesting.

When I got home, exhausted mentally, my mother was waiting to hear about the tea party. When I told her that I was recognized as a girl who did a fasting diet, she expressed her disappointment.

But, you know, half the responsibility is yours, Mother.