「Lapis, can you brew some black tea. For today, Darjeeling tea is fine.」
「Don"t act like you know all about black tea. We only have Darjeeling tea. —Understood, just wait a moment.」
After confirming that Lapis headed off to the kitchen in a fussy manner, Lily faced Iris.
「Now then, what do you want to ask?」
After showing a small thinking posture, Iris opened her mouth.
「…So, Lily-senpai is into girls, it seems.」
「That"s right. It"s not like I was hiding it, or that I wouldn"t talk about it」
「I"m aware. Then, if I were to confess to senpai, would you accept?」
「…」
Lily sunk into silence. It was so sudden that her brain couldn"t catch up quick enough.
「Eh, so you mean–」
「Of course it"s a joke, since senpai isn"t my type.」
「! Don"t make fun of your seniors.」
「Sorry, I just got a little bit jealous. At least let me look a lot.」
As if giving up on something, Iris smiled.
From that facial expression and her previous words, Lily came to a conclusion.
「…Don"t tell me」
「It was love at first sight.」
Iris"s previous gaze had aligned with Lapis, who had a serious face as she checked on the condition of the tea leaves.
「Seeing such a lovely figure, I was doubting my own eyes. I couldn"t believe it from just looking, so I let out my voice, but… Haha, it seems that it became a nonsensical talk.」
「…」
「I was further surprised when I heard her voice. It was clear and beautiful, just like a bell.」
「…」
「I was going to confess on the way home. If I were to succeed, I would have celebrated. If I failed, I wouldn"t stop by anymore. If it"s cleaning, she is already doing that, after all.」
「…」
「But… I didn"t think that I wouldn"t be able to even step up to the challenge. It was my first heartbreak, but, I guess it was surely coming.」
「…sorry, but Lapis is my girlfriend. More than you, I"m sore suited to be together with her.」
「Heh. I also think so. It"s frustrating, but, you are very suited for each other… I"m very jealous of that」
「…thank you.」
Responding with tears, Iris showed a smile full of spirit and Lily, to the utmost respect, thanked her.
Ruled under an unpleasant silence, Lapis returned from brewing some tea.
「Sorry for the wait. Wait, Lily, Iris-san, what"s wrong!? Somehow it seems really depressing in here…」
「Eh? N-no, everything"s fine. Thank you for the tea.」
「? Iris-san as well, here you go. It"s fine to bring your mouth to it」
「Thank you.」
With elegant movements, Iris drank from the cup.
「…It"s delicious. I"ve never drunken such delicious tea before.」
「Ehehe, you"re exaggerating.」
「No, I"m serious… How about it, Lapis? Would you marry me and make tea every day for me?」
「Ahaha, so Iris-san is also telling jokes. But, I"m sorry, I"m already Lily"s♡」
「…Haha, so I was rejected. —I hope you find happiness.」
「Thank you!」
Iris forcefully laughed, drank her tea, and then stood up.
「Now then, I should be leaving soon.」
「Eh? But didn"t you just get here?」
「That"s true, but, there"s nothing for me to do, but more than that… haha, staying for any longer in your love nest would be painful.」
「Hau!」
Turning bright red, Lapis stiffened, as Iris said 「At that」and stepped outside. From behind, Lily continued.
「Then, Senpai. I"m a little, I"m going on a broken heart trip, do you have any recommendations?」
「…In that case, the eastern island country should be good. I"ve never been there, but, the food seems delicious.」
「Fumu. Then, I"ll try going there. Before long, I"ll bring back a souvenir.」
「…okay, I"ll be looking forward to it.」
In just a moment, Iris closed the distance and got behind Lily with a mischievous smile.
「Let"s meet again, Lily」
「!」
Iris pressed her lips to Lily"s defenseless cheek and kissed her, before hopping on her broom and flying away.
Lily held her cheek in a dumbfounded state.
Not knowing her disciple"s reason for her action, Lily tilted her head—all of a sudden, from her back, Lily felt an extravagant chill.
Fearfully, Lily turned around.
「…Lily…」
There seemed to be a blizzard behind the severe, yet silently angry Lapis.
Now, Lily finally realized. Iris performed her last action since she knew that Lapis was there.
Feeling deceived, Lily desperately tried to explain.
「Th-that"s wrong, Lapis! That was just Iris"s own selfish–」
「Ah!?」
「I"m sorry!」
With a snap, Lily straightened her back. But, thinking that her own beloved Lapis was getting seriously angry over that made her a little happy—
「What are you grinning for!? Are you reflecting!? Lily, seiza!!」
「S-sayzha?」
「The traditional method for reflecting from the eastern island country! Right there, bend your knees and sit!」
「The eastern island country again!」
「LILY!」
「Yes! I"m sitting!」
"Yeah, as expected I"d like to do this in moderation", so thought Lily.