What Could Go Wrong at a Tea Party (

[Late update awa]

The morning sunlight was soft and warm, spilling through the windows of Tenshukaku like fine golden sand.

Baichen stood quietly before the mirror, carefully arranging the new kimono sent by Yae Publishing House.

The kimono was a deep indigo, mysterious and profound, like a tranquil lake beneath the night sky.

Silvery-white cranes appeared faintly in its woven pattern, soaring with their wings spread so lifelike that they seemed ready to fly off the fabric at any moment.

A sash bearing the Raiden family crest was tied around the kimono's waist, a symbol of the family and a mark of solemnity.

The sash complemented the kimono's base color, making it look all the more elegant and dignified.

Baichen carefully adjusted the collar and cuffs, making sure every detail was perfect.

His movements were gentle and practiced, as though the kimono were a precious work of art that needed his careful attention.

Maids bustled in and out of the room. Some brought an exquisite breakfast, some adjusted his robes, and others packed gifts for the Kamisato Clan.

"Lord Baichen, the Shogun has urgent business to attend to," the head maid said, bowing respectfully. "She specifically instructed you to eat more breakfast. The sweets at the tea party might not be to your taste."

Baichen's comb paused slightly at those words. Raiden Shogun's sudden decision not to accompany him deprived the tea party of his strongest protection.

[System notification]

[Warning: Raiden Shogun absent]

[Current escort: ordinary Tenryou Commission samurai]

[Recommendation: stay alert]

The Tenryou Commission's procession was already assembled in the courtyard. Compared with the lavish escort that would have accompanied the Shogun herself, today's guard was noticeably smaller.

Baichen climbed into a palanquin decorated with lightning patterns. Four Okuzumeshuu carried it, with ten samurai guarding the front and ten more at the rear.

"Is all this ceremony necessary?" Baichen asked Kujou Sara quietly as she accompanied him.

Kujou's expression was grave. "The Kamisato Clan may appear obedient, but..." She fell abruptly silent, her gaze sweeping over several suspicious figures outside the palanquin.

Baichen followed her gaze and saw a masked woman slip quickly into an alley-a Fatui debt collector.

"At least five factions are watching this tea party," Kujou said in a lowered voice. "Please be careful."

The Kamisato Estate stood halfway up a mountain, surrounded by maple woods.

When the palanquin stopped at the gates, Kamisato Ayaka was already waiting there with her household servants.

She wore a simple, elegant kimono, and the ribbon in her silver hair fluttered gently in the breeze.

"Welcome, Mr. Baichen." Ayaka bowed, her coral-colored eyes curving into crescents. "My brother is away on official business, so I will be your host today."

Baichen followed close behind Ayaka through the winding corridors, his anticipation of the Kamisato Estate growing with every step.

Yet when he entered the residence, he found its splendor far exceeded anything he had imagined.

Exquisite seasonal flower arrangements stood at every turn in the corridors, colorful and fragrant, as though the beauty of all four seasons had been gathered into this small space.

The master calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls were even more astonishing. According to Ayaka, they were all genuine originals, each worth a fortune.

But what amazed Baichen most was the pond in the courtyard.

Its water was clear to the bottom, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds like an enormous mirror.

Koi swam leisurely among the water lilies, occasionally leaping from the surface and scattering strings of sparkling droplets, adding a lively beauty to the scene.

They crossed the courtyard and came to the rear garden. It was relatively secluded, a stark contrast to the bustle of the front courtyard.

Ayaka gently pushed open the door to the tea room. Its hinges gave a faint creak, as if telling them the history of the building.

As the door slowly opened, Baichen saw Yae Miko reclining lazily by the window, toying with a cherry blossom in full bloom.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her pale pink kimono set off her snow-white skin, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

"Oh my, the star of the show has finally arrived~" Miko narrowed her foxlike eyes. "What a shame the Shogun couldn't come."

Ayaka intervened at just the right moment. "Please, both of you, take a seat. The refreshments will be here shortly."

Three cushions were arranged around the low table in the center of the tea room.

Baichen noticed that Miko chose a seat with her back to the wall, leaving him the place nearest the garden.

The subtle arrangement made his heart tighten.

[Yae Miko's affection +1%, current: 31%]

[Note: observing in secret]

The maids brought in delicate wagashi, and Ayaka prepared the tea herself.

With smooth, graceful movements, she produced a beautiful pink-gold tea that gave off a faint scent of cherry blossoms.

"This is the Kamisato Clan's specially made sakura-mochi tea." Ayaka offered the first cup to Baichen. "I hope it's to your taste."

The tea was sweet on his tongue with a subtle bitterness, yet its aftertaste was remarkably refreshing. Baichen exclaimed sincerely, "It's delicious!"

A blush spread across Ayaka's face. "I'm glad you like it."

The first half of the tea party went unexpectedly smoothly.

Ayaka sat upright at the tea table, elegantly recounting the customs and people of Inazuma.

Her voice was clear and pleasant, flowing through the air like a gentle stream and drawing her listeners in.

Miko sat to one side with a faint smile on her lips, occasionally interjecting with a witty remark that made everyone laugh.

Her jokes were perfectly timed, never feeling out of place while making the atmosphere more relaxed and harmonious.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the paper doors in golden beams, filling the tea room with warmth and light.

The faint scent of tea filled the air, mingling with Ayaka and Miko's conversation to create a peaceful, pleasant atmosphere.

"Speaking of which," Miko said, suddenly changing the subject, "you've been in Inazuma for quite a while, little Baichen. How many places have you visited?"

"Just Tenshukaku, Tatarasuna..." Baichen replied.

Miko smiled. "Little Sangonomiya has been quite active lately~ I hear she's even reached a secret agreement with certain people?"

Ayaka's fingertips trembled slightly. "You must be joking, Guuji. The Yashiro Commission has always been loyal to the Shogun alone."

"Is that so?" Miko pulled a letter from her sleeve. "Then what about the secret envoy your brother sent to Watatsumi Island on the third of this month?"

The atmosphere in the tea room instantly froze.

Just as tensions reached a breaking point, a commotion suddenly erupted in the garden.

The sliding door was thrown open, and Thoma dropped to his knees in the doorway, gasping for breath. "Trouble! Assassins have infiltrated the estate!"

Almost at the same instant, several crossbow bolts crashed through the window!

Miko instantly raised a barrier, deflecting every arrow.

Baichen had just started to rise when the tatami beneath him suddenly gave way-this was an elaborately designed trap!

"Baichen!" Miko's cry receded in his ears.

His fall lasted only a few seconds, yet it seemed to stretch into a century.

At last, he landed on a soft net. Darkness surrounded him, stirring an inexplicable fear.

"Got you~" a familiar, cheerful voice called out with a playful lilt. "You're lighter than I expected!"

A torch flared to life, illuminating the underground passage and-standing before him-Yoimiya!

She wasn't wearing her usual fireworks-maker's outfit today, but a close-fitting set of night clothes that made her figure look even more lively.

Her golden-red eyes sparkled in the firelight, full of energy.

"Yoimiya? What's..." Baichen asked in surprise, his mind full of questions.

"Shh~" She gestured for silence, a hint of mystery in her eyes. "There isn't much time. We have to get out of here quickly."

"Wait! What's going on? Who arranged this..." Baichen pressed urgently.

Yoimiya gave him a mysterious wink and a brilliant smile. "Why, 'that lady,' of course!"

She pulled out a familiar shell earring. "Recognize this?"

At the sight of Kokomi's token, Baichen's heart jolted. Could this be a kidnapping planned by Watatsumi Island?

There was no time to think. Yoimiya was already pulling him through the maze of tunnels at a run.

The walls of the passage were damp and cold.

"Don't worry, this secret passage leads straight to Byakko Plain."

Yoimiya explained as they ran, "The Kamisato Clan built it hundreds of years ago. Even the current head of the clan doesn't know about it!"

After several turns, a light appeared ahead.

The moment they burst out of the tunnel, the glaring sunlight made Baichen squint.

When his vision cleared, he saw-

Not the beach or wilderness he had expected, but a Japanese-style garden hidden deep in the mountains.

A small bridge crossed a stream in the garden, its babbling waters pleasant to the ear;

Pavilions and terraces stood in a venerable style, their every detail exuding luxury and elegance.

Most striking of all was the enormous cherry tree at the center. Its branches were covered in blossoms, and pink petals drifted on the wind like falling snow.

A familiar figure stood beneath the tree.

"Welcome to my secret villa."

Kamisato Ayaka turned around, wearing a radiant smile entirely unlike the one she had worn at the tea party. A hint of cunning and mystery lay in it. "I'm sorry for inviting you in such a rough manner."

Baichen stared at her in shock. "Weren't you up there..."

"That was a double." Ayaka gently brushed the silver hair at her temple, confidence in her eyes. "I had to make some preparations to fool the Guuji."

Yoimiya gave him a cheerful shove. "Mission complete~ I'll be off!"

With that, she skipped away, leaving Baichen and Ayaka alone in the mysterious garden.

Only Baichen and Ayaka remained in the garden.

She approached slowly, her steps elegant yet carrying a hint of pressure.

A dangerous light flickered in her coral-colored eyes. "Now we can have a proper chat... about you."

Only then did Baichen notice the dozens of masked ninjas standing around the garden.

They stood straight and alert, every exit sealed off, as if an invisible net had trapped him.

And at some point, an exquisite red cord had been tied around his wrist. Ayaka held the other end.

"Don't worry." She gave the cord a gentle tug, her smile sweet yet dangerous.

That smile seemed to hold a deadly allure. "This is just a little measure to make sure you don't suddenly disappear."

As cherry blossoms drifted down, Ayaka leaned close to his ear.

Her warm breath brushed the side of his neck, carrying a hint of intimacy. "Did you know? In ancient wedding customs, a red cord symbolizes a destined... bond."

Her words were like a bombshell, raising a storm in Baichen's heart and leaving him lost and uneasy in the face of the unknown.