After being invited by Nina-chan, I stepped into the elevator installed in her apartment building (which was incredibly clean), and as we rode up, I found myself reminiscing about when I was truly an elementary school student.

In other words, I was thinking about my previous life.

Back then, I never invited classmates over to my house. The idea of serving tea to friends who came over wasn’t something that even crossed my mind. To be honest, it was only after being reincarnated that I learned from watching my mother and Momoka-san that offering tea to guests is a thing.

So, that means…

At the age of six, Nina-chan already has the awareness to serve tea to guests. I guess that’s just how it is when you’re brought up well?

As I was pondering this, the elevator stopped, and we stepped out into what I realized was an internal corridor. An internal corridor is, well, it’s like what you’d find in a hotel. You know, the kind where the doors don’t face outside, but everything is contained within the building.

Is this really an apartment?

I could feel the worldview I had been cultivating up to this point crumbling to pieces. The Kisaragi family is quite wealthy, but Nina-chan’s family seems to be just as well-off. Maybe even more so.

I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts.

Ugh, being an adult makes you think about money way too often.

“This is it,” Nina-chan said, guiding me into her apartment. As soon as she opened the door, I was greeted by a scent that reminded me of an aroma diffuser.

“This place smells really nice.”

“It’s a room fragrance. My mom bought it,” Nina-chan said, pointing to a mysterious object that looked like a glass bottle filled with clear liquid, with sticks poking out of it like some sort of joke.

Now that she mentioned it, I realized that the pleasant smell was indeed coming from that thing.

Oh, so it’s not just an air freshener; it’s called a room fragrance. Good to know. I had no idea.

…Really, I didn’t.

“Come on in, Itsuki,” Nina-chan said.

For a moment, I wondered if maybe she kept her shoes on indoors because she had grown up overseas. That’s the kind of silly thought I got from the internet, but nope, she simply took off her shoes before stepping inside, just like anyone else.

Naturally, I followed suit, remembering to neatly place my shoes by the door.

“Do you invite friends over often, Nina-chan?”

“No. I don’t have any friends.”

I guess we’re in the same boat, huh?

“What about me?”

“Itsuki is… well, you’re just Itsuki.”

I couldn’t quite tell if that response counted as an answer or not, so I let it slide. Following Nina-chan’s instructions, I placed my backpack on the soft carpet. Or is this called a rug? I’m never sure about these things.

In my previous life, I was content with buying cheap furniture from chain stores, just filling my room with whatever worked. But this is something else entirely.

Nina-chan’s apartment was furnished entirely with white-themed furniture, and the potted plants by the window added a nice touch. The only thing that seemed a bit out of place was Nina-chan’s pink backpack, sitting there in the middle of it all.

Man, that TV is huge. How many inches is that thing?

As I was busy taking in the room, Nina-chan called out to me from the kitchen.

“What do you like, Itsuki?”

“What do you mean?”

“For tea. There are different flavors, you know?”

The only tea I’m familiar with is the kind you get in bottles, like in the afternoon tea drinks.

“Anything’s fine! Just something tasty.”

“Then how about Darjeeling?”

I have no idea what that is.

Even if she asks if Darjeeling is okay, I wouldn’t know. But since I said anything was fine and I wouldn’t know the difference no matter what she served, I just said, “Sure, that sounds good.”

“Have a seat on the sofa. I’ll bring the tea over.”

“Thanks.”

Not wanting to be rude, I took a seat on the white sofa.

You can really tell the difference when you’re sitting on an expensive sofa.

I glanced over at the living room, where Nina-chan was expertly pouring hot water. She moved with the ease of someone who does this every day, and I was a bit impressed. So, I asked her.

“Do you make tea often, Nina-chan?”

“What? Can’t I drink tea just because I don’t have friends?”

“No, that’s not it. I just thought you were really good at making tea.”

“W-What do you mean by that!?” Nina-chan raised her voice, denying my compliment, but I could tell she was secretly pleased.

“It’s just because my mom is never around, so I have to make it myself.”

“Is your mom really busy?”

“Yeah. She’s hardly ever home. But she did come back yesterday, though she won’t be back again for another week.”

I guess exorcists are busy no matter where they are.

Actually, my dad’s been out on a long-term assignment lately too. Like Nina-chan’s mom, I haven’t seen him for about a week, so he might be coming back soon.

But still, as I looked around the room, something struck me.

At least in my house, my mom is around. Hinata is there too. Even when my dad’s away on a job, I’m never alone in the house.

Alone… Alone, huh.

Wait, does that mean…?

“So, Nina-chan, are you living here by yourself!?”

“Yeah.”

“So, do you cook your own meals!?”

“No. My mom arranges for bento boxes.”

“Bento boxes?”

“Yes. They get delivered every day. They’re really tasty.”

Is that even a thing? Wealthy families sure have it good…

While I was still reeling from hearing about a service I’d never even imagined, Nina-chan came back into the living room, carrying a tray—I’m sure it has a fancier name—that held the tea. Her hands were a bit shaky, though, unlike when she was making the tea.

I guess she’s used to making tea for herself but not so much for guests.

I watched nervously as Nina-chan carried the tray, and as expected, she tripped on the rug and stumbled.

“…Whoa!”

I kind of saw that coming.

I quickly used my Silveit threads infused with light magic to catch the tea mid-air, preventing it from spilling. Nina-chan, who had fallen forward, was caught by me as I stood up from the sofa.

“S-Sorry, Itsuki! Are you okay? Did any tea spill on you!?”

“I’m fine. I caught it,” I replied, pointing to the Silveit threads that were safely holding the tea and cups in mid-air.

This always makes me wonder: since I can see the Silveit threads thanks to my True Eye, how does it look to other people? Does it just look like the tea is floating?

Seeing the tea suspended in the air, Nina-chan visibly relaxed and placed the tray on the table. She let out a small sigh of relief.

I took the opportunity to ask her, “Are you okay, Nina-chan? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

“N-No, I’m fine. I just tripped, that’s all…”

“That’s good to hear.”

I carefully guided the teacup with the Silveit threads, pouring the tea back into the cup as if it were a funnel. Once the tea was safely in the cup, I set it down on the tray.

“Thanks, Nina-chan. The tea smells really good. Can I try it?”

“Y-Yeah. I hope it’s to your liking…”

Nina-chan seemed a little embarrassed as she said this, and I couldn’t help but think she wasn’t quite used to serving tea to others yet.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep