I Was Brought Back To a Wealthy Vampire Family And Now I Have Become Their Only Daughter's Tutor - 13 The Tea Party
The final bell of the day rung, signaling the end of afternoon classes. I breathed a sigh of relief. The day had been long, with classes that were already proving to be more challenging than I expected, but I’d have to adjust or lose everything again.
I had just started packing my belongings when I noticed Kiyomi approaching me. Her golden-blonde hair sparkled in the warm glow of the classroom lights, and her upbeat disposition stood out among the other students.
“Kazuki-kun!” she called out, stopping beside my desk with a bright smile.
I glanced up, surprised. “Oh, hey, Kiyomi. What’s up?”
She placed her hands on her hips, leaning slightly forward. “Don’t tell me you forgot about my tea party invitation from yesterday! You said you’d come, did you?”
“Oh, right! Uh, yeah, Tsukiko already gave me the green light so I guess I’m good to go.”
Kiyomi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Yay! I’m so glad you can make it. You’re going to love it—I promise! Elf-style tea parties are like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.”
“Sounds interesting,” I said, smiling despite myself. Her enthusiasm was infectious, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
Before I could say more, Hiroshi Aoyama appeared beside us, his solid frame and messy black hair making him hard to miss. He crossed his arms and gave Kiyomi a mock scowl.
“You didn’t think you could invite Kazuki without inviting me too, did you?” Hiroshi said, his voice tinged with playful accusation.
Kiyomi groaned, rolling her eyes. “Hiroshi, we’ve been over this. You are not tea party material. You’re more likely to break the teapot than enjoy the tea!”
“Hey, that was one time!” Hiroshi protested, his tone indignant. “And it wasn’t even my fault—the table was wobbly!”
I chuckled, watching their bickering unfold. “So… am I in the middle of something here?”
“Not yet,” Kiyomi said, giving Hiroshi a pointed look. “But if Hiroshi insists on crashing my tea party, I might just cancel it altogether.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Hiroshi shot back, narrowing his eyes.
“Oh, I absolutely would,” Kiyomi replied with a smirk.
Before their argument could escalate further, a soft but commanding voice cut through the noise.
“That’s enough.”
The three of us turned to see Tsukiko standing a few feet away, her presence as poised and commanding as ever. Her dark eyes flickered over Kiyomi and Hiroshi before settling on me.
“Kazuki,” she said calmly, “what is this commotion about?”
“Uh, nothing serious,” I said quickly, scratching the back of my neck. “Kiyomi was just telling me about the tea party that she organized, and Hiroshi was, uh, expressing his interest in joining.”
Tsukiko’s gaze shifted to Kiyomi. “A tea party?”
Kiyomi nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I already told Kazuki-kun about it yesterday, and right now, he said he’d come, since you approved it. It’s going to be a proper elf-style tea party—I think it’ll be a good experience for him.”
Tsukiko studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable. “I see. And you say this tea party is today?”
“Yes,” Kiyomi replied, her tone bright and confident.
For a moment, Tsukiko said nothing. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she spoke again. “In that case, I will come as well.”
Kiyomi blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You… you want to come?”
“Yes,” Tsukiko said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument. “If Kazuki is attending, it is only fitting that I accompany him.”
Hiroshi looked like he was trying not to laugh, while Kiyomi’s expression shifted between shock and frustration.
This is not what I expected to happen today.
.
.
.
.
After we went down the classroom, we gathered at the front gates of Yumeji Academy, waiting for Kiyomi. She had insisted we all go to her home together, mentioning something about wanting to make a proper entrance.
“It’s just a tea party,” Hiroshi said, moving his bag over his shoulder. “Why all the fuss? Isn’t this the same as the last tea party you organized?”
“You don’t understand. This year isn’t just an ordinary tea time: It’s an elf-style tea party! And it isn’t just about tea and snacks—it’s an experience that you’ve never see in this in your lifetime! You’ll see when we get there.”
Kiyomi said as she approached us, practically gleaming with delight. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight, and she wore a casual yet stylish clothing that alluded to her aristocratic background. Wait, when did she start changing this beautiful but expensive-looking clothes?
Tsukiko stood silently behind me, her serene gaze fixed on Kiyomi. She maintained her usual composed demeanor, but I noticed her sometimes glancing at me, as if measuring my reaction to all of this.
Kiyomi clapped her hands together. “Alright, follow me! My driver is waiting to take us.”
We piled into a sleek, black car that looked like it cost more than my entire old apartment building. The interior was as luxurious as I expected, with leather seats and enough space for everyone to sit comfortably.
As we drove, Kiyomi couldn’t stop talking about the tea party preparations. “You’ll love the setup! We have imported tea leaves, handmade pastries, and the garden—oh, the garden is absolutely stunning this time of year.”
Hiroshi groaned. “Sounds fancy. Do I need to, like, bow to the teapot or something?”
“No, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spill anything this time,” Kiyomi shot back with a teasing smile.
I chuckled, leaning back in my seat. “Sounds like you’ve put a lot of effort into this.”
“Of course!” Kiyomi said proudly. “This isn’t just a casual gathering—it’s a showcase of tradition and hospitality.”
The driver takes us a road that leads to the steep-looking streets. We eventually located what appears to be a large mansion, which I presume is Kiyomi’s house. When we arrived to a large, metal gate, I couldn’t help but gasp. The estate was enormous, with a huge garden that extended in all directions. A grand stone pathway led to a towering mansion with elegant architecture that appeared to blend in with the natural environment.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Kiyomi said with a playful wink.
“Humble?” Hiroshi muttered under his breath. “Yeah right, it hasn’t even change that much the last time I came here.”
Tsukiko remained silent at Hiroshi’s banter, her expression calm but observant as she took in the surroundings.
A butler greeted us at the door, bowing politely. “Welcome home, Kiyomi-sama. I see your guests have arrived.”
“Thank you, Alfred. Please show these people the way,” Kiyomi stated, entering first, and then we followed suit.
The interior of the mansion was just as impressive as the exterior—marble floors, intricate chandeliers, and walls lined with art that probably belonged in a museum. Kiyomi guided us through the main hall and out to the garden, where the tea party was set up.
The gardens were breathtaking. The outdoor space was enclosed by well manicured hedges, with beautiful flowers blooming in perfectly placed beds. A big table was laid out in the garden’s middle, surrounded by glittering lights. The table was set with a clean white tablecloth, exquisite china, and an assortment of pastries and sweets that appeared too good to eat.
“Wow,” I said, unable to hide my amazement. “This is… incredible.”
“Isn’t it?” Kiyomi beamed. “I told you it’d be special.”
Hiroshi scratched the back of his head, looking slightly out of place. “Yeah, this is definitely not your average tea party.”
Tsukiko walked over to the table, her movements as graceful as ever. She picked up a porcelain teacup, inspecting it briefly before setting it back down.
“Your family certainly knows how to host.” she said to Kiyomi.
“Thank you for the compliment, Tsukiko-sama.” Kiyomi said, bowing slightly. “It’s an honor to have you here.”
I followed Tsukiko to the table, taking a seat beside her. Hiroshi and Kiyomi joined us, and soon the butlers began serving tea.
The tea was as exquisite as Kiyomi had promised—rich, aromatic, and perfectly brewed. I sipped carefully, savoring the warmth as it spread through me. The pastries were just as impressive, each bite a delicate balance of flavors. I don’t even want to think on how much this tea costs.
“So, Kazuki,” Kiyomi said, leaning forward slightly, “what do you think? Was I right about this being an unforgettable experience?”
I grinned. “It’s my first time coming to a tea party, so I don’t have anything to say… Other than it’s too ‘fancy.’”
Hiroshi, who was cautiously nibbling on a scone, nodded. “Yeah, it’s fancy, alright. Almost feels like I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kiyomi said with a wave of her hand. “Everyone’s welcome at my tea parties—as long as they behave.”
I chuckled, glancing at Tsukiko. “What about you Tsukiko? What do you think?”
She set down her teacup, her expression thoughtful. “It is… pleasant,” she said simply.
Kiyomi’s smile widened. “I’ll take that as high praise.”
As the conversation flowed, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. Hiroshi, surprisingly, managed not to spill anything, and Kiyomi seemed genuinely pleased with how everything was going. Even Tsukiko appeared more at ease, though she maintained her usual composed demeanor.
As the tea party continued, I couldn’t help but notice how the garden’s beauty seemed to mirror the serenity of the moment. The gentle rustling of leaves, the soft glow of the lights, and the laughter shared among friends created a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Kiyomi turned to Tsukiko, her voice curious. “Tsukiko-sama, do you often attend social gatherings like this?”
“Not often,” Tsukiko said, her voice measured. “My duties and responsibilities usually take priority.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m glad you could make an exception for this,” Kiyomi said, her smile warm.
Tsukiko inclined her head slightly. “Indeed. This tea party, it has been… enlightening, and relaxing.”
I glanced at her, surprised by her choice of words. For someone as reserved as Tsukiko, that was practically a glowing review and a high praise.
As the tea party progressed, we were randomly discussing a variety of topics, from Hiroshi’s incident at the previous tea party to Kiyomi being sometimes an airheaded during classes. Basically, it’s just these two having a not-so-good conversation on each other. They’re giving me a good laugh at this point while I’m enjoying the tea Kiyomi provides. If only I could bring back one…
While sipping the tea, a faint smile on Tsukiko’s lips as she looks at the view in front. I guess I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.