SBTSML

sixty-one.

"Why are you here, Cassis!"

"Because you were alone."

Cassis was accustomed to sitting in the chair opposite of me. Then he shamelessly ordered tea to the employee.

You don't drink black tea.

I chuckled at Cassis's nonchalant attitude. I gave an additional order to the employee who was about to turn around.

"Please give me milk and an empty glass! Ah! Please give me a lot of sugar cubes too!"

Cassis didn't stop me.

Maybe he knew I'd add an extra order.

Anyway, it's clever.

It's about time for him to quit the adult cosplay, but he acts so naturally, like it's stuck in his body.

"So what were you looking at?"

Cassis casually turned to the newspaper placed on the table.

He looked through the newspaper to see only the big picture of Marine Bakery.

"Marine Bakery's second store? You didn't mean to sponsor this, did you, Evelyn?"

Cassis smiled as he checked the contents of the article.

I found an excuse in the nick of time and answered right away.

"T-That's right? It happens in Rhodella, and it's going to happen in Montez."

"Rhodella is the second most important economic hub after the capital. Won't it take a while before it will be in Montez?"

I know that much too?

I reacted coyly to Cassis's playful point.

"I'm just saying! You're making me speechless."

"Here's your tea and milk."

Just in time, the employee served tea.

Cassis was accustomed to drinking milk with sugar.

If that's the case, why did you order black tea? Just order milk.

"Wait. Wait, Cassis."

I stopped Cassis and took the milk away. Cassis looked at me with a sulky expression.

"You didn't order it for me to drink it?"

"I did."

"But why are you taking it?"

"To make something more delicious."

Cassis tilted his head at my answer.

I poured tea and milk into the empty glass with a suitable ratio.

"What are you doing now?!"

Cassis exclaimed in astonishment. He seemed to be bewildered by the mix of bitter black tea with milk.

Aye. Come on. Wait and see.

I ordered him to be quiet, my index finger covering my lips with a very relaxed smile.

Then I plopped five sugar cubes in the glass mixed with milk and black tea.

Black tea is too bitter for a child to drink it by itself, but it turns into a fantastic taste when it meets milk.

It means milk tea has been created.

I stirred hard until the sugar melted and held it out to Cassis.

"Come on! Try it."

"I think I'll pass..."

"You'll change your mind if you try it."