Behind the folding screen was a ten-ter-square tatami mat. The group took off their shoes, stepped onto the mat from the entrance, and imdiately saw a coolly elegant woman in a black kimono, kneeling in a formal seated position.
The woman was around Natsui's age and also wore a Poké Ball as a hair ornant. Even without an introduction, her unique attire made it clear that she must be one of the five Kimono sisters!
With this, Natsui had now t all five sisters.
Seeing Natsui's group enter, the woman perford a deep, formal bow according to standard etiquette.
Natsui had learned from a previous chat with Erika that this was a shinrei, a formal bow used by hosts and guests. It was the most solemn type of bow, requiring a ninety-degree bend, generally reserved for tea ceremonies or other important occasions.
"Welco, both of you, to my tea room."
Erika returned the gesture with the sa formal bow. Only Natsui, unaccustod to such etiquette, simply gave Tamao a firm nod.
Sakura introduced them. "This is my sister Tamao, she is my third oldest sister."
Then, she introduced Natsui and Erika to Tamao.
"Sister, this is Mr. Natsui, and this is Miss Erika. One is the Indigo League Champion, and the other is a Gym Leader from the Kanto region!"
Ever since learning Natsui's identity as a champion, Sakura had also found out from him that Erika was a Gym Leader!
This made her incredibly happy. Who would have thought that the two audience mbers she t at the dance theater were not ordinary people, and that they had even beco her friends!
After all, Pokémon were integrated into every aspect of this world, and Pokémon battling was the most popular competition. Consequently, the status of Gym Leaders and Champions was extrely high. Making friends with such people was naturally a wonderful thing!
Of course, this wasn't to say she was being snobbish or driven by vanity.
In fact, given the five sisters' status in Ecruteak City and the popularity of their performances, they had t many famous people since their debut, including Morty, the Ecruteak Gym Leader, who often ca to see their shows.
But those were her older sisters' connections, or people who ca because of the "Kimono Sisters" na.
As the fourth sister, she was still young, only 17, and hadn't truly stepped out into the world. She usually just rehearsed and perford with her sisters. Therefore, Natsui and Erika were, in a real sense, the very first friends she had made on her own!
"A pleasure, Miss Tamao. We apologize for the intrusion."
The two greeted Tamao.
Tamao's gaze lingered on Erika for a mont before shifting to Natsui.
Just like Sakura, she was clearly surprised to see them here.
"What brings you two to Johto?"
"We're traveling here, preparing to challenge the Silver Conference."
"I see."
After a few pleasantries, Tamao got down to business.
"Now, I shall prepare tea for you both."
Beside her were various tea utensils and a water pot kept warm over a small charcoal fire. She took out a tea cloth and began to wipe the tea caddy, tea scoop, and other items.
Seeing Natsui's curious gaze, Erika knew it was his first ti at a tea ceremony and whispered, "This is the usucha technique. The entire ceremony begins with etiquette and wiping the utensils. Next, she'll use a ladle to pour so hot water into the tea bowl for a practice rinse, then there's sifting the tea, adding the tea powder, whisking and serving the tea, and savoring it. Finally, there's admiring the tea bowl, putting away the utensils, cleaning up, and concluding with thanks."
"It's that complicated..."
Back on Earth, many ticulous people had elaborate steps for brewing tea, but for him, drinking tea was simply putting tea leaves in a cup, pouring hot water, waiting for it to cool, and then gulping it down.
As long as it quenched his thirst, it was good tea!
But a tea ceremony, as the na suggested, was different from ordinary tea drinking. Having been passed down for hundreds, if not thousands of years, it was fitting for a ceremonial tea to be this elaborate.
Seeing how familiar Erika was with the steps, Natsui couldn't help but ask, "Do you know how to prepare tea like this too?"
"Of course," Erika nodded. "I sotis hold tea ceremonies at my gym. If you're interested, when we get back to Kanto, I can prepare a pot just for you."
Truly from a noble family, skilled in so many things!
After that thought, Natsui said nothing more and quietly watched Tamao's every move.
When observing the tea ceremony, the guest should remain silent.
Although their voices were soft, the tea room was small, so it was inevitable that Tamao heard them. However, she said nothing and continued with her tasks, her movents skillful and fluid, clearly having perford them countless tis.
Natsui watched as she ticulously wiped the tea bowl, then ladled so hot water into it, brought the bowl close to her body with both hands, and perford a practice rinse of the tea whisk before pouring the water into a waste-water container.
Then she picked up the tea caddy, scooped out the powdered tea with a tea scoop, first taking three scoops, then pouring out all the powder, and finally using the scoop to even it out, tapping it lightly on the rim of the bowl with a crisp sound.
The whole process was calming to watch, and a beautiful woman preparing tea was an especially pleasant sight.
Finally, after Tamao whisked the tea in the bowl with a tea whisk, using even and vigorous strokes for a long ti, she presented it with both hands, placing two bowls of green tea in front of them.
"Thank you for waiting. You may now enjoy the tea."
Natsui looked down.
He had expected to drink tea from a cup, but surprisingly, it was a bowl! And it wasn't tea leaves, but a powder!
In the gray ceramic bowl, the green tea was still slowly swirling, with a layer of fine, tiny bubbles on top.
How to describe it... this bowl of tea felt less like tea and more like a broth after being rinsed, neither clear nor thick, but it did have the unique, fresh aroma of tea leaves.
He didn't imdiately pick up the tea bowl but instead looked at Erika, intending to learn how to drink it first.
Erika first gave Tamao a slight nod to express her thanks, then picked up the tea bowl, turned it once, and took a gentle sip.
"Mmm..." Erika savored it for a mont, then smiled and said, "Both the technique and the taste are of the highest quality. The water temperature is also just right. I've learned much."
Following her example, Natsui also picked up the tea bowl, rotated it in his hands, and took a small sip.
As it went down, he could taste the sweetness of the tea, and a pleasant aftertaste lingered in his mouth. But since he didn't really understand it, he couldn't articulate why. He could only nod, pretending to be composed, and say, "Mmm... it is indeed good tea."
...
Note: The appearance of the five sisters is based on episode 7 of Pokémon Evolutions - "The Show," and their nas and appearances differ greatly from the original ani. Each one is portrayed as very beautiful.
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