Chapter 43 Tea Ceremony ⁕
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The tea ceremony is war.
In reality, tea began as a competitive tradition.
I learned this through my studies; the tea ceremony originated from an ancient gambling game called ‘fighting tea,’ so intense it was once outlawed. Like spinning tops or card games in those toy commercials, they resolved disputes with tea battles back then. People actually died over these battles.
After all the bloodshed, it evolved into a form of hospitality, but the underlying tension remains, like the nervousness before an interview.
I might sound like an expert, but honestly, I knew nothing about tea at first. I imagined messing up the etiquette, enduring the hostess’s cold stare, and being quietly banned forever. That’s such a biased thought, damn it.
And this tea battle isn’t about physical fights.
It’s a contest of status and discernment. The host demonstrates meticulous care in welcoming the guest, and the guest is tested on whether they appreciate that care. Naturally, recognizing this requires knowledge of tea culture. You must decipher the host’s intentions from the utensils, the hanging scroll, and the tea’s origin, all within the framework of tradition. You can’t just sip cheap leaves and say, “Oh, delicious! What a welcome!” No fucking way.
”Alright, time to see how well Cult Slut-san understands me.”
Who do I think I am? I struck a confident pose and pushed open the white door.
Inside, a small Japanese-style hut greeted me.
”This is…”
In the white room, a thatched hut stood with a small garden. The garden floor was soil and pumice, with a path of large flat gray stones leading to the hut. Bamboo and reeds lined the path, and a small water basin held swimming goldfish.
At the end of the path, a small doorway led into the hut. Known as the crawling entrance, it’s a low side-sliding door that requires adults to stoop. I always loved it, like entering a secret hideout. Watching women’s clothes cling to their figures as they crawl in is soothing, and since rank is irrelevant once inside, it embodies the tea ceremony’s spirit: forget status and simply enjoy.
I reviewed the tea rules Cult Slut-san taught me.
Usually, you’d change into socks and adjust your clothing in a waiting room, but today, as a family guest, I dressed casually.
Tea ceremonies vary by season and etiquette, but this winter one is a hearth tea. And since it’s evening, it’s called a night-tale tea. Good. I remember what I worked hard to learn.
”Cold!”
First, I washed my hands and mouth with the shrine ladle. The cold water stung my skin.
This was a Kujukuri-style modern tea room. In the garden, potted plants and strange objects like glowing windmills spun. She knows I enjoy unusual things, so this was her way of entertaining me before the tea ceremony began.
My heart raced with excitement. Ideally, there would be more surprises, but this was impressive enough. The hospitality—or rather, the battle—had begun.
At the small entrance, I placed my shoes heel-up against the pillar and crawled inside.
”You’ve arrived safely. It’s cold outside, isn’t it?” Cult Slut-san said.
I stared in the small tea room.
”Wow, Cult Slut-san, you’re beautiful!”
”…”
There stood a beautifully mysterious Japanese doll. Like choosing the most exquisite doll from a high-end store, bringing her home, and opening the box with excitement. A true luxury. Her crimson-lined kimono was flawless, and her black hair cascaded over her pale face in an elegant updo. Glossy black hair held ornamental pins. Rouge on her eyes contrasted with her skin, giving her a fresh, youthful appearance. A subtle osmanthus scent came from her.
Cult Slut-san remained silent. Motionless, she glanced behind me briefly.
I wondered if I had missed something.
Then her words struck me. It’s winter, but the town isn’t cold. So why mention the cold? Confused, I followed her gaze and turned. Oh no. I forgot to close the door.
Zzz… clack.
I slammed it shut in a panic, and Cult Slut-san smirked victoriously.
”Sorry, I didn’t notice. My apologies.”
The outside is cold. Leaving the door open lets in the cold air—close it. That’s what she meant.
Damn, she landed the first blow. In tea gatherings, she deliberately maneuvers, sly and cunning.
Then we stood and bowed silently to each other.
”…Hmm.”
I scanned the room with four tatami mats. Hanging scroll, tea kettle, hearth, fresh flowers, and strange objects. From these, I tried to guess the host’s intent.
The items were of fine quality, nothing unusual. No hidden message, but everything was well-prepared to welcome me—no malice detectable.
”Thanks for inviting me. The setup is just my taste—I’m thrilled. I’ve been looking forward to today’s tea.”
”Your words honor me. It’s a humble welcome.”
She gestured, and I took my seat on the mat. Cult Slut-san lit the hearth coals. She stirred the ash, and red glows emanated from the black squares, illuminating her white fingertips. In the dim, quiet space, the fire seemed enormous, evoking deep emotions.
”Since it’s this time, I prepared simple dishes on my own.”
She said this and then disappeared behind the sliding door. The other side was the host’s area, her backstage. She returned with a tray.
”Wow, really? Thanks!”
”Please, start from my side.”
Not my usual meal, but favorite Japanese kaiseki dishes were served. Tea was also served—I ate eagerly. The meal had multiple stages, like a course, but since tea gatherings can be lengthy, this was abbreviated.
I was full and satisfied. After a quick break, she brought sweets and thick tea.
Eating delicious food in this atmospheric setting fills the heart. All my tension and biases about tea melted away.
”I enjoyed your serving. It was delicious. Thanks for the meal.”
I showed the empty tray and bowl, rubbing my belly contentedly like a child.
As I relaxed happily, Cult Slut-san—looking pleased—became teary-eyed.
”What’s wrong?”
”No, nothing. Just… seeing you here, healthy and well, fills me with joy.”
”Good to hear, but…”
”Anyway. I hope it wasn’t too poor. I’ll clean up—wait a moment.”
Cult Slut-san stared at me, her face filled with sorrow. What’s going on? Did I act too rowdy? Maybe my energy made her sarcastic.
While she cleared the tools, I straightened up just in case.
”Now, I invited you today for an important talk about males. Forgive me if it becomes unpleasant,” Cult Slut-san said formally.
Right, that’s why she invited me. Damn, the food was so good I forgot about it.
The last time we met was at the simple graduation ceremony. She must have many thoughts, serving me like this, so I’ll listen seriously.
…Speaking of graduation, she cried as if it were funny. Looking closely now, her complexion is off, like she’s holding back tears.
Damn, in my mind, she’s shifting from a woman to a motherly figure, and that concerns me.
”Are you really okay?”
”…Yes.”
”Good then.”
Her eyes trembled when I spoke. Suddenly, she looked so pitiful. She’s not a tough-hearted woman anyway. Worrying about me too much, maybe she’s ill—that concerns me more.
Then I wanted to check her feelings directly. Sure, being invited here means maintaining appearances, but alone in this tea room, no one is watching. A perfect private space to get close.
”Cult Slut-san, come here.”
”…I need you to listen to me.”
”Come on, I’ll comfort you first.”
”I can’t. No manners in a tea gathering, and an Imperial Guard flattering the host?”
I sensed her suppressing her emotions. Her movements, her face—they showed her sadness.
I stood quietly and walked to her side. Then I hugged the trembling Japanese doll. She resisted at first but soon clung tightly and burst into tears.
Cult Slut-san curled up, soaking her sleeves with continuous sniffling. She had bottled it up fiercely.
”I’m so concerned for you! So concerned all this time, you know!”
”Yeah, yeah.”
”Days without you at home—I thought, what if you died? Why does such cruelty happen to a good person again!”
”Sorry, I worried you.”
I cradled her head like comforting a bullied child at home. She cried like a baby that wouldn’t stop, so I just nodded silently.
”Pilgrimages, prayers—useless! Wondering what horrors you’re facing… I…”
Cult Slut-san gripped my clothes, looked up. Big eyes spilled tears, snot staining her mouth.
”When you suffer, I can’t do anything!”
”I’m fine.”
To ease her pain, I rubbed her back. Damn, like a real child.
”Ugh! Hic…! I swore not to cry today… Swore not to spoil things….”
I carefully placed my hand on her updo, not messing up the camellia oil. Frustrating, I couldn’t stroke it smoothly.
To her endless crying, I said,
”Nah, humans can’t force that.”
”But I, always crying, useless… Are you okay? Any wounds still hurt? Why, such a good person…”
Cult Slut-san snorted in regret. My situation broke her hard.
Truth is, while I was trapped in the dungeon, the most useless Imperial Guard was Cult Slut-san. Everyone did their part, but she just worried helplessly. The school’s guard is only inside, and the grounds are limited to plain education officers—other regions’ males are around. Unlike rule-breaking Sow-san, her obedient nature left her few options. Second place? Vocal Slut-san, loyal like a dog waiting sleeplessly at the dorm door. No tears or noise gave her higher points.
”I’m good now. Emotions have settled a bit too.”
”Sniff… Ugh… No more scary things for you. I’ll guard you for sure! Find you a good match, make your future happy!”
”Good girl, good girl.”
”No more worry. I’m fine now.”
She said it but clung reluctantly. Her nails dug in a bit painfully.
Straining such a pretty girl mentally—pity mixed with dark joy deep down, a weird mood. Finally, we calmed down.
I peeled off her clinging hold, pulled her neckcloth, wiped her tears.
Piece by piece, her story: her concern flipped from me needing too little, doubting her role. As education officer, not erasing male bias—instead became the scornful woman snuggling for sweets, burdening me. Planned firm attitude today. Epic fail, but that’s the feel of her emotions.
…Hell, she can cling mud-like more. Among Imperial Guards, she’s close in age. Three, four years older maybe—wants big-sister reliance? Mystery woman with mom-affection and little-sister-affection. Needy-mom feel, I thought.
A while passed, tears dried, and we faced off again in the narrow tea room.
”You good now?”
”…My rudeness. Your Lordship, I burden you always. But today, I break from that self. Or womanhood dies.”
”Don’t expect much, but try hard.”
Tear-tracks still, Cult Slut-san set her will. I almost laughed. Ah, so unreliable, yet oddly trustworthy—weird charm.
I made a funny face, eyes met sudden. Air softened a touch.
Her makeup fixed, finally the real talk. On Kyoto cushion, square formal sit, she straightened sharp.
”So, vital talk.”
”Yeah, right.”
Called for some talk, yeah. While I wondered what, Cult Slut-san cut straight, no hesitate.
”If nothing rings, fine, but lately any odd feel when pissing?”
”Hmm?”
”When you go, hard to start? Miss the aim unlike usual?”
”Eh…?”
Cult Slut-san spoke weird lower talk, not her normal self.
What the fuck, sudden? Thought serious from her face. Air flipped total, I stumbled, but her face dead earnest—no joke.
No clue hit, so I answered honest like to a doctor.
”Nah, nothing.”
”Truth? Morning wake-up, any weird too?”
”Yeah. Normal as ever.”
”Then lately, body feel off anywhere?”
She asked strange shit, pure sincerity. No shame in me, I said.
”The last injury was nothing big—I’m fine. But why the hell ask that?”
”Because at Your Lordship’s age, signs could show any day. Seems you truly have no clue.”
”No fucking idea.”
I replied, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, frowning hard.
”Strange…. Maggot said growth was all smooth sailing.”
She lifted her face soon after. Bright voice to hide her suspicion from me.
With that, she flipped her attitude sharp, back to usual Cult Slut-san.
”Sorry for the weird question. Never mind then. Too early for you, it seems.”
”Wait, thought it was vital talk.”
”We’ll speak when time’s right. No rush though. If body feels off ever, tell me free—no holding back.”
”Uh, yeah, sure….”
Damn, jumped to my piss talk sudden, then cut dead. What’s she gain worrying my urine? Not like dungeon scared me into leaks. Or do I shit the bed mornings without knowing…?
…Ah.
Got it. Revelation hit my skull.
This is my first wet dream talk. Hard-on making piss tough, morning wood—she’s circling it sly.
Holy shit. Close call. Can’t miss this topic.
Tea cover to slip hard questions when male body wakes. Should take more time maybe, but my sex ed timing got fucked.
”More tea sweets? If full, wrap in paper, take home…”
”Cult Slut-san.”
”What?”
”Truth is, hard to say, so I dodged once. Lately, seeing women gives me weird feelings sometimes.”
”Th-that so? Knew it. If okay, teach me details?”
I acted hesitant on purpose. Gazed back and forth from my crotch to her, dropped my face.
Her face sparked like brain shock. Yep, puberty talk confirmed.
”Close the window please.”
”Y-yeah.”
She stood, dropped the paper sliding window panel. No one outside, but mood matters. Tea room went hearth-light only. Dark lifted our shapes.
”S-sorry. Bright’s embarrassing.”
”…Y-yes.”
Weird tension, I crawled beside Cult Slut-san. Slinked close, her body froze stiff. Hugged tight earlier, but emotions cooled now—my nearness ground her nerves raw.
Reason or affection aside, males are poison to women basic.
Gulp, her throat sounded.
”Lend a hand.”
”Uh, th-that weird feeling… words teach fine! Normal for males, Your Lordship—everyone gets…”
”Words shame me. No good?”
”Eh…. Ah, I, as education officer…”
I shut my eyes. Guided her smooth hand to my crotch. Took index and middle, pressed to my rod through cloth. Rubbed it over and over. Her gripped fingers felt my tip’s delicate throb.
”Ah, ah. No way, this male’s…. Soft, this feel. Here, sh-shape slowly…. What I touch… u, vuu…”
”How’s it?”
”H-how what?”
I opened eyes. Gorgeous Japanese doll, face blood-red full—like rouge smeared everywhere. Breath short fast, tear-ends from shame.
”Listen serious. Lately, near women, my piss stick gets like this. Disease or what?”
”Hah, ha…. H-hand, let go please.”
”I’m so damn concerned. And touching you earlier? Weird feelings hit, wanna touch more. What’s wrong with me?”
I leaned to her profile, whispered secret. Sudden, her osmanthus scent brushed nose, mixed human sweat heat.
She panted rough, clawed back smart mind, spoke.
”No disease, ah!”
”Really? Then why so grave face?”
I gripped her frozen hand—first opposite naked boy-like—quiet, strong.
”No one to ask…”
Slow, slid that hand into my underwear. Palm sweat-wet, but fingertips ice-cold, slipped smooth down my navel.
Overlapped hands crossed hairless groin, hit forbidden line.
”No, can’t…”
Ignored her stop, crossed easy. Tense-stiff, let-her fingers wrapped my penis. Natural palm center, laid shaft middle, gripped just right force.
”Y-your hand, please…”
”Quiet. This part’s weird.”
”U, vuuuu…”
Over her soft grip, I overlaid my small hand, stroked up-down like solo play. Tickle sensation spread hips, natural—head curved, whole rose hard.
Erection grew, core swelled big from her fist—skin slid slick peel.
”Ah, aaa! Vvvvu…”
”Yeah. Slow please. Feels good…. Like this, ends with white piss…”
Clang!
Instant, hand yanked from underwear.
Cult Slut-san scooted back sitting, lightning fast. Narrow tea room—thunk, back and head to pillar. Stared me dead.
”Hah…. Ah, ah…”
Panted rough repeats.
Eyes wide, couldn’t believe what hit her.
”I…. Your Lordship, what! Y-you’re mad. Can’t do this! Value yourself more, live, please!”
”…”
”Sorry. Shoved sudden, uh, y-you… don’t know yet! R-right, yes. Town has guides, males for that.”
”No need.”
”…Huh?”
I stared stunned Cult Slut-san cool, no earlier soft heat.
”Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean…”
Her lips shook, eyes quick filled sorrow.
”No need. Don’t want guides.”
”Ah. No, I, what have I…”
Forgot all shame and thrill just now—my cold words scared her deep.
She thinks me clueless, anxious body change. And she shoved me off. Sure, Imperial Guard-host sex contact bad. But however embarrassing, no stomping male touch like this. No need recoil like seeing Maggot under rock.
Any normal boy would take a shock he couldn’t shake off. After all, he mustered courage for a sexual confession, only to get rejected by his trusted education officer. Hell, he might even start hating sex itself.
”Please… believe me. I-it wasn’t hate…. Just shocked, never meant to hurt Your Lordship…”
Cult Slut-san squeezed the words from her throat. I said nothing.
”Your body’s change… nothing weird…. Hic… it’s noble, sacred, proud…. Egh… I, at first, if that time came, I’d cook red rice for you… already bought azuki beans…. Th-thought that, but. Why… this way…”
The tea room shut tight, pitch dark. Each breath choked like drowning.
Cult Slut-san wore kimono. I eyed her slim legs stretching from the disheveled cloth. Words and grim air aside, inside her flung-out thigh—firelight gleamed wet threads.
She drowned in sorrow. But her instinct, touching me, pushed female readiness on regardless. That faint scent tickled my nose.
”…Please, forgive me. Your Lordship matters most! Don’t wanna hurt you…. All my stupid fault. Ugh, vuuu…”
”…”
Cheeks soaked in quiet sobs. Bangs stuck to her sweaty brow. Secret kimono fiercely barring the male.
Ah, shit—this is bad. She probably refuses the act with me. But I can’t hold back. Force her virgin, she’d cry sure. Not from her own ruin, but guilt—stealing my chastity. She’d never forgive herself lifelong, curse her sinner-self no matter what anyone said.
No schemes like Maggot-san, no life-peril excuse like the Exploration Squad pair. Just her botched teaching, her failed delivery to her lord—she’d make me damaged goods.
But damn it, I wanted it anyway.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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