I thought I had already updated it, completely forgot, and frantically wrote it at the last minute. Just barely made it in ti.
As the hidden talent show and gift presentations alternated back and forth, the host Alice made an announcent.
"Now then, there are only two more entries left in the hidden talent show, but before that, let briefly inform you about our schedule after the show. Once the hidden talent show ends, there will be a 30-minute break. Private rooms have been prepared for everyone, and you'll be moved there automatically when the ti cos, so there's no need to walk. Once the break ends, you'll be returned to the place you were before the break."
"Yeah, quite a bit of ti has passed, so a break sounds good."
"Yes, we're expecting the event to continue for a while longer, so we've scheduled two breaks in total."
It was an announcent about the break. Honestly, that was quite welco. I had been feeling a bit tired myself. Well, technically, all I'd done was sit around while Ein-san brought food, receive presents, and watch so performances...... but still, I was seated in a pretty conspicuous spot in the venue, so there was a bit of ntal fatigue involved.
Compared to the beginning, I've gotten used to it, but the idea of relaxing and refreshing myself in a private room is definitely appealing.
Especially since after this, I'll be entering a streak of continuous gift-receiving, so having a break at this timing is a real lifesaver.
Anyway, for now, I'll go ahead and spin the lottery wheel to receive my next gift.
The next person I drew was Alexandra-san...... or rather, Aria-san. In a setting like this, she was participating not as Aria, but in her professional role as the head maid of Archlesia Empire's royal castle, so she was in work mode.
[Miyama-sama, happy birthday.]
[Thank you, Alexandra-san.]
She was dressed impeccably, not in a maid uniform but a formal gown, yet still in work mode. I returned her words of congratulations with gratitude.
Sohow, even though I've spent more ti talking to her as Aria-san, that impression is stronger in my mind, so when she's in this professional mode, it feels like she's almost a different person.
[I've taken the liberty of preparing a gift. Here it is.]
[What a beautiful tin.... Is this tea?]
[It may be an underwhelming gift for soone like Miyama-sama, the owner of Nifty, but it's a flavor I personally enjoy very much.]
[I see, I look forwa.......unn?]
What she handed was a tin that looked elegant and expensive, surely it contained so premium tea leaves. But as I looked at it more closely.......I noticed so writing on the bottom of the can.
Peering at the small letters..... I saw it said: "Warning: This is not tea. Contents are cocoa."
.....So it's cocoa in a tea-like tin!? It wasn't handwritten or anything, the text looked engraved into the can itself, so it was probably originally sold that way.
Cocoa disguised as high-end tea....... Co to think of it, I recall Aria-san once ntioning she preferred cocoa over tea.
With that thought in mind, I looked over at Aria-san. She brought a finger to her lips in a quiet "shh" gesture, and then I heard her voice.
"I've manipulated the sound so no one else can hear this. Once again, happy birthday, Kaito-sama. I've prepared my favorite cocoa for you. The packaging might seem like a joke gift, but I promise the taste is excellent, please try it."
Using her ability to control sound, she spoke so only I could hear her. Then, with a playful wink, she turned and walked away.
That mischievous little gesture felt much more like Aria-san than Alexandra-san, and sohow, it left feeling a little warm inside.
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