28 Painting Heist 1 (1/2)
Hikari had been making a habit of walking Akamaru out at night since last year.
At first, Kokuo had informed her that several Anbu were keeping her under close watch. After a few months, they finally eased off their surveillance, with the majority resuming their posts around the village wall.
Night in Konohagakure had always been serene and quiet.
The currently-peaceful era had allowed for a more relaxed atmosphere. There were less Anbu members patrolling the street, and civilians didn't have to worry about sudden attack from the darkness like in the three previous wars.
The marketplace had lost its hubbub, replaced by a portrait of emptiness. It was a drastic contrast to daytime, which made walking around there at this time of the day more interesting.
Tonight, she opted to go a bit farther from the village center, toward a less-populated civilian area. By chance, she caught sight of a lonely tea shop within a row of semi-abandoned houses. The screen door was glowing from the light inside.
”It's still open? At this time of the day?”
”My. What a peculiar place.”
Akamaru was perched on Hikari's shoulder, allowing him to whisper words to her without other people noticing. His keen nose sensed the distinctive smell of tea leaves, which roused her interest.
”The smell is not bad. Huang'er, should we go in?”
”Sure, why not?”
The two liked to drink tea, a carryover from their previous lives' habit. Regrettably, no shops in Konoha had been able to satisfy their longing for the taste of their hometown, although those shops were alright on their own merit.
This little shop... they hadn't tried it yet. Their heart began to fill with expectation.
”Welcome!”
The waitress, a blonde-haired young girl with a mole under her lips, guided them to the second floor, where they could watch the street below.
Hikari ordered two cups of tea, which momentarily confused the waitress. Sensing her bewilderment, she pointed toward the dog sitting on the table while wagging his tail, which made the waitress even more confused.
'Don't tell me... she wants to give the tea to the dog? Is... is that even possible?'
”...Certainly, honored guests, please wait just a moment!”
Whatever. As long as the girl paid, the tea could be given to the entire flocks of cats and dogs in Konoha for all she cared.
”How's life as a ninja dog?” Hikari muttered after the waitress had left.
”Fairly thrilling,” Akamaru, or more accurately, Daji, replied.
”I heard that you guys had been in real missions these days.”
”Yes. The little girl called those missions 'D-rank'. Nothing too hard. Looking for cats, searching for missing trinkets... oh, yesterday was more interesting. We helped to find a lost child. Apparently she got carried away playing in the woods and couldn't find her way back home.”
”Huh... so mundane.”
”It's certainly so.”
”At least there's no real danger, then...”
The girl lazily murmured, prompting a wide grin on Akamaru's face.
”Awh, is Huang'er worrying about that sweet little boy?”
”Who? Kiba? You know it's not him that I'm worried about.”
”Hmmhmm.”
The dog lowered his head, not continuing any further. The grin faintly turned into a soft smile.
”You tea~”
The waitress returned with two cups made of clay on her tray. She put one in front of Hikari, and then she... hesitated for a few seconds before putting the other before Akamaru.
”Hmm, what an exquisite pottery,” Hikari lifted the cup to scrutinize it. While it was crude, there was the subtle hint of talent hidden within. The craftsman was quite promising.
”Thank you for your kind words, I'm sure my father would love to hear that,” the waitress said bashfully.
”Oh?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. ”Is your father also the owner of this shop?”
The waitress nodded.
”This is also a restaurant. My father is the chef, while I'm in charge of brewing the tea and taking care of the customer. In his spare time, Father likes to make pottery.”
”Interesting.”
A shame that it was mere hobby, Maybe she should have a talk with the man himself later...
”Oh well, let's give it a try.”
The girl took a slight sip, while the dog jutted out his tongue and then gently licked the surface of his tea, causing the waitress to flinch.
'Oh god, the dog can really drink tea!'
In such a calm and composed manner, even! It was as if an actual connoisseur was doing the tasting!
Because she was so intent on watching the dog, she didn't notice that Hikari's face had turned grave. No wait, the dog gradually showed the same expression!
The two slammed their forehead repeatedly on the table, trying to forget the horrible taste that had assaulted their tongue.
”W-w-what the heck is this?!” Hikari roared.
The waitress blinked at her a few times.
”Sen... Sencha?”
”How the heck can this be called sencha?!?”
At first, she was greeted with the familiar taste of green tea. After that, came a warm sensation that seemed to melt her tongue. But then, it was immediately ruined by the sudden rise of bitterness, accompanied by a horrifying mix of various miscellaneous tastes.
”What did you put inside the tea?!”
”Err... um... let's see...” she said while rubbing her chin. ”Green tea leaves, and a dash of black pepper. Oh, also, a drop of honey.”
Hmm, weird choices, but not too bad. Hikari remembered that some tea in the Yang Dynasty was also a bit adventurous in their ingredients.
Only, the waitress didn't stop just there.
”Then... I mistook salt for sugar, so I put more sugar to counterbalance it. Oh, and a bit wasabi to make it warmer. Since the color is getting darker, I tried to make it green again with some bitter melon...”
”Enough, enough! I want to puke now!”
This was no longer adventurous, this was trying achieve breakthrough by sheer blunder! No wonder the place was so deserted!
”Whaaat, so you don't like my tea too, huh... tch,” the waitress clicked her tongue. ”It's always like this! People only come to eat my father's cooking! Even when I offered the tea for free, they always left without drinking any!”
You don't say!
”We're leaving...” Hikari slammed some coins on the table, and then quickly picked up Akamaru before bolting away from the tea shop.
”Come again~” The waitress waved at the disappearing shadows. When they were finally out of sight, her gaze turned dark as she lamented about her rejected recipe.