Afternoon Tea for Two

"If I were to die, who would you drink tea with?" Mitsuruko, a refined yet endearingly absent-minded young lady, opens her home to Ritsu, a practical vocational student newly arrived in Tokyo. What begins as a matter of convenience soon grows into a quiet companionship, shaped by shared laughter, small mishaps, and the comforting ritual of afternoon tea. Long ago, Mitsuruko was told by her grandmother to find someone to share tea with. But after leaving home, she comes to understand just how lonely a solitary cup can be. Now, brought together by chance, the two begin to fill that quiet space in each other's lives. For Ritsu, life with Mitsuruko is anything but orderly—meals are burnt, bathwater is left running, and the rhythm of the household is delightfully unpredictable. She cannot help but question what lies ahead, yet gradually begins to see the quiet warmth beneath Mitsuruko's clumsy charm. Bound by a promise whispered over teacups, they navigate the small, fleeting moments of daily life, discovering that even the most ordinary days can hold something quietly extraordinary. (Source: Crossed Hearts) Note: Released at COMITIA 144, 149 and 152.