Chairwoman Oomiya's Tea Party [Azur Deutschland Only]

[Sanghyeok]

On her way back, Oomiya placed the scroll with the poem on it in a small box so that she could keep it a surprise until she showed it to the Twins.

Soon enough, the Pond of a Hundred Flowers appeared ahead of Oomiya, and she was back to where the three of them had temporarily separated to make their special magical creations. She was not alone though- already, Sylvia and Julienne had already returned, and they were both looking at Oomiya with a hopeful expression on their faces. Oomiya also noted that Julienne and Sylvia were also hiding something, probably their own creations. The older twin trying to cover something with her back, while the younger twin had placed them behind a curtain of some sort.

"You're back" Julienne said, her voice equal parts impatient and happy. She seemed eager for the presentation to begin, and she wore an expecting expression on her face.

"I am" Oomiya replied, before smiling a bit. She was a bit nervous of course, but she knew that she had done her best, and the rest of this contest was left to fate. No matter what, we will have a fun time together, she thought.

"Now we can finally begin" Sylvia added. She spoke with a bit more confidence now than when Julienne had half-forced her into the contest, and Oomiya wondered what had been the reason for this change. Perhaps she made something she is particularly proud of? It wouldn't surprise me, since she's such a talented mage.

"Let's begin" Oomiya and Julienne said simultaneously, but neither they nor Sylvia volunteered to go first.

The three of them, realizing this, started giggling about it for a while.

When the laughter finally died down, Sylvia spoke again.

"Julienne, since it was you who proposed this contest, why don't you present first."

"No way! Oomiya should go first, because she's the one who wanted us to compare our abilities to begin with,", Julienne retorted.

"How rude, letting your host go first?" Oomiya retorted playfully, her eyes teasing.

They started laughing again, before Oomiya finally said "Very well, I will present first." Having said this, she opened the box to reveal the scroll inside.

"It's a poetry scroll" Oomiya explained. "However, the content changes based on what you are thinking about. If you ask for it to be autumn, then a poem on red leaves will appear. And if you are thinking about spring, then it is a poem on cherry blossoms." Oomiya omitted the part about actual leaves and cherry blossom leaves coming out on purpose. She wanted Julienne and Sylvia to be pleasantly surprised when they tried it for themselves.

Oomiya handed the scroll over to the admiring Twins, who accepted it excitedly, wanting to see their new friends creation.

[Azur Deutschland]

Sylvia graciously and carefully accepted the poetry scroll from Oomiya. Julienne stood next to her, curious to read what the first poem was going to be about. The older twin smiled, blushed, and gasped as she watched the paper's contents reveal themselves. The younger twin also gasped before giggling softly, admiring the soft rain of cherry blossoms that had magically appeared as well.

Sylvia, after having the sweet surprise of the cherry blossoms flow around her, read the spring poem out loud, though in a soft voice. Her smile still wide and happy, she then closed her eye and nodded before looking at Oomiya. "Just like with your other works, this is beautiful. In fact, I think I would argue that reading this in person has made it even better."

The poem was then passed to Julienne carefully. She was a bit more excited about the autumn months, and was pleasantly surprised when the same magic occurred, but of a different variety. Sylvia and Julienne both cooed and awed at the swirl of autumn leaves. They really did admire the amount of work and heart put into Oomiya's creation.

Julienne read the autumn poem out loud as well. Just like her sister, her smile was still plastered adorably on her face. Finishing the poem, she took another look around and giggled. "Yes, this is wonderful. Your skill with words is so sweet and amazing, Oomiya."

[Sanghyeok]

Pleasantly pleased with how happy the Twins were at seeing her creation come to life, Oomiya wore a small smile on her face. In secret, she had been just a little nervous that some part of her magic wouldn't work, but she was pleased that it had all come together as she planned.

"Thank you, Julienne and Sylvia." Oomiya replied to their praise, "I am glad that you could find it as beautiful as I wanted it to be- and that you enjoyed my poetry and my art. Art is for me all about expression, and today I wanted to express my love of the natural world, and my appreciation for our friendship too. If you would like, you can take it to your home in Azur, and enjoy the beautiful flowers and leaves of our country wherever and whenever you would like."

Saying this, Oomiya gently handed over the small box that the scroll had been in. It was a rather simple flat box of the pink colour, but also beautiful in its own minimalistic way.

[Azur Deutschland]

""You're very welcome Oomiya. Though, we should say thank you too. This is a lovely gift. We would love to take this home."" Sylvia and Julienne both responded happily. They did quite treasure this as a little bit more than just a gift. They realized that this definitely would be the start of a new, sweet friendship. The two were sure that their happiness was indeed noticeable.

They twins nodded and smiled while accepting the box. Taking a moment, they looked over and admired it. Despite being simplistic, it was definitely still beautiful. Gently with a soft hand, they placed the poetry scroll back into it's home for safekeeping.

Then, after a small bit of silence, both Sylvia and Julienne blushed. Looking at each other, the fidgeted a bit, thinking about who should go next. Sylvia cleared her throat and decided to speak up to clear the silence.

"Ah... I guess we can view my creation next." Sylvia said, a little bit bashfully. She then turned around and beckoned both her sister and Oomiya to follow her to where her ice sculpture was standing. She wondered what they would think. More specifically, she wondered if Oomiya would like it. In her head, she thought she picked a spot for it that wasn't too in the way or out of place.

[Sanghyeok]

The happiness radiating from Julienne and Sylvia was clear, and Oomiya smiled again, delighted with how the Twins had been so excited and pleased to receive the poetry scroll she had made. I know they will take good care of it, Oomiya thought. And then, Isn't it beautiful, the friendship which has blossomed between us?

"Ah... I guess we can view my creation next." Sylvia said, a little bit bashfully. Sylvia's voice brought Oomiya's attention from her inner thoughts back to the present.

That's right, now it's Sylvia and Julienne's turn to show what they've made for our contest, Oomiya realized. I am looking forward to seeing what they managed to plan and craft during the time we were working alone.

Oomiya nodded, and along with Julienne they followed Sylvia's lead, and were led to where Sylvia had hidden what she had made.

It wasn't long before Sylvia's footsteps stopped, and Oomiya realized they were in the middle of one of the many small flower fields in the residence's garden.

Might it also be related to flowers? Oomiya wondered. Julienne seemed to be thinking the same thing, as her eyes turned first towards the orchids, and then to Sylvia.

They were soon surprised, however, when the sight of a statue- no, it was a group of three statues and made in their likeness, Oomiya realized- came into view. Their every facet glittered under the brilliant afternoon sun, spilling out coloured light as if they were stained glass windows, or perhaps coloured crystal. It was a beautiful sight.

Glass? That can't be, can it? was the first thing that came to Oomiya's mind.

Julienne and Oomiya exchanged looks, before moving closer to inspect it.

Although there were some parts of the statues that certainly appeared to be glass, Oomiya could tell from the chill emanating off their surface that it was not glass but ice. And yet this ice was not like any ice that Julienne or Oomiya had seen before. With admiring and also questioning gazes, the two of them turned their gazes to Sylvia.

Sylvia, seeing their excitement and admiration, started explaining her work: the ice sculpture.

[Azur Deutschland]

Once they stood next to her creation, Sylvia turned to Julienne and Oomiya with a smile. Noticing their excitement, she eased up a bit before gesturing to the three sculptures. Oomiya was in the middle with Sylvia on the left and Julienne on the right. They had their heads tilted softly up to the sky. The ice was chiseled out to some impeccable detail. To go even further, the sculptures even had color, giving the appearance more of a cathedral's glass window than ice.

Sylvia cleared her throat before beginning her explanation. "Heh, I wanted to be a little unique as I tried to take using nature to a little bit of an extreme point. The sculptures are made of water and ice I conjured. In my mind, I was imaging us three, looking up at the sky and admiring the stars. As I did so, my magic took form, freezing the water in place and slowly shaping it out into the three of us. I wanted the sculptures to be as accurate as possible, so my mind wandered and added color as I used my magic. That's why they look more like stained glass than ice~ Oh, and, I also wanted to picture this as... well... as a symbol for a everlasting friendship. Once I was done, I cast some magic to make sure the ice wouldn't melt or crack."

Sylvia blushed a bit after she was done with her explanation. She was just excited and a bit nervous about what they would think. She clasped her hands in front of her, trying to make herself still.

Julienne, of course, admired her sister's work to great extent. She smiled widely and nodded to her older twin. "It's amazing, dear sis. The sculptures, they look so wonderful. The detail you let your magic go to is incredible."

[Sanghyeok]

Oomiya, having been entranced by the beauty of Sylvia's work and just silently viewing it for some time, finally found herself driven to spoke, even though she was still searching for the right words to express her feelings about Sylvia's ice statues.

"It's really amazing, Sylvia", Oomiya said, genuinely admiration and amazement in her tone as she complemented Sylvia. "To combine your magic, love of natural elements, and creativity to make such an eternally lasting ice sculpture is completely unique. For me, contradictions is a source of beauty- and your creation is filled with them. Eternal ice, the contrast between pure transparent light and the coloured parts, the way light interacts within the ice to create places with and without shadow. But more importantly, there is also a sense of togetherness- for this statue has the three of us frozen in a moment in time- in a sense symbolizing the longevity of the friendship we created today. The way you speak to all of us on an emotional level is your strongest point, and Julienne and I love it " she concluded, smiling the whole time.

Julienne nodded in confirmation, saying "Again, sister, you should be proud of your work. Both Oomiya and I are wishing that we could have thought of something like this, for such a style is wonderfully beautiful" she noted, before she and Oomiya looked encouragingly at Sylvia.

"Thank you, it really means a lot to receive both of your praises" replied Sylvia, as she lowered her head slightly in receiving the praise, before raising it. This time she was all smiles, and her infectious smile soon spread to Julienne and Oomiya as well, as they continued to admire the way the sculpture interacted with the setting sun, pointed at the intricate details that Sylvia had painstakingly carved with magic, and the coolness emanating from its surface as a result of the eternal freeze that had been placed on it.

After a while, the chatter died down, and Julienne blushed a bit as she knew what was next. It was now finally her turn to show her piece of magical art.

[Azur Deutschland]

Once the talk of Sylvia's creation died down, Julienne blushed as all eyes were now turned to her. She nodded and smiled, composing herself.

"Oh, yes, it is my turn now, hehe." The younger twin said with a soft giggle. She then beckoned for both Oomiya and Sylvia to follow her over to where she was hiding her work. Leading them over, the three would be able to see the 'curtains' that Julienne had made. As they got closer, it was easier to tell that they weren't curtains, but flags, and that they weren't just normal tapestries, they were made of colorful roses woven together.

Julienne was giddy and excited to reveal what was behind the rose flags of Azur Deutschland and Sanghyeok. She looked at both her sister and their new friend. "This is just one part of what I made. Heh, do they look cute? I think the roses look rather lovely, especially in these patterns."

[Sanghyeok]

Oomiya and Sylvia gasped in delight as Julienne lifted up the rose flags and what had been hidden below came into sight. The first impression was an explosion of bright colours- for a great number of magical roses, of all colours and sizes- were delicately arranged into various shapes and figures. From the sea of roses, Oomiya recognized some of those shapes- small cakes and sweets, hearts, teacups, and some arranged into larger flowers themselves. She realised that those shapes were meant to represent everything the three of them had done together in their short but unforgettable time together so far- the tea party, the enjoying of sweets during tea time, and of course their trying on of the magical girl uniforms.

Most eye-catching, though, as definitely the arrangement that was directly in the centre, surrounded by the other ones. This one was a likeness of the three of them- Julienne, Sylvia, and Oomiya- holdings hands together with smiles on their faces. This was as fitting a tribute as any to their time together as any, Oomiya thought. She felt a deep sense of appreciation to Julienne's creativity and treasuring of their friendship.

"I love it!" Oomiya said cheerily, surprising Julienne with her energetic response. "Combining roses- magical roses- is so creative and special. Just by looking at it, I can feel see into your emotions when you made it - how much you value everything the three of us share in common, and our newfound friendship especially. Even the way you arranged the figures, with the three of us at the middle, is both beautiful and touching. Overall, it's a fantastic creation that shows both your personality and how you see ours, as well as our relationship."

[Azur Deutschland]

"Ah, I love it too, Julienne!" Sylvia, likewise, gave a very expressive response. "They look so adorable and sweet. You really put a lot of work and love into these."

Julienne beamed proudly, happy to hear the praises of both Oomiya and Sylvia. She laughed and giggled while smiling, trying her best to keep herself composed so she can speak. "Hehe, I also made sure that they could be picked up and played with. After all, I wanted all of these to be plushies that can keep us and each other company. The roses, they are soft and with a lot of them, you can make cute little toys, heh. It also gives them a more unique texture than other little plushies."

To emphasize her point, she grabbed three of the hearts she made, handing two of them over to her older sister and her friend. Taking the one she had, her hands gave it a gentle squish. When she relaxed her fingers, they could see that it acted much like a stuffed toy, returning back to it's original shape.

Sylvia's cheeks lit up very brightly as she took the rose heart. It definitely felt like a pillow. Her fingers ran over the tightly woven roses, finding no faults. Looking giddy, she then started to giggle while holding it closely to herself, letting her chin rest softly on the top of it. "Yes, these truly are really amazing, sis. They are so... so... cute and cuddly."

[Sanghyeok]

Julienne excitedly handed a heart-shaped flower plush to Oomiya and Sylvia, and Oomiya took the red coloured heart in her hands gently. She held it like that gingerly for a while, for she was afraid of breaking the fragile-looking arrangement. When Oomiya saw Julienne and Sylvia pressing them without issue, though, she too squished it gently out of curiosity by using just her fingertips at first.

The feeling that ran through her fingers was not like that of a flower, but rather like a plush toy, or perhaps a small cushion. It was somewhat soft, but also a bit stretchy and it bounced back quickly into its original shape after the pressure was released. The texture was not at all what she expected from a flower, either, but after all, these were no ordinary roses. Just by feeling it, Oomiya gained a new sense of appreciation for the difficulty of Julienne's task in in creating them. She squished it again- a bit harder this time, just to immerse her palm into the softness of the flower that did not feel like a flower, and found sensation rather pleasant. Looking up, she saw she was not the only one of this opinion: Sylvia was laying her chin down on it, as if she was on top of her pillow in her bed.

Oomiya and Julienne laughed a little at the sight of it- for it was quite funny to see Sylvia's expression of comfort and the way her face had almost sunk into the light red of the rose arrangement itself- but they tried it for themselves, they too found themselves wearing the same blissful face. Julienne had even closed her eyes, and the corners of her mouth rose into a small smile. Oomiya understood, for it was simply just an extremely comfortable, otherworldly soft, unbelievably and indescribably pleasant experience. If Oomiya had to choose one word for it, it would be "cloudlike", for that was what Oomiya had imagined sleeping on a cloud would be like as a child: fluffy beyond compare.

I could almost fall asleep on this Oomiya thought, and she imagined how fortunate that would be, to sleep on a giant heart-shaped cushion, or perhaps a pudding-shaped one, made of roses at the end of a long day. She wondered if she could ever learn this from Julienne and try to make one for herself, but she was interrupted by a more pressing matter: the sun was setting under a darkening evening sky, and she knew that her friends were about to be hungry.

Finally removing her face from the soft flower plush, Oomiya turned to face Julienne and Sylvia, and asked "I am sure the two of you are also in need of a proper meal, since it's been a few hours since your arrival. Should we go back to the residence, and eat dinner? I asked the chefs to prepare a special menu for us tonight- a 10 course set meal with specialties of our nation that I think you will enjoy, and even a few surprises."

[Azur Deutschland]

Julienne was so very happy to see both Sylvia and Oomiya enjoying the cute little plushies and pillows she made. It made her extremely happy knowing that the both of them thought her creations were wonderful. Taking those feelings in, she rested her head on the little pillow she was holding, thinking and dreaming about a long and sweet friendship between the three of them.

Noticing the darkening sky along with Oomiya, Sylvia nodded to the idea of dinner. "Ah, yes, that would be lovely, Oomiya. It is getting a little late and a nice dinner would be perfect. I'm definitely looking forward to what your chefs have prepared, hehe." Sylvia responding after slowly pulling her head away from the soft heart plush. She, however, still had it clutched tightly to herself.

The younger twin pulled away from her little daydream to agree with her older sister and with their host. "As my sister said, Oomiya. That would be appreciated. I'm sure everything will be impressive." She gave a happy smile. Then, Julienne had an idea as she looked at her creations. "Oh, um, Oomiya, do you mind if we make a detour before heading to dinner? I think these plushies deserve a home with the rest of your dolls."

[Sanghyeok]

"Oh, um, Oomiya, do you mind if we make a detour before heading to dinner? I think these plushies deserve a home with the rest of your dolls," Julienne said, and it took Oomiya some time to understand what the younger Rose Twin had meant. These incredibly wonderful and beautifully soft flower plushies are really mind to keep? Even just the thought of it made another smile appear on her face without her realising it.

"Is it really alright?" Oomiya asked.

Julienne nodded, before smiling as she replied. "Of course!" she told Oomiya.

"Then I will take good care of them, since they are precious gifts that you made personally. Thank you for the gift." she said, as Julienne started placing some of them in Oomiya's hands. Oomiya alone couldn't carry all of the plushies though, try as she might, and they were overflowing from her clutch. Seeing Oomiya was having some difficulty holding them, Julienne took some of the remaining plushies, including the chibis of the three of them together. She cherished this symbol of their friendship dearly, and she knew Oomiya did too. Now finished with gathering their creations of the day, they walked up to Sylvia, who was carrying the box with the poetry scroll, and started on the way back to Oomiya's residence.

As they leisurely strolled back, Oomiya felt the urge to voice her gratitude, although she did not know how. Taking a glance at the Twins, she realised that they too must have been thinking the same thing.

"is there something stuck on my face?" Julienne teasingly asked, noticing that Oomiya was looking her way.

"I don't see anything except for the kindest smile of a friend," Oomiya replied.

"Hey, isn't flattery my role?" Sylvia commented, and the evening sky was filled with their joyful laughter.

Behind them, Sylvia's eternal statue of ice shimmered brilliantly as it reflected the light of the setting sun.

---

They entered Oomiya's room again, although this time the bright afternoon sun had been replaced by orange light of dusk that filtered in through the window. It was a surreal look, for there was also light that had been tinted light pink by the bed curtains, and from their combination the whole room was filled with an soft orange-pinkish tint. Like some sort of magical candy, Sylvia thought. I wonder if it's intentional- it wouldn't surprise me, given that Oomiya loves sweets just as much as Julienne and I.

Gently, Oomiya placed the rose plushes on her dresser and bedside table, arranging them carefully between the other plushies that were there. The plushies that had been made of the three of them, however, would go somewhere special- she put them one by one onto the side of her bed.

"Together, even when we're apart" Sylvia said, and both Oomiya and Julienne had to agree that this was a fitting description.

Together when we're apartOomiya thought. Just seeing the happy smiles on the plushies as they hold hands, I'll know they're always by my side. Even when the three of us are separated by time and space, we'll always be together here. Next to her, Julienne and Sylvia were also thinking the same thing- even if they would have to part in a few hours, their bond, their friendship would never fail to overcome any obstacles.

Smiling contently with the placement of the plushies and the precious gifts they had exchanged, the three of them held hands and headed downstairs to the dining room, where Chisaki was waiting for them.

"Welcome back, Chairwoman Oomiya, Rozenschwestern Sylvia, Rozenschwestern Julienne" she announced while bowing. "We prepared the special guest menu for you and your honourable guests tonight."

Chisaki continued: "The dishes are as follows: 1st dish: almond pudding, as a palate cleanser and introductory dish. 2nd dish: fresh tuna sashimi, in season as a starter. 3rd dish: stewed soft tofu and simmered vegetables with dashi broth, to energize the body. 4th dish: grilled mackerel with chestnuts and sticky rice, as a filling dish. 5th dish: fresh assorted fruits, to be served as a transition dish. 6th dish: tempura eggplants, mushrooms, and shrimp, for a change in texture. 7th dish: lightly fried chicken, with yuzu sauce. 8th dish: a miniature steamed chicken and egg dish, returning to more restrained and delicate flavours. 9th dish: cold soba noodles with seaweed and sour plum topping. 10th dish: golden custard pudding with caramel sauce and miniature strawberry parfait as dessert. I will also be serving the sweets that Rozenschwestern Sylvia and Rozenschwestern Julienne brought from their homeland."

Chisaki finished her description of the night's menu before asking: "Are there any special requests or changes that you would like to include in the menu? And of course, what would you like to drink? There are many wines, of course, but also juices and sodas if you would prefer those."

[Azur Deutschland]

Together, even when they were apart. It was a wonderful and beautiful sentiment. Sylvia and Julienne thought about it for a bit, looking over the three plushies of them sitting on Oomiya's bed. This truly was the blossoming of a delightful friendship. The two twins wanted to treasure this forever. As they headed with Oomiya down to the dining area, the sisters were humming a playful tune softly while also gently swinging their arms as they all held hands.

Upon reaching the dining room and meeting Chisaki, the twins eagerly and patiently listened in to her explanation of the dinner. Their minds wandered as they heard each dish, thinking and imagining how each one would look, smell, and taste.

"All of that sounds perfectly fine. I can't wait to try out a new culture and dig in, hehe. As for what to drink, I would like to request some strawberry soda, if that's available." Sylvia said with her smile and courteous nod towards Chisaki once she finished.

Julienne looked over at Chisaki, ready to say something. "To drink, I think I would like some strawberry soda as well, heh. Oh, also, this isn't a request, but we'd like to inform you about our dessert. It's nothing too special, just a Black Forest cake and an assortment of various cookies. Though... I guess you can say that it is special because Sylvia and I baked them ourselves with the help of our little Phym." She then gave a giggle as Sylvia nodded once more to affirm her sister's statement.

[Sanghyeok]

Chisaki nodded in acknowledgement. "Strawberry soda for the two of you, is it? I do admit the three of you are incredibly similar, since it is something the Chairwoman's palate would enjoy." She paused for a moment, before turning towards Oomiya.

"And what would you like to drink, Chairwoman Oomiya?" she asked.

"Since my friends here have said they want strawberry soda," Oomiya said, gesturing with a smile towards Julienne and Sylvia, "I suppose I'll have the same. It's been a long time since I've had soda, after all."

"I understand, then I'll be bringing it along shortly" she replied, bowing again as she left.

---

Not long after, Chisaki came back with the strawberry soda and the almond pudding.

"The strawberry soda" she announced, placing a glass before each of them. There were three glasses of strawberry soda, poured in tall champagne glasses and decorated with a garnish of mint leaves and lemon zest.

"And the first dish: almond pudding with fresh wild strawberry sauce" Chisaki continued, setting three small glass dishes with silver spoons in front of them. In each of the dishes was a white, and almost jelly like pudding, covered with lots of strawberry sauce.

"it looks really delicious, Oomiya" Sylvia said. The older Rose Twin's eyes were already sparkling in anticipation as she viewed the appetizing dish before her.

"I can't wait to begin," Julienne said, voicing agreement with her sister.

Oomiya smiled, happy that her friends found the dishes appearance agreeable and were eager to start eating. "There is one more thing left to do before we eat" she mentioned, before bringing the palms of her hands together.

"Thank you for the food" Oomiya said, and Julienne and Sylvia followed her example.

Having completed the ritual, now they could start their meal.

[Azur Deutschland]

Even if it was just the first dish, the twins were already impressed. Even just the drinks alone looked wonderfully prepared. The almond pudding that made up the first dish looked cute, sweet, and generally appetizing. Sylvia and Julienne were, indeed, excited to taste it and try it out. Though, they held themselves back, practicing their manners. Listening to Oomiya and watching her, both of the girls nodded.

Putting their palms together, they both followed Oomiya's example. ""Thank you for the food.""

After reciting that traditional ritual, Sylvia and Julienne gave a smile before picking up their spoons at the exact same time. They then took a spoonful of the pudding and tasted it. Almost immediately, both of the twins lit up with blushes. They also made some happy noises as they enjoyed the flavor. It was easy to recognize that they were enjoying it. Steadily and slowly, not wanting to seem undignified, the twins controlled themselves and continued to eat and enjoy the pudding.

[Sanghyeok]

Julienne and Sylvia's facial expressions were those of pure happiness as they continued tasting the almond pudding, but they were not alone. Oomiya too was enjoying this first dish, and together the three of them were savouring it spoon by spoon, wih every bite a wonderful symphony of flavours. The mild and smooth taste of the almond pudding itself was contrasted perfectly by the just-right level of fruity sweetness from the strawberry sauce, while their textures blended together to form a curious sensation on the tongue.

Far too soon though, the small glass bowls were empty, and they were done with the almond pudding. The Rose Twins were a bit sad at first, but they were soon reminded that the pudding had only been the first course of the night when Chisaki came back to pick up their dishes. She was carrying the second course, which was one that they had been anticipating the most for this dinner: an assortment of fresh seasonal sashimi. Chisaki placed one portion in front of each of them, along with silver chopsticks for use when eating the fish.

Just looking at the beautiful arrangement before each of them,all three of them were left thinking it would be a shame to eat, for it was arguably a work of art. There were pink and red coloured slices of tuna and salmon placed neatly in the shape of a flower. It looked absolutely appealing, and Julienne and Sylvia couldn't wait to begin.

”Try to eat in order from lighter coloured to darker coloured, and don't use too much sauce for dipping" Oomiya said. She could sense her friend's excitement and didn't want to let them wait too long. Hearing this, Julienne and Sylvia nodded, and reached for their first piece of tuna.

[Azur Deutschland]

Sylvia and Julienne were a bit sad to notice that the little bowls that had the sweet pudding were already empty. Watching as Chisaki came around with the second dish, they did perk back up. The sashimi looked quite pleasant, especially with how it was arranged.

As excited as they were, they were also a little nervous. Both Sylvia and Julienne never actually tried chop sticks, so this would be an extremely new experience. So, they both fumbled a bit as they tried to get used to it. Steadily though, they found that it wasn't all that difficult. After that admittedly funny bit, the twins started to try out the sashimi. As this was new to them, they followed Oomiya's words, trying out the lighter fish first and making sure not to dip the meat too much into the sauce.

It was definitely a welcome new experience. The two sisters hadn't really dined a lot on fish previously in their lives, but that didn't lower their appreciation one bit. In fact, they both found it quite nice and appetizing. With just the first two dishes, Sylvia and Julienne were already absolutely sure they would love and enjoy the rest of the dinner. After all, that was one of their biggest fears. They didn't want to upset anyone.

"This is an interesting change of pace from what we're used to back in Azur Deutschland. Ah, experiencing a new culture is just so nice." Sylvia commented with a smile. Julienne nodded to her sister's statement.

[Sanghyeok]

Sylvia was having a little bit of trouble eating the sashimi, as the smoothness of the tuna meant that the fish kept slipping off of the metal tip of the chopsticks. The fact that she was still getting used to manipulating the chopsticks wasn't helping either, and she gave Oomiya a half apologetic smile as if asking for help.

"Like this" Oomiya said, placing the chopsticks between Sylvia's middle and first finger. She gently showed Sylvia how to hold one of the chopsticks in place against her middle finger, while guiding the other half of the pair with her first finger in a deft motion. With just a little bit of practice, the elder Rose Twin had become more than skilled enough in picking up pieces of tuna with ease. Julienne, following Sylvia's example, also changed her placement accordingly, and soon enough the two of them looked like a practiced users despite having just started to use them.

With that, the three now skilled users of chopsticks were enjoying the flavour of sashimi in earnest. The soft and just slightly oily texture of the lighter fish soon gave way to a more firm and somewhat sweet of the darker tuna. The whole time, Oomiya was a bit concerned that the experience - learning how to use chopsticks, eating sashimi for the first time- would be a bit too strange for Sylvia and Julienne. When she heard Sylvia and Julienne comment their enjoyment of this new culture, though, Oomiya was relieved and also pleased to find that her new friends were enjoying each part of the special meal just as much as she was. Indeed, Oomiya felt there was something more delicious about the food during dinner tonight as compared to usual. Not that the food is different from usual- this feeling must come from eating in the company of those you care for and have pleasant times with, she understood. Such is the power of friendly bonds with others.

Following that realisation was another one: that the second dish was now over, for the fish had all been eaten. With that, it was time for the third dish to be served- simmered soft tofu and vegetables. Clearing the dishes once again, Chisaki brought the three of them a small covered laquered wooden bowl and spoons. After the covers were removed and steam dispersed, the inside was revealed: a bit of tofu, as well as shiitake, carrots, and radish in clear soup. The colours were perfectly balanced, and the ingredients worked together to make a minimalistic yet artistic edible composition.

[Azur Deutschland]

Sylvia and Julienne were appreciative of Oomiya's help. They were also genuinely impressed and delighted with the dinner so far. There certainly was an extra charm of enjoying the food with those you formed a friendship with. It was extremely nice and pleasant, for they were intensely happy to have this opportunity of a budding friendship with someone who had similar qualities to them.

Upon finishing the second dish, the arrival of the third was just as impressive as the previous two. Once the steam cleared, Sylvia and Julienne took looks at the soup. It was simplistic, but that didn't diminish its quality. It still had a very pleasing arrangement. Despite being very new and foreign, the twins both found it to look rather pleasing as with the previous two dishes. They really were warming up to and admiring the culture. Experiencing it first hand is way different and way better than just reading about it.

So, after admiring it with their eyes, the twins took to admiring it with their other senses. The tofu was weird, but in a good way. As before, this wasn't something they've ever had. The texture and feel reminded them somewhat of a soft cheese. It was rather interesting. They appreciated the mushrooms and the vegetables as well. The shiitake alone, just like the tofu, was quite a nice surprise to the both of them. Overall, it was a very agreeable and satisfying dish.

[Sanghyeok]

"Is the flavour of the soup to your taste?" Oomiya asked. She wanted to be sure that Julienne and Sylvia were enjoying the food before them. "If there is anything that you would like to change, do tell me."

"It's delicious- it really is" Julienne said earnestly in between sips of the soup, and Sylvia nodded her agreement.

Finally finished with sampling the tender shiitake, Sylvia spoke. "The taste of the soup is indeed different from what we are used to from our home, since most soups in our culture are a lot thicker, and the taste of meat is really strong. But this tofu and shiitake soup is not like that- it's somehow both subtle and also really savory, especially the aftertaste. Although it is definitely new, I find this type of soup pleasing and refreshing as well."

"That is the result of taking extra care when creating the broth" Oomiya explained. "The right combination of temperature and time is necessary to make this kind of clear soup with a defined flavour. Any shorter or cooler, and the essence of the stock doesn't enter the soup. Any longer or hotter, and the soup becomes so cloudy from fat that the ingredients underneath become invisible."

The Rose Twins listened in interest, for they were curious to hear of how that dish was prepared. Oomiya, meanwhile, was also wondering what sorts of cuisine her friends ate back in their castle at Azur Deutschland. She made a note to ask them during the next dish, which would be the grilled mackerel with chestnut rice.

As if on cue, the first more filling dish of the evening arrived before them. The first was a plated dish: grilled mackerel, with a side of sweet honeyed carrots, served on a bed of chives. The skin looked slightly golden from the special grilling technique that made the outside texture crispy but prevented the fish from becoming dry and flaky.

With it was the side dish: a bowl of chestnut rice with sesame.

The chestnuts in particular gave off a rich smell that stirred deep nostalgia for each of them. It reminded Sylvia and Julienne of one carefree day they had spent with each other in the middle of summer among fields of golden grain near Berlin, many summers ago. How wonderful were those days, when they didn't have to think about the responsibilities of running a country, and could simply play with one another to their heart's content! And for Oomiya, it brought up a different memory: one of a harvest season, under the cooling skies as the sound of gently chirping cicadas echoed in the humid, not yet autumn night. She had been mesmerized, then, by the way the late summer wind created ripples on the many ponds of Kyoto, disrupting the reflection of the brilliant moon that shone from Heaven onto the world below it. The three of them were so immersed in their memories that they almost forget there was food in front of them, but it was Sylvia who came out of her daydream first.

"It looks absolutely delicious" Sylvia said, catching the other two's attention and bringing them out of the dream world back to reality. Oomiya and Julienne shook their heads a bit, before starting to enjoy the fourth dish of the special meal.

[Azur Deutschland]

The twins both were very interested in learning more about the style of cooking in Sanghyeok. The type of foods and the methods of cooking and preparation were pleasantly different from back in Azur Deutschland. They recognized some stuff reminiscent from their own world, as they know of Eastern culture, but, again, they've never tried it out. Their minds couldn't quite stop thinking about how much it was such a lovely experience to be eating something other than standard German cuisine.

Upon the arrival of the next dish for dinner, Sylvia and Julienne both gasped in awe. Their mouths watered slightly at the sight of the fish. It just looked so extremely well made. Lifting their eyes off of the fish, they were suddenly pulled into a nostalgic trance as they focused on the chestnut rice. Berlin, before being rebuilt as Azur Berlin. The summers they spent together in the fields of Germany, before being orphaned. It was almost enough to make them cry with joy.

Pulling herself out of her nostalgia, Sylvia decided to speak her mind, though she was a bit reluctant. Julienne and Oomiya looked happy as they basked in their memories. Though, how could they fully appreciate the food if they didn't try it out. "It looks absolutely delicious. All of it." The elder twin spoke with a smile.

From there, Sylvia and Julienne happily began to eat and enjoy the fourth dish of tonight's dinner. The mackerel was grilled so perfectly. It tasted just as amazing as it looked. The golden exterior with just the right amount of crispy and the delicate interior which was soft and tender. The chestnut rice was also a wonderfully pleasant addition. The twins were reminded again of their homeland, though slightly. It had a faint reminiscence of mashed potatoes that they were fond of eating, only slightly sweeter.

[Sanghyeok]

Before she realised it, Oomiya had closed her eyes while tasting the complex flavours and textures of the mackerel and the chestnut rice, to better savour each their delicacy. The soft crispiness of the the mackerel skin, the fluffiness of the chestnuts that almost melted in the mouth, and the stickiness of the immensely aromatic rice were simply beautiful. Like this, she remained in an almost dreamy state, enjoying the feeling of flavours that created a perfect melody.

When she finally opened her eyes, she saw that Julienne and Sylvia were exiting their half trance at the same time as her. Their eyes met and they gave each other knowing expressions, and Oomiya understood that they too had been immersed in this same feeling of nostalgia and sentimentality. It was a feeling that she knew well, that unspoken sentimentality for an age of naivety and innocence that was long lost, never to return. Returning to the normal state, the three of them looked as if they had just ended a common daydream, and Oomiya wondered if an onlooker might imagine that they were waking up from a refreshing sleep. With that, though, another question arose in her mind. She decided to wait just a bit longer to ask though, until after the next course was served.

Right on time, Chisaki reemerged from the kitchen bearing three plates filled with fruit. "The fifth dish of the evening: assorted seasonal fruits including watermelon, dragonfruit, mango, melons, and strawberry," she explained before placing a plate in front of Sylvia, Julienne and Oomiya. They were impressed by the amount of colours on the plate- indeed, there seemed to be a rainbow of fruits before them.

As the Twins were admiring the variety and the arrangements of fruits, Oomiya remembered she still had something she wanted to ask her friends. Using the small golden fork to pick up a small cube of watermelon, she directed a question towards the two sisters from Azur: "Seeing your expressions while we were eating the chestnut rice, I realised there must be a sense of nostalgia for childhood that the three of us all share. I'd like to ask, do still remember your fondest, most precious memory from childhood that you will never forget for all of eternity?"

[Azur Deutschland]

The fifth dish arrived and Sylvia and Julienne were still impressed. The assorted fruits were all so sweet, juicy, colorful, and cute. It definitely created a perfect opportunity to relax a bit more and enjoy the company of friends.

Taking a strawberry, Sylvia nodded at Oomiya's question along with flashing a smile. "Yes, we do. I... don't know if I can pin an exact memory as our fondest. We hold our childhood dear in our hearts. Specifically though, when we were eating the chestnut rice, all I could think about was the times Julienne and I played together out in the fields of Berlin near our home. We would laugh and smile while enjoying the sun and the breeze. Watching over the sky, admiring the clouds during the day and looking out at the stars at night... It was so peaceful."

Julienne smiled and blushed as she agreed with her elder sister's statement. She popped a cube of dragonfruit into her mouth before speaking. "Mhm. The days we spent together when we were young... All of it would be our most precious memories. Singing with each other, playing with our dolls, helping out a parents around the house, just being together. Every moment was absolutely wonderful."

"Though we made some good memories afterwards, even after the darkest point in our past, those memories will always hold special places in our hearts." Sylvia added on. After taking a piece of watermelon, she then asked a similar question to Oomiya. "What would you consider your fondest memories, Oomiya?"

[Sanghyeok]

Oomiya listened to her friends recount of their favourite experiences carefully, and found herself absorbed in the vivid recount as they spoke. Even with her eyes open she was immersed fully in the memory as if she was Sylvia herself. It was a peaceful day, complete with simple pleasures, and a life that was filled not with worry or anxiety but pure joy and childish expression.

Somehow, Oomiya felt a sense of familiarity with this history despite this being the first time she had heard of it. For Oomiya could sense it clearly: she could feel the warmth as the golden rays of the late summer sun shone gently upon her face, see the rippling fields as the soft yet cooling breeze caused the crops to bow to and fro and the twinkling stars on a cloudless night dark as the abyss, and hear the delightful sound of laughter of a sister by her side.

"The days we spent together when we were young... All of it would be our most precious memories." Julienne said, agreeing with Sylvia's recollection of their fondest memories.

Having listened to the Rose Twin's tale, it was now Oomiya's turn to answer a question from her friends.

""What would you consider your fondest memories, Oomiya?" Sylvia asked, their own recollection complete. The older of the two Rose Twins had a thoughtful expression on her face while chewing a piece of watermelon, as if she was already pondering Oomiya's answer. Julienne, too, looked on in anticipation as she waited for Oomiya's response.

Oomiya thought for a moment, placing a hand under her chin and with her head tilted slightly sideways. And yet, no matter how hard she thought, for some reason her thoughts refused to leave the tale that Julienne and Sylvia had told her about their childhood. And then suddenly, she realised that her sense of familiarity with their story was not without reason- for her own story was remarkably similar.

"Sure enough, the answer is childhood, isn't it?" Oomiya said, although this was more of an admission than a statement. "Childhood and youth are those troublefree days that we shall never return to, and perhaps that's why we cherish it so much. Before we learned to be afraid, to be anxious, or to be responsible- before all that, we were just children. Children we didn't desire power or want riches, simply the loving embrace of our parents, siblings, and friends."

Oomiya paused again, collecting her thoughts before continuing.

"Despite the time that passed between our childhoods, my own favourite memory is almost exactly the same as yours. Not the details, of course, but the emotions, the feelings, and the people. The feeling of being protected and loved, being by the people that you deeply cared for, the ability to enjoy a life free of worry and want. When I was small, every year our parents would take us- mother, father, elder sister, and I- as a family to the cherry blossom viewing festival by the riverside. We always went on the day the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and it was for the full day from early morning until late evening when sister and I felt drowsy. The feeling of cool water along the riverbanks, the sweet fragrance of cherry blossoms in the air, the delightful taste of the bento that mother always packed, the sound of laughter from my elder sister as we played together, and the sight of cherry blossoms coming down from the treetops like an unending pink rain- those memories and those people are ones that I will cherish even if I live to the end of time itself."

Finished with her recollection, Oomiya let out a wistful sigh, and Sylvia and Julienne instantly understood. They, too, had gone so long without the feeling of innocence or the privilege of naivety.

There was a silence as the three of them looked at one another, though not an awkward one. Instead, just through a few glances, they had exchanged heartfelt emotions saying a single word. Oomiya saw in in the Rose Twin's gaze, and she was sure her own feelings had reached Julienne and Sylvia too: The time that we cherish the most was so long ago...

Sylvia finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Those times we remember most fondly were with people we cherished, when we felt cared for, and in a time filled with innocence, right?" she said. "Then let's pursue what makes us happy, and continue to make lots of pleasant memories in our time together, and even after we're apart."

Oomiya and Julienne nodded. Sylvia had said everything they were thinking about, and Oomiya had to admit that Sylvia had a way with words. The three of them looked at each other again, but this time their wistful faces had been replaced with cheerful smiles.

---

"The sixth dish will be served now: assorted tempura of eggplant, shiitake, shrimp, and pumpkin," Chisaki announced. "The oil blend today is 80% soybean and 20% sesame, to better impart a slightly richer flavour into the tempura. Please enjoy."

Even before the plates were placed in front of them, they had already grown hungry again from the aroma, and a look at the tempura made their appetite and anticipation grow further.