Location: Guild Administration Corridor (Early Morning)
A crisp autumn breeze drifted through the open windows of the Guild Administration Corridor, carrying the tang of parchment and oil lamps. Itsuki Hiroto hurried along the tiled passage, clutching a stack of newly printed Clerk Fu certificates. His robes bore faint smudges of ink and dust from yesterday's drill yard triumph.
As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a towering armored figure—Lady Virelya Arkwright, swordbelt gleaming, expression unreadable.
"Captain Hiroto," she began, voice low and urgent, "we need to speak. Now."
Hiroto swallowed. Virelya's sudden summons—without Sera or the assassins—could mean only one thing: she'd grown suspicious again.
"Lady Virelya," he said, dipping into a hasty bow. "Good morning. I was just—"
Virelya cut him off with a sharp nod. "I've heard about this 'Clerk Fu Academy' of yours. The assassins‑turned‑disciples. The crate maneuvers. The spreadsheet rebellions—your 'Accounting War.'" She crossed her arms. "Explain yourself, once and for all. Are you a genius tactician, or just an accident magnet?"
Hiroto's pulse spiked. He dropped the certificates with a soft thud. "I… It's not what you think." He gestured down the corridor. "Can we talk in my office?"
Virelya's eyes narrowed. "Lead on—but I'm watching." She stalked past him, every footstep echoing.
Location: Hiroto's Office (Late Morning)
Hiroto's office was a modest chamber with a writing desk, crate‑turned‑bookshelf, and a battered chalkboard listing logistic priorities. He closed the door behind them, fingertips brushing the ward glyph carved into the frame.
Virelya paced before the desk, boots clicking. "You've united guild factions, toppled rebels with ledgers, and trained an army of clerks in martial filing. Yet you claim it's all by accident?"
Hiroto sank into his chair, running a hand through his hair. "It started as accidents—ward those who attacked me, realign the crates by reflex, yawn off a war council. The recruits saw it and asked to learn. The audit tribunal challenged me—I won on paperwork. The rebels collapsed under financial scrutiny."
Virelya folded her arms. "And that?" She jabbed a finger at the Clerk Fu certificates stacked on the desk. "You printed diplomas for crate‑fighters?"
Hiroto sighed. "They asked for them. I… I don't know how it became a school." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I never meant to lead anything—just manage supplies."
Virelya's gaze softened for a moment. Then she straightened. "There's one thing you haven't explained: this morning, you left before dawn—without notifying anyone. You reappeared at the discount tea shop at sunrise. Why?"
Hiroto's eyes widened. "The… tea shop?"
Virelya nodded grimly. "Yes. A bruised‑wood storefront two blocks north. They saw you there, buying three jugs of 'Early‑Bird Serenity Blend' at half‑price. Explain that."
Hiroto blinked. A legitimate question. He rose, crossing to a narrow window. Outside, the corridor bustled with scribes heading to their posts.
"There's a tea shop that opens at dawn," he began haltingly. "I… can't sleep without my morning tea. The best place near the Guild is the Serenity Teahouse—run by a retired monk who subsidizes prices for early risers."
Virelya's eyebrow quirked. "Subsidizes?"
Hiroto rubbed his palm. "He claims it promotes productivity. Anyway, I thought I'd grab a calm cuppa before the day's chaos." He closed his eyes. "I did not use it to plot tactics. I just… needed tea."
Virelya's lips pressed into a thin line. She studied him. "And the jugs? You bought three?"
Hiroto nodded. "One for me, one for Sera, one for the recruits. They… they rely on clarity tea after intense kata drills."
Silence settled. Virelya's long braid swayed as she considered his words. At last, she exhaled. "So you're telling me: your dawn disappearance was purely… caffeinated necessity?"
Hiroto forced a smile. "Exactly. No hidden strategy."
Virelya's shoulders sagged, but her jaw remained firm. "Even if it's true," she said quietly, "you draw attention like a lodestone. Your every move becomes legend—clerk turned commander, whose morning tea funds his empire."
Hiroto swallowed. "I just want a normal life."
Virelya's eyes flickered with empathy—and something else: admiration. She shook her head. "Normal doesn't exist in your case. But… I believe you. For now. Just… keep me informed if you visit any more secret shops."
Hiroto exhaled in relief. "I will. Promise."
Location: Serenity Teahouse – Midday
That afternoon, Hiroto, Virelya, and Sera stepped into the Serenity Teahouse—a humble wooden structure nestled between granary walls. The air inside was thick with jasmine and sandalwood. Low tables lined the tatami‑style seating area, where early‑bird clerks sipped steaming bowls of tea.
Hiroto waved at Master Hei, the retired monk behind the counter. "Master Hei, thank you for the discount again."
Hei bowed, silver robes rustling. "For those who toil at dawn, clarity is a gift. Pay me in gratitude and calm mind."
Hiroto nodded, turning to Virelya. "You'll like the Lavender Lotus blend. Mild but grounding."
Virelya perched on a cushion, examining the tea bowls. Sera lounged nearby with her pouch of emergency potions.
Hei served three bowls of pale purple tea. The aroma swirled: lavender, white lotus, a hint of mint. Virelya inhaled, eyes widening in surprise. "That… is remarkably soothing."
Hiroto took a cautious sip, savoring the warmth. "See? No secret spells—only herbs."
Sera sipped hers, reaching for a tea cake. "I could get used to this."
Virelya closed her eyes as she drank. "My apologies, Captain. I judged you too quickly. You… do care about your team."
Hiroto exhaled, watching her. "Thank you."
Hei nodded sagely. "A commander needs peace within."
They sat in comfortable silence, tea bowls emptying as the world outside buzzed with guild announcements of Clerk Fu expansions and upcoming audits.
Location: Guild Administration Corridor (Late Afternoon)
Hiroto, Virelya, and Sera emerged back into the corridor, refreshed. Banners now read:
"CLERK FU ACADEMY – FIT FOR BATTLE!"
Sera winked at Hiroto. "Mission accomplished: tea diplomacy."
Virelya cracked the faintest smile. "Just… don't open any more new schools before tea time."
Hiroto bowed with mock solemnity. "I'll aim for tea first, schooling second."
They walked on, the corridor bright with late‑day light. Though chaos still swirled around logistics wars and rebellions, in that moment, Hiroto felt something steadier than destiny's silent hand: trust.
And as the sun dipped lower, Itsuki Hiroto—clerk, accidental commander, and now undisputed connoisseur of discounted tea—realized that even in a world gone mad, a simple cup of tea could calm the fiercest doubts.